NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt will host the 17th annual Columbia 300 Music City Classic starting Friday and running through Sunday at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
No spectators will be allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s more information on this weekend’s event, one of the biggest in college bowling:
Daily Start Times
- Friday – Five, 5-Game Bakers begin at 9:40 a.m.
- Saturday – Five traditional team games at 9:30 a.m.
- Sunday – Three best of seven Bakers start at 9 a.m.
Nineteen Competing teams (national rank)
Alabama State (16), Central Missouri (22), Jackson State, Kentucky Wesleyan (23), Lincoln Memorial (11), Louisiana Tech (5), Maryville (9), McKendree (1), Nebraska (4), North Carolina A&T (13), Sam Houston (6), Spalding, Stephen F. Austin (10), Tulane (12), Tusculum, UAB, Valparaiso (19), Wisconsin-Whitewater (24) and host Vanderbilt (2).
With the late withdrawal of third rated Arkansas State due to a COVID-19 issue, the field now sports seven of the nation’s top 10 ranked teams and 15 of the 19 teams among the top 25 in the NTCA’s latest poll. While the 19 teams comprise what is likely the largest NCAA field of the 2020-21 season, it is significantly smaller than past Columbia 300 Music City Classic fields due to pandemic social distancing. There were 29 teams for the 2020 event and past fields have usually been in excess of 30.
Senior Day for Two Dores
Vanderbilt will salute its two seniors, Lauren Potechin and Samantha Gainor, Sunday afternoon after the tournament concludes. Since spectators are not allowed, the ceremony will be livestreamed on Vanderbilt Bowling’s YouTube channel.
Defending Tourney Champions
McKendree defeated Arkansas State 4-2 in the 2020 championship match. McKendree’s Breanna Clemmer was the tournament MVP.
Vanderbilt’s Success at MCC
While the Smyrna Bowling Center used to be the practice home of the Commodores before the addition of the on-campus facility in the Williams Student Recreation Center, the hometown Dores don’t appear to carry any special experience that would give them the advantage in the tournament. Vanderbilt has won the team title five times in 16 years – 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2019. Vandy was third a year ago.
A Season Avoiding COVID-19
The tournament marks a strange landmark for it was one year ago that news of a serious disease was starting to alarm the world. Vanderbilt hosted this tournament with 29 teams at a center packed with bowling fans while many were wondering about the then little-known coronavirus. Just days later the Southland Bowling League canceled its tournament followed in rapid succession by similar rulings from the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA. The Columbia 300 Music City Classic was therefore the last “normal” NCAA tournament conducted in 52 weeks.
