Dec. 16, 2008

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Just one semester, that's all it took. Maria Rodriguez, the super-sophomore from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) played just one semester of collegiate bowling heading into this season, but that one semester had such an impact it pushed the Lady Hawks to the 2008 NCAA Championship and earned Rodriguez a second-team All-American selection. The All-American, however, isn't American at all; she is Colombian, one of two from the country on the UMES Women's Bowling Team.

Her story, while unique, is becoming more commonplace and is chronicled in this month's Bowlers Journal in an article by Diandra Asbaty. Asbaty interviewed three members of Team Colombia, all who chose to bowl in college in the United States. Her article discusses the growth of international bowling, how it effects national teams and teams here in the U.S.

Rodriguez comes from the same city as Rocio Restrepo, who bowls for club powerhouse Wichita State, which won the 2007 USBC National Championship. Asbaty also spoke with Paola Gomez who won an IBC national championship with Nebraska in 2001.

Rodriguez spoke in the article about how coming to UMES gave her the chance to follow her dreams of getting an education and continuing bowling, where staying in Colombia she may have had to choose.

She was quoted as saying, "If you really love bowling and you can't bowl as much in your country, there are many international bowlers competing for colleges in the United States that you can ask for advice. There are many colleges where you can get a good education, meet great people, and do what you were made to do."

The article is in the December 2008 issue of Bowlers Journal, available now.