Collegiate presence strong at 2016 USBC Queens
May 24, 2016
LAS VEGAS - The ultimate goal for more than 250 of the top players in the world at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Queens was to advance to the televised stepladder finals Thursday on CBS Sports Network. But a group of collegiate standouts competing this week already have made their way to a TV show.
Members of the Wichita State and Webber International women's bowling programs will face off to raise the Helmer Cup when CBS Sports Network airs the women's final of the 2016 Intercollegiate Team Championships on Tuesday at 10 p.m. Eastern. Click here to locate CBS Sports Network on your cable or satellite provider.
Seven members of the Wichita State team who represented the Shockers at the ITC made their way to The Orleans Bowling Center to compete at the 2016 Queens, and the Warriors have five players from the 2016 team in the field.
The Wichita State contingent includes Sydney Brummett, Estefania Cobo, Ashlyn Herzberg, Hollyann Johansen, Sierra Kanemoto, Daria Kovalova and Laura Plazas. Webber is represented this week by Taylor Bulthuis, Verity Crawley, Rebecca Czlapinski, Daria Pajak and Tania Yusaf.
As the collegiate scene grows bigger and stronger each year, more and more players are making the leap to events such as the Queens, as well as the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour.
Although these players are competing individually this week in Las Vegas, the principles learned in the team aspect still are at the forefront.
"I learned a lot on how to become a team player and make my moves off of my teammates in college," said Webber's Pajak, who finished qualifying in second place with a 15-game total of 3,450. "We only had two shots to find a line and perform, so you really learn how to line up quickly and that has really helped this week."
Communication on the lanes also is an integral part of many successful collegiate teams, and the lines still are open in hopes that the team as a whole is successful in the chase for the title.
"With my teammates, they're always behind me and constantly helping," said Wichita State's Brummett, who qualified 13th with a 3,331 total. "It's like one big person bowling together. Out here, you have to think on your own feet, but we're still communicating with each other. If someone is struggling, we'll sit down and talk about what we could do differently and throw ideas off each other which really helps a lot."
Along with Pajak and Brummett, Johansen (19th), Kovalova (20th), Plazas (tied for 29th) and Crawley (37th) each advanced to Tuesday's double-elimination match-play bracket.
Other collegiate standouts from the 2015-2016 season advancing to match play include Brittany Smith (Grand View), Stephanie Schwartz (Stephen F. Austin), Katelyn Simpson (Pikeville), Kristin Quah (Vanderbilt), Robyn Renslow (Vanderbilt) and Katie Maher (St. Ambrose).
As the 2016 Queens heads to match play Tuesday, the event may share a similar feeling to the Intercollegiate Singles Championships for some in the field. The 2016 ISC took place in April at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kansas, along with the ITC.
"It still kind of feels like a college tournament since we're all together," Pajak said. "It's a little weird since we don't have our coaches with us and we're on our own, but there's so much support between us and it really means a lot."
Members of the Wichita State and Webber International women's bowling programs will face off to raise the Helmer Cup when CBS Sports Network airs the women's final of the 2016 Intercollegiate Team Championships on Tuesday at 10 p.m. Eastern. Click here to locate CBS Sports Network on your cable or satellite provider.
Seven members of the Wichita State team who represented the Shockers at the ITC made their way to The Orleans Bowling Center to compete at the 2016 Queens, and the Warriors have five players from the 2016 team in the field.
The Wichita State contingent includes Sydney Brummett, Estefania Cobo, Ashlyn Herzberg, Hollyann Johansen, Sierra Kanemoto, Daria Kovalova and Laura Plazas. Webber is represented this week by Taylor Bulthuis, Verity Crawley, Rebecca Czlapinski, Daria Pajak and Tania Yusaf.
As the collegiate scene grows bigger and stronger each year, more and more players are making the leap to events such as the Queens, as well as the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour.
Although these players are competing individually this week in Las Vegas, the principles learned in the team aspect still are at the forefront.
"I learned a lot on how to become a team player and make my moves off of my teammates in college," said Webber's Pajak, who finished qualifying in second place with a 15-game total of 3,450. "We only had two shots to find a line and perform, so you really learn how to line up quickly and that has really helped this week."Communication on the lanes also is an integral part of many successful collegiate teams, and the lines still are open in hopes that the team as a whole is successful in the chase for the title.
"With my teammates, they're always behind me and constantly helping," said Wichita State's Brummett, who qualified 13th with a 3,331 total. "It's like one big person bowling together. Out here, you have to think on your own feet, but we're still communicating with each other. If someone is struggling, we'll sit down and talk about what we could do differently and throw ideas off each other which really helps a lot."
Along with Pajak and Brummett, Johansen (19th), Kovalova (20th), Plazas (tied for 29th) and Crawley (37th) each advanced to Tuesday's double-elimination match-play bracket.
Other collegiate standouts from the 2015-2016 season advancing to match play include Brittany Smith (Grand View), Stephanie Schwartz (Stephen F. Austin), Katelyn Simpson (Pikeville), Kristin Quah (Vanderbilt), Robyn Renslow (Vanderbilt) and Katie Maher (St. Ambrose).
As the 2016 Queens heads to match play Tuesday, the event may share a similar feeling to the Intercollegiate Singles Championships for some in the field. The 2016 ISC took place in April at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kansas, along with the ITC.
"It still kind of feels like a college tournament since we're all together," Pajak said. "It's a little weird since we don't have our coaches with us and we're on our own, but there's so much support between us and it really means a lot."