RENO, Nevada – Sophomore Chelsey Stephens made history Monday becoming the first Campbellsville University bowler to compete on the national stage at the Intercollegiate Singles Championships, sponsored by xBowling.
Stephens, a sophomore from Frankfort, Ky., was one of two NAIA bowlers among 16 national finalists at the women's tournament, hosted at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. She finished 10th after single-elimination match play on Friday.
"I think it's really neat and a great experience to be able to bowl against the Top 15 in college. You face better bowlers all the time but you never know who they are or how they act. It was a great experience and to be able to compete against all of them. It was enjoyable," said Stephens. "Being able to bowl in a big atmosphere like that was really neat."
The day began at 7:30 a.m. PDT with a players meeting and bowling began at 7:45 a.m. with eight games of qualifying to determine seeding for match play. Stephens qualified as the No. 7 seed, inching up the standings from 10th to eighth to seventh through the morning.
Those who fell short of the Top 8 in match play were ranked based on their top qualifying seed. Stephens was six pins behind Robert Morris University's Jackie Carbonetto, who qualified in sixth position with 1,578 qualifying pins and finished ninth overall. Stephens had 1,572 pins through her eight qualifying games to receive a first round bye.
After receiving a bye in the first round of head-to-head, single-elimination match play, Stephens faced Wichita State's Alexis Ijams in the second round. Though Stephens held an eight-pin edge per game over Ijams, averaging 194 to 186 through eight games, Ijams jumped out to a 38-point big lead after the first of three games in the match and led by 69 pins after two games. Stephens collected eight strikes and three spares in her third game to bowl a 246, but the 40-point edge over Ijams was not enough to advance in the tournament. Ijames bowled 203, 204 and 206 in her three games, while Stephens bowled 161, 173, 246.
Ijams went on to fall one pin shy of the semifinals, losing to Webber International's Diana Zavjalova, 627-626.
Bowling coach John Rausch was proud to see how well Stephens represented CU.
"Chelsey Stephens is a great example of a strong competitor, along with becoming a very committed team player. She is also committed to her academics," bowling coach John Rausch said. "Her qualifying for the USBC ISC Nationals in Reno was not a surprise to me, but she went with a humble spirit. She competed very strong yesterday, making me, the team, our school and her family even more proud of her accomplishments."
Stephens will also be honored April 23 as the team's Champion of Character at CU's Champion of Character breakfast.
The ISC Semifinals will begin at 3 p.m. PDT, 6 p.m. EDT, on Friday, April 18.
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