The Youngstown State Penguins have emerged as the 2025 NCAA Bowling NationalChampions, securing the university's first-ever national title in a women's
sport. This historic victory occurred on Saturday night, April 12, 2025, in Las
Vegas, where the Penguins triumphed over defending champions Jacksonville State
in a thrilling 4-3 best-of-seven Baker match final.
The championship match was a hard-fought contest.Youngstown State initially took a 2-0 lead, but Jacksonville State fought back
to tie the series 3-3, forcing a decisive seventh game. In the final game,
senior Jade Cote delivered a crucial strike in the 10th frame, sealing a
228-203 victory for the Penguins. Cote's clutch performance, including multiple
strikes in critical moments, was instrumental in the team's success.
This national championship marks a significantmilestone for the Youngstown State bowling program, which has shown consistent
improvement in recent years, including a previous best finish of third at the
national tournament in 2024. The team, led by a strong group of seniors and
graduate students, including Cote, Madyson Marx, and Kirsten Moore, had
previously reached the Final Four in 2021.
To commemorate this momentous achievement, a"Youngstown State Penguins 2025 NCAA Bowling National Champions
T-Shirt" has been produced. These t-shirts, often red and featuring the
team name, the year, and "National Champions" text, allow fans to
celebrate the Penguins' historic win. They are available through various
retailers, including Fanatics and Lids, with some being special order items
shipping around late April 2025.
