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Oct. 26, 2007
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The first poll of the women's collegiate bowling season is out. The Hawks of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) are sitting tied for fourth in the nation. While fourth is their highest ranking ever in a poll conducted by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA), UMES may feel a little slighted. After all they did take Vanderbilt to a deciding game seven in the NCAA National Championship match last season. But upon further review, Head Coach Sharon Brummell couldn't be happier. "We lost six bowlers, two of which were key starters and two were key reserves," Brummell said. "The bowling world knows that and to still earn a fourth place ranking is great. It is our highest ranking ever and it means we are earning some respect in the sport." The Lady Hawks were constantly seventh in last seasons' polls. They climbed as high as sixth one month, but subsequently fell back to seventh in the next poll. They were apparently under-ranked as UMES rolled through 2006 defending National Champion Fairleigh Dickinson University and two-time National Champion Nebraska at the 2007 NCAAs and met up with Vanderbilt. The Commodores, reigning champs are a unanimous pick for number one in the first NTCA poll. Nebraska and FDU are ranked second and third respectively while UMES is tied with Central Missouri, another team they toppled to get to Vanderbilt. The Lady Hawks are also the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champions. It is their third overall title and second in a row. So why fourth? Brummell knows other coaches see the graduation of standout seniors Megan Raymond and Kristie Minnis and the losses of freshmen Marion Singleton and Michelle Wallace. Wallace and Singleton were solid all year, both earning All-American honors, Wallace as an Honorable Mention and Singleton as third team. Wallace left the program to return home to Oregon and is not bowling anywhere this upcoming season while Singleton went home to New York and will bowl for a second year program at DIII Medaille College. The reason Brummell doesn't sound worried is because of who returns and who is coming in. The marquee name on the roster belongs to junior Laura Zanrucha (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley H.S.) who was an Honorable Mention All-American last season. She averaged over 191 last season, toppling 8,800 pins in just 46 games. She earned MVP honors at the Le Tiger Classic and rolled a high game of 257. Jessica Worsley (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial H.S.), one of two seniors on the squad also looks to make it a memorable senior season. Worsley averaged over a 183 for the year, a little low by her standards, and toppled over 10,000 pins, rolling in 56 games. She had a high game of 268 and took All-Tournament Team honors at the MEAC Championship and at the NCAA Championship. The other senior is Christine King (Upper Darby, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast). A steady performer, Brummell counts on King's consistency. She averaged a little over 182 last year with a high game of 234. she also collected All-Tournament Team honors at the Le Tiger Classic. Sara DiScioscia (Hampton, Va./Poquoson H.S.) and Jamie Culbreth (Hochapeyer, Germany/Kaiserslautern American ) may be the wild cards for the Hawks among returnees. DiScioscia averaged a 196 in a limited 13 games. She got hot late, filling in for some injuries. She has trouble picking up spares, but rarely needs to as DiScioscia can be counted on for strikes. Her off season work on spares may be critical to the Hawks success. Culbreth is the other question mark. In her time at UMES she has been used primarily as a substitute. Last season she averaged 170, bowling in just seven games. "Jamie may well be the most improved bowler I have had in an off-season ever," said Brummell. "She wants to bowl and she worked hard this off-season to earn a spot in the starting rotation. We will see come the start of the season if she can make it in and keep it. I think she can." The two final returnees are walk-ons Jennifer Davis (Severn, Md./Meade H.S.) and red-shirt freshmen Jessica Smithson (Selbyville, Del./Sussex Technical H.S.). Davis saw action in just one game last year, rolling a 182. She may be counted on a substitute this season. Smithson sat out last season but should contribute this year as she is known as one of the best young bowlers in Delaware. And for the newcomers. Brummell believes that she replaced her losses with more talent. Headlining the class is Kristina Frahm (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East H.S.), a left-handed freshman. She earned four varsity bowling letters as Oswego East H.S. and was the conference MVP. She was the number one player on the All-Conference Team, bowling in the anchor position. She holds a high series of 826 and a high game of 288. Also stepping into the Hawk line-up will be freshman Martha Perez (Bogota, Columbia/English School). Perez is a member of the Columbian National Bowling Team and won the Columbian Juvenile National Finals in 2006. Rounding out the class is freshman Katherine Brown (Level Green, Pa./Penn Trafford H.S.). Brown earned four letters in bowling at Penn Trafford H.S. She was the 2005-06 Section Champion and her team was fifth in the Pennsylvania State Championships in 2006-07. "I am thrilled with this small class," said Brummell. "We carried a lot of young women last season and ten is a better number. I think our recruits and our returnees make for a formidable team." Also smaller this season is the schedule. UMES will bowl in just 12 tournaments, including the MEAC and NCAA Championships. Three of those are also conference meets. What isn't smaller is their travel itinerary. UMES travels to St. Louis, Mo. for the Team Match Games, to Atlantic City, N.J. for the NCAA Holiday Jamboree, to Jonesboro, Ark. for the Lady Indian Invitational and to Bessemer, Ala. for the Holiday Classic. They also have matches in Dover, Del. and Columbia Md. UMES will also host the Eastern Shore Hawk Classic on November 17-18 in Millsboro, Del. "I am also happy with the schedule. We won't compete as much as last season, but we will compete against a lot of quality competition," added Brummell. Last season the Lady Hawks set a record for wins with a 94-22 record. They may not break the wins record this season, but they do hope to upgrade their NCAA trophy from silver to gold. |
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