Goshen College’s bowling teams made history Saturday, Feb. 1, by hosting their first-ever home tournament at Signature Lanes in Elkhart. 

The event, which was immediately followed by the Crossroads League Championship, featured eight schools. The women’s team finished fifth with 4,081 pins, just five behind Indiana Wesleyan’s 4,086. The men’s team placed seventh, edging out Bethel University.

While neither team advanced to the championship rounds, both squads showed significant growth in a tournament that marked a historic milestone for the Goshen program. 

Lily Kelley, a first-year elementary education major, was the top performer for the women’s team, finishing eighth out of 67 bowlers and earning a spot on the JV all-tournament team. 

On the men’s side, Cameron Fedenis, a first-year sports management major, had the highest total for Goshen, recording 567 pins over three games to finish 11th out of 74 bowlers and earning a spot on the JV all-tournament team.

Before the tournament began, Rebekah Muzyk, a first-year music education major, shared her excitement and nerves about the opportunity to host. “It’s a little scary, obviously, but I’m really excited about it, and I think we’re well prepared,” she said. “We were just doing drills, figuring out this pattern, tweaking it a little bit, and just getting ready for today.” 

Her goal for the day was simple: “Hopefully make the four to go and bracket off for the championship, bowl good, have fun, work as a team and do the best we can.”

Nik Bressert, a first-year graphic design major, on the men’s team was also enthusiastic about hosting. “It’s really exciting. I didn’t really think we would get this opportunity, so I think it’s cool to even hold the championships,” he said. “We practiced really hard throughout the entire week, did a lot of drills, just trying to get as prepared as we could.” 

Bressert also spoke about the possibility of making the championships: “It’d be really cool if we could. Definitely still have to work for it, but I think we can definitely make a run at it.” 

As for the team’s goal, he explained, “The goal is to miss as few spares as possible, strike as much as we can, and hopefully at least give a run for match play.”

After the tournament, head coach Scott Curtis reflected on the significance of hosting such an event. “I was excited with the opportunity to host a conference event, then to upgrade to add the league championship. To host such an event, the first in Goshen history, was an honor. I just wanted everything to be up to the standards of Goshen College.”

Although Goshen didn’t bowl into the championship rounds, Curtis emphasized the experience of hosting. “I was stressed throughout the day just wanting things to work smoothly. With this opportunity to show off the program to Goshen College students, faculty, staff, and any alumni in the area, it made me feel proud of what these young men and women have accomplished this season.”

Curtis concluded by expressing his pride in the community support. “The overall support shown by the GC community and the excitement that was building about this program made me proud. A big thank you to all who came out, especially Coach Wagner and the softball team with all the chanting and cheering.”

As GC  bowling continues to grow, this historic home tournament sets the stage for an even brighter future.