Women's Bowling | 10/16/2026 11:07:00 PM
STRUTHERS, OHIO – In a tournament where it will face some of the best teams in the country, the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University bowling team finished the first day of the 2026 Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic hosted by Youngstown State at the Holiday Bowl on Friday with a 3-2 record and total pinfall of 5,127.
The Aggies, the ninth-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25, averaged 205.1 pins on Friday. Nebraska led Day 1 with 5,514 pins and a 5-0 record, followed by second-ranked Vanderbilt at 5,291. Defending NCAA national champion and top-ranked team Jacksonville State is third with 5,207, followed by fourth-ranked Arkansas State (5,157) and sixth-ranked Youngstown State (5,131).
A&T, making its first-ever appearance in the Penguin Classic, opened the tournament against 14
th-ranked Niagara. Sophomore
Charisse Graham started the tournament for A&T in the leadoff spot. Sophomore
Alexa Escamilla followed, along with reigning MEAC Bowler of the Week
Payton Hartgrove and senior
Savannah Burgin. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Bowler of the Year
Victorya White earned the anchor role spot.
A&T opened against 14th-ranked Niagara with Graham leading off, followed by Escamilla, Hartgrove, Burgin, and White anchoring. The Aggies jumped ahead 242-169 in Game 1, but Niagara responded with a 211-145 win in Game 2 and a 186-162 edge in Game 3. A&T regained control by out-pinning the Purple Eagles 438-322 over the final two games to win 987-888.
In their next matchup against the Mercyhurst Lakers, the Aggies kept Graham and Escamilla at No. 1 and No. 2, moved Burgin to No. 3, White to No. 4, and slid Hartgrove to the anchor position. The Lakers took a slight early advantage before the Aggies won Game 3, 190-159, and carried a 32-pin lead into Game 5. A&T held on to win 953-928 despite Mercyhurst out-pinning the Aggies 203-176 in Game 5. The Aggies used the same lineup against Vanderbilt, edging the Commodores 649-646 through three games before Vanderbilt closed with a 523-436 advantage over the final two to win 1,169-1,085. A&T then bounced back against host Youngstown State.
Junior
Jasmine Hall entered at No. 2 against Youngstown State. The first two games were close, with Youngstown leading 425-415, but A&T took control with wins of 233-198, 184-177 and 265-214 to win 1,097-1,014. Against Nebraska, the Cornhuskers led by 50 pins over the first two games; A&T answered with a 278-203 win in Game 3, and Nebraska finished with a 486-341 surge to win 1,125-1,005.
The Aggies will open traditional play on Saturday against 11
th-ranked Wright State at 9:25 a.m.
