Wichita State looks to defend national titles

The Wichita State University men's and women's teams will look to defend their national titles when the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships kick off April 15 in El Paso, Texas.

The Shockers are among the 16 men's and 16 women's teams that advanced to the collegiate nationals, which will be conducted in an arena setting at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.

The Wichita State teams are the most successful in the history of the Intercollegiate Team Championships, holding the records for most wins, appearances and finals appearances. And both the men's and women's teams will be able to make more history this year.

After winning in 2008 and 2009, the Shockers men hope to tie their record for most consecutive titles, set from 1993-95. The Wichita State women, meanwhile, will try to win back-to-back title for the first time since 1978. Both teams have won a record nine national titles.

Standing in the Shockers' way is a host of challengers, including the two runners-up from a year ago. Saginaw Valley State's men's team was denied its bid for a fifth national title last year, while the women from Lindenwood are looking to avenge a 2-0 loss to the Shockers in the title match.

The 32 teams that advanced to this year's national finals did so by surviving the largest regular-season field in the history of college bowling.

The USBC Collegiate program experienced unprecedented growth this season. In all, 177 schools with 3,112 student-athletes competed this season, up from 152 schools and 2,551 student-athletes last season. That represents more than a 15 percent increase in schools and more than an 18 percent increase in athletes.

Intercollegiate Team Championships competition begins on Thursday, April 15 when all teams bowl two 16-game sessions of Baker-style play to establish match-play seeds. At the end of those 32 games, teams in both divisions (men's and women's) will be seeded by total pinfall into double-elimination brackets.

Best-of-seven match play will progress until only two teams remain in each division. Those teams will advance to the best-of-three championship round, which will be nationally televised events taped for airing Wednesday, May 5 on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. EDT.

Bowling fans will be able to watch free live streaming coverage of qualifying all the way through the semifinals the morning of Saturday, April 17 on BOWL.com. Coverage will begin at 10 a.m. EDT each day of the event.


2010 USBC INTERCOLLEGIATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
At El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, El Paso, Texas

MEN'S FIELD
Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.
Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting, Ind.
CSU-Fresno, Fresno, Calif.
Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, N.Y.
Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Mo.
McKendree University, Lebanon, Ill.
Newman University, Wichita, Kan.
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
Robert Morris University, Chicago, Ill.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, N.Y.
Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Mich.
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
Webber International University, Babson Park, Fla.
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan.
William Paterson University, Wayne, N.J.

WOMEN'S FIELD
Briarcliffe College, Bethpage, N.Y.
CSU-Fresno, Fresno, Calif.
Erie Community College, Buffalo, N.Y.
Florida State, Tallahassee, Fla.
Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Mo.
McKendree University, Lebanon, Ill.
Pikeville College, Pikeville, Ky.
Robert Morris University, Chicago, Ill.
St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Md.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, Wis.
Webber International University, Babson Park, Fla.
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan.
Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio