Indianapolis, Ind. - The St. Thomas University men's and women's bowling teams kicked off their 2026-2027 competition season at the DV8 Bowling Tournament, held October 10-11, 2026 in Indianapolis. Both teams faced strong competition in their season-opening event, gaining valuable experience and establishing a foundation for the tournaments ahead. 

Men's Team Finished 17th in a highly competitive field 

The men's team delivered a strong performance, finishing 17th out of 30 teams in a highly competitive field. The Bobcats posted a team average of 205, demonstrating solid scoring throughout the tournament. 

Leading the way for the Bobcats was sophomore Christopher Romano, who averaged an impressive 219 and finished 15th out of 314 individual bowlers. Romano's performance highlighted the team's potential as the season gets underway. 

Several other Bobcats contributed noteworthy performances.  Freshman Juan Hernandez averaged 205, while freshman Jan Gonzalez recorded a 204 average.  Sophomore Lucas Gonzalez also turned in a strong showing, averaging 200 for the tournament.  Other highlights include freshman Nathan Mondo's 240 game and freshman Savun Raparelli's 234 helping the Bobcats secure their 17th place finish. 

With a top-20 finish and several bowlers recording averages of 200 or better, the men's team demonstrated its ability to compete against a deep and talented field.  

Women's Team Gains Valuable Early-Season Experience 

The St. Thomas University women's bowling team finished 22nd out of 24 teams in its season-opening appearance.  Competing against a strong field, the Bobcats gained important experience and an opportunity to evaluate their performance as they prepare for upcoming competition. 

Freshman Catie Taylor led the team's individual efforts, averaging 176 and placing 55th out of 200 women's bowlers.  Her performance was a bright spot for the Bobcats and provided an encouraging start to her collegiate career. Fellow freshmen also contributed to the team's efforts.  Naomi Denmark Thompson averaged 158, while Cristina Dixon posted a 140 average.   

Looking Ahead 

Although the teams' standings left room for improvement, the tournament offered the men's and women's squad an important opportunity to compete, gain experience, and identify areas of growth early in the season. 

Up next, the teams will travel to Atlanta on November 6 – 8 to compete in the prestigious Bowlero Southern Classic.