NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There was considerable turbulence in the National Tenpin Coaches Association December polling. The nation’s head coaches appeared to draw significantly different opinions from their preseason judgment after watching the fall collegiate bowling season unfold.
Jacksonville State soared from its preseason rank of No. 7 into the top spot. The veteran Gamecocks, 33-6, flew under the preseason radar in their first year of competition. But championships in challenging fields at the MOTIV Ladyjack Classic and Hawk Classic and a second-place finish at Destination Orlando earned Jacksonville State 43 of 50 first-place votes in the poll.
Vanderbilt, 39-14 and preseason No. 1, dropped into second after winning the Warhawk Classic, finishing second at the MOTIV Ladyjack Classic and scoring a pair of third places at Destination Orlando and the Hawk Classic. The Commodores collected six first-place votes.
Youngstown State jumped from sixth to third after winning Destination Orlando and notching second-place finishes at the Penguin Classic and Hawk Classic. The Penguins picked up the remaining first-place vote.
The NTCA’s full release and list of rankings are available online.
