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Nov. 19, 2009
MILLSBORO, Del. - For the fifth straight year the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Bowling Team will host the Eastern Shore Hawk Classic, an annual bowling event featuring 20 of the nation's top teams in action for three days. This year's event will run from Friday, November 20-Sunday, November 22 and will be held at Millsboro Lanes in Millsboro, Del. Millsboro Lanes, a facility managed by former Assistant Bowling Coach Doug Dukes, has been the site for all five events. While the location hasn't changed, the tournament has. What was a two day event featuring anywhere between 16 and 19 teams, now is a three day bowling extravaganza featuring 20 teams, many of whom are ranked in the top 20 in the nation. "This event has really taken off," said Head Coach Sharon Brummell. "We are really proud of how it runs, operationally and from a pure enjoyment standpoint. It is a lot of work but we keep doing it because the athletes and coaches keep coming back and having nothing but positive comments. We feel we put on one of the best tournaments in the nation." The Lady Hawks, currently ranked no. 4 in the latest National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, have had some success over the years. They boast a 36-13 mark in the event with their best finish coming two seasons ago when they went 9-2 and finished in third place to Vanderbilt and Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). It is no coincidence their best finish in the event came the same season that the Hawks went on to win the NCAA Championship. UMES has never finished lower than fifth place in the event, that coming the first year of in 2005. They have been 4th, 3rd and 4th each year since. Last season, the first in a three day format, saw UMES post a 15-3 mark. This year's field features No. 2 Vanderbilt, no. 3 FDU, the no. 4 Lady Hawks, no. 6 Delaware State and the rest of the top ten in the poll, no. 7 Arkansas State, no. 8 New Jersey City, no. 9 Sacred Heart and no. 10 Kutztown.
Vanderbilt has had the most success in the event. After finishing third in the inaugural tournament, they have won the last three titles. FDU won in 2005 and placed third in 2006 and second in 2007. New Jersey City was second the first two years of the event. UMES hopes to kick their season in gear and claim one of the top spots in this year's event. They currently stand 28-8 overall and sport a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) record of 17-3. All three of those losses come to Delaware State, a school just as close to Millsboro as UMES is. On the season DSU holds the overall edge, four matches to two. Action starts each day at 11:00 a.m. and admission is free to the public. Members of the media are encouraged to attend and can call G. Stan Bradley at 410-845-6782 to arrange interviews and photos. |
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