Robarge, Avilez author strong starts at 2025 Intercollegiate Singles Championships
April 16, 2025
QUALIFYING
MEN'S BRACKET
WOMEN'S BRACKET
LAS VEGAS – Every collegiate bowler wants to end his or her final season on a high note, and there are few notes higher than winning a singles national championship.
Wichita State senior Spencer Robarge and North Carolina A&T senior Maya Avilez both kept themselves in contention to do just that thanks to strong performances on Day 1 of competition at the 2025 Intercollegiate Singles Championships, which is being contested at South Point Bowling Plaza inside the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas.
Robarge, the 2023 and 2024 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player and Storm/International Bowling Media Association Player of the Year, was strong from start to finish on Tuesday.
He began qualifying with scores of 254, 279 and 276 for an 809 series. After a 196 during Game 4, Robarge closed with scores of 235 and 279 to finish with a six-game total of 1,519 (a 253.17 average).
Not only was that mark good enough for first place in the 24-player men’s field, but it also broke the ISC’s six-game qualifying record by 115 pins – Concordia’s Alex Ouellette held the previous mark with 1,404.
Avilez didn’t set any records on the women’s side on Tuesday; nevertheless, her opening-day performance was quite impressive in its own right.
She qualified third in the 24-player women’s field thanks to a six-game total of 1,351 (a 225.17 average), which included games of 235, 212, 227, 218, 227 and 232.
The top eight seeds in both the men’s and women’s divisions earned first-round byes for match play, so both Avilez and Robarge got one round off before getting back to action during Round 2 of bracket play.
If there was any concern that the break would disrupt the momentum they’d created during qualifying, those worries quickly disappeared as both bowlers came out firing again during their three-game, total-pinfall matches.
Robarge punched his ticket to the men’s quarterfinals by defeating Pikeville’s Andrew Allen by a final score of 750-579, while Avilez earned a berth in the women’s quarters thanks to a 675-572 victory over Jacksonville State’s Melia Mitskavich.
Avilez realized very quickly that good scores would be possible on the 2025 ISC women’s oil pattern, so she knew she would have to be at her best on Tuesday to survive and advance.
“I knew about five frames in that this was going to be an NCAA bowler’s paradise because this is what we like to do,” Avilez said. “I figured scores would be high, so that puts all the more emphasis on execution because you know everyone has a chance to shoot big numbers. With that, I just tried to keep my physical game in check and keep doing all the things that make me good.”
Robarge had similar thoughts on the oil pattern the men’s field is facing at this year’s ISC.
“The pattern gives you an opportunity to get some scores out there, but it puts an emphasis on making shots, keeping the ball in play and making your spares,” Robarge said. “A lot of people got in trouble with spares, but it’s really just about staying clean and then taking advantage of your opportunities when they come.”
Thanks to his Round 2 victory, Robarge’s next opportunity will come Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern in the form of a quarterfinal-round matchup against Conner Lackey of Oklahoma Christian.
Lackey earned his spot in the bout by defeating Davenport’s Ethan Vanderslik, 632-608, in Round 1 and then topping Cayleb Carey of Lawrence Tech, 668-511, during Round 2.
The remaining men’s quarterfinal matchups are as follows: Blake Walsh (Mount Mercy) vs. Matthew Mesecher (Webber International); Nicholas Blagojevic (McKendree) vs. Connor Fleming (Oklahoma Christian); and Braden Mallasch (Wichita State) vs. Gael Egana (Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah).
Egana authored the highest three-games series in either division on Tuesday, putting up a mark of 811 during his second-round victory over Wichita State’s Brandon Bonta, who put up 742 in the losing effort.
Women’s quarterfinal action also will kick off at 10:30 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday and will see Avilez taking on Kylee Trexler of Louisiana Tech.
Trexler reached the women’s quarterfinals by topping Elmhurst’s Lorrie Decker (622-580) and Sacred Heart’s Karleigh Lemond (619-489).
The other three women’s quarterfinal matches will pit Arkansas State’s Kaitlyn Ruszczak against Jacksonville State’s Erin Klemencic, Monmouth’s Jenna Lehrer versus Arkansas State’s Kaylee Back and Sacred Heart’s Madilyn Yockel against Amanda Granata of Youngstown State.
Getting past the quarterfinal round is crucial as the final four players in each division will advance to the semifinals and finals on CBS Sports Network with one-game matches determining the 2025 singles champions.
The semifinals and finals will be taped at South Point Bowling Plaza on Saturday with the ISC women’s finals airing on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. Eastern, followed by the ISC men’s finals on April 29 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Avilez didn’t hold back when explaining what it would mean to reach the women’s final four.
“It would absolutely mean the world and be a nice exclamation point on a great senior season,” Avilez said. “It would mean a lot.”
Obviously, Robarge hopes to advance as well; however, a big part of his motivation comes from a desire to honor the memory of United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Ray Bluth, who passed away on April 11.
“I kind of have a new perspective on things,” Robarge said. “Ray Bluth was a good friend of mine. It’s always sad when you see idols of the game go away, so it would mean the world to me to do this not just for me but for Ray too.”
Wednesday’s quarterfinal-round matches will be streamed live on BowlTV.com.
CLICK HERE for more information on the Intercollegiate Singles Championships.
MEN'S BRACKET
WOMEN'S BRACKET
LAS VEGAS – Every collegiate bowler wants to end his or her final season on a high note, and there are few notes higher than winning a singles national championship.
Wichita State senior Spencer Robarge and North Carolina A&T senior Maya Avilez both kept themselves in contention to do just that thanks to strong performances on Day 1 of competition at the 2025 Intercollegiate Singles Championships, which is being contested at South Point Bowling Plaza inside the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas.
Robarge, the 2023 and 2024 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player and Storm/International Bowling Media Association Player of the Year, was strong from start to finish on Tuesday.
He began qualifying with scores of 254, 279 and 276 for an 809 series. After a 196 during Game 4, Robarge closed with scores of 235 and 279 to finish with a six-game total of 1,519 (a 253.17 average).
Not only was that mark good enough for first place in the 24-player men’s field, but it also broke the ISC’s six-game qualifying record by 115 pins – Concordia’s Alex Ouellette held the previous mark with 1,404.
Avilez didn’t set any records on the women’s side on Tuesday; nevertheless, her opening-day performance was quite impressive in its own right.
She qualified third in the 24-player women’s field thanks to a six-game total of 1,351 (a 225.17 average), which included games of 235, 212, 227, 218, 227 and 232.
The top eight seeds in both the men’s and women’s divisions earned first-round byes for match play, so both Avilez and Robarge got one round off before getting back to action during Round 2 of bracket play.
If there was any concern that the break would disrupt the momentum they’d created during qualifying, those worries quickly disappeared as both bowlers came out firing again during their three-game, total-pinfall matches.
Robarge punched his ticket to the men’s quarterfinals by defeating Pikeville’s Andrew Allen by a final score of 750-579, while Avilez earned a berth in the women’s quarters thanks to a 675-572 victory over Jacksonville State’s Melia Mitskavich.
Avilez realized very quickly that good scores would be possible on the 2025 ISC women’s oil pattern, so she knew she would have to be at her best on Tuesday to survive and advance.
“I knew about five frames in that this was going to be an NCAA bowler’s paradise because this is what we like to do,” Avilez said. “I figured scores would be high, so that puts all the more emphasis on execution because you know everyone has a chance to shoot big numbers. With that, I just tried to keep my physical game in check and keep doing all the things that make me good.”
Robarge had similar thoughts on the oil pattern the men’s field is facing at this year’s ISC.
“The pattern gives you an opportunity to get some scores out there, but it puts an emphasis on making shots, keeping the ball in play and making your spares,” Robarge said. “A lot of people got in trouble with spares, but it’s really just about staying clean and then taking advantage of your opportunities when they come.”
Thanks to his Round 2 victory, Robarge’s next opportunity will come Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern in the form of a quarterfinal-round matchup against Conner Lackey of Oklahoma Christian.
Lackey earned his spot in the bout by defeating Davenport’s Ethan Vanderslik, 632-608, in Round 1 and then topping Cayleb Carey of Lawrence Tech, 668-511, during Round 2.
The remaining men’s quarterfinal matchups are as follows: Blake Walsh (Mount Mercy) vs. Matthew Mesecher (Webber International); Nicholas Blagojevic (McKendree) vs. Connor Fleming (Oklahoma Christian); and Braden Mallasch (Wichita State) vs. Gael Egana (Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah).
Egana authored the highest three-games series in either division on Tuesday, putting up a mark of 811 during his second-round victory over Wichita State’s Brandon Bonta, who put up 742 in the losing effort.
Women’s quarterfinal action also will kick off at 10:30 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday and will see Avilez taking on Kylee Trexler of Louisiana Tech.
Trexler reached the women’s quarterfinals by topping Elmhurst’s Lorrie Decker (622-580) and Sacred Heart’s Karleigh Lemond (619-489).
The other three women’s quarterfinal matches will pit Arkansas State’s Kaitlyn Ruszczak against Jacksonville State’s Erin Klemencic, Monmouth’s Jenna Lehrer versus Arkansas State’s Kaylee Back and Sacred Heart’s Madilyn Yockel against Amanda Granata of Youngstown State.
Getting past the quarterfinal round is crucial as the final four players in each division will advance to the semifinals and finals on CBS Sports Network with one-game matches determining the 2025 singles champions.
The semifinals and finals will be taped at South Point Bowling Plaza on Saturday with the ISC women’s finals airing on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. Eastern, followed by the ISC men’s finals on April 29 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Avilez didn’t hold back when explaining what it would mean to reach the women’s final four.
“It would absolutely mean the world and be a nice exclamation point on a great senior season,” Avilez said. “It would mean a lot.”
Obviously, Robarge hopes to advance as well; however, a big part of his motivation comes from a desire to honor the memory of United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Ray Bluth, who passed away on April 11.
“I kind of have a new perspective on things,” Robarge said. “Ray Bluth was a good friend of mine. It’s always sad when you see idols of the game go away, so it would mean the world to me to do this not just for me but for Ray too.”
Wednesday’s quarterfinal-round matches will be streamed live on BowlTV.com.
CLICK HERE for more information on the Intercollegiate Singles Championships.