STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – Kansas Wesleyan Men's Bowling saw its highly successful run at the NAIA Men's Bowling National Championships on Friday in the semifinals of the elimination bracket at 5 Star Lanes.
 
The Coyotes posted at Top 6 finish at the National Championships as one of the final six teams remaining in the field.
 
This season's run was the deepest the KWU men's team has made it in bracket play since the current format was adopted once bowling became a national championship sport at the NAIA level. KWU went 3-2 in this year's bracket matches.
 
After Thursday's win to start bracket play as the only lower seed to win in the first round, the Coyotes faced a stiff test in No. 1 seeded SCAD Savannah in the first round. Things started strong for the Coyotes, who won the first two games 247-178 and 214-146, but then SCAD came back and won the next four to win the match 4-2.
 
The Coyotes then dropped into the elimination bracket, a place where the team has been before. KWU climbed back through the elimination bracket of the KCAC Championships to win the conference to earn this year's bid to the NAIA National Championships.
 
KWU then faced Cumberland (Tenn.) in the first elimination match-up. KWU won the first game 220-160, but the Phoenix of Cumberland came back to win the next two to take a 2-1 lead in the match. KWU came right back and won the next two to 197-168 and 193-159 to take a 3-2 lead in the match. Cumberland won Game 6 207-198  to force a Game 7 and it was the Coyotes winning 189-146 to advance in the bracket.
 
Next up was University of St. Francis (Ill.) for the Coyotes. The Fighting Saints won the first game 267-167, but the Coyotes rallied to win the next two 207-187 and 225-189 to take a 2-1 lead. USF won the next two games taking a 3-2 lead in the match. With their backs against the wall, the Coyotes preserved winning Game 6 190-180, and then capturing the match 216-191 to move into the next round.
 
Luck finally ran out for the Coyotes in the fifth round. The Coyotes faced Concordia (Mich.) in the next round. The Cardinals would sweep the Coyotes 4-0 to end KWU's run at the tournament.
 
KWU's season comes to a close with the end of their run in the tournament.
 
The season was highly successful as the Coyotes claimed the KCAC Tournament title and berth to the NAIA National Championships, and finished with a Top 6 finish at the National Championships.