RMC Bowlers continue rise in rankings!
South Bend, IN - The Robert Morris Men's & Women's Bowling teams continue to solidify their national rankings as they move toward the United States Collegiate Bowling Congress Sectionals and beyond with strong showings in the Blue & Gold Classic at South Bend, IN.
Despite 2007-2008 being their first season of competition, the men have thrust themselves into the national picture. The Eagles sit just outside the Top 10, holding down the #11 ranking. Chris Bardol (pictured above at right) has the best average in the nation among rookie bowlers and ranks eleventh among all collegiate bowlers in the nation. The freshman from Brockport, NY, has a tournament victory and four Top 5 finishes to his credit this season to go along with his 204 per game average.
Five other Eagle lanesmen are among the top rookies in the nation. Joe Vrobel (Fondulac, WI) ranks #20 and he is joined in the Top 25 by Ken Fischer (Lake Zurich, IL) and Joshua Scanlon (Wildwood, IL). Steve Dinelli (Skokie, IL)and Larry Bigger (Shorewood, IL)also putting together fine freshman seasons, ranking at #31 and #32 among first-year bowlers.
Last weekend, the Eagles traveled to South Bend, IN, for the Blue & Gold Classic hosted by the University of Notre Dame. A #15 individual showing by Chris Bardol led RMC to a fifth-place finish in the tough 44-team field that featured most of the USCBC Top 20. #1-ranked Saginaw State (MI) was the Tourney champ.
The Lady Eagles have moved up to #6 in the nation in the latest rankings. Senior leader Kristen Nielsen (Horseheads, NY, pictured at left) has been a model consistency this season, posting a 185 average. Meanwhile, RMC's quartet of super freshman--Heather D'Errico (Rochester, NY), Kayla Johnson (Washington, IL), Amy McBee (Zion, IL) and Simone Simmons (Florissant, MO)--all have stepped to the fore with D'Errico and Johnson each grabbing tournament wins. All four have earned All-Tournament honors at some point during the Lady Eagles' season thus far and are among the Top 20 rookies in the nation.
At the Blue & Gold the women came in sixth in the 23-team field, 75 pins behind the nation’s #1-team, the Shockers of Wichita State (KS). Kristen Nielsen was the top bowler for RMC, coming in at #13. She was joined in the tourney Top 50 by D'Errico, Johnson, and Alissa Leicht (Senior, Zion, IL).
This coming weekend, the teams will travel down I-65 to Indianapolis, IN, for their last tourney of the regular season at the Hoosier Classic. Mid-March will find the bowlers at the individual and team USCBC sectionals. Team assignments are made based on national rankings. Last season the Lady Eagles were placed in the Pikeville, KY, Sectional.