Huskers Start Season at Bearcat Hammer Open

The Nebraska bowling team will begin the 2021-22 season this weekend, competing at the Bearcat Hammer Open this Friday through Sunday. The tournament is hosted by No. 2 McKendree and will take place at St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Ill.

The teams joining the Huskers in Fairview include five of the top 25 teams in the nation: No. 2 McKendree, No. 3 Arkansas State, No. 15 Maryville, No. 17 Central Missouri, No. 21 Wisconsin-Whitewater. Alabama A&M, Aurora, Carroll, Carthage, Drury, Kentucky Wesleyan, Lewis, North Central, Quincy, and Tusculum round out the 16 teams competing.  

The Huskers’ season begins with a baker-style match against Alabama A&M. The team will then go on to face Central Missouri, Maryville, and Tusculum. A match against North Central will round out the baker gameplay portion of the tournament for the Huskers on Friday.

Saturday’s traditional matches will begin with a position round within the pools. The Huskers will then face No. 2 McKendree, along with Quincy, Drury, Lewis, and Carroll.

“We are all excited for this upcoming season to get underway,” said Paul Klempa. “This is our first full schedule since the 2019-20 season. Couple that with the fact that we are on a mission to defend the national championship we won last spring, it makes for an exciting time for Nebraska Bowling. The team is confident and driven and anxious to chase another crown. Should be a fun year for the coaches and the players.”

The Huskers will be led by Michelle Guarro, Cassidy Ray and Crystal Elliott. Guarro returns for her final year with the Huskers after being the lead bowler in their lineup all last season. Ray ended the regular season with an average of 208.11 and collected third-team All-America honors. Elliott earned first-team All-America honors last season, ending with a season average of 213.0. 

Competition begins Friday morning at 9:40 a.m. (CT) with five sets of five-game Baker matches, followed by five traditional matches on Saturday morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Combined results from Friday and Saturday will determine the seeding for Sunday’s bracket-play championship tournament, where each team will play three rounds of best-of-seven Baker matches beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Bearcat Hammer Open Teams Competing

No. 1 Nebraska

No. 2 McKendree

No. 3 Arkansas State

No. 15 Maryville

No. 17 Central Missouri

No. 21 Wisconsin-Whitewater

Alabama A&M

Aurora

Carroll

Carthage

Drury

Kentucky Wesleyan

Lewis

North Central

Quincy

Tusculum