GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Lately, year after year, North Carolina A&T has put together a season better than the last. Hopefully, that is not changing as it heads into the 2015-16 season.
The Aggies claimed the school’s first national championship when they won the 2015 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships in April. In addition to it being the team’s first appearance in a national title, A&T finished the season ranked ninth in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, the highest in program history.
The Aggies didn’t stop there. Emily Strombeck and MacKenzie Robinson were named NTCA All-Americans. Strombeck, a two-time All-American was named to the third team after being recognized as an honorable mention in 2013-14. Robinson was selected as an honorable mention which marked the first time in program history that two Aggies were named as All-Americans in the same year.
In conference play, both Strombeck and Robinson were first-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selections with Strombeck repeating as the Bowler of the Year. Strombeck became the first Aggie athlete since football player Connell Maynor in 1990 and '91 to earn the MEAC's top individual honor for two straight years in that athlete's respective sport.
To top it off, head coach James Williams also repeated as the MEAC Coach of the Year.
Looking Back on 2014-15 Goals ...
So exactly how do the Aggies expect to have an even better 2015-16 season?
“There is always a level of pressure that comes with coming off a successful season,” said Williams. “But we are going approach this season, just like we did last year when we came off, at the time, the best season in program history. The expectations for the team have not changed. We are looking to compete at our highest level and hopefully compete for a conference championship.”
What else hasn’t changed is the team’s roster. The Aggies return all of its players from their championship squad and will be looking for leadership in seniors Briana Jackson, Najah Owens, and Strombeck.
“They really found their roles throughout the year last year,” Williams said. “As juniors they had to learn to be the leaders of the team since we didn’t have any seniors.”
Also returning are juniors Rakia Jenkins, Kristin Shinn and Robinson along with sophomores Brianna Boze and Kori Smith.
“The experience will play a part in the season,” explained Williams. “With our current roster there is still a lot of room for growth. I’m looking for Brianna Boze to step up and have a breakout season. She didn’t get much playing time last year as we were developing techniques, but she really came through in big moments during our national championship run.”
Aside from tweaking and improving a few areas of their game, one particular area that the Aggies will be working on is communication. A&T will showcase that when it opens the season on Friday, Oct. 16 at the Tulane Invitational in New Orleans.
But as for right now, the Aggies are enjoying the fruits of their labor and embracing all that comes with being a national champion.
“Well at this particular moment they are still on a high, after just receiving their national championship rings,” stated Williams. “Prior to that they were focused and looking forward to being better than last year. So I imagine after the excitement dies down, they will get back to being focused on the task at hand just like last year.”
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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