The defending bowling national champion Lady Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) were selected to finish atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) northern division, while Norfolk State was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the southern division. UMES junior Anggie Ramirez was named the Preseason Bowler of the Year, the conference announced on Friday.
The preseason poll and all-conference team selections are voted on by the MEAC's head bowling coaches and sports information directors.
Maryland Eastern Shore completed the 2010-11 season with a 28-2 mark in conference play and 108-34 overall record. The Lady Hawks defeated Vanderbilt, 4-2, to win their second NCAA women's bowling title in four years.
One week later, UMES captured the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championship title with a 2-1 victory over Lindenwood to become the first bowling team to win two national championships in the same season.
UMES received 19 first-place votes for a total of 273 points to earn the top spot in the north in the predicted order of finish. In addition to Ramirez, the Lady Hawks return three starters to this year's team.
Norfolk State received 16 first-place votes in this season's preseason poll. The Spartans recorded an 18-6 MEAC mark and 67-49 overall record last year. Last year's southern divisional winner welcomes five newcomers along with four returning letterwinners for this year's campaign.
Ramirez averaged 202.91 in 49 head-to-head matches last season for the Lady Hawks. The junior recorded a total pinfall of 8,928 and bowled a season-high 278 at the UMES Hawk Classic in 2010-11. Last year, Ramirez was named to the All-MEAC First Team and was a National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) Third Team All-American.
Delaware State received four first place votes and was predicted to finish second in the northern division with 222 points. Morgan State (186) was chosen to finish third in the north followed by Hampton (177), Howard (144) and Coppin State (126).
In the southern division, the Florida A&M Rattlers were picked to finish second four first place votes for a total of 215 points. Bethune Cookman was predicted to finish third with 196 points while South Carolina State (165) was selected to finish fourth. North Carolina A&T (149) and North Carolina Central (143) complete the southern division preseason predictions with fifth and sixth place selections, respectively.
Joining Ramirez on the Preseason All-MEAC team is teammate Paula Vilas and Delaware State's Jazmyne Hefflefinger. Hampton's Rebecca Glazier and Norfolk State's Thea Aspiras round out the preseason team.
The 2012 MEAC Bowling Championship tournament is scheduled for March 16-18 at the Gate City Lanes in Greensboro, North Carolina.
For more information on MEAC bowling and other sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com.
2011-12 MEAC Bowling Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the Conference's Head Bowling Coaches and Sports Information Directors
(First place votes in parenthesis)
MEAC Northern Division
1. Maryland Eastern Shore (19)...... 273 pts.
2. Delaware State (4)...................... 222 pts.
3. Morgan State (1)......................... 186 pts.
4. Hampton.................................... 177 pts.
5. Howard...................................... 144 pts.
6. Coppin State.............................. 126 pts.
MEAC Southern Division
1. Norfolk State (16).......................... 260 pts.
2. Florida A&M (4)............................. 215 pts.
3. Bethune-Cookman (3)..................... 196 pts.
4. South Carolina State...................... 165 pts.
5. North Carolina A&T (1)................... 149 pts.
6. North Carolina Central.................... 143 pts.
2011-12 Bowling Preseason All-MEAC Team
As voted on by the Conference's Head Bowling Coaches and Sports Information Directors
Preseason Bowler of the Year: Anggie Ramirez, Maryland Eastern Shore
Name School Cl. Hometown
Anggie Ramirez UMES Jr. Bogota, Colombia
Paula Vilas UMES Sr. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Jazmyne Hefflefinger DSU Sr. Harrisburg, Pa.
Rebecca Glazier Ham Jr. Newport News, Va.
Thea Aspiras NSU So. Chesapeake, Va.