Princes Anne, Maryland -- In her 14th year as coach of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team, head coach Sharon Brummell has accomplished a lot. Three National Championships, five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships, 20 All-America players, five MEAC Coach of the Year awards and two National Coach of the Year honors are just a few of the more glaring recognitions. Beyond the hardware however, Brummell has brought joy, pride, exposure, and recognition to the small Princess Anne, Md. campus and today, the school publicly thanked her for her efforts.
In a ceremony open to the campus and attended by current and former campus dignitaries and current and former players, her parents and family, the bowling lanes were formally named the Sharon D. Brummell Bowling Lanes.
UMES - 2011 NCAA Bowling Champions
"I can't believe this is happening," said Brummell in a speech at the event. "People ask me how you become a champion and I look around this room and answer, this is how you become a champion. You have people who support you in what you do," she told the large crowd packed inside the bowling center.
The six lane center, housed in the ten-year old Student Services Center (SSC) right on campus, are used for student recreation as well as by the team as one of their two practice facilities. They are adorned with championship banners, photos of all the All-America bowlers from the school's history, all coached by Brummell, photos of the national championship wins and a newly placed mural above the lanes of Brummell throughout her coaching career.
"I was in tears," Brummell added. I had seen the prototype of this but to see it in person really took me aback. I have to thank my Mom and Dad, who attend all my championships, my son Bobby, sister Colleen and husband Vince. They have been there every step of the way."
"This is a more than deserved honor," said Director of Athletics Keith Davidson. "What this woman has accomplished in her sport is amazing. Three national titles in four years and to be the first woman to win an NCAA title and the first African-American to win the NCAA and USBC Collegiate titles, what else do you need to solidify yourself as a legend in this sport? I think I can say with certainty that she is not only one of the best bowling coaches in the country, but one of the best college coaches in the country, period."
"I am just glad the campus could do something like this" said Kimberly Conway Dumpson, the University's Director of Alumni Affairs and Planned Giving who helped secure donations for the naming of the facility, including a major gift from alumnus and bowling supporter Melvin Hill. "This accomplishment stands proudly with anything else done in collegiate coaching, the entire campus, alumni and all our faculty and staff are just so proud of her."
UMES' new Interim President Mortimer Neufville also spoke at the event, stating, "Brummell is a role model for us, this recognition is well deserved."
Perhaps what summed up the occasion best were words by Dr. Hallie Gregory, the Athletics Director at Holly Grove Christian School, who was the athletics director at UMES that hired Brummell for the position. "As an athletic director you have to hire and fire a lot of people. Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you don't. But with Sharon Brummell I know that I got it right. I can rest my laurels on her and know that she has done an amazing job and made UMES the pinnacle of collegiate women's bowling."
By UMES Sports Information
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