MEN’S BOWLING

Junior Leland Jones etched his name into Huntington University bowling history by becoming the first Forester to compete for a singles national championship.

Jones earned his spot at the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships after a dominant showing at the sectional qualifier in Addison, Illinois, last month. He didn’t just qualify – he led the nation across all sectional sites, piling up 1,476 pins over six games for a remarkable 246 average.

Competing at the Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay (Wis.) this week, Jones took on the nation’s best as one of just 24 bowlers in the field. He rolled a 1,086 series in qualifying to secure a spot in match play, advancing as the No. 20 seed.

His tournament run came to a close in the opening round against Clarke’s Cam Stefanini, who edged Jones 631-553 in a three-game match.

Despite the result, head coach Mike Shockey praised Jones’ performance and presence on the national stage. “He didn’t have the results that we hoped for but represented himself and the team extremely well.”