Nov. 13, 2014
The Event: The Hawk Classic, hosted by Maryland-Eastern Shore, takes place at the Millsboro Lanes in Millsboro, Del., Friday-Sunday. It has been a regular stop on Vanderbilt’s schedule for many years.
The Field: Adelphi, Delaware State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Franklin Pearce, Howard, Kutztown, Long Island, UMES, Monmouth, New Jersey City, Norfolk State, North Carolina A & T, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis (PA), saint Francis (NY), Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Vanderbilt.
Format: Friday’s six 5-game Baker matches begin at 10:55 a.m. (ET). Saturday’s team games start at 8:25 a.m. The teams will play three games, break for lunch and start again for three more at 12:55. The best four of seven Bakers to determine ultimate tournament placings are Sunday, scheduled to begin at 8:25 a.m.
VU’s Travel Party: The Commodores took the same nine: seniors Natalie Goodman, Rebeca Reguero, Nicole Mosesso, juniors Amanda Fry, Tori Ferris and Robyn Renslow, sophomores Olivia Wirtz and Giselle Poss and freshman Katie Stark.
Last Time Out: The Commodores placed fifth at the Crusader Classic, finishing with a 10-5 record after finishing the two days of qualifying in third place.
History at Hawk: At one point in time, Vanderbilt had won the Hawk Classic five times in six years. While the last title came in 2011, Vandy bowled well here last year in finishing third, overcoming a sluggish start to finish strong the last two days.
The Coach’s View: “We have had a busy fall,” Coach John Williamson says. “This will be our third tournament in as many weeks so our practice time has been limited by the quick turn-arounds. We have played some very good competition and learned a lot about ourselves, all of which will be beneficial when the schedule resumes in January.”
Side Trip: Once again the Commodores squeezed a little educational slice into their pre-tournament trip.They visited Baltimore’s Fort McHenry Thursday morning, the site that in 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem.
Different quarters: For years at this event, Vanderbilt has rented a large condo instead of staying at a hotel. It has been a comfortable and popular home base with the head coach cooking several meals for the team.
Follow on Twitter: Updated results are on the Vanderbilt bowling Twitter and Facebook pages. It is anticipated that Vanderbilt games will also be live streamed on U-Stream. Very often, the wireless capability or lack thereof impacts the streaming options and even the social media updating opportunities. It is remembered that the Millsboro Lanes wireless signal has been trustworthy in the past.
Brittni Hamilton update: The ex-Vandy All-American finished in third place last week bowling for the USA at the QubicaAMF World Cup in Wroclaw, Poland.
