Bowling Begins New Era this Weekend at Mercyhurst Invitational

10/3/2025 8:30:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Connor Griffin, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications | cgriffin@daemen.edu

MERCYHURST INVITATIONAL
Oct. 4-5 | Erie, Pa. | Rolling Meadow Lanes
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KICKING OFF THE SEASON
The Daemen University women's bowling team heads to Erie, Pa., kicking off the 2025-26 season at the Mercyhurst Invitational on Saturday and Sunday. The Wildcats competed at this tournament last season, posting a 5-5 record with victories over D'Youville, Penn State Behrend, Pitt-Bradford, Wright State, and Kutztown.

NEW LEADER
The Wildcats will be under new leadership this year after Daniel Antkowiak was named the new head coach in August. Antkowiak returns to Daemen after nearly a decade, having previously served as the women's bowling assistant coach during the 2016-17 season. During his prior tenure, he played a crucial role in recruiting five players to the team. Since then, he has remained active in the bowling community, serving as an NCAA women's bowling official since 2018

TOURNAMENT INFO
The two-day tournament begins on Saturday with a battle against No. 25 Niagara. The Wildcats then take on RV Mercyhurst, D'Youville, William Smith, and Penn State Behrend later in the day. On Sunday, Daemen faces Roberts Wesleyan and Wright State. The final three opponents will be dependent on the outcomes of the previous ones. Saturday's matches will be traditional format. On Sunday, the first two matches will be Baker Total Pin Fall, while the final matches will be Baker Match Play.

NEW AND OLD FACES
Daemen, which posted a 38-41 record during the 2024-25 season, returns six players from last year, including junior Brenna Forsha (Tonawanda, N.Y.), who was named to the 2025 ECC Championships All-Tournament Team. In traditional matches, she notched 128 spares, good for second overall on the Wildcats squad. The team also returns senior Mackenzie Hutchins (Wheatfield, N.Y.), who completed 665 frames. Additionally, Cassidy Papero (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) completed 653 frames, and Kayla Richardson (Webster, N.Y.) completed 246 frames. The team welcomed one newcomer in freshman Alyssa Crewe (Lewiston, N.Y.).

PRESEASON POLL
The Wildcats were picked eighth in the ECC Women's Bowling Preseason Poll, released Monday. The poll ranks Kutztown first with 77 points and six first-place votes, followed by Bryant with 72 points and two first-place votes. Roberts Wesleyan is third with 60 points and one first-place vote, while Molloy ranks fourth with 54 points. Adelphi and Saint Anselm are tied for fifth with 35 points each. D'Youville is seventh with 29 points, Daemen is eighth with 28 points, and Saint Thomas Aquinas rounds out the poll in ninth with 15 points.

UP NEXT
Following this weekend's action, the Wildcats are back in action Oct. 11-12, returning to Erie, Pa., to compete at the Grapevine Classic hosted by Penn State Behrend.

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen women's bowling program on Twitter and Facebook at @DaemenBowling

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