UMES Captures Bowling Title, Makes History as NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!

Photo: UMES Freshman Kristina Frahm (left) made All-Tournament Team along with the Tournament's Most Valuable Bowler, senior Jessica Worsley (right).

The title is the first NCAA National Championship women's title ever at the DI level by a historically black college or university (HBCU) and the first time a woman coach has won a bowling championship.

Press Release: Courtesy of NCAA

Maryland-Eastern Shore made NCAA bowling history Saturday night as it captured its first NCAA Women’s Bowling title since the sport’s NCAA sanction in 2004. Maryland-Eastern Shore’s Head Coach Sharon Brummel also became the first woman head coach to lead her team to a title.

“Somebody told me I was the first woman to win a championship,” Brummel said. “We’ve been to all five championships and finally a woman wins. It’s a wonderful feeling, it really is.”

The Hawks fought to be in the championship, as they were down three games to Vanderbilt in this afternoon’s elimination match. Momentum shifted the Hawk’s way and Maryland-Eastern Shore defeated Vanderbilt to contend for the championship.

“I’m speechless,” Brummel said. “After last year I felt that we were contending for the championship. Today, these young ladies fought. When were bowling against Vanderbilt earlier today and we were down three games, it got a little scary. Then Jessica Worsley decides to pick up a 2-10 split and it just seemed to change the whole momentum of the game and they came out fighting today when we were starting out in the championship.”

“I guess we all wanted to win,” Brommel said. “Jessica’s been here the whole four years. She’s gone to four national championships and on her way out she wanted to go out as a champion and she really went out as a champion.”

Maryland-Eastern Shore anchor Jessica Worsley stepped up for the Hawks in both matches today and emerged as the Most Valuable Bowler for the 2008 National Championship.
Photo: Jessica Worsley, Most Valuable Bowler Award winner.

“It was just a dream even making the finals last year and finishing second,” Worsley said. “Most people can’t even said they’ve done that in their career. Just going out on top and finishing first my senior year, words can’t describe how great that feels. I couldn’t have asked for a better coaching staff or team to finish my career with and winning the national championship was just the icing on the cake.”

Maryland-Eastern Shore claimed the title with a 4-2 win over Arkansas State. The Hawks took an early lead in the first game, as Arkansas State had two open frames to start the game. However, Arkansas State came on strong during the fourth frame, as sophomore Maggie Adams started a series of six strikes for the Indians. Maryland-Eastern Shore was unable to overcome the deficit and fell, 179-223, to Arkansas State in the first game.

Maryland-Eastern Shore’s come back was quick in the second game as they out shot the Indians, 200-181. The Hawks recorded seven spares and three strikes, while Arkansas State held two open frames to begin the game. The teams were tied at 1-1 heading into the third game.

Despite two open frames to start game three, Arkansas State’s anchor Marissa Martinek helped the Indians to victory with back-to-back strikes in the tenth frame. Arkansas State defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore, 182-180.

Maryland-Eastern Shore answered back with a 217-164 win over Arkansas State in the fourth game. UMES was on fire with six strikes and five spares in the game, which brought them to a 2-2 draw with Arkansas State.

The Hawks kept rolling to a 3-2 lead over Arkansas State in the fifth game. Two strikes in both the eighth and ninth frames gave the Hawks a strong 175-152 win over the Indians.

With momentum on its side, Maryland-Eastern Shore capped the night with a 174-170 victory over Arkansas State to capture the 2008 Women’s Bowling Championship title.

Following the awards ceremony, five championship bowlers were recognized with all-tournament team honors. Brittany Garcia (Vanderbilt), Vicki Spratford (New Jersey City), Maggie Adams (Arkansas State), Jessica Worsley (Maryland-Eastern Shore) and Maria Rodriguez (Maryland-Eastern Shore) were each recognized, while Worlsey claimed the Most Valuable Bowler.

A tape-delay of the championship game will be broadcast on ESPN 2 at 6 p.m. Central on Monday, April 14.

Photo: Sharon Brummell, UMES Head Bowling Coach of the NCAA Division I National Champions Hawks

2007/08 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE HAWKS BOWLING TEAM -NCAA DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

NAME YR Hometown (Last School)
Brown, Katherine FR Level Green, Pa. (Penn Trafford H.S.)
Culbreth, Jamie JR Hochspeyer, Germany (Kaiserslautern American)
Davis, Jennifer JR Severn, Md. (Meade H.S.)
DiScioscia, Sara JR Hampton, Va. (Poquoson H.S.)
Frahm, Kristina FR Oswego Ill. (Oswego East H.S.)
King, Christine SR Upper Darby, Pa. (Archbishop Predergast)
Perez, Martha FR Bogota, Colombia (English School)
Rodriguez, Maria FR Ibague Tolima, Colombia (La Presentacion)
Smithson, Jessica RS FR Selbyville, Del (Sussex Technical H.S.)
Worsley, Jessica SR Brick, N.J. (Brick Memorial H.S.)
Zanrucha, Laura JR Binghamton, N.Y. (Susquehanna Valley H.S.)

Coaches

Sharon Brummell - Head Coach
Doug Dukes - Volunteer Assistant Coach
Vince Brummell - Volunteer Assistant Coach

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Amazing!! Congratulations UMES Hawks! The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference members, fans and all HBCUs are extremely proud of our first NCAA Division I National Championship and the historic accomplishments by the UMES Hawks 2008 National Championship Bowling Team. Now we all know the truly impossible--is now possible for all MEAC sports teams. ( beepbeep)

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Jazz Ensemble, "God Bless the Child"