SSU men's bowling program sits sixth after opening day of 20-team Raider Classic

DAYTON, Ohio -- Behind another strong effort from all involved inside the Shawnee State bowling camp, the men's bowling program at Shawnee State was able to collect a sixth place showing following the opening day of the Raider Classic Saturday in Dayton.

The Bears, who sit sixth overall in the 20-team field, were one of eight teams to knock down over 5,000 pins as a team on Day 1 of the event. Shawnee State sits just 269 pins back of leader Northwestern Ohio, 178 behind Marian (Ind.) for second spot and 141 back of Robert Morris (Pa.) for the third position.

With its 5,131 pins, Shawnee State bested Wright State, Cleary (Mich.), Cumberland (Tenn.), Huntington (Ind.), Ohio State, Campbellsville, Ohio Northern, Baldwin Wallace, Akron, Thomas More, Tiffin, Dayton, Penn State-Berks, and Miami (Ohio). The Bears bested eight in-state programs, including the Buckeyes, on Saturday.

Individually, Shawnee State was stout in every facet -- as the Bears got strong performances from essentially everybody who bowled Saturday.

Jaylen Sumler, who bowled a five-game 1,095, nabbed a strong 219 pin average Saturday evening to lead the charge. In nabbing that average, Sumler was incredibly consistent and strong in doing so -- as the Goldsboro, N.C. native bowled games of 218, 228, 224, 221 and 204 over his series of contests.

Blake Landers wasn't bad himself, to say the least. In his five racks, Landers knocked down 1,062 pins for a 212.4 pin average. Landers dropped a massive 256-pin mark in Game 3, nabbed 224 and 204 pins in Games 1 and 4 and collected 190 and 188 markers in Games 1 and 5 to round out a highly consistent effort of his own.

Sam Clay, who has continued to post a fantastic senior season, completed another terrific day at the lanes by notching a five-game 1,039 for a 207.8 pin average. Clay bowled a highly stout 242 in Game 1 and followed it up with a highly proficient 233 in Game 3, with games of 191, 186 and 187 in between over the second, fourth and fifth racks of competition.

Zach Ison, who bowled a four-game 787, knocked down 196.75 pins per rack as Ison dropped 225 and 214 markers in Games 1 and 2, respectively, for another strong effort by the Hillsboro native. Marks of 233 by Parker Lauders and 225 by Khoury Carroll-Tanner in Game 5, along with a 184 by Andy Schoener in Game 3, led the efforts of the remaining bowlers who took part on the varsity squad.

Day 2 updates can be found at www.ssubears.com.