Grand Rapids, Mich. — Some weekends are measured in strikes and spares, others in grit, patience and belief — and at the Scotty Classic in Jackson, Michigan, Aquinas Bowling experienced all of it. Battling difficult lane conditions, a chaotic travel day and long competitive hours, the Saints' women's and men's programs showed exactly why both teams are trending upward as the season moves forward. By day's end, Aquinas left Jackson with a women's performance that showed real resolve in a deep field and a men's team championship that underscored the program's growing momentum.

Women's Results

The Aquinas women entered the Scotty Classic knowing adaptability would be essential, and from the opening frame it was clear the lane conditions would demand patience. Despite challenging ball reaction throughout the day, the Saints stayed composed and competitive while working their way through qualifying. Brooke Binder led Aquinas with one of her strongest performances of the season, rolling a three-game total of 545 to pace the Saints. Carly Pavka followed close behind with a 530 series, delivering a standout performance as conditions continued to change.

Tayler Mohney also posted a 530 series, giving Aquinas multiple high-level performances near the top of the lineup. Kayla Van Linden battled through an uneven start before settling in as the tournament progressed, helping the Saints maintain steady scoring. Ella Mattson and Emilee Nowicki embraced the grind of the day, contributing valuable frames when scoring pace was difficult to find. Sophia Santo and Laighnee Roll-Pike rounded out the Saints' effort, gaining meaningful experience in a tournament loaded with quality competition.

As a team, Aquinas finished ninth in the varsity standings, competing against a strong field and showing toughness through the ups and downs of the lanes. The Saints' ability to remain patient and support one another paid off, as Aquinas earned a Tier 1 cut and walked away with several positives to build on moving forward.

Following the tournament, head coach Harold Klukowski praised his team's response to adversity.
"The girls battled tough ball reaction all day and faced some challenging conditions," Klukowski said. "Even with a chaotic morning, they settled in, stayed resilient and competed hard. They rolled with the punches and took away some real positives from the day."

Men's Results

If resilience had a case study, the Aquinas men's performance at the Scotty Classic would be it. What began as a smooth travel plan quickly turned into a logistical challenge, as bus issues turned an early arrival into a late one — including multiple stops, a bus swap and a cold final stretch into Jackson. With no opportunity for practice shots and no surface changes, the Saints stepped off the bus and went straight to competition.

Despite the circumstances, Aquinas opened the day with a remarkable 962 team game, trailing the leaders by just 34 pins after the first set. From there, the Saints leaned into patience and communication, building confidence as the day unfolded. David Schaberg led the charge with an elite 676 series, one of the top individual totals in the tournament. Anthony DeLuccia followed closely with a 671 series, providing the steady scoring punch Aquinas needed to remain in the title hunt.

Nicholas Schaberg added a 633 series, highlighted by a massive third game, while Bonham Pulcifer chipped in a 594 series as the Saints continued to climb the standings. Curtis Swezey, Trey Richmond, Greyson White and Levi Rigelman all played important roles as Aquinas worked its way into second place for much of the day.

When the tournament reached its decisive final baker sets, Aquinas delivered its best bowling of the weekend. The Saints closed with baker games of 243 and 235, erasing a 93-pin deficit over the final two games to surge into first place and secure the tournament title. The win marked Aquinas' second tournament championship of the season and another milestone for a program that continues to take steps forward.

Klukowski reflected on the breakthrough with pride and optimism.
"I'm extremely proud of how the guys worked together and overcame adversity and the rough start to the day," he said. "Earlier this season we earned our first tournament win since 2019, and now we've picked up our second. This team is chasing more firsts, and the ultimate goal is to go win WHAC championships."

Inside the Numbers 

     • Aquinas men captured their second tournament win of the season 
     • Aquinas women earned a Tier 1 cut in a deep varsity field (earlier this season but not mentioned in an article) 
     • The men opened competition with a 962 team game without practice shots
     • Aquinas erased a 93-pin deficit in the final two baker games 
     • David Schaberg rolled a 676 series and Anthony DeLuccia added 671
     • Brooke Binder led the women with 545, followed by 530 from Carly Pavka and Tayler Mohney

Up Next

Coach Harold Klukowski's teams will return to action Feb. 13–15 when the Saints travel to Indianapolis, Ind., to compete at the Hoosier Classic. The multi-day event will provide another strong test for both the Aquinas women's and men's squads as they continue building toward the postseason. Fans are encouraged to visit AQSaints.com for full coverage, results, stats and updates throughout the weekend.