Maryland Eastern Shore junior Cayla Hicks and North Carolina A&T State sophomore Ana Olaya were named Honorable Mention All-America by the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA), it was announced on Wednesday.

Hicks, the 2018-19 MEAC Bowler of the Year, went into the MEAC Bowling Championship averaging a MEAC-best 196.6 pins in traditional play, recording her season high of 247 in February in the James Brown Invitational. She finished third in that tournament, and she also had a second-place finish at Prairie View A&M earlier in the season.

On top of those tournaments, Hicks was an All-Tournament selection at both Kutztown and Caldwell. She helped lead Maryland Eastern Shore to a United States Bowling Congress (USBC) sectional title and national qualification, as well as their 10th MEAC bowling title.

The MEAC Bowler of the Week on Feb. 5, Hicks’ season was also highlighted by her qualifying for Junior Team USA.

Olaya, the 2017-18 MEAC Rookie of the Year and a two-time First Team All-MEAC selection in her two seasons in Greensboro, N.C., led the Aggies this year in total pinfall (10,090) with a 190.38 average over 53 games. Olaya has rolled 19 200-plus games in individuals format this year taking the top spot in individual standings in both MEAC regular-season meets in 2019.

Olaya boasts a high-game of 242 that she bowled during the first MEAC meet against Monmouth.
 
Olaya led the team in every category, including completed frames (1,132), overall fill percentage (86.8), Baker double strikes (158), spares (462) and makeable spares (449). On the season, she is averaging a score of 19.9 per frame with 522 strikes and a 46.1 strike percentage. Her Baker double strikes percentage is 53.2, her spare percentage is 75.6, and her makeable sparkes percentage is 84.2.

Hicks' honor gives Maryland Eastern Shore 30 All-Americans dating back to the 2005-06 season (the first season for which the NTCA keeps such records), while Olaya's accolade gives the Aggies their sixth All-American bowler.

In all, 48 MEAC bowlers have been recognized as All-Americans (be it First Team, Second Team, Third Team or Horonal Mention) since the 2005-06 season.