Mustangs reflect on historic run to national tournament

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Rachel Spier still gets chills thinking about qualifying for the national bowling tournament, even weeks after the moment.

Spier was one of the Morningside University seniors who helped the Mustangs earn a spot in the NAIA National Bowling Championships, held March 20-22 in Sterling Heights, Mich. The team secured its place by winning the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in Sioux City — marking the first time the Mustangs had ever qualified for the national stage.

Joining Spier were Victoria Elwick, Maren Ewertz, Alexa Munhofen, Emaly Kruse, and Libbie Keith.

"As a student-athlete, you want to win, but sometimes that doesn't happen," Spier said. "That experience was unmatched, and I'm going to cherish it forever. It still baffles me that we were in Michigan, at the national bowling tournament."

Seeded No. 12, Morningside didn't play like a first-time qualifier. The Mustangs opened with a seven-game thriller against No. 5 Milligan, taking the final two games 221-202 and 203-188 to pull off the upset. It was their second win over Milligan this season, the first coming in Las Vegas over the holiday break.

While the rankings might have suggested an upset, head coach Steve Gonshorowski knew it was all about execution.

"It all depends on who throws the ball the best that day, who's supporting each other the best that day," Gonshorowski said. "There are so many tangibles involved. It's just about which teams put all the pieces together."

After falling to William Penn, the Mustangs bounced back with a 4-1 win over Culver-Stockton in the consolation round. Their season ended in another seven-game battle against No. 1 Savannah College of Art and Design.

"We scared SCAD because they were expecting to beat us in four, and that didn't happen," Ewertz said. "For the program itself, this put us on the map."

The KCAC title wasn't the Mustangs' only tournament win this season. They also claimed victory at their home meet, the Mustang Invite, and earned third-place finishes at the Bronco Open and the Jayhawk Collegiate Challenge.

Early in the season, the Mustangs were still finding their rhythm, adjusting to a mix of experienced bowlers and a wave of freshmen. Spier took it upon herself to help the younger players get comfortable—not just with each other, but with the game.

"Watching the younger players progress and throw strikes and come back and celebrate was so exciting for me to see as a senior. It was amazing," Spier said.

Even though the seniors have moved on, the Mustangs' run built momentum for the future, setting the stage for more success and confidence heading into next season.