Muskingum University and McPherson College Win 2026 Crown Classic Invitational presented by Brunswick

A first for College Bowling.  History was made at the 2026 Crown Classic Invitational presented by Brunswick at Holiday Lanes in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as the College Bowling Athletic Association’s showcase the CBAA three-period competition format — Singles, Doubles and Baker Match Play.  History was made.  This event and the format had never feature four college bowling programs competing for the

Instead of determining a winner strictly by total pinfall, teams competed head-to-head for points. Southern Nazarene, Oklahoma Christian, Dallas Baptist and Muskingum University competed in the Men’s Division and McPherson College faced Southern Nazarene in the Women’s Division.

In Singles and Doubles, coaches selected four players or teams to compete in round-robin match play, with four points awarded for each victory. The highest-scoring competitors advanced to a Showcase Match worth eight points.

Then came Baker Match Play, where every game could change the direction of the match.

The result was a weekend built around competition, strategy and performing.

McPHERSON COLLEGE EARNS THE 2026 CROWN

The Lady Bulldogs of McPherson wasted little time showing they were ready to compete.

SNU and McPherson battled to a 32–32 tie through Singles round-robin play, setting the stage for a Showcase Match between SNU freshman Chryslin Sakata and McPherson’s Kayla Wood.

Sakata was perfect in round-robin competition, going 4–0 to earn her spot in the Showcase. Wood finished 3–1.

With eight points on the line, Wood delivered a 212–174 victory, giving McPherson a 40–32 advantage after Period 1.

SNU answered in Doubles.

Callie Vargas and Sakata teamed for a 3–1 record and advanced to the Doubles Showcase against McPherson’s Kaycee Carter and Joysbeliz Reyes.

Vargas and Sakata had already defeated the McPherson duo 392–379 during round-robin competition, but Carter and Reyes responded when the stakes were highest, winning the Showcase 398–380.

McPherson controlled Period 2 by a 50–22 margin and carried a 90–54 lead into Baker Match Play.

The Bulldogs then went 6–4 against SNU in Period 3, winning the final period 36–24 and securing a 126–78 victory.

Despite the loss, SNU showed plenty of promise.

Vargas led the Crimson Storm with a 198.9 average over nine games, while Sakata averaged 189.7 over nine.

For a young SNU team, the opening event provided an immediate test against an experienced opponent. “We are a really young team and they hung around in the match pretty well through the halfway point of Period 2,” SNU Head Men’s and Women’s Coach Mark Jeffreys said. “Mitchell has a really solid team and I can’t wait for the rematch in their house in October.

“This format was a great way to show our team what competition is all about. We have so much to improve in our game, but this was a fantastic start to the season for the SNU Crimson Storm Women’s Team.”

McPherson Head Coach Mitchell Whitehead also praised the format and the competition.

“This was a great event and a really good way to kick off the 2026–2027 season for our Women’s Team,” Whitehead said. “The Singles, Doubles and Baker Team experience and a school-versus-school format is great for our program. There is something special about this format and the future is bright for the CBAA format.”

SNU MEN EARN THE NO. 1 SEED

The men’s competition opened Saturday morning with 15 Baker games used to determine seeding.

When qualifying was complete, the Crimson Storm stood at the top.

SNU earned the No. 1 seed, followed by No. 2 Muskingum, No. 3 Oklahoma Christian and No. 4 Dallas Baptist.

That set up an opening-round showdown between SNU and DBU. And the Crimson Storm came out firing.

CRIMSON STORM ROLLS PAST DBU

SNU took control immediately in Period 1 Singles, winning 12 of 16 matches with one tie.

The result was a commanding 58–14 advantage.

Riley Speer capped the period by defeating DBU’s Noah Raleigh-Turner 216–176 in the Singles Showcase.

The momentum carried directly into Doubles. SNU went 10–6 in Doubles matches and won Period 2 by a 48–24 margin. Brandon Handog and Speer were perfect in round-robin competition at 4–0 before delivering another statement in the Showcase Match.

Handog and Speer defeated Garrett Smith and Raleigh-Turner 450–351.

After two periods, the outcome was already decided.

Dallas Baptist had been mathematically eliminated, sending SNU directly into the Crown Classic championship.

MUSKINGUM OUTDUELS OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN

On the other side of the bracket, Muskingum grabbed a 44–28 advantage over Oklahoma Christian after Period 1 Singles.

The Muskies went 9–7 in round-robin play and captured the Singles Showcase 225–209 behind Jacob Moravick’s victory over OC senior Landon Connell.

Oklahoma Christian fought back in Doubles, splitting Period 2 at 36–36 and keeping the Eagles within striking distance.

One of the weekend’s biggest scoring performances came from Muskingum’s Jacob Willard and Andrew Schaefer. Despite not winning a round-robin match, the duo fired a four-game total of 1,680 — a 420 average — to earn a spot in the Doubles Showcase.

There, they delivered. Willard and Schaefer defeated Connell and Sage Rush 494–471 to grab the eight Showcase points.

Muskingum entered Baker Match Play with an 80–64 advantage.

OC won the opening Baker game 238–177. Then Muskingum caught fire.

The Muskies won the next four matches, including a perfect 300 in Game 3. By the end of Game 5, Oklahoma Christian had been mathematically eliminated.

The championship was set.

No. 1 Southern Nazarene vs. No. 2 Muskingum.

A CROWN ON THE LINE

The championship started exactly as expected — tight.

After Period 1 Singles, SNU and Muskingum were deadlocked at 36–36.

SNU sophomore Jayden Kadooka went 3–1 in round-robin competition, while Muskingum’s Talon Newton also finished 3–1. Brandon Handog earned SNU’s spot in the Showcase after averaging 218.75 during his four Singles games.

But Newton took the Showcase, defeating Handog 183–158.

Muskingum made its move in Doubles. The Muskies went 11–5 in round-robin competition and won Period 2 by a 44–28 margin. SNU refused to go quietly. Handog and Speer captured the Doubles Showcase for the Crimson Storm, keeping SNU within striking distance heading into the final period. Muskingum led 80–64.

Ten Baker games remained.

SNU struck first. The Crimson Storm opened Baker Match Play with a 255–238 victory, cutting into the Muskies’ advantage and putting pressure squarely on Muskingum.

But the Muskies responded. Muskingum rolled games of 225, 217, 223 and 222 over the next four matches. A 222–191 victory in Game 5 mathematically eliminated SNU and secured the inaugural Crown Classic Invitational championship. The Crimson Storm had come up short of the Crown, but the opening weekend had delivered something equally important — a measuring stick.

“WE LEARNED A TON”

Jeffreys left the weekend disappointed with the final result but encouraged by what he saw from his team. “We learned a ton this weekend and we will go to work next week in learning from our failures,” Jeffreys said. “This group of student-athletes has an incredible desire to win and, more importantly, the work ethic to do what it takes to win.

“I can’t wait for our first conference event in DFW in a couple of weeks. We are still moving dirt and building this program into what it takes to win.”

That attitude may ultimately be one of the biggest takeaways from the weekend.

SNU didn't leave Holiday Lanes with the Crown. SNU left knowing exactly where the work begins.

A NEW STYLE OF COLLEGE BOWLING

For the coaches and players involved, the inaugural Crown Classic also provided the first major look at the CBAA head-to-head format in a tournament setting.

Muskingum Assistant Coach David Jones summed up the atmosphere.

“This is the way College Bowling should be,” Jones said. “This was so much fun and the competition was awesome. There is nothing like this format in College Bowling and this format truly makes College Bowling better.”

Muskingum Head Coach Doug Smith shared that enthusiasm after watching his team capture the championship.

“This was a great way for us to kick the season off and to get the win makes it even better,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to have some school-vs.-school matches later in the season.

“This format is fantastic and we are going to do what we can to share this format with other teams. This was a true event of competition between some outstanding players and programs. We will be back to defend the Crown!”

Muskingum and McPherson were presented the Crown Classic traveling trophies, while Muskingum also earned 16 bowling balls from event sponsor Brunswick Bowling.

Jeffreys said feedback from players and coaches will be used to continue refining the format.

“This event was so great and the comments that I received from the players were so positive about this format,” Jeffreys said. “This was pure competition in three different formats of the game while each team pulled together to do what was necessary to earn victory.”

Jeffreys also credited Brunswick and Brian Graham, along with Holiday Lanes owner Kim Denny and her staff, for helping make the inaugural event possible.

THE CROWN RETURNS IN 2027

The first Crown Classic Invitational is in the books.

The Crown belongs to Muskingum and McPherson.

But the story is just beginning.

The Crown Classic is scheduled to return in 2027, with the possibility of expanding the field and

For more information about the College Bowling Athletic Association and its head-to-head format, visit thecbaa.com.

College bowling fans can also follow the conversation each week on Pins On Campus, the CBAA’s weekly LIVE show and podcast, hosted by Mark Jeffreys and Jonathan Beyer. Pins On Campus airs every Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. Central, featuring college bowling news, event coverage, guests, opinions and discussion surrounding the changing landscape of the sport.  Check POC on YouTube or thecbaa.com.