The Augustana Vikings women’s bowling team rolled its way into the postseason this past weekend, clinching a spot in the CCIW Championships after finishing the regular season with a 7–5 record at the second CCIW in-season tournament. With the conference finals on the line, the Vikings delivered when it mattered most, putting together a strong performance in traditional play on day two to secure their place among the conference’s top teams.
Augustana went 2–0 in traditional play on the second day, earning key victories over Carthage College and Elmhurst University to punch its ticket to the CCIW Finals. The Vikings opened the day with a tightly contested match against Carthage, edging out the Firebirds by just six pins, 936–930. The close win set the tone for the rest of the day, as Augustana carried the momentum forward to complete the sweep and officially lock in its postseason berth after defeating Elmhurst 880-854.
Beyond the numbers, the moment carried a deeper significance for the program. The berth marks just the second time in program history that Augustana has qualified for the CCIW Championships. The first appearance came during the Covid-19-impacted 2020 season, when the entire conference advanced to the championship tournament, making this year’s qualification the first time the Vikings have earned their spot through regular-season results.
The achievement is even more notable considering the expectations entering the season. Augustana was projected to finish sixth in the conference preseason poll. The athletes, such as First-Year Kathryn Edwards, embraced the underdog role and proved they belonged among the conference’s top programs.
“It actually means a lot to us, because the first time we qualified, all the teams made it, because it was Covid[-19] year,” Edwards said. “So this is like the first actual year of us making it on our own, it also feels great, especially after getting predicted to place sixth in our conference during pre-season predictions.”
The Vikings’ success this season has been even more impressive considering the team’s youth. With five First-Years on the roster, Augustana entered the season with a relatively new lineup still adjusting to the demands of higher-level competition. For many of the younger bowlers, the transition meant not only learning a higher level of play but also adapting to a new team environment.
Over the course of the season, that learning curve has turned into steady growth. As the Vikings gained more experience competing together and adjusted to different lane conditions, the team began to find its rhythm. Players like junior Cassie Kontos have seen the development of the team’s younger bowlers play a key role in the Vikings’ improvement throughout the season.
“We do have five freshmen on the team, so it’s almost like we have a brand new team,” Kontos said. “So from the very start, we had a lot of newcomers who were just experiencing either being on a team for the first time ever or going from a high school team and then adjusting to college. We definitely improved from then, which was a lot of learning and getting used to a lot of different types of bowling and what it is to be on a team like Augustana.”
While clinching a spot in the CCIW Championships marks an important milestone for the Vikings, those within the program see it as part of a larger process of growth. With a young roster continuing to gain experience and confidence, this season’s success represents more than just a postseason appearance; it shows that the program is beginning to build a stronger foundation for the future.
As the Vikings continue to develop their younger talent and build consistency, there is growing optimism among players, such as First-Year Molly Singleton, that this year’s appearance could be the start of even greater success.
“I believe that the program is headed in a great direction,” Singleton said. “I think our qualification this year shows that, and I’m not sure if we’re going to win it, but we have a greater chance of qualifying and possibly winning in years to come.”
With the regular season now complete, the Vikings will turn their full attention to the postseason. Augustana will head into the CCIW Championships on March 21–22 looking to carry momentum from its second-place finish at the conference’s second in-season tournament. Riding that strong performance, the Vikings will aim to build on their late-season success as they prepare to face the conference’s top teams.
