January 9, 2026
Men's Bowling Season Recap
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - The first half of the season for the Reivers provided a strong foundation for growth, testing the team across a wide range of competitive fields and formats. Early results helped establish a baseline, while later tournaments reflected measurable improvement in execution, confidence, and scoring consistency. Overall, Iowa Western showed clear progress as the season moved forward.
The season opened at the Golden Eagle Invite, where this very young Iowa Western team finished 20th out of 28 teams in a deep early-season field. From there, momentum began to build at the Big Ole Open, earning a 4th-place finish out of 10 teams. Competing at the first Tier 1 tournament of the season, Iowa Western placed 15th out of 29 teams at the Mid States Tournament hosted by Wichita State, holding steady in a large and highly competitive field. Continued improvement was evident at MIBC #2, where Iowa Western again finished 4th out of 10 teams, followed by the strongest performance of the first half at the Columbia Cougar Clash, finishing 3rd out of 10 teams. These results reflect a consistent upward trend as Iowa Western adjusted to lane conditions and competition demands.
Individually, Sebastian King has put together the strongest varsity season so far. Through the first half, he leads all full-time varsity bowlers with a 190.5 average, while also posting the team's best strike percentage at 42.26%. His 77.6% single-pin spare conversion rate highlights a balanced game built on both power and execution. Sebastian's consistency and scoring pace have made him a reliable anchor throughout the lineup.
At the JV level, Kendall Bell has produced the highest raw scoring pace overall, averaging 197.8 across six games. While the sample size is limited, his performance demonstrates strong scoring potential and continued development moving forward.
Success for the Reivers has extended beyond competition as well. During the fall semester, the varsity team posted a combined GPA of 3.725, reflecting a strong commitment to academic excellence alongside athletic performance.
As the Reivers enter the second half of the season, the focus will remain on building consistency, improving spare conversion, and translating steady execution into higher finishes. The progress made during the first half positions the program well for continued success as competition intensifies.