ARLINGTON, Texas--The International Bowling Media Association (IBMA) has announced the sixteen finalists (eight men and eight women) for the 2015 College Bowler of the Year. Junior standout Thashaina Seraus (Oranjestad, Aruba), the reigning conference Rookie of the Year, was included on that list for her outstanding season and is the only women bowler from the NCAA on the list.
Seraus has enjoyed a very success season. She was not only named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Year, but was also an All-MEAC First-Team selection. Her most recent accolade came after the team won its third-straight MEAC Championship. She was named the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Week for an unprecedented sixth time.
That award was predicated by her being named the 2015 MEAC Bowling Championship Most Outstanding Performer, and to its All-Tournament Team. She led the Hawks to their third straight and eighth overall title in come from behind fashion to beat Norfolk State 4-3 in the championship match.
She is currently ranked in the top four in the nation for all NCAA bowlers and collegebowling,com has her ranked first in the nation among all first-year collegiate bowlers. She finished the season averaging just under a 211 in team games.
This is the fourth year that UMES has had a finalist. Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Colombia) in 2010-2011, T'nia Falbo (Greensburg, Pa.) in 2011-12 and Anggie Ramirez (Bogota, Colombia) in 2012-13 all earned a place among the finalists.
The IBMA Committee, comprised of members who are bowling media and former college coaches, met on April 6, 2015 to determine the top eight male and female bowlers eligible to receive the award.
The winners will be announced at the Night of Champions banquet and reception April 15, 2015, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Wichita East in Wichita, Kansas. The evening festivities will conclude with the announcement of the IBMA Bowlers of the Year as well as presentations to the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBA) All Americans, NCBCA Gordon Teigen Award winner (volunteer service to collegiate bowling) and NCBCA Kerm Helmer Coach of the Year Award. For more information log on to www.bowl.com/ITC/ .
The IBMA (BWAA) College Bowler of the Year Award is given each season to the male and female bowlers who excel on the lanes in USBC officially certified tournament play. Players must have a cumulative 32 games in to be considered for the award. Many professional and high-ranking amateur bowlers have received the award which was established in 1987 to honor the sport's finest young players and bring media attention to college bowling.
The 2014 Bowlers of the Year were Daria Kovalova of Wichita State and AJ Johnson from McKendree. Both players are in the running again this year. Notable past winners of the award include current UMES head coach Kayla Bandy, who won twice. Others include Chris Barnes, Lynda Norry Barnes (2), Missy Belinder Parkin, Josh Blanchard, Joe Ciccone, PJ Haggerty (3), A.J. Johnson, Liz Johnson, Marshall Kent, Kelly Kulick (2), Dan MacLelland (2), Bill O'Neil (3), Shannon Pluhowsky, Rick Steelsmith and Jazreel Tan.
The Nominees are as follows:
MALE
Michael Coffey, Lindenwood
Graham Fach, Urbana
AJ Johnson, McKendree
Nick Kruml, Wisconsin Whitewater
Francois Lavoie, Wichita State
Nick Pate, Midland
Darren Tang, San Jose State
Michael Tang, San Jose State
FEMALE
Rachael Albright, Ursuline
Shannon DeWitt, Wright State
Sabrina Divis, Midland
Daria Kovalova, Wichita State
Brianna Larson, Pikeville
Thashaina Seraus, Maryland Eastern Shore
Katelyn Simpson, Pikeville
Brittany Smith, Grandview
For more information, visit www.umeshawks.com