The 2025-2026 NDBowling.com Player of the Year Race concluded earlier this month at the Season’s Final Major. With a record number of players entering the race this season, it was definitely one to remember.
The season started in October with back to back weekends in Williston and Minot. 2-Time Player of the Year, Thomas Wolf, got off to a blazing start notching a top 5 finish at the Fall Shootout and a 3rd career title at the NDBowlTV Masters.
As the schedule progressed through the holiday swing and into January, the race was on. Both Jamey Kragh and Dawson Unrath briefly held the lead and a win in Manitoba brought Wade Scott into the mix as well.
Entering the Season’s Final Major, the race had come down to just a few players. Dawson Unrath started the weekend with the lead, but a missed cut ultimately ended his Player of the Year campaign. On Sunday morning, Tayler Wallstrum, Wade Scott and Thomas Wolf were the last 3 standing. Following an early exit in the bracket, Wolf finished the season with 164.80 points. At that point, Wade Scott would need to finish 3rd or better and Tayler Wallstrum would need to finish 4th or better to pass Wolf.
That is when things got interesting. Wallstrum and Scott met in round two of the bracket. The winner would move on and have a shot at winning Player of the Year while the other would ultimately fall short. Scott went on to defeat Wallstrum leaving just 2 players left in the Player of the Year Race. Scott defeated Lucas Hersrud in the round of 8 to qualify for the stepladder finals as the 5 seed. Wade Scott would then be defeated by Kendric Siders in the opening match of the finals to finish with 162.10 Player of the Year points, just 2.7 shy of Wolf.
Wolf earns his 3rd NDBowling.com Player of the Year honor, tying him with Jeremiah Smith for the most all time. Wolf won his first Player of the Year award back in 2015-2016. Great bowling, Thomas!
Thomas Wolf season Stats:
Fall Shootout – T3rd
NDBowlTV Masters – 1st
State Scratch Singles – 17th
State Scratch Team (Singles Option) – 9th
Manitoba Open – Did Not Attend
CMA Shootout – 14th
KFYR Bowling Classic – 4th
Mike Snover Memorial – Did Not Attend
NDBowling.com Classic – T18th
Thanks to a strong start to the season, Wolf amassed just enough points to win despite not appearing in two events. For Wade Scott, a slow start to the season ulimately cost him Player of the Year. Scott earned 154.9 points his last 7 events after only recording 7.20 his first two.
Team of the Year Final:
Thomas Wolf – 164.80
Wade Scott – 162.10
Dawson Unrath – 157.30
Tayler Wallstrum – 156.45
Jamey Kragh – 143.00
25-26 NDBowling.com Player of the Year Race – By the Numbers:
– 47 Players earned points this season, most all time
– Jamey Kragh was the only player to earn points in every event by entering and finishing 40th or better
– 11 players earned 100 or more points this season, most all time
– Major Performances: 5 players earned 70 or more points in the 4 NDBowling.com Majors
Wade Scott (100.3)
Thomas Wolf (79.90)
Trysten Climer (73.95)
Doug Wagner (72.25)
Ryan Selk (71.40)
Great bowling everyone! See you next season for another Player of the Year Race.
**To enter the NDBowling.com Player of the Year Race, you must contact Daren Seney (daren@ndbowling.com) to opt in. Not all players want to be a part of the race so you must opt in to start earning points. Once you are in the race, you will remain for future seasons.