MOLINE, Ill. -- The Vincennes University Bowling team competed in the Leatherneck Classic over the weekend but did not compete at the level it had hoped.

The Trailblazers finished 20th out of the field of 43 in the two-day tournament.

VU entered the final day in 12th place but could not hold onto its place.

Trailblazers coach Jesse Gibson noted although the field included many strong teams, his team did not perform where they needed.

“We wanted to be in the top eight after the first day because there is a bracket for the second day,” he explained. “We were 156 pins short of reaching the top eight but it was very obtainable as the scoring pace was low.”

Sophomore Josh Taylor led the way in six games on Saturday with an average of 196.8, while junior Connor Hickey was just two pins behind with his four-game average.

Tyler Perry who entered the weekend with the highest average in all of college bowling, averaged 192 over six games.

Other bowlers on Saturday included: Keaton Green with a 4-game average of 189.2, Ryan Bensley’s 4-game average of 187.2, Tyler Lewis with a 3-game average of 184.6, Issac Wake rolled a 167 in one game and Hunter Stevens averaged 160 over two games.

On Sunday the Trailblazers played in 16 baker games and averaged a 166.3.

“We started off (on Sunday) a little sluggish and things only proceeded downhill from there,” Gibson said.

With the level of competition the tournament presented, Gibson said his team had a good chance to see how they stacked up.

“It was a real test and we did not pass,” he said. “The conditions we bowled on were not easy and required patience and reasonable shot making and neither of these criteria were met.”

The Trailblazers take this week off before participating in the Team Match Games at Fairview Heights, IL, on Nov. 24 and 25.

“We are hoping this week break will help clear some heads so we can come back and perform at the level we know we are capable of,” Gibson said.

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