HARAHAN, La. – North Carolina A&T bowling returned to a tournament where the program has been successful in the past and bowled a total pinfall of 5,012 with a pinfall average of 200.1 on the first day.
Friday marked the first day of the 2025 Colonial Classic hosted by the 19th-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) top-25 poll, the Tulane Green Wave. A&T, the seventh-ranked team in the poll, has won the tournament twice in the last four years and is in fifth place after going 3-2 during Baker-format play on Friday.
The tournament features 16 teams from the NTCA top-25. Third-ranked Vanderbilt leads the tournament with a total pinfall of 5,193 and a 3-2 record. Sixth-ranked Arkansas State went 5-0 and is in second place with a 5,184 total pinfall. The Red Wolves are followed by ninth-ranked Louisiana Tech (5,166), fifth-ranked Wichita State (5,084), and A&T in the top-5.
A&T opened the day with a lineup that featured sophomore Victorya White at the leadoff spot, followed by junior Savannah Burgin, sophomore Tiana Cruz, and junior Payton Hartgrove, with Juliana Sams as the anchor against fellow HBCU Prairie View A&M. The match was close over the first two games, with the Panthers holding a 10-pin advantage going into the third game. However, the Aggies defeated the Panthers 210-129, catapulting them to a 965-764 win.
Sams took over the leadoff spot in the Aggies' second matchup against another HBCU, Southern University. Burgin remained at No. 2 while Jasmine Hall entered the lineup at the No. 3 spot. Hartgrove remained at No. 4, and White became the anchor. A&T dominated from the start, totaling a better than 200 pinfall in each of the first four games. It led to A&T defeating the Jaguars 1,027-830.
Eighth-ranked Sam Houston faced the Aggies next and took an early lead by out-pinning the Aggies 382-301 over the first two games. A&T, with Sams back in the leadoff spot, followed by Burgin, freshman Sara Gilrado, Hartgrove, and White, began mounting a comeback. A&T took Game 3, 208-163, but lost ground in Game 4 after Sam Houston won 213-190. A&T out-pinned the Bearkats 201-166 but still fell short, 924-900.
The Aggies lost another close contest to a ranked opponent in the fourth-ranked Youngstown State Penguins. A&T inserted freshman Charisse Graham into the leadoff spot, followed by Burgin, Giraldo, Hartgrove, and White. The two teams went back and forth over the first three games, ending with both tied at 658 total pinfalls.
Youngstown got some separation in Game 4, out-pinning A&T 269-205. The Aggies did out-pin the Penguins 249-225, but it was not enough in Youngstown's 1,152-1,112 win. They closed out the day against its third HBCU foe, Jackson State. And it was another close one.
A&T kept the same lineup it had against Youngstown as the Aggies took a slim 409-398 lead over the first two games. The Aggies increased their lead with a 216-192 advantage in the third game. The Tigers did not make up ground in the fourth game as the two teams bowled to a 227-227 tie. Jackson made it interesting in the fifth game, out-pinning the Aggies 236-216. However, they still fell short, 1,068-1,053.
Saturday will see teams play five traditional matches beginning at 8:55 a.m. The competition concludes on Sunday with the bracket portion of the event, as teams will play three rounds in the best-of-seven Baker format.
