Fairview Heights, Ill.—Spire bowling hit the lanes in Illinois this Saturday and Sunday November 22^nd and 23^rd as they competed at the McKendree Match Play hosted by McKendree University.
 
The Spire men's team consisted of Alex Prescott, Dantoine Ballard, Emilio Gutierrez, Kalym Henry, Kelton Craig, and Zaylen Dear who each competed in five games with Prescott bowling 885 with a tournament average of 177, Ballard put up 899 total points, giving him an average of 179.8, Gutierrez only bowled one game giving him a total of 147 for the weekend, Henry earned a total of 910 with an average of 182, Spire teammate Craig threw the best for USM totaling 1023 with a tournament average of 204.6, and Dear put up a total of 700 even, giving him a weekend average of 175.

On Sunday's Baker games, USM bowled strong through the 16 games and earned themselves a total of 2998 combined with a tournament average of 187.4. Their Baker score of 2998 along with their team score of 4564 gave the Spire men an overall total of 7562, landing them in 23^rd place overall in the Tier 1 tournament.
 
On the women's side of the weekend, bowlers Brooklyn Smith, Emma Gorton, Jordan Reynolds, Kirstin Ussery, and Leanna Larson competed in their Tier 1 division.
Gorton was the women's leader for USM as she earned herself a total of 923 through 5 games, giving her a tournament average of 184.6. Closely followed by fellow Spire Jordan Reynolds with a 845 total through 5, earning a weekend average of 169. Brooklyn Smith, Kirstin Ussery, and Leanna Larson all finished within close reach of one another with Smith throwing a total of 761 (152.2 avg.), Ussery earning a total of 755 (151 avg.) and Larson just above that with a 758 total on through Saturday (151.6 avg.).

The final day of competition saw 16 Baker games played with the Spire women aiming to finish the weekend strong. USM threw a total of 2503 through 16, giving them a Baker tournament average of 156.4. Sunday's total of 2503 when combined with Saturday's performance of 4042 earned the Spires an overall 6545 landing them in 16^th place out of the 23 competing varsity teams.
 
Up next, Spire bowling will enjoy a quick Thanksgiving break and prepare for a battle in Columbia, Missouri when they travel to the Cougar Clash hosted by the Columbia College Cougars on Saturday, December 6^th and Sunday, December 7^th.