Sophomore Jaysen Spanbauer of Marian University men’s bowling earned a pair of victories Saturday morning to be crowned the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Singles National Champion.
“Jaysen is a great young man and I’m incredibly proud of him,” commented Head Bowling Coach Dan Mueller. “He puts the work in on the lanes and it has paid off for him with the highest possible award, an ISC title. This win means so much to Marian University bowling. We are doing things the right way here at Marian and it’s showing at the highest levels. Finishing our fifth competitive season with a national title and third individual qualifying for the ISC Nationals is a great feeling.”
Spanbauer (Fond du Lac, Wis.) opened the semifinals with a tight 259-253 victory over No. 11 seed Ryan Barnes of Wichita State. He then squared off with another Shocker in No. 13 seed Braden Mallasach and defeated him 236-206 to earn the first individual national championship in Marian men’s bowling history.
“It was amazing and a big boost of confidence to trust the process and seize the moment,” commented Spanbauer. “This couldn’t have happened without the support of my teammates and coaches. They all believed in me throughout the process and showed me that I could beat the best, not just compete with the best. It still hasn’t completely sunk in yet but I can’t wait to fly back and celebrate this with my teammates.”
He finishes the event averaging 235.1 pins over 14 total games. He qualified as the No. 2 seed after finishing with 1,385 pins over six games in qualifying for a 230.8 average. After a bye in the opening round, he defeated No. 18 Kai Evans of Savannah College of Art and Design 677-495 in a three-game total pin fall match. Spanbauer then earned his spot in the Final Four with a convincing win over No. 7 Zackary Sisk of Trine 734-539 in another three-game total pin fall match.
A recording of the USBC ISC semifinals and national championship game will air on CBS Sports Network Tuesday, April 30 at 6 p.m. (CDT).
