COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Falcon bowlers descended on Columbus on Oct. 23 for their season debut in the Ohio Bowling Conference. The NDC women grabbed top honors in the varsity and junior varsity divisions, while both men's squads finished in second place. The competition was held at H.P. Lanes.

Led by senior Allyia Nicol (214) and sophomore Sarah Benedict (213), the varsity women burst out of the gate with a division-leading 964 team game. While there were six changes in the runner-up spot as five different schools reached the position, the Falcons kept increasing their lead, eventually finishing ahead of Walsh University by a margin of 126 pins.

Benedict added a 220 score and finished fifth among 109 women's division bowlers with a four-game average of 197, earning a berth on the all-tournament team. Fifth year senior Lauren Alexander and Nicol were 11th and 12th with 192 and 190 averages, respectively.  Freshman Asia Wells averaged 191 for two games.

Spurred on by fans chanting "N - D - C - Exclamation Point!" after every strike, the junior varsity women also led from wire to wire, finishing 144 pins ahead of runner-up Muskingum University. Sophomore Kayla Beckley averaged 188 to lead all junior varsity women, while freshman Ryley Cecil posted a 232 score. Beckley, Cecil, and senior Lindsey Benko captured the top three spots on the JV all-tournament team, finishing 17th, 31st and 37th overall, respectively.

The Notre Dame varsity men, meanwhile, found themselves in sixth place after the preliminary round of four team games. Junior Romeo Patrick-Holmes opened with a 247 game on his way to finishing 8th among 152 men's division competitors with a 218 average. Senior Anthony Doran was 19th with a 207 average, while sophomore Michael Wiese contributed a 240 score.

It was during the final round of 16 Baker games that the Falcon varsity men caught fire, blasting scores of 278, 244 and back-to-back 235 games as they led the round with a 209 average and soared past four teams to capture second place behind Muskingum University.

The Falcons posted the highest team game in the men's junior varsity division with a 1056 third game score on their way to finishing second to Robert Morris University (Pa.). Freshman Alex Etheredge (203 average) and sophomore Connor Gallagher (201 average) made the JV all-tournament team, finishing 21st and 23rd in the overall men's division. Gallagher posted a high game of 237, while Etheredge added a 233 score.

The Falcons will rest their wings for a week before returning to Columbus for the Buckeye Baker Bash on Nov. 6-7.