The Mt. Vernon Rams have spent the past several months proving they belong among the nation’s elite bowling programs, and they’re doing it again on one of the biggest stages in high school bowling.
Fresh off a third-place finish at the IHSA State Bowling Tournament this past season and a fourth-place team finish at the US High School Bowling National Championships in Columbus, Ohio, the Rams continued their impressive postseason run as the singles competition got underway at Columbus Square Bowling Palace.
A total of 456 of the nation’s top high school bowlers entered the event, with only the top 180 advancing through the opening Survivor Round. When the dust settled, four Rams had punched their tickets to the next stage.
Leading the way was Travin Elliott, who rolled a 921 four-game series to finish 23rd overall after the opening round. Trace Elliott was close behind, firing an even 900 to place 37th. Korbyn Breeze added an 892 series to claim 45th, while Cooper Bradley advanced in 128th place after posting an 824.
The Rams’ success in Columbus comes as no surprise considering the group helped Mt. Vernon capture a third-place trophy at the IHSA State Finals this winter before carrying that momentum into the national tournament.
Not everyone was able to survive the first cut, however. Aidan King narrowly missed advancing after finishing 184th with a 793 series, just three pins shy of moving on. Sam Klimek finished 263rd with a 751, while Raymond Andrews added a 656 to place 440th.
After the first round, Abram Monosmith of The Wood paced the field with a 995 series, holding an eight-pin advantage over Brodey Cartier of the Clermont Cobras at 987.
As the competition intensified in the second Survivor Round, the Rams continued to show why they were among the top teams in Illinois and now one of the top programs in the country.
Travin Elliott put together another outstanding block and made one of the biggest moves of the day. The Rams standout climbed all the way into the Top 10, currently sitting 10th overall with a total pinfall of 1,614. With several rounds still remaining, Elliott sits fewer than 90 pins behind tournament leader Evan Warren of Oak Creek High School and remains firmly in contention for a national title.
Korbyn Breeze also delivered when it mattered most. After entering the round in 45th place, Breeze posted another strong performance and advanced into the third round. His total score of 1,497 pins places him 59th overall and keeps his national championship hopes alive.
With two bowlers still standing and one knocking on the door of the national leaderboard’s upper echelon, the Rams continue to add to what has already been a remarkable season. A third-place finish at the IHSA State Finals, a fourth-place finish in the national team competition, and now a pair of bowlers advancing deep into the singles bracket have solidified Mt. Vernon’s place among the premier high school bowling programs in the nation.
