Warriors Earn Runner-Up Finish at KCAC Championship

TOPEKA, Kan. – Midland University was back in action over the weekend, competing in the KCAC Championship in Topeka, Kansas, with a chance to capture its conference title. The Warriors advanced to the championship match but fell to Ottawa University, finishing runner-up in the six-team tournament.

As the top seed, Midland earned a first-round bye and faced Kansas Wesleyan in the second round following Kansas Wesleyan's decisive victory over Avila. Kansas Wesleyan came out strong, winning the opening team game, 1,125-845. Midland responded by taking the Baker set, 1,059-782, to force a winner-take-all, best-of-seven Baker series. The Warriors secured the match by winning the series, 4.5-1.5.

The victory moved Midland into the championship match against second-seeded Ottawa, which defeated Hastings in the second round. The Braves won the opening team game, 963-881, but Midland answered with a 1,026-929 victory in the Baker set to force another decisive, best-of-seven Baker series. Ottawa took control in the final round, winning the series, 4-2, to claim the KCAC championship.

The KCAC also announced conference awards and all-conference selections on Saturday. Freshman Kaeden White earned both the KCAC Men's Bowling Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, while head coach Britney Brown was named KCAC Men's Bowling Coach of the Year by her peers. Cole Macaluso was named KCAC First Team All-Conference, and White and Nolan Pepper earned KCAC Second Team All-Conference honors. Macaluso and Michael Saxton III were named KCAC All-Conference Scholar-Athletes.

Midland will wait until the first week of March to learn whether it receives a bid to the NAIA National Championship, scheduled for March 19-21. The Warriors return to competition March 13-15 at the USBC ITC Sectionals.