All-Decade Team Paynter

All-Decade Team: Men's Bowling

By Sports Information

Williamsburg, KY – The UC Athletic Department has built a strong reputation as a premier school in the NAIA and over the past decade, the Patriots welcomed seven new programs, which has expanded its total number of sports offered to 30.    The second and third additions were the men’s and women’s bowling programs, which began competition during the 2013-14 season and just completed its seventh year as a program. The men’s bowling program has posted two tournament victories, five NAIA appearances, an MSC tournament championship, an NAIA All-American, four MSC All-Conference selections, and two MSC Freshman of the Year. The Patriots' success has come in part of having a plethora of talented bowlers that have achieved success at the conference and national levels.  With all of these accomplishments, the one bowler that represents the men’s bowling team on UC’S All-Decade Team is Brad Paynter.

Paynter is one of the founding members of the UC men’s bowling program as part of its inaugural recruiting class.  Paynter is an MSC Champion of Character winner and a three-time academic all-conference selection.  In addition to those honors, Paynter led the team in average twice, knocked down at least 200 pins in a game three times, helped UC to four NAIA National Tournament appearances, and hit 1,000 pins in a tournament nine times.

“This is an absolute honor. I’ve seen the program grow tremendously since our inception in 2013, and to be named to the All-Decade team is something I never even thought possible. I’d like to take this time to give a huge shout-out to my coach Kevin Reigle, as this wouldn’t be possible without his guidance throughout my career.”
- Brad Paynter
Brad Paynter

Paynter made an impact for Cumberlands from the second he stepped on the lanes in 2013.  During his freshman campaign, Paynter averaged 183.925 pins over 40 games, which ranked third on the team.  At UPike’s Orange and Black Tournament, the Carlisle, OH native knocked down 1153 pins over six games for an average of 192.167 per game. He recorded over 1,000 pins at the Striking Knight’s classic, before posting his highest average of the season, 193.600, at the Norse Classic.   

Paynter built off his freshman year and notched a breakout season as a sophomore. He led the team with a 185.077 average and posted his first top-five finish of his career. After opening the season at the Racers Classic, Paynter hit 1,062 pins, over five games, for a 212.4 average at the Green River Classic, which was a career-high. That performance earned him the first top-five finish of his career. Paynter knocked down over 1,000 pins twice more and finished the season hitting 7,218 pins. Paynter capped off the season by earned MSC Academic All-Conference honors and was Cumberlands' nominee for the MSC Champion of Character Award.

“Brad was a part of our first recruiting class and was a huge part of getting our program started. He became a leader over his time here and finished off his career as a Patriot by anchoring our Conference Championship team his senior year. Brad has gone on to do some amazing things both in and out of bowling since he graduated and I am so proud of him.”
- Head Coach Kevin Reigle

During his junior season, Paynter continued his strong leadership and led UC in average for consecutive seasons. The junior bowled in 45 games, averaging 187.844 pins per game and helped the Patriots to three top-five team finishes on the year.  He opened the season with back-to-back top-ten finishes at the Green River Classic and the Southern Kentucky Classic, where he averaged 201.00 pins over five games.  Paynter’s highest average came at the Bulldogs Classic as he recorded 1017 pins for an average of 203.4, while he knocked down 1,132 pins at the Striking Knights Classic.

Paynter continued to serve as one of the leaders of the Patriots in his senior year as he averaged 183.80 pins per game.  The Carlisle, OH native tallied a pair of top-ten finishes at the Bulldog Classic and the Norse Classic.  The senior hit 1776 pins over nine games at the Bulldog Classic to finish ninth, while he placed tenth at the Norse Classic averaging 195.00 pins per game.  Paynter earned the Mid-South Conference Champions of Character Award prior to the MSC Tournament.  At the MSC Tournament Cumberlands made an improbably run to the title from the sixth-seed.  UC won its first two matches over Tennessee Wesleyan and Lindenwood-Belleville, before dropping to the consolation bracket. The Patriots won three straight matches to advance to the championship where they knocked off top-seed Pikeville 4-2 and 4-3, including a 194-145 win in game seven to capture the first conference tournament title in program history.  With the win, UC advanced to its fourth NAIA National Tournament.

“By far my favorite athletic memory from UC was in 2017 when my team won the Mid-South Conference Championship. We started off hot with 2 wins over Tennessee Wesleyan & Lindenwood-Belleville. In the rematch against Martin Methodist, we knew it was going to be a tough match, we bowled the school’s highest baker game, which happened to be a 279 against them to meet Pikeville in the finals. Pikeville was undefeated going into this, so we had to beat them twice to capture the title. Having the momentum of the 279, we went on to beat Pikeville twice and capture the MSC title! This was the first time the men’s program won a title and guaranteed our trip to the National Tournament.”
- Brad Paynter

Paynter graduated from Cumberlands in May 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration. He went on to obtain his MBA from UC in December 2018 and work as a Senior Financial Analyst at the University of Cincinnati hospital. Paynter still bowls competitively, which includes many leagues, local tournaments, and PBA tournaments. Aside from working and bowling, he also has done some acting/modeling taking part in 50 productions, which range from local commercials to national movies.

“Both playing and going to school at UC means the world to me. So many opportunities were thrown my way that I believe never would have happened if I went anywhere else. Academically, the school was challenging and truly prepared me for the real world. Athletically, UC bowling transformed me into not only a better bowler but a better team member and leader.”
- Brad Paynter

The UC All-Decade Team was determined based on stats, awards & honors received, and significance to the program in addition to input for members of the UC Athletic Department. It will include one representative from every sport and be comprised of 29 student-athletes. The all-decade team looked at everything from the 2010-2011 season through the 2019-2020 season.