Nov. 19, 2006
MILLSBORO, DE—Vanderbilt won its first team bowling championship in its brief history by capturing the Hawk Classic, hosted by Maryland-Eastern Shore.
In a field of 19 that included three of the nation’s top six ranked teams, the Commodores finished 262 pins ahead of No. 6 ranked New Jersey City University and 275 ahead of third place Fairleigh Dickinson, the top-rated squad in the nation.
Karen Grygiel finished fourth as the ‘Dores captured their first tournament title.
|
 |
“I thought this was significant in the sense that we saw a very difficult shot the entire weekend and yet we were in control from the outset,” said Coach John Williamson. “Any time you are going head-to-head with top teams and can maintain your focus and consistency you are likely to have success. I think we learned a lot this weekend.”
Heralded freshman Josie Earnest, a member of the USA’s Junior Gold Team, said the team’s mindset was strong.
“This was an amazing tournament,” Earnest said. “We had a good feel all weekend and we grabbed the lead from the start and kept it to the end.”
Earnest said the highlight may have been the confrontation with Fairleigh Dickinson in the third game of the Baker series today.
“That was the pivotal point in the tournament,” she said, “because that solidified our lead. It was a pretty tense match because both teams understood what the match meant. We kept our intensity level high and after we came away with that win the tournament was pretty much ours.”
Indeed it was a great day for the Commodores, who romped to 10 victories without a single defeat in the tournament, running their season mark to 22-3.
Two Commodores earned All-Tournament honors, sophomores Tara Kane, who placed third, and Karen Grygiel, who was fourth and had the tourney’s high game Saturday with a 246. Additionally, Mandy Keily and Michelle Peloquin were in the top 11 in the field of over 100 competitors and Earnest actually averaged two pins higher than MVP Sara Rae Weyent of Delaware State but Williamson substituted her one game, which put her out of the official standings.
“I continue to be very pleased with our team balance,” Williamson noted. “We are not relying on a couple of bowlers to carry us. We are getting good performance from our entire lineup. Last week Mandy had the hottest hand; this weekend it was Tara and Karen.”
Sunday’s Baker games consisted of four matches against each opponent with total pin fall determining the winner.
The team will be back in action Dec. 2-3 at the Mississippi Valley Classic.
Top Three Teams (Field of 19 teams)
Vanderbilt 8386
New Jersey City 8124
FDU 8111
Vanderbilt Baker Games
Vanderbilt 755 Sacred Heart 689
Vanderbilt 764 Adelphi University 658
Vanderbilt 675 FDU 671
Vanderbilt 752 Maryland-Eastern Shore 637
Vanderbilt 770 Hampton University 626
