JACKSON, Mich. - The Goshen bowling teams competed in Crossroads League #4 this weekend, and the women placed high enough to make it to the Crossroads League Championship bracket. The men came in sixth of eight and the women were in fourth of seven. The women lost to #1 Marian in the semifinal round.

Women - 4th of 7
Goshen had the second-highest pin total after the three regular games, only behind Marian. Goshen had scores of 858, 979 and 833. The 979 in the second game was 52 pins higher than the next closest team. Bailey Friars was Goshen's top individual performer, coming in tied for eighth of 69 (563 pins, 187.7 average). The remaining varsity scorers were Guliana Castiglione in 12th (553 pins, 184.3 average), Abigail Kenestrick and Rebekay Muzyk tied for 16th (545 pins, 181.7 average) and Kaylee McNab in 45th (464 pins, 154.7 average). Goshen had the fourth-best score across the baker games and finished in fourth overall with 4,722 total pins.

As the Leafs placed fifth a year ago, this marked the first time in program history that a Goshen bowling team made it to the Crossroads League Championship tournament. The stage was set with #1 Marian facing #4 Goshen and #2 Indiana Wesleyan challenging #3 Spring Arbor. In a best of three series, Marian beat Goshen in two games, winning them 215-153 and 155-130. Spring Arbor defeated Indiana Wesleyan in three and then beat Marian in three in the championship.

Goshen's JV team came in fourth of six. Goshen's leading JV scorer was Lexie Strong, coming in 22nd with 528 pins and a 176.0 average.

Men - 6th of 8
The Goshen men were in seventh of eight teams after the regular games but moved up a spot to sixth after the baker games - posting the fifth-best score when counting just the bakers. The Leafs placed ahead of Grace and Bethel, and moved up a spot from their seventh place finish overall from a year ago. Brendan Riley led the varsity squad by coming in 28th of 89 with 548 pins and a 182.7 average. He was followed by Nik Bressert in 33rd (535 pins, 178.3 average), Blake Fisher in 40th (511 pins, 170.3 average), Cameron Fedenis in a tie for 42nd (500 pins, 166.7 average), Hayden Grindle in 72nd (321 pins, 160.5 average) and Matthew Dominiano in 88th (137 pins, 137.0 average).

Danek Szajner was Goshen's leading performer for the JV team, but also for Goshen overall. He came in 21st with a scored of 585 pins and a 195 average.

Crossroads League #3, which was moved from January 24 due to weather conditions, is next up on Wednesday, February 4 in Indianapolis.