WICHITA, Kan. — At the annual Night of Champions Banquet on the eve of the Intercollegiate Team Championships, the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) put on a grand event that not only welcomed the 32 teams (16 men and 16 women) to the event, but presented some highly coveted awards and distinctions.  Among those handed out at the event were the International Bowling Media Association’s (IBMA) Collegiate Bowler of the Year award and the runners-up to it.  Thashaina Seraus was named a runner-up to the award that was selected from the top eight collegiate bowlers in the country.

Seraus, who was a runner-up last year as well, shared the award with four others, Sydney Brummett and Daria Kovalova of Wichita State and Rachael Albright of Ursuline.  Brittany Smith of Grand View was the winner of Collegiate Bowler of the Year.  Katie Maher of St. Ambrose, Kristie Lopez of Wichita State and Stephanie Schwartz of Stephen F. Austin, the Player of the Year on the NCAA side, were named Honorable Mention selections.

Seraus was already named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Bowler of the Year and a First-Team All-Conference selection and last week was named a National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) First-Team All-American.

Searus, Schwartz and Albright were the only NCAA bowlers honored tonight either by the IBMA or by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA).

Averaging just over a 211 for the year, she carries a better than 50-percent strike percentage and a better than 75-percent spare percentage, with the latter leading the nation.  In Baker and team games combined, she averaged a 208.32 per frame, second among all NCAA bowlers to Schwartz.

She will lead the Hawks in search of a sixth National Championship, first thing Thursday morning when qualifying begins at Northrock Lanes in Wichita.  Action begins at 8:00 a.m. (CT) with www.bowl.com<http://www.bowl.com/> providing live coverage.