MIDWAY, Ky. -- The Midway men's and women's bowling teams will compete in the Brunswick Midwest Collegiate Classic on Oct. 3 in Detroit to open their 2026 campaign.
Chris McMillan is entering his third season as head coach.
"It is a long season," said McMillan. "We need to pace ourselves and continue building momentum. Our season is built on tournament finishes and points, which are how we are ranked and how our RPI works, not just tournament wins. We have set up our bar, we want to raise the bar, but most importantly, I want them to enjoy the experience."
The men's team will be on the younger side this year after welcoming two freshmen to the varsity team.
"One thing I like about this new men's team," he said, "is how quickly they began to gel with the new leadership of captains, younger teammates joining varsity, and reinforcing our mission, 'Continued Success.'"
Senior and captain Charlie Smith will look to put together another strong season. Smith recorded several top-five finishes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) statistical rankings last season.
Sophomore Johnathan Hatcher enters the season following a successful summer. He finished in the top 20 nationally in the U21 Division of the USBC Junior Gold Championships in Minnesota. Hatcher finished just shy of advancing to the final round and competing for a spot on Junior Team USA.
"The mission for the girls' team is 'Push Yourself,'" said McMillan. "We are developing our new ladies for collegiate competition. What I am enjoying is how much they have all improved since the season started."
Avery Reeves is the women's team senior and captain. Reeves returns after taking some time off due to injury. She helped the Eagles earn a top-10 finish in the NAIA RPI two seasons ago and will look to provide strong leadership for the younger players this season.
About Midway University Athletics
Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and its 29 athletics teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association and USA Archery. For more information about Midway University Athletics, please visit www.gomidwayeagles.com or contact Tyler Beck at 859-846-5366.
