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Laura Zanrucha's blogs on the NCAA Championships on CSTV.com
Hawks Look to Reach the Pin-nacle By G. Stan Bradley Special to CSTV.com In the small town of Princess Anne, Md. the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), a school of less than 4,000 students, sits quietly. Once ranked as the nation's second most beautiful campus and also once ranked as the worst sports town in America, a dynasty is being built. For the Hawks, a team that hasn't seen a lot of success since its glory days of football, which was cut in 1979, and men's basketball, which last went to the postseason in 1974, they have found hope in one of the newest NCAA sports, women's bowling.
The NCAA listed women's bowling as an emerging sport in 1994 and held their first national championship four seasons ago in 2004. The Hawks, winners of three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles, including the last two; have been to all four national championships. They aren't the only school to do so. The University of Nebraska is back for the fourth time as well, having won the first two national titles. So are the Knights of Farleigh Dickinson University, who won last year's championship. New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Central Missouri University have been to all four as well.
For the college bowling enthusiast, the last two schools are known as powers as much as any of the others, but to someone who doesn't follow non-Division I sports, you may not know them. You see, there are only 51 collegiate teams sponsoring the sport, which includes six Division III schools and 17 Division II institutions. This year's championship features two D-II programs and one D-III school, who have just as much as a shot as the others. The entire eight-team field is chosen at large by the selection committee; no automatic bids are given.
UMES, led by head coach Sharon Brummell in her ninth season, has had the unfortunate distinction of finishing seventh in each of the last three seasons, finishing behind several D-II schools and the Gothic Knights of NJCU, the only D-III school to ever make the field.
They do however have the distinction of rolling the only perfect Baker game in NCAA history, a feat they accomplished back in 2004.
But what's a Baker game, one might ask?
That is a question posed all too often by someone reading about bowling. The competitors know, but the average fan doesn't. You should know, however, if you plan to follow this year's championship; almost the entire field is bowled that way. The top eight teams aren't seeded like most NCAA tournament fields. They bowl in a qualifying round to earn a seed based on pin fall and then one plays eight, so on and so forth in a double elimination bracket. After four head to head games, where each bowler rolls 10 frames and the team of five gets a score, then Baker games begin.
The team of five bowlers each bowls two frames with the first bowler rolling frames one and six and the second bowler two and seven and so one. The fifth bowler, also called the anchor, bowls the fifth and 10th frame. Often it is this person who has to bowl well in the 10th and roll three balls to finish off the game.
You can see why five different bowlers combining for 12 strikes has not been duplicated.
So, back to the dynasty. The Hawks have had three Most Outstanding Performers in their conference, Brummell has been Coach of the Year all three years they won the title, they had their first All-American last season (MaryEtta Lewis was an Honorable Mention All-American), and this season they attained their highest national ranking, fifth. Currently, they are sixth in the National Tenpins Coaches Association Poll.
Do they think they are going to have a better year this year? You bet.
"I feel like this might be our year," said Brummell. "We have had a great year, won the MEAC title for the second straight year and beaten every team in the field this season, except Vanderbilt."
Those Commodores are in the field as well, riding an impressive season, currently ranked third in the latest poll (behind FDU and Nebraska), and they won the Hawks' own tournament back in November.
"I think we have a solid team and it would be nice to finish better than seventh," added Brummell. "I think the girls want it too, they are working on improving their final standing."
The Hawks head south on Wednesday to Apopka, Fla, where they bowl at the Brunswick Wekiva Lanes. The event starts Thursday at 9:30 am with qualifying and then the match play starts on Friday at the same time.
The Hawks hope to bring home a national championship to the tiny town of Princess Anne. One town commissioner is already making plans for a parade. The Hawks hope it isn't a wasted effort.
Follow the Hawks and the entire Championship on CSTV.com with daily blogs from UMES sophomore Laura Zanrucha, beginning on Wednesday, April 11.
Bowling Championships Hit Orlando Special to CSTV.com Throughout the NCAA Bowling Championship, Laura Zanrucha, a sophomore bowler for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, will be sharing her thoughts and observations from the competition on CSTV.com.
We're back. And it feels great!
Another great season of NCAA bowling has passed, and now its time for the championships. This year's field consists of 8 teams: the University of Central Missouri, the University of Nebraska, Minnesota State -Mankato, Sacred Heart University, New Jersey City University, Vanderbilt, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and last year's champs, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.
Before heading into this championship we know it's a tough field. FDU has stayed right on track with the same efforts of last year. Central Missouri and Nebraska have remained the powerhouses they've been in years past. Vanderbilt is the team, I feel, we're really going to need to keep our eyes on. They are a strong team with solid bowlers in all five positions. They consistently place well at tournaments, yet they seem to fly under people's radars. But of course, you can never count any teams out. Bowling is just like any other sport; any team can show up on any day at any tournament.
I'm excited to make my second trip to the NCAA tournament. I feel we have a very strong, solid team. The field is tough, but we're just as tough when we focus and get down to it. I hope we can post some numbers and finish higher than we have in the past three years. I want to go out there and give our two seniors a strong final goodbye. This year may just be our year....you've always got to keep that Hawk Pride!
Taking In Orlando Special to CSTV.com Throughout the NCAA Bowling Championship, Laura Zanrucha, a sophomore bowler for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, will be sharing her thoughts and observations from the competition on CSTV.com.
Last flight. Last stop. So we made it safely to a very warm and sunny Orlando, Fla. Our first stop was immediately going to the bowling alley. The unique thing about NCAA Bowling is that the equipment, bowling balls, must be weighed and checked in. There's numerous ways a ball can be illegal. It can easily be fixed by adding a weight hole--it happened six times today.
The NCAA banquet they held for us on Wednesday night was, yet again, a classy and entertaining affair. The dinner was held at a local restaurant and the teams all got to share the night eating food and enjoying the experience of another NCAA Championship. The highlight of the night was when Stephanie Nation, one of the best collegiate bowlers, spoke to us. Stephanie graduated from UCF last year and is continuing her promising career in bowling. Stephanie spoke to us about the unity of being a team and what it's like to be a dedicated bowler.
The most important thing, I think, the whole team took away from the night was something Stephanie said. She compared the team to a hand; each player a finger. Working together those fingers can become a fist--alone they are not as strong. Heading into tomorrow's start I think this team is ready to be a powerful fist to reckon with.
So I guess that's it. We are getting ready for Thursday's big day. No worries, though. We're ready for the championships. Last year we came out seeded fourth. We hope to improve on that first and then improve on our overall finish over the next few days.
Work Hard - Play Hard Special to CSTV.com Throughout the NCAA Bowling Championship, Laura Zanrucha, a sophomore bowler for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, will be sharing her thoughts and observations from the competition on CSTV.com.
Our first day of competition finally ends at 6:30 p.m. after staring at 9:30 a.m. We all head back to our hotel tired, sore, and with swollen hands. Overall I'm going to deem the day a success. Although we finished up today in fifth after having first place for a couple of team games, we still walked away with a lot of confidence. Head to head the only team to beat us today was Farleigh Dickinson, and that was our first game of the day. After that when anyone faced us head on, we came out on top.
This is extremely encouraging considering tomorrow is all head-to-head baker games. Its double elimination and we've never made it past the morning block. This year however, I feel the tide is turning. We had three girls finish in the top 20 and post some good numbers throughout the day. I've never had so much confidence in my team as I had the first day. When someone was down, four other people were there to pick her up.
FDU earned the top spot after seven lead changes. Nebraska is second, Vanderbilt third and Central Missouri, the team we have to bowl first, is fourth. We beat them in our only match-up this year, so I hope we do it again.
I don't expect tomorrow to be a walk in the park, especially considering the fact that Vanderbilt bowled a perfect 300 baker game today. Before they did it, only one other perfect baker game had been rolled in NCAA competition. We owned that distinction too, four years ago. I wasn't part of that team, but I take pride knowing that until yesterday we were the only school to have ever done it.
It's all about executing shots and I think we can do it. It's going to be all about being loud, making spares, staying consistent, and being a team. What is the goal for day two? Bowl past 3:00 p.m. Even if we don't make it, I know we'll be putting up a good fight.
UMES Rollers On The Brink Special to CSTV.com Throughout the NCAA Bowling Championship, Laura Zanrucha, a sophomore bowler for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, will be sharing her thoughts and observations from the competition on CSTV.com.
Wow! I think that's the only word I can say.
The day started out really well. I don't think anyone expected us to do what we did (well, except maybe us). We had CMU right off the bat, who were very strong competitors. After that we would have to take on Fairleigh Dickinson, the reigning national champs. It didn't faze us. I have never seen our group play together as a team like today. If someone opened a frame (left pins remaining) then the rest of us would make sure there was a double or triple (tow or three strikes in a row) to make up for it.
We beat CMU then moved on to bowl FDU. I have to give thanks to the parents, fans and everyone else who helped us overpower the cheering of the CMU supporters. We knew FDU would be just as tough and loud as the match before -- which they were throughout the seven games of the contest. We opened with a 289 game, then followed with a 259. We threw 22 strikes in 24 frames. It was the best feeling in the world to know we were finally bowling how we knew we could the whole year. To say we were turning heads would be an understatement. We made it to the afternoon block, farther than any of the previous UMES teams had gone. We were happy to just be bowling in the afternoon.
We then had to wait for the winners of the losing brackets to find out we were taking on: Nebraska. It didn't matter though, I was so proud when the team didn't seem scared or worried. We just knew what we had to do, pushed on and won. Yup, that's right. We won. We went undefeated, Vanderbilt did too. We made it to the final four and now the final two.
I know tomorrow is going to be tough. We have television cameras and lots of people watching us. Yet our team has done more than anyone expected. We proved ourselves this weekend. So regardless of what happens tomorrow I am so proud to say I am a UMES Lady Hawk Bowler.
Winners in Defeat Special to CSTV.com
Throughout the NCAA Bowling Championship, Laura Zanrucha, a sophomore bowler for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, will be sharing her thoughts and observations from the competition on CSTV.com. Well, the day draws to an end and I have the honor of saying we are second in the nation. So, we didn't win Nationals. I can't be mad. We performed amazingly all weekend. The team came together like we never have before. It was nice to know our coach wasn't surprised. The whole weekend she kept saying, "This is the team I knew I had. We finally stepped up to the plate and did what our coaches had believed in us to do the whole season." Vanderbilt bowled amazing. Their whole team came together and bowled really well. They were tough competition. They got us down quick, taking games one and two. But we didn't get down. UMES rebounded to take games three and four and tie it up. When Vanderbilt won game five in the best of seven, we didn't pack it in, we won game six. Finally they got the best of us in game seven. Just 48 pins was all the difference. We got as close as you can get to winning it all, we just didn't quite make it. We lost like champions, I am proud to say.
Our team took a lot away from this weekend. We can bowl under the cameras, lights and fans. We learned that lesson not only at the MEAC Championships, but at Nationals, too. We took on the powerhouses and won. This weekend was far from a defeat for us. Defeat wasn't even in our minds.
Sometimes the pins don't carry your way; sometimes you can't get strikes when you need them; sometimes you can't get that spare you never miss. It's like the famous bowling saying, "Split happens." I would just like to say congratulations to all the teams who participated this weekend. You can bet you'll see the Hawks back next year ready to fly again.
Bowling for Championships Special to CSTV.com
Throughout the NCAA Bowling Championship, Laura Zanrucha, a sophomore bowler for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, will be sharing her thoughts and observations from the competition on CSTV.com.
So, the season has concluded, and what have I taken away from it?
More than anyone could know.
We won the MEAC championship and took second in Nationals. I couldn't ask for a better season. I learned that a team cannot rely on one person to perform all the time. It's when all of you come together that you truly succeed the most.
You have your good days, bad days and days where it's okay to be just average. I learned a lot about coaches this year as well. Sometimes you fight and disagree and sometimes you love each other, but what it comes down to is they're there to help you be the best athlete you can be. Next year is going to be a tough season, just like this one. We've all got to hit the lanes and practice to make sure we can accomplish what we have this year. Can we make it a three-peat with MEAC titles? We're sure going to try as hard as possible. The Lady Hawks bowling team will leave their mark on this University.
I want to say a final farewell to all our athletic seniors this year. Your dedication to your sport, whether it is bowling, softball, tennis or any other sport, is something to be proud of. You've led us, taught us and left many valuable lessons for future athletes to take with them. Good luck to all of you and your future endeavors. As everyone's season winds down, don't be too quick to look to the future seasons. It's important to want to improve and look forward. However, in this process don't forget to look back and remember the accomplishments of the seasons past.
So, the season has concluded and I ask that you remember one thing: It is ok to hit the lanes every now and again as a fun recreational activity, but to some of us, it's truly a sport, one that the UMES community thinks pretty highly of. It is one that the world of college bowling thinks is just as important as any other sport at a university. We have a passion for it, and at UMES, that passion has shown through, brighter this year than any other. See you next year on the lanes! |
