Nov. 21, 2010
MILLSBORO, Del. - It was six years in the making but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team claimed the first place trophy in their own UMES Hawk Classic. After a disappointing day one where UMES finished in sixth place, they opened day two on fire, earned the top seed and then rolled through the bracket play on day three to claim the hardware with three more wins, including a pair over second seeded Central Missouri State (CMSU).
After posting the first 1200 games in the history of the program on day two, UMES stayed hot on day three. The top seeded Hawks faced the No. 5 and second seeded Jennies in bracket play. They rolled through them 4-0 in the best four-of-seven Baker game format. The win earned them a trip straight to the finals but they did bowl 20th seeded Texas Southern and won that 4-0 as well.
While UMES was topping the Tigers, CMSU was defeating Sam Houston State (SHSU) for a right to face the Hawks again. SHSU, who topped No. 7 Delaware State in their first match 4-2, fell to the Jennies 4-3. The championship match pitted the same two teams again, top-seeded UMES vs. second-seeded CMSU. Same result. The Hawks took the match 4-0 and with it the tournament championship. Central Missouri State takes home the runner-up prize.
"It was a total team effort," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "That is often said as a clichÃÆ'Æ'Æ'ÃÆ'ââ'¬Â '©, but I mean it, they all bowled and bowled well. I have had some great teams, including a National Title one, but never have I had a team bowl as a team, this well."
Sam Houston State would go on to top No. 10 Sacred Heart for third place, the Pioneers took fourth and Delaware State fifth. No. 8 New Jersey City took sixth, Stephen F. Austin seventh and the nation's No. 1 team Fairleigh Dickinson took eighth. No. 9 Kutztown and No. 11 Valparaiso rounded out the top ten while No. 4 Vanderbilt, who won the last four titles, finished 11th.
UMES tallied an 11-2 mark at the event, going 3-0 on the final day. Only Kutztown had a better record, going 12-1. Sam Houston State and New Jersey City both went 10-3. The Hawks improve to 32-6 on the season.
Anggie Ramirez (Bogota Colombia) was named tournament MVP, marking the second straight year a Hawk has claimed the award. Kristina Frahm (Oswego, Ill.) joined her on the All-Tournament Team along with Natalie Jimenez of Central Missouri State, Sarah Pelletier of Sacred Heart and Jen Daunno from New Jersey City.
Along with Ramirez and Frahm, Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Colombia) and Paula Vilas (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) also placed in the top ten of the event. "I do have to credit my seniors," said Brummell. "They showed some great leadership and really kept us up and kept us ahead. They led by example and attitude this weekend."
UMES will hope to stay hot over the holiday weekend, heading to Lebanon, Ill. For a USBC event, the National Collegiate Team Match Games, November 26-27.
