The Bees closed 2025 by traveling to Las Vegas, Nev., to compete in a pair of events - the Glenn Carlson Invitational and the Collegiate Shootout.

The St. Ambrose men took fourth in the 60-team Glenn Carlson Invite with 8453 total pins. Mount Mercy was the top qualifier with 8811 pins with Wichita State (8703) taking second and St. Francis (8621) placing third.

But SAU was bounced in the first round of the 16-team bracket, losing to Purdue 3-1.

Mount Mercy ultimately defeated Wichita 3-0 to win the event.

Lucas Hersrud led the Bees with 1723 pins over his eight games for a 215.4 average. Also competing for St. Ambrose were Kendric Siders, Lucas Finley, Tommy Burns, Kevin Magnuson, Devin Richards, Keaten Bieri and Tyler Close.

The SAU women were 24th with 7054 pins in the 42-team event. Calumet (7733) was the top qualifier but it was Milligan, the fifth-seed, who won the women's bracket.

Marissa Bills was the top Bee. She knocked down 1501 pins over her eight games for a 187.6 average. Her teammates were Kayla Staub, Emma Taft, Mia Almeida, Gianna Koszut, Brooklyn Schlapkohl and Shay Edwards.

St. Ambrose turned around and then competed in the Collegiate Shootout.

The men with 8700 pins were fifth out of 61 teams. Wichita State (9244), Mount Mercy (8922), Wis. Whitewater (8910) and St. Francis (8845) were the top four qualifiers.

The Bees were knocked out in the semifinals, placing third behind Wichita State (1027) and St. Francis (924) with 895 pins. Mount Mercy and Wis. Whitewater advanced from the other semifinal into the four-team championship match, with St. Francis earning the title.

Siders earned all-tournament team recognition by taking second overall with 1188 pins over five games. That was good for a 237.6 average. Magnuson was 15th overall with 1121 pins for a 224.2 average.

The Bee women finished in the top half of the 41-team event, taking 20th with 7112 pins. Morningside was the top qualifier with 7741 pins, and Northwestern Ohio, the eighth and final qualifier, won the bracket title.

Bills just missed out on another all-tournament team appearance as she placed sixth with 1025 pins and a 205.0 average. Taft was 17th overall.

The Bees will return to action at the Kegel Classic at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Ill., Jan. 17-18.