Indianapolis, IN — The Aquinas College bowling teams delivered a record-breaking performance at the 56th Annual Columbia 300 Hoosier Classic, marking their highest-ever finishes in a Tier 1 tournament. The event, widely regarded as the biggest regular-season tournament of the year, took place over the weekend and showcased the depth and skill of the Saints' roster.
Women's Team Shines in Competitive Field Leading the charge for the women's team was Carley Blanchard, who put together an outstanding performance with a five-game total of 1,095 pins, averaging an impressive 219 per game. Right behind her was Kayla VanLinden, who bowled a total of 1,035 pins across five games, maintaining a 207 average.
Other key contributors included Chloe Fisk (890 pins, 178 average), Sophia Santo (847 pins, 169.4 average), Francesca Bontomasi (339 pins in two games, 169.5 average), and Morgan Jones (319 pins in two games, 159.5 average). Their collective effort powered the Saints to one of their strongest finishes ever in a tournament of this caliber.
Men's Team Makes a Statement The men's team also put together an exceptional showing, with Anthony DeLuccia leading the way as the highest WHAC finisher at the event. DeLuccia delivered a stellar 1,087-pin performance across five games, boasting a 217.4 average and finishing 18th overall.
Michael Deming was another standout for the Saints, rolling a total of 1,056 pins and averaging 211.2 per game. Additional contributions came from Bradyn Curtis (777 pins, 194.3 average), Dylan Maurer (743 pins, 185.8 average), Greyson White (147 pins in one game), and Ian Carmichael (169 pins in one game).
The team posted a collective total of 5,029 pins across 25 games, solidifying their strong presence in the competition.
Coach Klukowski Reflects on Historic Weekend
Coach Harold Klukowski praised both teams for their exceptional achievements, stating, "This is the highest the women and men have finished in a Tier 1 tournament and also the highest we have finished at the Hoosier. This was a great weekend for our teams."
The Saints will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for upcoming postseason play. With both teams performing at a historic level, Aquinas College has firmly established itself as a rising force in collegiate bowling.
Up Next
Next year's Columbia 300 Hoosier Classic is set to take place from February 13-15, 2026, where the Saints will look to continue making history on the lanes. As for the AQ Women's & Men's Bowling team, they will be off to the WHAC Championships in Jackson, MI at JAX 60 hosted by Indiana Tech on Saturday February 22.
