Feb. 16, 2011
Dover, Del. - Senior All-American Kristina Frahm (Oswego, Ill.) dominated a field of almost 100 bowlers to take MVP and All-Tournament Team honors at the 2011 Capital Classic in Dover, Del., hosted by Delaware State University this past weekend. Frahm tallied a pin fall of 1,112 pins over five games to post an average of 222.40, 17 more pins and over three more in average than the second place finisher. Her performance, along with teammate Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Colombia), who was third overall and also on the All-Tournament Team, led the Lady Hawks to the top seed after two days of bowling and a third place finish overall.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) started out solid, opening the first day in second place (based on pin fall) with a 2-2 record in four-game Baker matches. They opened with a huge win over No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson (840-784) and followed it up with a win over No. 11 Saint Francis (N.Y.) (869-718). After that the Lady Hawks were upset by Saint Peter's after rolling a sub-par 692 to the Peahens 702. They also dropped a 714-744 decision to No. 10 Adelphi. They then rolled a 776 in a bye match to balance the pinfall.
On day two UMES was hot. They posted four wins in five games with victories over No. 9 New Jersey City (1047-954), No. 15 Stephen F. Austin (1016-800), No. 16 Norfolk State (1122-898) and North Carolina A&T (1028-793). Their only loss on the day was to No. 12 Vanderbilt. In that match UMES posted a solid 1029 but say the Commodores out duel them with a 1058.
The Hawks tallied 16 games over 200 out of a possible 25. Frahm was amazing, posting a 257, 245, 216, 220 and a 174. Rodriguez accounted for four games over 200 as well with a 208, 194, 224, 240 and a 218. Frahm's 257 was a team high on the day and part of a three-way tie for tournament high.
Also posting solid numbers was Martha Perez (Bogota Colombia) who averaged a 203 on a 1,015 pin fall. She posted a 223 against NCAT and a 210 against Stephen F. Austin. She was ninth overall.
Paula Vilas (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) averaged a 212 on the day but only bowled four games for a pin fall of 848. She put up a 225 on Vanderbilt, a 244 on Norfolk State and a 214 on NCAT. Not far behind was Anggie Ramirez (Bogota, Colombia), who also bowled just four games and averaged a 198.5. She had a 201 vs. NJCU and a 220 against NSU. T'Nia Falbo (Greensburg, Pa.) rolled two games, her best being a 201 against Stephen F. Austin.
All of that bowling boosted UMES to the top seed heading into the final day. With a 6-3 mark so far they had a 116 pin lead on Vanderbilt and 348 on FDU.
That all changed to start the final day.
Vanderbilt, one of the nation's hottest teams since the winter break handed UMES a 4.5-.5 loss in best-of-seven-game Baker sets, tying at 201 in game four.
That loss sent UMES to face third seeded FDU, who battled back-and forth with the Hawks through all seven games. While it was a 24 pin loss in game seven that handed the Knights the win, it was game one that stung the most as FDU topped UMES 200-199 to open the match.
Sent to battle conference rival No. 17 Delaware State for third place the Hawks pulled through, getting a 4-1 win, taking game five 233-231 to clinch a place on the medal stand.
"We have to get over the hump," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "We were sitting in first and couldn't close in Bakers, what used to be our strong suite. We are addressing it and we will be ready." The season begins its downswing with just two months left to go.
Frahm leads the Hawks into an even tougher field this weekend at the Morgan State Invitational, Feb. 19 & 20.
