Mustangs Start NAIA Championship Play Victorious as Individual Awards are Honored

LANSING, Mich. - The Mount Mercy men's bowling team started off their pursuit of a red banner victorious on Thursday, defeating Aquinas in the opener of the NAIA Championships.

The Mustangs had to await the winner of Aquinas and Spring Arbor, where the eighth seeded Aquinas would come out victorious. In a tightly contested contest, the Mustangs would prevail and advance in the winners side of the blue bracket, next taking on Indiana Tech tomorrow.

The individual awards would also rack up for the Mustangs, as Blake Walsh earned NAIA Men's Bowler of the Year, while Jacob Bockstie earned NAIA Men's Bowling Rookie of the Year. Men's bowling coach Cassidy Courey also earned her first NAIA Men's Bowling Coach of the Year honors.

The individual awards didn't stop there, as four Mustangs earned the distinction of being named an NAIA All-American. Walsh, Bockstie, and Zach Andresen were all named first team All-Americans, while Keegan Alexander earned second team honors.

The Mustangs continue NAIA tournament play on Friday, taking on Indiana Tech.