Nov. 1, 2008
ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. — The collegiate bowling world got a good look at what the Vanderbilt team has been seeing during its fall practices as the Commodores unloaded gigantic numbers on the field at the Fright Knight Invite Saturday.
The Black and Gold roared away from the field, blistering the Parkway Lanes in five traditional team games with some of the best production in program history. When the dust had settled, Vanderbilt had turned a 140 pin first-day deficit into a whopping 404 pin lead over host Fairleigh Dickinson.
“Last night we challenged the team to be better on the fundamental things we control and work on every practice,” Coach John Williamson said, “and needless to say they must have taken this to heart. We were essentially striking in a spare tournament and when we didn’t strike we did an excellent job converting spares.”
With an NCAA Championship approved oil pattern on the lanes causing the other 11 teams problems (no other team cracked a 200 average) the Commodores – generally known as a stronger Baker team – unleashed games of 1,129, 1,003, 1,133, 1,052 and 1,029.
It was a day when everyone got in on the fun. Michelle Peloquin led the tournament for awhile before NCAA Player of the Year Josie Earnest passed her with a torrid 275 in the fourth game, striking in her first nine frames. The Vandalia, Ill., junior would finish the day in second place with Peloquin fifth. Earnest’s daily work sheet was 217-213-227-275-232.
Brittany Garcia came in sixth and Brittni Hamilton, making her collegiate debut, was a steady eighth. Sophomore Amanda Halter was inserted into the white-hot lineup partway through the day and responded with games of 243-199-191 for an excellent 211 average.
All this only puts Vanderbilt into a play-off pattern Sunday morning with the three other top teams, which it lead in pin fall after two days by 404, 696 and 970 pins respectively. The prior pin fall will not factor into the championship. The ‘Dores face FDU in the first of what amounts to double-elimination play. The winner scoots into the semi-finals while the loser plays the Delaware State-New Jersey City winner.
“We have seen plenty of evidence during our practices that this type of performance was likely to occur,” Williamson said. “Our minds are right and we are focused on the task at hand.”
Team Leader Board (12 teams competing)
1. Vanderbilt 9,450
2. Fairleigh Dickinson 9,046
3. Delaware State 8,754
4. New Jersey City 8,450
Individual Leader Board
1. Ashley Keclik – Wisconsin-Whitewater 1,179
2. Josie Earnest – Vanderbilt 1,164
3. Maria Rodriguez – MES 1,164
4. Kayla Jones – Kutztown 1,106
5. Michelle Peloquin – Vanderbilt 1,090
6. Brittany Garcia – Vanderbilt 1,059
8. Brittni Hamilton – Vanderbilt 1,032
The complete field includes New Jersey City University, Delaware State, St. Francis College, St. Peter’s College, Sacred Heart, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Fairleigh Dickinson, Morgan State, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Adelphi, Kutztown and Vanderbilt.
VU 1,129 Sacred Heart 920
Brittany Garcia 244
Michelle Peloquin 242
Tara Kane 187
Brittni Hamilton 237
Josie Earnest 217
VU 1,003 New Jersey City 934
Garcia 183
Peloquin 231
Kane 179
Hamilton 197
Earnest 213
VU 1,133 Kutztown 966
Garcia 205
Peloquin 236
Amanda Halter 243
Hamilton 222
Earnest 227
VU 1,052 St. Peters 810
Garcia 182
Peloquin 194
Halter 199
Hamilton 202
Earnest 175
VU 1,029 Morgan State 884
Garcia 245
Peloquin 187
Halter 174
Hamilton 174
Earnest 232
