Foresters Launch Season with Promise at Midwest Collegiate Classic

DETROIT, Mich. - The Forester bowling teams opened their 2025–26 campaign in Detroit, Michigan, at the Midwest Collegiate Classic, marking the event's first time in the Motor City after more than 50 years in the Milwaukee area. The two-day tournament featured five team games on Saturday followed by 16 Baker games on Sunday.

It was an eventful start to the season—especially for the women's squad, who bowled through an unexpected four-hour power outage in the middle of their first game.

On the lanes, the HU men finished 29th of 51 teams with a total pinfall of 7,724, led by Leland Jones, who rolled a 1,025 five-game series (205 average). The Forester women matched that finish, placing 29th of 42 teams with a score of 6,673, paced by Lilly Pryor and her 874 series (174.8 average).

"While the finishing positions were not the greatest; overall, we were happy with our first tournament of the year," said Coach Mike Shockey. "We have things to clean up and get better at moving forward, but both teams did a great job with making moves, communicating and keeping things positive.  

"We have put a focus on team culture and chemistry this season and the team has responded really well. This has been one of the hardest working and dedicated teams we have had in a long time."

Next up for Shockey and crew is the Columbia 300 Western Shootout on October 11-12 in Indianapolis.  

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.