Wildcats Open 2024-25 Season at Coyote Classic
SALINA, Kan. –Baker men's and women's bowling started their 2024-25 season with a strong showing at the Coyote Classic on Wednesday with both teams finishing in first place at the season-opening competition.
After their three traditional games, the BU women were tied with Kansas Wesleyan with a total of 2,324. The Wildcats were led by sophomore Kaleigh Buckalew, who finished in first with a total of 524 for three games. Skyler Holmes was the second-highest scorer on the team with a total of 482, placing fourth in the tournament.
Once they moved to the baker games, the Wildcats started to build a gap between KWU and Barton County CC. The women posted a 1,922 pinfall for their 12 baker games and finished the tournament with an overall total of 4,246, ahead of second place by 203 pins.
On the men's side, Baker started the tournament strong, sitting in first place after their three traditional games. The Wildcats were led by Brett Gamber who finished fourth with a 628 total, missing out on first by 10 pins. Josh King and Ken Rowland rounded out the top-10 for BU, finishing in seventh and 10th, respectively.
Heading into the men's baker games, the Wildcats had a 76-pin lead over Kansas Wesleyan. The men struggled in their first two baker sets, but finished strong in the final set to take the win. They posted a total pinfall of 2,263 in the baker sets and finished with an overall total of 5,198, beating the Coyotes by 118 pins.
"It definitely was not easy," said BU head coach Casey Suchor. "Despite being a young group, we were able to communicate and work as a team rather than a group of individuals which gave us the edge and ultimately the victory. I'm excited to follow up our good start soon, but there is plenty of work to be done in the coming weeks."
Wednesday's tournament marked the debut competition for Suchor, who is in his first season as the head men's and women's bowling coach after taking over the reins from longtime head coach Cheryl Keslar.
Both teams will be back in action Oct. 19-20 at the Mid-States Championships in Wichita, Kan.
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