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INAUGURAL TRACK KAT KLASH TOURNAMENT A SUCCESS
Jan 03, 2012
The inaugural Track-Kat Klash tournament was a big success on and off the lanes for tournament host Sam Houston State University.
SHSU played host to the Track-Kat Klash from December 2-5 at Huntsville (Texas) Lanes, and featured teams from across the country. Among the tournament teams were No. 2-ranked Vanderbilt, and No. 5-ranked Nebraska, teams who are presented by the Brands of Ebonite International.
The Klash featured six matches of four-games using the Baker Scoring system on Day 1. Five traditional team matches took place on Day 2, and a best-of-seven bracket match play format determined the winner of the event.
And after three days of competition, it was the host Bearkats who emerged victorious, sweeping Arkansas State four games to two for the inaugural title. After a successful 2010-11 campaign, which saw the program advance to the NCAA Tournament in its first year of competition, Sam Houston State has proven itself to be a successful tournament host as well.
“The team did a great job of staying focused throughout the tournament,” said Sam Houston State coach Brad Hagen. “There are a lot of distractions playing at home as well and we did a good job handling that.”
SHSU faced off in the finals against Arkansas State, who entered the match as the only undefeated team during the tournament’s first two days of competition. But the Red Wolves were victims of a slow start in the match, and a scrappy SHSU team bowling in front of their home crowd.
In the best-of-seven game final match, the Bearkats took the first two games, 223-174 and 194-127. Arkansas State fared better in the next two games with scores of 206 and 237. But SHSU proved to be too tough for the Red Wolves, using two come-from-behind wins to complete the sweep, 215-206 in Game 3, and 243-237 in Game 4.
“This was a great weekend for Track Bowling and the SHSU Bowling Program,” said Hagen. “We are truly grateful for all the opportunities Ebonite International and Track Bowling allow this program to have, and couldn’t be more thankful to have them in our corner.”
Vanderbilt defeated Nebraska 4-2 in the third-place playoff. Long Island placed fifth, followed by Stephen F. Austin, Monmouth, Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Prairie View A&M, Alabama A&M, Grambling State and Mississippi Valley.
Hagen says Track equipment has been the key to Sam Houston State’s success throughout the first half of the season, and played a big part in their first tournament championship of 2011-12.
“Throughout the event, the girls had a great look all weekend using any combination of the new 716C and the 919C,” said Hagen. “We were able to use a lot of mid-performance shiny equipment for the majority of the tournament which allowed us to play a lot of different angles down the lane than most, as well as keep us right. This equipment offers everything a coach and an elite player is looking for…. versatility and dependability.”
SHSU finished third in two other major tournaments this season, the Greater Ozark Invitational and the New Jersey Jamboree. Those performances combined with their Track Kat Klash victory could move Sam Houston above their current No. 7 ranking. Hagen says the win could be the springboard to bigger and better things to come.
“I can’t thank Bob Reid enough for allowing this opportunity to mature like it has, and trusting in my vision from the beginning. I knew it’d be an amazing synergy, and I think the best is yet to come.”
— Ebonite Bowling Balls & Bowling Equipment - Ebonite is a brand of Ebonite International, Inc. Based in Hopkinsville, Ky., Ebonite International is a privately-owned company that services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets domestically and internationally. In addition to Ebonite, the company’s consumer product brands include Hammer,Columbia 300,Track, Robby’s and Powerhouse™; its commercial product brand is Ebonite Bowling Center Direct.
