Oct. 16, 2017
Vanderbilt’s bowling program has produced more first-team All-Americans and Rookies of the Year than any other school according to an in-depth review conducted on behalf of the National Tenpin Coaches Association.
The Commodores, whose program began in the 2004-05 season, have 13 first-team All-Americans, one more than Nebraska, and six of the 12 Rookies of the Year. No other program has more than one Rookie of the Year.
“We have been fortunate to have been represented by many outstanding student-athletes,” says Vanderbilt Head Coach John Williamson. “These honors reflect their commitment to excellence and hard work. What the study doesn’t show is that these women had the same commitment to their academics. They wanted to excel in every way.”
First-team All-American honors were accorded to Vanderbilt’s Josie Earnest (’08, ’09, ’10) and Brittni Hamilton (’09, ’10, ’12) three times, Robyn Renslow (’15, ’16) and Michele Peloquin (’06, ’09) twice, and Jessica Earnest (’13), Giselle Poss (’17) and Maria Bulanova (’17) once each. (The NTCA has a 5-person first team selected by a vote of head coaches.)
Peloquin (2006), Hamilton (2009), Jessica Earnest (2010), Renslow (2013), Kristin Quah (2016) and Bulanova (2017) were the Rookies of the Year – a category absolutely dominated by Vanderbilt bowlers.
Vanderbilt narrowly missed out being the program that has generated the most total All-America honorees with 36 first, second and third team and honorable mention All-Americans. Only Fairleigh Dickinson with 37 has more.
Additionally, Vanderbilt has had the National Player of the Year twice (Josie Earnest, 2008/2009), a figure equaled by only Arkansas State and FDU and topped by Nebraska’s four.