NEW CASTLE, Del. (January 18, 2026) – Mount St. Mary's bowling competed in one of the strongest fields of the season at the 2026 Northeast Classic, a three-day tournament featuring more than 35 programs from across the country, placing 16^th overall while averaging a score of 191 per game. Facing nationally ranked opponents throughout the weekend, the Mountaineers gained valuable postseason-style experience across Baker and traditional formats while continuing to build momentum as the season progresses.
 
Day One opened with five Baker matches, where Mount St. Mary's showed early competitiveness in the fast-paced team format. The Mount recorded multiple Baker games over the 1,000-pin mark, highlighted by strong anchor play and clean closing frames. Aliza Shirk helped set the tone with consistent shot making late in games, while Alyssa Balest delivered key spare conversions that kept the Mount within striking distance against nationally ranked opponents.
 
The Mountaineers transitioned to traditional play on Day Two, where individual consistency came to the forefront. Shirk led the lineup with a standout five-game set, averaging over 209 pins on the day, while Leah Varela provided stability in the middle of the order with steady scoring across all five games. The Mount battled through long blocks and challenging lane conditions, showing resilience against several postseason-caliber teams.
 
Competition concluded on Day Three with bracket and placement matches, where Mount St. Mary's continued to grind through tightly contested matchups. Mikalah Carter highlighted the final day with timely strikes in pressure situations, helping the Mount close several games strong. The team finished the tournament averaging 191 pins per game across 65 total games, securing a 16th-place finish in the final standings.
 
Individually, Mount St. Mary's was paced by Shirk, who finished among the tournament's top individual performers with a five-game average above 209 pins. Balest and Varela both recorded tournament averages near the 200-pin mark, underscoring the Mount's balanced scoring throughout the lineup and ability to compete in traditional play.
 
The Northeast Classic served as a valuable measuring stick for Mount St. Mary's as the team moves forward into the heart of its schedule. Along with the team's standing in the tournament, several Mount bowlers finished in the top spots, with Shirk placing 24^th with an average score of 209.8, Balest placing 45^th with an average score of 199.4, and Varela placing 49^th with an average score of 198.0. Carter placed 72^nd and Kayleigh McMullen placed 90^th, averaging 185.2and 172.0 respectively. Competing against elite national competition across multiple formats, the Mountaineers gained critical experience that will translate into conference play, with the weekend reinforcing both the team's growth and its competitive potential moving forward.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Mountaineers head next to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the Duquesne Invitational, competing in a two-day tournament from January 30 to February 1.