NORFOLK, Va., March 20, 2018—
Delaware State’s Alexis Neuer was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Bowler of the Year, the conference office announced today.
Ana Olaya, of North Carolina A&T State, was named Rookie of the Year.
Delaware State’s Kayla Stamm received Coach of the Year accolades.
All awards were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Neuer, the reigning MEAC Co-Rookie of the Year, is averaging 205.3 pins in traditional play this season, leading the Hornets to their second straight MEAC Northern Division regular-season title. The sophomore from Lewisburg, Pa. leads all conference bowlers with a single-game high of 296, which she recorded in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Sectionals en route to earning a berth to the USBC National Collegiate Singles Championship for the second straight year. A five-time MEAC Bowler of the Week this season, Neuer was also named the Most Outstanding Performer at the Monmouth Hawk Flight earlier this month.
Alaya averaged a team-best 197.38 pinfall in traditional games this season, racking up 7,895 total pins and leading the Aggies to their fourth straight MEAC Southern Division regular-season title. She bowled a season-best 246 at the USBC Team Sectionals, and she added a 236 at the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack Classic. She also bowled a 234 in both the Brunswick BearCat Open to start the season and at the third Southern Division meet last month. Olaya was named MEAC Co-Bowler of the Week on Feb. 20.
Stamm led Delaware State to its second straight Northern Division regular-season title after the Hornets were picked to finish second in the preseason poll. Delaware State went 20-4 in MEAC play this season and sits 65-31 overall heading into the MEAC Championships, ranking sixth in the nation in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 poll. The Hornets won two of the three MEAC Northern Division meets this season, while also winning the Kutztown Bud Whitman Invitational and qualifying for the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships.
Joining Neuer and Olaya on the All-MEAC First Team are Chelsey Merklinger of Delaware State, along with Alexandra Hernandez and Jacqueline Rhoda of Maryland Eastern Shore.
The 2018 MEAC Bowling Championships begin Friday, March 23 at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake, Va. at 8:30 a.m. with the opening ceremony. In that ceremony, the First Team honorees, regular-season division champions, Bowler of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year will be recognized.
Teams will compete in five traditional games to determine the seeding for day two action.
The championship concludes on Sunday, March 25 with the championship final at 12 p.m.
2017-18 All-MEAC Bowling Teams
As voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors
Bowler of the Year: Alexis Neuer, Delaware State
Rookie of the Year: Ana Olaya, North Carolina A&T State
Coach of the Year: Kayla Stamm, Delaware State
FIRST TEAM
| Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Chelsey Merklinger |
Sr. |
Delaware State |
Kinzers, Pa. |
| Alexis Neuer |
So. |
Delaware State |
Lewisburg, Pa. |
| Alexandra Hernandez |
Jr. |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
Maracaibo, Venezuela |
| Jacqueline Rhoda |
Jr. |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
Portage, Ind. |
| Ana Olaya |
Fr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Bogota, Colombia |
SECOND TEAM
| Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Elizabeth Burkholder |
Sr. |
Delaware State |
Lancaster, Pa. |
| Demetria Bethel |
So. |
Florida A&M |
Piscataway, N.J. |
| Briana Gardner |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
Stone Mountain, Ga. |
| Alexa Rodriguez |
r-Jr. |
Norfolk State |
Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Cameron Strombeck |
Fr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Durham, N.C. |
THIRD TEAM
| Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Amyre Tensley |
Sr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Detroit, Mich. |
| Monique Ragland |
So. |
Florida A&M |
Flint, Mich. |
| Kristyn Mitchell |
Sr. |
Howard |
New Castle, Del. |
| Sydney Reece |
Sr. |
Howard |
Cary, N.C. |
| Katherine Clouse |
Jr. |
Morgan State |
Kaneohe, Hawaii |