On the eve of the final collegiate tournament for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) seniors Maria Rodriguez and Kristina Frahm they were again awarded national honors. They came at the awards reception held on Wednesday evening, April 20, before the start of today's United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Bowling Championships (IBC).
Rodriguez, already named the MEAC and National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) Player of the Year, got one of the higher awards, a runner-up award for the Collegiate Bowler of the Year award given out by the Bowling Writer's Association of America (BWAA). Jazreel Tan of Wichita State won the award and Rodriguez was one of four other players nationally considered a runner-up to the distinction.
Out of the hundreds of women's collegiate bowlers competing nationally the field was narrowed to 34 who were considered for that honor. Amazingly, all five Lady Hawk bowlers in the starting line-up made that list. Rodriguez, Frahm, Martha Perez, Anggie Ramirez and Paula Vilas all made the cut.
After those 34 were selected the list was narrowed down to 15 bowlers which included four of those five Hawks, Rodriguez, Perez, Frahm, and Ramirez. Finally, the list was narrowed to eight finalists and Rodriguez made that cut before being named a runner-up last night.
UMES, while only bowling a pair of USBC only events, is currently ranked sixth in the nation in those polls with the limited participation being a factor. All events that the Hawks bowled in were sanctioned by the USBC which allowed the entire schedule to figure into the player's averages. Amazingly, among the hundreds of college bowlers, the trio of Rodriguez, Perez and Frahm sported the three highest averages in the nation with a 209.368, 206.873 and 205.65 respectively. Tan, the Collegiate Bowler of the Year was fourth with a 204.79. UMES' Ramirez was fifth overall with a 201.435 average. Jenn Boisselle of Central Florida, also a runner-up to the award, had the sixth highest average with a 200.275. No other bowler in the nation averaged above a 200 on that list.
Also handed out last night were the Most Valuable Players and All-American teams selected by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association. Tan was also selected for their women's MVP award.
Rodriguez was not named a first-team selection by the writer's but did earn a second team nod while Frahm was named honorable mention, adding to both of their resumes for All-American awards and national recognition. A third-team was not named.
UMES will bowl all day today for seeding among the 16 teams and then play in a double elimination bracket starting tomorrow. The Hawks are one of four NCAA teams in the event including Kutztown, Adelphi and Wisconsin-Whitewater. Tune in to bowl.com for live streaming.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com