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SOUTHFIELD--Lawrence Technological University will host the fourth annual National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) men's and women's bowling national championships at Five Star Lanes in Sterling Heights, Mich., from Thursday through Saturday, March 21-23. The Blue Devils are the defending men's champion and ranked fourth in the nation, while the LTU women did not qualify for the NAIAs.

Lawrence Tech is led by All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference bowlers senior Noah Samuels (First Team) and Jarin Kurashige (Second Team) as well as junior Costa Gastouniotis (Second Team). Samuels rolled a team-best 217.558 average in 52 games, Kurashige comes in at 215.65 in 40 games and Gastouniotis, 211.622 in 37. All three are throwing at a career-high level for the Blue Devils.

In addition, junior Nick Clauson--who qualified for next month's Intercollegiate Singles Championships after coming in fifth place out of 182 individuals to pace LTU in that event--averages 201.531 in 32 games. Click here for LTU Blue Devils men's bowling statistics.

"It is always an honor to host the NAIA Championship. The LTU Athletics staff do an incredible job every year in making this event a great experience for the participants," said LTU seventh-year head coach Jon Putti, the 2024 WHAC Men's Bowling Coach of the Year. "I would also like to express my gratitude to the staff at Five Star Lanes for their help. This is one of the most well run centers I have ever worked with. They do a great job preparing for the event and making sure it is well staffed all week."

The Blue Devils captured the 55th annual Hoosier Classic, a United States Bowling Congress Tier 1 event, for the first time in program history to far exceed its previous best showing of 19th place accomplished twice and most recently last season. Lawrence Tech, which this season has won six events including the WHAC tournament crown and has two runner-up finishes under its belt, gained share of its seventh WHAC regular-season season title.

Lawrence Tech also qualified as a team for those USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships in April, but the Blue Devils have their sights set on repeating the Red Banner success they experienced in 2023.

"As a team, we are ready (to defend our national title)," Putti added. "We are coming off a big win at the Hoosier (Classic) and a solid showing at the ITC sectionals." 

The NAIA Bowling Championships are comprised of 12 teams each on both the men's and women's sides. There are six automatic qualifiers and six at-large berths in both divisions. Lawrence Tech also has three previous appearances in 2023, 2021 and 2020, compiling a 6-3 bracket play record.

The automatic qualifiers were determined by conference/group championship, conference/group regular-season winner or conference/group regular-season runner-up. The remaining teams not receiving an automatic berth are selected for an at-large berth by the bowling selection committee made up of coaches and administrators from across the NAIA.

The championship will open with baker play to decide seeding on Thursday. Brackets are announced upon seeding confirmation and teams will compete through a double-elimination bracket for The Battle of the Red Banner.

Men's Qualifier Notes (courtesy of the NAIA):

• The reigning NAIA National Champions from 2023 are back to defend their title - Lawrence Tech (Mich.)
• Concordia (Mich.) and Milligan (Tenn.) will be making their first appearance at the National Championship
• Indiana Tech, Pikeville (Ky.), and St. Francis (Ill.) have qualified all five years of the championship
• Teams were credited with an appearance in 2020 after teams were announced before the championship was canceled due to COVID-19
• Eight of the 12 teams in the field this year competed in last year's championship, which saw the Blue Devils defeat Marian (Ind.) three games to one to claim the first national title in school history
• Grand View (Iowa) and Tennessee Wesleyan are reaching the Battle for the Red Banner for the second time, both previously qualifying in 2022