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Vincennes University

No. 12 Trailblazers Compete Through Challenging Conditions at McKendree Match Games

No. 12 Trailblazers Compete Through Challenging Conditions at McKendree Match Games
November 23, 2025

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — The Vincennes University Men's Bowling team battled through one of the toughest lane environments of the season over the weekend, finishing 19th overall at the McKendree Match Games, a combined two-day Tier I event hosted at St. Clair Bowl. The Trailblazers entered the weekend ranked No. 12 nationally in the latest USBC collegiate poll, and the field featured 31 varsity teams, including several nationally ranked opponents.

Day One – Traditional Games

VU opened competition with five traditional games, finishing the day in 17th place with a total pinfall of 4,769 and a 190.68 team average. The Trailblazers stayed competitive through transitions, keeping scoring compact even as lane conditions broke down quickly across pairs.

Freshman Nick Hubbard led the lineup with a strong 213 average across five games — good for 27th overall in a loaded individual field. Junior Eli Fromm followed with a 195 average, while sophomore Ryan Webber contributed a 188 average through four games. Junior Nick Gregg rolled a 176.8 average across all five games, and sophomore Colton Martin added a 186 average over four games. Sophomore Carter Martin provided stability with a 167 average across five games, and junior Dylan Lewis added a 200 in his lone start of the block.

Coach Paul LeMond stressed the need for sharper execution heading into Sunday's format. "We've got to push tomorrow," LeMond said. "Sunday is 16 Baker games, and to make a real move we need to be around 205. It's one frame at a time—spare shooting, mental discipline, and staying steady between the ears."

Day Two – Baker Games

Sunday brought 16 Baker games, and scoring across the center remained difficult for every team. VU finished the Baker block with 2,870 pins for a 179.3 average, highlighted by their strongest sequences in Sets 2 and 3 (775 and 728), with high games of 232, 202, and 206. At the end of the two-day event, the Trailblazers' combined total reached 7,639 pins, placing them 19th overall.

LeMond said the weekend was mentally and physically demanding but also an opportunity for needed growth. "Pretty tough day on the lanes—both days, actually," LeMond said. "We're ready for a short reset and to get back to work. The plan is to use the break, get back to practice on December 2nd, and start tightening things up before the next event."

Vincennes will now break for the remainder of the fall schedule and return to action in the new year at the Kegel-ISBPA Midwest Collegiate Classic — one of the nation's premier collegiate tournaments, held January 17–18 at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Illinois.

Join the Journey

As always, fans can keep up with the Vincennes University Men's Bowling squad all year long through a number of ways: