2026 Men's Bowling National Championship Recap

LANSING, Mich. - (NAIA Release | Results) Four schools from the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) took part in the NAIA Men's Bowling National Championships in Lansing over the weekend. Each of the four WHAC schools earned atleast one win in the bracket format with Indiana Tech and Lawrence Tech both advancing to the semifinals of their respective portion of the bracket. Ultimately, both fell short in that round despite a valiant effort trying to battle back from the lower bracket. Mount Mercy (Iowa) claimed the red banner, defeated Marian (Indiana) 2-1. 

A new format was in play for this year's championships. As the NAIA entered its sixth year of bowling championships, 2026 marks the debut of a new championship structure, highlighted by the Mega Match format in the winner's bracket. The 12-team field is split into two sections — the Blue Bracket (seeds 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12) and the Red Bracket (seeds 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11) — with each operating as a double-elimination bracket. Within each section, teams compete through a winner's bracket using the Mega Match format and an elimination bracket utilizing a Best-of-7 Baker format, ultimately producing two finalists for the national championship match.

No. 8 Aquinas was competing in its first ever Men's Bowling National Championship and came out hot out of the gate, sweep No. 9 Spring Arbor 2-0. They would fall in their second match of the day, 2-1, to eventual National Champion, Mount Mercy (Iowa). Their season came to a close in the lower bracket, falling 4-1 to Ottawa (Kan.)

No. 5 Indiana Tech put together a big-time run, and it started with a 2-0 sweep of No. 12 Ottawa (Kan.). They followed it up with a 2-1 win over Calumet-St. Joseph (Ind.) to advance to the quarterfinal round against Mount Mercy. The Warriors fell 2-0, but went to the lower bracket and defeated No. 4 Calument-St. Joseph 4-1 to set up a blue bracket finals rematch with Mount Mercy. While Indiana Tech won a game, they ultimately fell 2-1 to the eventual national champs. 

No. 7 St. Francis (Ill.) kicked of its tournament in the red bracket with a 2-1 win over No. 10 St. Xaiver (Ill.). That set-up a matchup with WHAC foe and No. 2 seed, Lawrence Tech. The Blue Devils got the best of them, earning a 2-1 win. St. Francis won its first lower bracket game, 4-1 over No. 11 Cumberland (Tenn.) then saw its season come to an end with a 4-2 loss to No. 3 SCAD Savannah. 

No. 2 Lawrence Tech won the aforementioned match against St. Francis, then faced off with No. 6 Marian and fell 2-1. The Blue Devils dropped to the lower bracket finals and defeated No. 3 SCAD Savannah 4-3 to set up a rematch with Marian in the blue bracket finals. LTU saw its season come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Marian. 

Bracket Results:

No. 8 Aquinas def. No. 9 Spring Arbor, 2-0
No. 1 Mount Mercy def. No. 8 Aquinas, 2-1
No. 12 Ottawa def. No. 8 Aquinas, 4-1

No. 5 Indiana Tech def. No. 4 Calumet-St. Joseph, 2-1
No. 1 Mount Mercy def. No. 5 Indiana Tech, 2-0
No. 5 Indiana Tech def. No. 4 Calumet-St. Joseph, 4-1
No. 1 Mount Mercy def. No. 5 Indiana Tech, 2-1

No. 7 St. Francis def. No. 10 St. Xavier, 2-1
No. 2 Lawrence Tech def. No. 7 St. Francis, 2-1
No. 7 St. Francis def. No. 11 Cumberland, 4-1
No. 3 SCAD Savannah def. No. 7 St. Francis, 4-2

No. 2 Lawrence Tech def. No. 7 St. Francis, 2-1
No. 6 Marian def. No. 2 Lawrence Tech, 2-1
No. 2 Lawrence Tech def. No. 3 SCAD Savannah, 4-3
No. 6 Marian def. No. 2 Lawrence Tech, 2-1