NAIA news release

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--On the eve of the 2024 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Bowling Championships hosted by Lawrence Technological University at 5 Star Lanes in Sterling Heights, Mich., the national office released the NAIA All-America teams. 

The host Blue Devils led the nation on the men's side with three All-Americans including seniors Noah Samuels (Canton, Michigan/Salem High School), Jarin Kurashige (Miliani [Hawaii] High School) and junior Costa Gastouniotis (Goleta, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) for the most in program single-season history. Samuels earned first-team status, Kurashige made the second team and Gastouniotis placed on the third unit.

The 2023-24 NAIA Men's Bowling Coach of the Year is awarded to LTU's Jon Putti who guided the Blue Devils to their first Red Banner a year ago. LTU ranks first overall in team scoring average at 20.852 across 5,140 frames as well as being atop the traditional format and baker format ranks as well. They are the national leader in fill percentage at 86.7 percent combined and third in overall strike percentage at 53.31 percent.

"Being an NAIA All-American is a tremendous honor and very well deserved for Noah, Jarin and Costa," stated Putti, who is the 2024 WHAC Men's Bowling Coach of the Year and in his seventh season at the helm of his alma mater. "These players have bowled great all season for us. I am so proud of them on and off the lanes."

That trio also represented LTU on the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference teams as Samuels was first team and both Kurashige, Gastouniotis on second. Heading into NAIAs, Samuels has 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.

Click here for LTU Blue Devils men's bowling statistics.

The trio have helped LTU build on its historic 2023 campaign when men's bowling became the first national champion in any sport at the University. The Blue Devils, who are currently ranked fourth nationally but have been the No. 1 team for six weeks earlier this season, captured the 55th annual Hoosier Classic, a United States Bowling Congress Tier 1 event, for the first time in program history. Lawrence Tech, which this season has won six events including the WHAC tournament crown and has two runner-up finishes under its belt, gained a share of its seventh WHAC regular-season season title.