DALLAS - Fresh off leaving the NJCAA Championships with a first and second place finish overall, the Iowa Central bowling team will compete against the top programs in the nation at the USBC Collegiate Sectionals beginning here Friday.

The three-day event will feature singles on Friday with Baker games to take to the lanes on Saturday and Sunday. This sectional takes place from USA Bowl.

Three other sectionals will also go down, with the Top-4 from each advancing to the championships to be held in May. 

"We will be going up against the top teams from around the nation including NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA Club programs," Iowa Central head coach Gregg Haden said. "We'll be putting all of our efforts into becoming an all-schools national champion."

The Top-80 men's teams and Top-64 women's teams qualify for sectionals. 

On Friday, singles will play six games to determine the Top-4 to move on to the singles championships. Over Saturday and Sunday, 40 Baker games will be played with those Top-4 advancing as well.

"We typically are a very strong team in Baker's," Haden said. "Coming off a great performance at the NJCAA championships, I feel like we have a very good shot at advancing."

Haden also added that the event could be the final one for his current group of sophomores.

"I have made great friendships with them over these last two years," he said. "It's going to be very emotional once that final ball is thrown."

The Iowa Central women claimed their second consecutive national team title last Friday in Lansing, Michigan while the men placed second overall.

Earlier this week, though, the Triton women were informed of a positive COVID test and are unable to attend the meet. 

-By Dana Becker