The #11 Valparaiso bowling team brought home the first event victory in program history Sunday at the Warhawk Classic in Whitewater, Wis., while Krystyna Johnson (Montgomery, Ill./Oswego East [Delaware State]) earned individual titlist honors.

The Crusaders totaled 7,240 pins over the six four-game baker matches and three traditional matches, beating out Elmhurst  #14 Minnesota State-Mankato finished third, while host #14 UW-Whitewater rounded out the field.  Johnson led all bowlers with a 221.7 average over the three traditional matches, while Natalie Cortese (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates [Central Missouri]) finished third with a 205 average. for the team title by 45 pins.

“I am very pleased with our performance this weekend,” said Crusader head coach Stephen Anthony.  “To capture first place for the weekend was a tremendous accomplishment, and it is certainly very exciting to win our first event in program history.  I felt the team was together and focused on their goal this weekend and it was evident in our consistent scores.  The results from this weekend should help the team prepare as we look forward to our final regular season tournament at Vanderbilt next month.”

Valpo kicked off Sunday’s action with a 924-891 victory over Elmhurst in traditional action, paced by a 235 from Cortese and a 205 by Johnson.  The Crusaders then switched over to baker action with a 759-682 win over UW-Whitewater, featuring a Valpo day-high 207 game in game three.

The Crusaders dropped their next match to Minnesota St.-Mankato, 806-769, despite closing the match with three straight 200+ games when Mankato posted a 256 in game four.  Valpo closed action at the Warhawk Classic with a tight 785-740 loss to Elmhurst.

Valparaiso (60-39) is now off for almost an entire month, returning to action in the three-day Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn. on Friday, March 12.  The tournament is hosted by the nation’s current top-ranked team, Vanderbilt.