The 2024-25 season proved to be a year of growth and learning for the Arizona Christian University Firestorm bowling program. While facing stiff competition across three states, the team demonstrated resilience and commitment to improvement throughout their campaign.

Player/Coach David Waybright comments on leading the team in his final season of eligibility, "Playing and coaching was a different experience. I wanted to make sure that the guys were getting better and that I still maintained my performance as well. Overall it was a great experience and really grew with these guys over the course of the season. I'm very proud of them all for growing on and off the lanes as leaders."

Season Highlights
The Firestorm's strongest showing came at the Oak Tree Open, where they secured a seventh-place finish in a competitive field. The team's schedule featured tournaments across California, Arizona, and Nevada, providing valuable experience against diverse competition. These travel opportunities not only challenged the team athletically but also fostered strong team bonds through shared experiences on the road.

Individual Performances
Leading the way for ACU were veteran bowlers Ian Silva and Josh Burnett, who both maintained impressive 173 averages throughout the season. The duo combined for five top-25 finishes, demonstrating consistency at the highest levels of competition. Freshman Jalen Greenlee made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut season, averaging 165 and securing his first career top-25 finish – a promising sign for the program's future.

Beyond the Lanes
While the scoreboard may not always have reflected the team's full potential, the 2024-25 season saw significant growth in areas beyond competition. The challenging tournament schedule helped forge stronger team chemistry and developed valuable life skills in time management, resilience, and perseverance.

Looking Ahead
As the Firestorm looks toward the 2025-26 season, the foundation laid this year provides numerous building blocks for future success. The experience gained through competing against top programs across the western United States sets the stage for continued growth in the seasons ahead.  

 

**About Arizona Christian University**

Arizona Christian University is an accredited, private, non-profit, Christian university in sunny Glendale, Arizona offering a wide variety of degrees preparing students for successful careers, while remaining committed to its vision of transforming culture with biblical truth.  Students actively engage in biblically-integrated academics and gain a liberal arts foundation with critical thinking skills that last a lifetime.  Arizona Christian draws students from more than 40 states and 30 countries, and the Firestorm compete athletically in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).   For more information about ACU and how to apply for admission, visit arizonachristian.edu.