In preparation for upcoming postseason events, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's bowling team paid a visit to the International Training and Research Center this week.

The Hawks, the No. 2 ranked NCAA team nationally, trained with ITRC and Team USA head coach Rod Ross and assistant head coach Kim Terrell-Kearney at the International Bowling Campus. The team did a combination of classroom work and on-the-lanes training.

"I think coming here is the best thing we could have done, and this trip is going to be the key to getting us through our upcoming championships," UMES coach Sharon Brummell said. "The players have gained a lot of knowledge and so did we as coaches. We have a good team, but this is going to make them better not only mentally but also physically."

UMES will next compete in the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships sectionals in Chattanooga, Tenn., March 13-14. If the Hawks finish among the top four, they will advance to the national championships in El Paso, Texas, April 15-17.

As one of the top-ranked teams in NCAA competition, UMES is also expected to be selected to compete in the NCAA Women's Bowling Championship in North Brunswick, N.J., April 8-10. First the Hawks must compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships in Greensboro, N.C., March 19-21.

"Being able to train here is really going to boost our team's confidence," Brummell said. "All of our players came on this trip on a voluntary basis. They each paid their own travel and expenses and our foundation paid the training fees."

Brummell said the team already is planning another trip to the International Training and Research Center in September.