Warriors Prevail at Bronco Open

HASTINGS, Neb. - Midland University competed in the Bronco Open over the weekend in Hastings, Nebraska, finishing qualifying in second place. They advanced through match play, ultimately winning the event by defeating the top-seeded Iowa Western Community College in the finals.

The Warriors qualified with a team total of 5,158, trailing Iowa Western by 117 pins and leading third-seeded Ottawa University (KS) by 144 pins. This performance secured Midland a spot in the semifinals, where they faced Ottawa. Ottawa won the first game of the best-of-three series, 181-164, but Midland battled back, winning game two 188-171 and game three 241-193 to advance to the finals.

In the finals, Midland found themselves in a similar position after dropping the first game to Iowa Western, 185-191. However, they fought back, winning game two 207-187 and clinching the event with a decisive 192-171 victory in game three.

Individually, Brandon Ogden and Alijah Bertrand earned spots on the all-tournament team. Ogden finished third overall with an average of 219.6 per game, including a high score of 258 in his third game, for a total of 1,098. Bertrand finished fifth with an average of 218.6, reaching a high score of 268 and a total of 1,093.

Close behind was Casey Upton, who finished sixth with a total score of 1,081 and an average of 216.2. Jack Pearson followed in 14th place, averaging 206.8 with a total score of 1,034.

Other Midland players included Cole Macaluso, who finished 20th with a score of 998 and an average of 199.6, and Donald Wu, who placed 76th after bowling three games with an average of 178.66 and a total score of 536. Michael Saxton rounded out the lineup, finishing 86th with an average of 205.5 over two games and a total score of 411.

Midland will return to action on November 22-24 at the NAIA-BCA Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky.