The defending USBC Intercollegiate Team Champions will return to the national championship after running away with the sectional title over the weekend in Smyrna, Tenn.
 
During Friday's Intercollegiate Singles Championship qualifying, Jax State bowlers took the top three spots, securing trips to Green Bay for the tournament that will take place April 13-18. Freshman Kaitlyn Stull was the sectional champion, bowling a six-game total of 1,419 for an average of 236.5 with a high game of 267 in the second round.
 
Sophomore Emma Yoder took second with a total of 1,359 for a 226.5 average. Yoder posted a high game of 251 in the fifth round. Freshman Gianna Brandolino was third just four pins behind Yoder with a 247 in the first round. The top five individuals in the field of 153 advance to the national championship.
 
In the team portion of the event, Jax State bowled 64 total Baker games over two days which were broken up over four blocks. The Gamecocks had a 289-pin lead over Lindenwood after the first 16 games on Saturday, and ended the day with a lead of nearly 700 after a 223.18 average during the second 16 games.
 
Sunday started with a 16-game average of 219 for a 3,504-pin total which added almost 300 pins to the lead. In the final block, the Gamecocks added 3,694 more to its total which was 531 more than Lindenwood and over 400 more than Cumberland which had the second-best fourth block total. Jax State posted a grand total of 14,259 to finish with a lead of over 1,500 pins.
 
Before competing in the ISC and ITC tournaments, the Gamecocks will compete in next week's Conference USA Championship followed by the NCAA National Collegiate Bowling Championship.