Courtesy of North Carolina A&T State Athletic Communications


GREENSBORO, N.C. – Five North Carolina A&T State bowlers have received National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Region honors. 

Senior Cameron Strombeck and freshman Melanie Katen earned First Team honors, while the NTCA named Ericka Quesada Second Team All-Region, and senior Ana Olaya and sophomore Lauren Tomaszewski were named Honorable Mention. 

Katen, a First Team All-MEAC selection, leads the team with 7,534 total pins for a 37-game average of 203.6. She also earned Outstanding Performer at the MEAC Bowling Championship to go along with All-Tournament Team honors. 

Strombeck totaled 7,435 pins to average 206.5 over 36 games, and her 206.5 average leads the team. Strombeck is the 2021 MEAC Bowler of the Year and a First Team All-MEAC standout. 

Quesada, who was also named First Team All-MEAC, has a total of 6,995 pins on the season to average 194.3 over 36 games. She averaged 194.3 in four games played at the recent NCAA Tournament.

Olaya totaled 6,943 pins for a 36-game average of 192.9. In 2021, she earned Second Team All-MEAC honors, and last month, she earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the MEAC Bowling Championship. 

Tomaszewski, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin, knocked down 6,416 total pins in her first season as an Aggie. She averaged 200.5 over 32 games. During the NCAA Tournament, she averaged 210.8 in four games bowled. Tomaszewski was named Second Team All-MEAC last month. 

The all-region teams are new this season because the COVID-19 pandemic minimized intersectional play. Concern arose about whether deserving student-athletes might be overlooked on the traditional All-American team since coaches would not have seen specific competitors in person.

The NTCA will announce its traditional All-American team later this month.