North Carolina A&T State graduate student Lauren Tomaszewski has been named the 2023-24 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Bowler of the Year, and the three-time defending champion Aggies are the preseason favorites to repeat.
The preseason team and predicted order of finish were voted on by the league’s head bowling coaches and sports information directors.
Tomaszewski was named Outstanding Performer of the MEAC Bowling Championship a season ago, her second straight such honor, and she was a First Team All-MEAC honoree as the Aggies made yet another appearance in the NCAA Bowling National Championship. In more than 1,220 total frames bowled last year, she averaged 20.28 pins per frame and had an overall fill of 85.6%. She had a strike percentage of 50.2 and converted 93.1% of her single-pin spares.
The Aggies won their third straight MEAC crown and finished the 2022-23 season ranked No. 6 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 poll. NCAT returns reigning MEAC Coach of the Year Kim Terrell-Kearney, the reigning MEAC Bowler of the Year in Melanie Katen, and three All-MEAC performers in Katen, Tomaszewski, and Chloe Newberry.
NCAT received 16 of a possible 18 first-place votes and ended up with 160 points in the preseason poll. Maryland Eastern Shore (one first-place vote) was second with 138 points, followed by Monmouth (110 points), Delaware State (one first-place vote, 107 points), and Morgan State (89) to round out the top five.
The rest of the preseason poll was UAB (88), Coppin State (43), Norfolk State (40), and Howard (35).
Joining Tomasewski on the Preseason All-MEAC Team are fellow Aggies Katen and Newberry, Maryland Eastern Shore’s Brooke Roberts, and Morgan State’s Johnna Hill, the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Year.
The 2024 MEAC Bowling Championship will be held in Raleigh, N.C., at the Buffaloe Lanes North Family Bowling Center, Friday through Sunday, March 22-24, 2024.
2023-24 MEAC Bowling Preseason Honors
As voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors
Preseason Bowler of the Year: Lauren Tomaszewski, North Carolina A&T State
PRESEASON ALL-MEAC TEAM
| Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| Brooke Roberts |
Gr. |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
Port Orange, Fla |
| Johnna Hill |
So. |
Morgan State |
Pittsburg, Pa. |
| Melanie Kagen |
Sr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
San Jose, Calif. |
| Chole Newberry |
Jr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
Lumberton, N.C. |
| Lauren Tomaszweski |
Gr. |
North Carolina A&T State |
O’Fallon, Illl. |
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
School (First-Place Votes) Points
1. North Carolina A&T State (16) 160
2. Maryland Eastern Shore (1) 138
3. Monmouth 110
4. Delaware State (1) 107
5. Morgan State 89
6. UAB 88
7. Coppin State 43
8. Norfolk State 40
9. Howard 35