SNU Men’s Bowling Opens Tier I Season with Top 8 Finish in Wichita

The Southern Nazarene University Men’s Bowling Team traveled to Wichita, Kansas, to compete in the first USBC Collegiate Tier I event of the 2025–2026 season. The prestigious two-day MidStates Championship featured a 30-team field from across the Midwest, with teams bowling six traditional games and 16 Baker games to determine the top eight for bracket play.

The Crimson Storm finished Day One in third place, led by standout freshman Riley Speer of Beech Grove, Indiana. Speer rolled games of 237, 238, 246, 200, 223, and 206 for a six-game total of 1,350, averaging 225 on the day. His performance earned him the No. 2 position on the MidStates All-Tournament Team, marking his second All-Tournament honor of the young season and his first at the Tier I level.

Day Two began with 16 Baker games, and SNU came out strong with an 876 total in the first four games. However, as lane transition set in, the Crimson Storm faced challenges in maintaining momentum but managed to secure the sixth seed heading into the Top 8 bracket round.

In the opening match, SNU faced Baker University but fell in straight games (0–3) in the best-of-five format.

“This was a good opening Tier I event for us,” said Head Coach Mark Jeffreys. “Disappointing, yes, but there were positives. We need to sharpen our spare game and improve our five-ball arsenals. We’re a young team led by one of the best players in the nation in Riley Speer. We know what needs to improve, and it’s still early in the season. The next four weeks are critical as we close out the first half of the year. This team is motivated after our performance in Wichita.”

The Crimson Storm will return to competition November 8–9 in Fort Worth, Texas, for SWIBC III & IV.