Mercyhurst University Women's Bowling

Haley Youker joins the Mercyhurst Women’s Bowling Team as an assistant coach, after spending the last four years on the Lakers’ Varsity Team. The East Syracuse, New York native collected a plethora of accolades in her time the Lakers. She ended her time at Mercyhurst helping lead them to their first ever ECC Tournament Championship in the 2022-23 season, while collecting her second ECC Bowler of the Year. Prior to Mercyhurst, Youker picked up multiple league, tournament, and state championships along with multiple MVPs. She became the first female high schooler ever to bowl multiple 300 games in high school. She spent one year at Lincoln Memorial University after high school before transferring to Mercyhurst. In her first season with Mercyhurst, Youker had a 217.1 game average over 35 games that season which earned her the first of her two ECC Bowler of the Years. She would also pick up All-ECC First Team and NTCA All-American Third Team honors after being named MVP four times to finish out her sophomore season. Youker again earned honors in her senior year, being placed on the All-ECC Second Team after posting a 19.12 pin per frame average. Her graduate season was her best, which of course ended with the Tournament championship and Bowler of the Year, but she was able to add 2022-23 ECC All-Confrenece First Team, 2022-23 NTCA All-Region First Team, 2022-23 USBC All-American Honorable Mention, 2023 Mercyhurst Female Athlete of the Year and five MVP’s throughout the season to her resume.  Youker graduated with a Sports Medicine degree and is a member of the PWBA. 

Michael Machuga enters his sixth season and is the first-ever head coach of the Mercyhurst Women’s Bowling team. During the 2023-24 season, Coach Machuga steered the Lakers to a series of impressive finishes, with their consistent success propelling them to their second consecutive ECC Championship title. This remarkable achievement earned the team a return trip to the National Tournament for the second year in a row. The Lakers faced Jacksonville State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at NCAA Regionals, ultimately falling to both teams.  The 2022-23 season brought several firsts. The Lakers won their first-ever East Coast Conference Tournament Championship while having the Bowler, Rookie, and Coach of the Year for the conference. The ECC accolades did not end there as there were a total of four bowlers being named to an All-ECC list. Two were named to the All-Region team in Samantha Strebel and Haley Youker. Youker was also named a USBC All-American Third Team member. The Lakers made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, competing against Machuga's alma mater, Nebraska, in the opening round. While at Nebraska, the Cornhuskers placed third at the National Championship during his freshman year.    Laker standout, Haley Youker, was named to the National Tenpin Coaches Association All-American Third-Team, and earned the East Coast Conference Bowler of the Year.Throughout the season, Youker also was the recipient of five Most Valuable Player awards.  Machuga grew up in Erie, PA. His grandparents owned Frontier Lanes on the west side of Erie. He currently calls Rolling Meadow Lanes his home center. Machuga spent his professional career competing on the Professional Bowling Association Tour. He has also won the local Erie Times News Open tournament five different times.  Machuga has actively coached bowlers since 2003 – both domestic and internationally – including a stint as a coach for the Panama National Team ahead of the Pan-Am Games. Machuga is also no stranger to Mercyhurst Athletics. He was previously an assistant women's golf coach. Machuga has spent more than 13 years as a professional bowler. After bowling for two years at the University of Nebraska, he made an amateur run before turning pro in Aug. 2001. During his time with the PBA, he has won two PBA National Tour championships and one PBA regional championship. Machuga has bowled a 300 on the PBA Tour on 24 occasions. He was also a two-year member of the Dallas Strikers, a team in the PBA League. Machuga's PBA Tour wins include the 2008 Chameleon Championship and the 2005 Greater Omaha Classic. As of the fall of 2018, Machuga reinstated his membership with the PBA after a 4 1/2-year retirement.   Machuga currently owns and operates the Next Level Pro Shop in Erie. He has 27 years of experience in bowling pro shop operations. 

Erie, PA – Head Coach Mike Machuga has announced the addition of Samantha "Sami" Strebel as the new Assistant Coach for both the Mercyhurst Women’s Bowling team and the Club Men’s Bowling team. Sami, a standout bowler at Mercyhurst for the past four years, brings her extensive experience and commitment to the sport into her new role.  Sami's collegiate bowling career at Mercyhurst was marked by numerous accolades and achievements:  2023-24 NTCA All-American  2023-24 NTCA All-Region Honorable Mention  2023-24 ECC Bowler of the Year  2023-24 All-ECC First Team  2022-23 NTCA All-Region Second Team  2022-23 All-ECC First Team  2021-22 NTCA All-Region Honorable Mention  2021-22 All-ECC Second Team  2020-21 All-ECC First Team  2020-21 ECC Bowler of the Year  Sami's transition from athlete to coach is a testament to her dedication and leadership. Her firsthand experience as a top performer will provide invaluable insights and guidance to the current athletes. The Mercyhurst community is excited to see the positive impact she will have on both the men's and women's bowling programs.