ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Aquinas women's and men's bowling teams competed in the ITC Sectionals this weekend with hopes of securing a spot at nationals. The two-day event brought a mix of highs and lows, but both teams showcased remarkable improvement. The women's team finished 15th, marking a significant step forward for the program, while the men's team held third place entering Sunday's finals. Despite a slow start to the final day, the Saints rallied late but ultimately finished fifth, missing nationals by just 43 pins. The performances of both teams stand as a testament to their progress and the promising future of Aquinas bowling.
Women's Team: 15th of 20 at ITC Sectionals
The Aquinas women's bowling program took a major step forward this season, earning a spot at sectionals for the first time in four years and finishing in the nation's top 40. Throughout the weekend, the Saints displayed resilience and steady improvement, culminating in a 15th-place finish. Their performance underscores the progress made in recent years and sets the stage for future success.
AQ Women's Bowling, Coach's Take:
Coach Harold Klukowski reflected on the women's team's journey this season: "We (the coaches) are extremely proud of the growth our women's team has made. Making this tournament is an accomplishment in itself. They never stopped competing this weekend, and I could not be more proud of them."
Men's & Women's Singles Section Qualifiers:
Men's Team: 5th of 20 at ITC Sectionals
The men's team entered the final day of competition in third place, well within reach of a trip to the NAIA Nationals. However, a slow start to Sunday's session put them on the defensive, and despite a late surge, they fell just short of advancing, finishing in fifth place. The team showed tremendous fight, cutting into a 234-pin deficit late in the competition and finishing just 43 pins shy of qualifying for nationals. Their effort and determination set a new benchmark for the program.
AQ Men's Bowling, Coach's Take:
An emotional Coach Harold Klukowski had this to say about the men's team after sectionals concluded: "To have the emotions we had at the end of the day on Sunday is the accomplishment. You don't have those emotions when you are bowling 12th. The guys never gave up and took the weekend down to the last game. The performance by these guys this weekend will have a long-lasting impact at Aquinas, setting the new target and the new expectation."
Up Next
The Aquinas women's and men's bowling teams wrap up an impressive season, with the focus now shifting to off-season development and recruiting the next generation of AQ bowlers. The strides made this year have laid the groundwork for future success, and the program looks to build on its momentum heading into the next season.
Finally, Coach Klukowski had some people he wanted to acknowledge: "Thank you, everyone, for reaching out and supporting me and my team. We will be back. Finally, my biggest supporter, Jordan Klukowski—I couldn't do it without you. Thank you for coming when you can. Thank you for supporting me and reminding me why I do this. It is because of you that I will keep pushing for these young men and women."
To the student-athletes and the coaches of Aquinas Bowling, thank you for representing the athletic department.
