One of the greatest gifts on this planet is time.

It's ironic because time ruthlessly marches forward, never pausing. Yet, it represents different things to everybody. For some, it's a countdown. For others, it's a deadline. For many, it's one step closer to the weekend or the conclusion of the workday. 

Time marks the passage of iconic moments that become forever ingrained in the minds of many, like lifting national championship trophies. With each passing year and as the sport of bowling grows, time brings memories into sharper focus for Maria Rodriguez, who cherished her experience at Maryland Eastern Shore. 

Lastly, time also makes people feel older than they are, especially when you're just 34 and earned distinguished recognition into the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame. 

Rodriguez was inducted into the 2023 MEAC Hall of Fame class on March 9, along with Delaware State men's basketball standout Jahsha Bluntt, Hampton University track and field All-American Ce'Aira Brown, Howard University wide receiver Gary "Flea" Harrell, and former Morgan State volleyball coach Ramona Riley-Bozier.

Even more astonishing is that Rodriguez will join former teammate Jessica Worsley (Bond) as the second bowler in the MEAC Hall of Fame.

Rodriguez won three national championships with the Hawks bowling program, including NCAA crowns in 2008 and 2011 and a United States Bowling Congress (USBC) title in 2011 – making UMES the first to win NCAA and USBC national championships in the same season.

“It's crazy to know that I will be the second bowler in the MEAC Hall of Fame,” Rodriguez said by phone recently from her Austin, Texas, home. “It's pretty cool. I didn't grow up with any of (the Hall of Fame possibilities) in Colombia, so this is special.” 

The Hawks were a bowling dynasty when the sport was just in its infancy. 

Think of Maryland Eastern Shore as a Chicago Bulls of the 90s-type of supremacy. In addition to winning the two national championships in 2008 and 2011, Maryland Eastern Shore was the national runner-up in 2010. 

The strikes, spares and winning remain timeless treasures for Rodriguez, who realizes how special it was to be bowling in the late 2000s and early 2010s. She still follows collegiate bowling now, as some of her friends are coaches. Rodriguez realizes how much the sport has changed for the better.

“There are many more bowling programs now, which is a good thing,” Rodriguez said. “It's harder for programs to have all the best bowlers. They're more spread out, so it's a little harder to dominate. There's so many more programs, good bowlers, and sometimes, not enough scholarships.”

Aside from the sterling team accomplishments, she was a four-time All-American, as named by the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) and was named the 2011 NTCA Bowler of the Year. The three-time MEAC Bowler of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011) led the Hawks to MEAC championships in 2008 and 2011, and she was also a three-time All-MEAC selection.

A member of the MEAC's 50th Anniversary All-Time Bowling Team, Rodriguez competes professionally and internationally as a member of the Women's Professional Bowling Association (WPBA) Tour.

While things appeared easy on the lanes, Rodriguez had to conquer her share of adversity after graduation from Maryland Eastern Shore.

There weren't professional opportunities for Rodriguez until the WPBA started in 2015. In between, Rodriguez earned her MBA from Lindenwood University, worked various jobs in accounting and finance, and continued bowling, where she won The Queen's tournament in Reno, Nevada, in 2014.

“At first, it was like my dreams were crushed, and I was like, now what,” Rodriguez said, when professional bowling wasn't an option for her after college. “I continued bowling in regional tournaments and was doing my thing. However, when we learned the WPBA was coming back, it was like a dream come true. It was exciting, cool, and pretty fun.”   

Rodriguez has continued to shine as she is a two-time major champion on the PWBA Tour.

Rodriguez couldn't stop smiling when asked about her time at Maryland Eastern Shore. She also fondly recalled former head coach Sharon Brummell's influence in her life, which continues to this day. Brummell was inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame in 2013.

“I barely spoke English when I got to Maryland Eastern Shore, and we clicked from the beginning,” said Rodriguez of her relationship with Brummell. “I've spent New Year's, Thanksgiving, and more with her and her family. She's been a big help to me not only in my career but in my personal life.

“Bowling for Maryland Eastern Shore was such a special time. We worked hard, and we really wanted it. The entire team put in 100 percent. Coach Brummell gave us the tools and resources we needed to be successful. It's always fun whenever we reunite and discuss our time representing Maryland Eastern Shore.”