Mustang men get first Tier 1 title

ADDISON, Ill. -- It was an historic weekend for the 10th-ranked Mount Mercy men's bowling team, which picked up the first Tier 1 win in program history with a victory at the Kegel-ISBPA Midwest Collegiate Classic.

The Mustangs claimed the championship, their fourth tournament win of the season, with a total pinfall of 9,460. Teams rolled five team games and 20 Baker games. The runner-up was Lawrence Tech with 9,270 pins, followed by St. Ambrose (9,184), Wisconsin-Whitewater (9,045), and SCAD Savannah (8,950).

Mount Mercy's Andru Blaney and Kai Yamada made the all-tournament team. Blaney was second individually with a five-game total of 1,138 pins and a 227.6 average, while Yamada finished third with total pinfall of 1,128 and an average of 225.6. Gunner Kruse of Northwestern Ohio amassed 1,202 pins and a 240.4 average to claim the individual title.

Mount Mercy individual results:

Andru Blaney: 1,138 pins & 227.6 average
Kai Yamada: 1,128/225.6
Zachary Joiner: 1,018/203.6
Zach Andresen: 1,009/201.8
Thomas Burns, Jr.: 628/209.3
Andrei Tacorda: 333/166.5

Next up for the Mustangs will be the Kohawk Invitational on Feb. 3-4 in Cedar Rapids.