Radliff Breaks Record, Statesmen Reach Match Play at Coe Invite

Cedar Rapids--Caitlin Radliff (So., Belleville, Ill., Software Engineering) had a career and record-breaking outing as she paced the William Penn women's bowling team to a high placing at the Coe Invitational last Saturday and Sunday.

WPU was second out of 17 teams in qualifying with 8,021 pins in five regular games and 16 Baker games.

Mount Mercy led qualifying with 8,401 pins, but Baker, which was the #3 seed entering the four-team match play competition, won the bracket title.  The Wildcats knocked out the Statesmen 2-1 in the semifinals and then beat Mount Mercy in the finals.

Megan Kolberg of Mount Mercy was the best roller out of the 138 competitors in the field with a 233.8 average (1,169 pins).

Radliff was not far behind, clipping 1,103 pins for a 220.6 average to place third.  The sophomore, who scored in the 200s in all five games, not only earned all-tournament honors, but also broke the school record for highest tournament average.  The record was previously owned by Samantha Powell at 219.0 at the Las Vegas Collegiate Shootout during the 2012-2013 season.

Gabi Evans (Sr., West Liberty, Iowa, Psychology and Sociology) also earned all-tournament honors with her own impressive weekend, finishing fifth with a 209.0 average.  Her performance was highlighted by a 280, which is the third-best single game in school history.

Cydnee Whiteleather (Jr., Lehigh Acres, Fla., Elementary Education) also started all five games with a 188.2 mark.

Toni Hansen (Sr., Anchorage, Alaska, Biology), at 206.0, and Madison Ross (Sr., Charles City, Iowa, Exercise Science), at 185.7, both played in three rounds, while Alexis Lake (Sr., Kaysville, Utah, Nursing) (189.0) and Christy Mottier (Sr., Madison, Wis., Business Management) (170.0) each competed twice.

The Statesmen reserve squad also battled and finished fourth out of six teams in the JV standings with 6,737 pins.  Isabel Diaz (So., Kissimmee, Fla., Communications) topped her group, placing 17th in the overall standings with a 197.4 average (four games over 200).

"The ladies bowled well overall by keeping up with the transition and executing shots," Head Coach Kirstin Foster said.  "Saturday was definitely the bigger day for us with a couple of players having season and career-high performances.  Those performances helped us stay ahead on Sunday.  We are still working on some minor tweaks, though, to prepare us for the upcoming weeks, including the postseason."

Next Up: William Penn takes a week off before traveling to Indianapolis, Ind. on February 18-19 to compete in the Hoosier Classic.