NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 19th annual Vanderbilt Music City Classic, one of the NCAA’s largest regular season bowling tournaments, begins Friday at the Smyrna Bowling Center in Smyrna.
There is no admission charge.
Start times
Practice will begin at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday with competition starting at 9:30 a.m. Sunday’s practice is at 8:30 a.m. and competition begins at 9 a.m.
Format
The tournament will follow the standard NCAA format with five, 5-game Baker sets Friday, five traditional team games Saturday and three best-of-seven Baker bracket matches Sunday.
Strong field of 30 teams
This year’s field features many of the nation’s top teams, including 14 ranked among the top 25 in the latest NTCA poll. Here are the participants (indicates rank):
Arkansas State (4), Aurora, Belmont Abbey, Carthage, Central Missouri (17), Emmanuel, Kentucky Wesleyan, Louisiana Tech (12), Lewis, Lincoln Memorial (19), Long Island University, Marian, Maryville (8), McKendree (1), Monmouth, North Carolina A&T (7), Sacred Heart (25), Saint Francis (Pa.), Sam Houston State (9), Spaulding, Stephen F. Austin (5), Tusculum, UAB, Maryland-Eastern Shore (10), Valparaiso, Vanderbilt (2), Wagner, Wisconsin-Whitewater (20), Wright State and Youngstown State (6).
Following the event
Veteran national sportscaster Emil Williams will be streaming some of the action, which will be found on youtube.com/@BowlStreamTV. For the matches not streamed there, most schools will be streaming from their own platforms. Vanderbilt uses its athletics department YouTube site.
Special Note to Fans
Fans should be aware that the traditional step ladders that many use to see over the tops of the spectator and bowler heads will not be permitted. Many bowling centers across the country have banned the use of ladders, chairs and so forth for enhanced viewing angles after being informed that their insurance no longer covers injuries sustained.
Senior Day ’23
Vanderbilt will salute seniors Amelia Kiefer and Mabel Cummins after competition concludes Sunday afternoon.
Stoddard Award Recipient to be Announced
This award is named in honor of former Smyrna Bowling Center General Manager Harry Stoddard, whose early enthusiasm, loyalty and hard work was instrumental in laying the foundation for Vanderbilt bowling’s success.
When Stoddard was dying of cancer, Vanderbilt head coach John Williamson promised Stoddard that he would keep his name and spirit alive with the bowling program by creating…