PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — University of Maryland senior Brooke Roberts (Port Orange, Florida) has been named to her third straight Preseason All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference squad, which was released by the conference on Friday (Sept 30).
"It's pretty cool to get the honor," Roberts said. "It's just preseason, so there is meaning behind it, but then again there is not because it's the beginning of the year, so I just have to go out there and see what I can do this year. I'm excited."
Roberts Began the season by winning the prestigious 2020 Junior Gold U20 title and earning a spot on Junior Team USA over the summer. She ended it with a National Tenpin Coaches Association Third-Team All-American honor, NTCA First-Team All-Region, NTCA All-Academic Team, First-Team All-MEAC as well as All-Tournament Team at the MEAC Championships. She was ranked in the Top 15 in the Country in 11 categories.
"It definitely puts a little bit more of a target on your back," Roberts said. "But I'm going to treat it like any other season. It's a new year and let's see what I can do."
North Carolina A&T senior Lauren Tomaszewski was named preseason Bowler of the Year. Joiner her on the preseason squad are teammate Melanie Katen (last season's MEAC Bowler of the Year), Delaware State sophomore Sydney Reardon (last season's MEAC Rookie of the Year), fellow Hornet Saralyne Nassberg and Roberts.
"The four that are on the team right now — respectfully so — have worked their butts off to get where they are, just like I have and I have full respect for them," Roberts said. "They are fantastic, but in a way it gets me ready for competition because Del State cant A&T have always been the team that we are right they with fighting for that top spot."
The Hawks finished last season with a 73-50 overall record and were 11-5 in the MEAC. They were voted to finish second this season in a vote by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors tallying a pair of first-place votes and 135 points.
"It's not really surprising that we are right there with the Hornets and the Aggies," Roberts said. "But I feel confident in the team that we have this year with the new freshmen and transfers on the squad. I feel like we have a better shot this year than last year to win. I feel good. I feel excited and I'm sure the other girls feel excited about this year as well."
The Hawks will have a much deeper squad this season with eight bowlers instead of the six they hit the lanes with last year after a coaching change and some transfers from the program.
"Last year was rough having just six people and dealing with COVID," Roberts said. "There were two tournaments where there were just five of us. The event in Vegas we were without Brooke Driver and the next week they were missing me. It's nice to have breathing room and it's nice to have someone there that you know could have a better look than you and gladly give them the time that they need to go out there and perform."
The Aggies were picked to win the conference racking up 15 first-place votes and 159 points, while the Hornets (127) were picked to finish third. Monmouth (105) and Morgan State (87) in closed out the Top 5 followed by UAB (79), Coppin State (51), Norfolk State (35) and Howard (32).
"I personally am not that surprised with the Top 3," Roberts said. It's the usual Top 3 and they are both really good programs as well as ours. I'm very interested to see how this season plays out."
