March 11, 2010
NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt will host its fifth annual Columbia 300 Music City Bowling Classic Friday through Sunday at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
The tournament is one of the last on the NCAA bowling circuit and many teams see it as a final tune-up for next month’s NCAA Championship. As a result, 16 of the nation’s top 20 teams will be on hand.
“We are really pleased with our field this year,” says Coach John Williamson. “And we are also thankful that the Smyrna Bowling Center was able to recover so quickly from the winter ice storm incident a month ago (collapsed roof) so that we can compete in the facility. We are looking forward to a very good tournament.”
In all, 20 teams will be in town for the tournament, which starts Friday at 11:00 a.m. with six traditional team games. Play resumes Saturday at noon with six, quad-Baker games and concludes Sunday starting at 8:00 a.m. with best four-of-seven bracket play based upon total pin fall from the first two days.
Vanderbilt is the defending champion, although the 2009 title is its only win in the tournament history. The Commodores are coming off a victory last week at the ECAC Championship in New Jersey, their fourth championship of the current season.
The field includes Louisiana Tech, Saint Francis, Delaware State, Hampton, Kutztown, Morgan State, Sacred Heart, New Jersey City, Fairleigh Dickinson, Adelphi, Alabama A & M, Nebraska, North Carolina A & T, Central Missouri, Florida A & M, Valparaiso, Minnesota-Mankato, Winston-Salem State, Arkansas State and Vanderbilt.
Admission is free of charge.