University places 3rd at FHSAA bowling championships, Mainland also qualifies

University finished third at the 2026 FHSAA boys bowling championships on Oct. 29.

The third-seeded Titans began their run with a sweep (207-188, 203-194, 255-214) over No. 14 Windermere, but that would be their last comfortable victory of the tournament.

University showed its resilience after trailing No. 6 Melbourne and No. 10 Leesburg 2-0 in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively. Melbourne beat the Titans 213-209 and 222-212 in the opening Baker matches, but University won 215-181, 203-162 and 248-185 to send the Bulldogs to the consolation bracket.

Leesburg beat University 226-184 and 235-217, but the Titans advanced with victories of 249-172, 176-136 and 213-187.

University lost to top-seeded Ridgeview 3-0 (234-213, 198-179, 203-158) in the winner’s bracket semifinal and was sent to the consolation bracket. The Titans were eliminated against eventual state champion SLAM Tampa 3-2 (239-197, 258-144, 189-192, 219-279, 217-189) after nearly completing a third 2-0 comeback.

University’s performance marks the third consecutive year a Volusia County bowling team has finished in Florida’s top three, following Seabreeze’s back-to-back state titles in 2024 and 2025. The Sandcrabs didn’t field a team this season because they couldn’t find enough bowlers to form a roster.

Mainland competed in the boys and girls tournaments after winning district championships. The Bucs’ boys entered as the No. 9 seed and were eliminated after losing consecutive Baker matches to Hagerty and Park Vista Community.

The Bucs’ girls finished 19th and didn’t qualify for the Baker bracket. University’s girls team followed in 21st.

Mainland’s Levi Tankersley was the only local bowler to make the individual bracket, doing so as the No. 13 seed. He lost to Hagerty’s No. 4 seed, Johnathan Madruga, 2-0 (235-181, 245-234) in the opening round and Leesburg’s No. 12 Wesley Archer 2-0 (254-178, 233-186).

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: University places 3rd at FHSAA bowling championships, Mainland also qualifies