SOMERSET, N.J. (April 7, 2010) --The Kutztown University women's bowling team can add another award to their trophy case this week, after being honored the Northeast Conference (NEC) Winter Team Sportsmanship Award.
Constituted by the league presidents in 2008, the awards are designed to acknowledge the team in each conference sport that, in the opinion of its peers, most closely demonstrates good sportsmanship based on the NEC Principles of Sportsmanship and Standards of Conduct. Voting is conducted at the conclusion of each season by each team captain and head coach, who rank teams within the conference based on a predetermined set of criteria.
Kutztown, (61-58, 11-7), joined the NEC two years ago and remains an associate member of the league. The Golden Bears took the league by surprise when they made it to the championship round their inaugural year, last year. This season the Golden Bears, who finished the season ranked 12th nationally according to the National Tenpin's Coaches Association poll, made it to the semifinal round of the NEC Championships. They fell 4-1 to NEC Champion Sacred Heart.
“It is certainly quite an honor and I am very proud of our Kutztown Student-Athletes for conducting themselves the way they do,” head coach Joe Ambrose said. “It says a lot about all of them far beyond what they can do as players.”
Surprised when informed of the award, sophomore Kayla Jones said she was honored for Kutztown.
“We spend so many weekends with the other teams during the season; it's hard to not talk to the other team players after that match, or in the hotel hanging out after the tournament is done for the night,” Jones said.
In a unique twist earlier this season, Kutztown, Long Island, Sacred Heart and St. Francis traveled together via charter bus to the Jeanette Paul Invitational back on January 4-6. Out of the 20 teams that participated, Kutztown finished in eighth.
“I've heard of teams from the same school traveling together,” Ambrose said, “But I've never heard of four conference rival teams, in any sport, sharing the same bus to get to the same tournament.”
“We go to a lot of the same competitions all along the east coast, so it makes it hard not to be close friends with our competition,” Jones said. “We see them more than our own families during those three to four months of play. They become our second family.”
Jones was recently named to the Northeast Conference (NEC) All-Tournament Team, after posting a .508 strike percentage over four best-of-seven baker matches in the NEC Championships. She rolled 32 strikes in 63 attempts and accounted for a 19.4 frame average and filled 44 of 51 frames bowled.
In 53 games this season, Jones averaged 183.49 pins. She had a memorable season for the Golden Bears. Jones earned co-MVP honors of the Kutztown Invitational in January. She finished first place with a 220.67 average and 1,324 pins. Out of the 27 teams that participated, Kutztown finished fourth overall.
Kutztown's captain Steph Ray also had quite a memorable season. Ray was named to the Northeast Conference (NEC) all-bowling second team.
This is the second consecutive year that Ray has earned postseason recognition from the NEC. Ray, the Golden Bears' lone senior, remained consistent throughout both traditional and baker play to help Kutztown make it to the semifinals. Earlier this season, at the Kutztown Invitational on January 29-31, Ray was honored in front of 27 teams and their fans for her dedication and commitment to the team.
According to the league website, NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris said one of the core values is to foster and celebrate good sportsmanship by our student-athletes and coaches. “These teams are being recognized for their enhanced commitment to the ideals of sportsmanship and integrity, and as such, they serve as tremendous representatives of the NEC.”
“This is really an honor for us,” Ambrose said. “I do care how we act towards other teams and I am happy to see that other teams notice that.”
--KU--
