Top collegiate bowlers to compete at Lancaster's Tiki Lanes Saturday

LANCASTER - It's not often a small school like Shawnee State University takes on schools like Ohio State and West Virginia in athletic competition.

But the Bears from Portsmouth will face those schools and more Saturday in the Muskie Mash bowling tournament at Tiki Lanes hosted by Muskingum University.

There are no conference alliances in collegiate bowling, meaning Ball State University from Indiana will also compete against large in-state rival Indiana University.

The tournament will also draw schools from Kentucky, New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

The action starts at 10 a.m. and the public is invited to watch. All lanes will be closed during the tournament, however.

This marks the third year of the tournament, but the first locally.

Tiki Lanes managing partner Greg Russell said Muskingum bowling coach Doug Smith inquired about Tiki after getting turned down by a bowling center closer to Muskingum.

"It's crazy to turn something like that way," Russell said. "I couldn't say yes fast enough."

Smith said 15 men's teams and 13 women's teams are scheduled to compete. His women's team is ranked 21st in the country and has won the two previous editions of the Muskie Mash. The Muskie men's team won the first year.

Russell said he hopes if all goes well Saturday that Smith will want to bring the tournament back next year.

"It's exciting to watch," Russell said. "I've seen it on television, but never had the opportunity to host it before."

He said Tiki has hosted major high school tournaments, though.

Tiki Lanes is located at 1521 Tiki Lane.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron