Oct. 22, 2009
When Vanderbilt opens its 2009-10 bowling season in Missouri this weekend there will be a distinct new look to the its lineup.
Four veterans that had formed the foundation of the program as the first recruiting class back in 2005 graduated last May, ushering in a new era. But as the expression goes, Vanderbilt believes it is reloading, not rebuilding. The NCAA’s top two bowlers a year ago in terms of season’s average return to give the Black and Gold a potent 1-2 punch.
Senior Josie Earnest is the two-time NCAA Player of the Year while sophomore Brittni Hamilton was a first-team All-American and Rookie of the Year in 2009. Both had productive summers on national and international fronts and are primed for strong seasons.
“We’ve named Josie as our team captain, the first time we’ve ever had one,” says Coach John Williamson. “She is an excellent leader and obviously a great competitor. Combining her talents with Brittni Hamilton’s skill set gives us the strongest finish in college bowling.”
Figuring out the rest of the lineup for this weekend’s Greater Ozark Invitational has been much more difficult.
“With so many strong bowlers we knew the competition would be intense,” Williamson says. “We established a lengthy qualifying tournament to sort things out, then needed another mini-series and it was still a photo finish. I would hope and anticipate this healthy competition continues all season. Having to compete internally makes us stronger.”
When the dust settled, freshmen Kim Carper and Jess Earnest along with junior Amanda Halter, senior Ashley Belden and transfer Kayla Rhoades will join Josie Earnest and Hamilton.
The Commodores will compete in a pre-seeding event Friday at the Central Missouri Recreation Center in Warrensburg with Arkansas State, Central Missouri, Elmhurst, Fontbonne and Minnesota State-Mankato. That event is Baker format.
The teams then travel to Springfield and the Enterprise Park Lanes for the actual tournament Saturday and Sunday. In addition to those Friday foes, others joining the fray will be Louisiana Tech, Southern, Stephen F. Austin, Valparaiso, Elmhurst and Nebraska.
The Greater Ozark will be five traditional team games Saturday and Baker (four of seven format) Sunday.
Results will be available on www.vucommodores.com shortly after each day’s competition is finished.
Bowlers No. 2 in Opening Poll
The NCAA bowling coaches have voted the Commodores second in the first poll of the year.
The National Ten Pins Coaches Association gave the top nod to defending national champion Nebraska. Despite losing four seniors, Vanderbilt was the second choice, followed by Farleigh-Dickinson, University of Central Missouri, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Delaware State, Arkansas State, New Jersey City University and Sacred Heart University to complete the Top 10.
Polls come out monthly throughout the season.