LINCOLN, Neb. - Wichita State junior Jazreel Tan and Robert Morris-Illinois freshman Marshall Kent were named Most Valuable Players for the 2011-12 college bowling season Wednesday night by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association.

Tan and Kent were honored with the rest of the All-Americans at the Night of Champions banquet held Wednesday in conjunction with the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships, which will open Thursday at Sun Valley Lanes.

For Tan, the announcement continues a collegiate career that has been full of post-season honors. She was named the Rookie of the Year as a freshman and last year earned MVP honors as well. This season, Tan won three individual titles, while amassing the top average in the country with 213.

Tan, who hails from Singapore, is joined as a first team All-American by Brandi Branka of McKendree, Amanda Greene of Lindenwood, Kim Yioulos of Pikeville and Kayla Rhoades of Marian.

"It's always so nice to be recognized like this," said Tan, who has been named a first team All-American in each of her first three seasons in college bowling. "Our team struggled at the beginning of the season. We put in a lot of hard work as a team as the year went on and that helped lead to awards like this."

Kent, a Team USA and Junior Team USA member in 2012, picked up two individual titles this season, including the Backhaul Direct Hoosier Classic. He finished the season with a 216.5 average.

Kent is joined as a first team All-American by Chris Via of Notre Dame-Ohio, Brad Miller of Lindenwood, Geoffrey Young of Wichita State and Aaron Lorincz of Saginaw Valley State.

"I had a lot of help from my teammates this season," said Kent, who was also named the men's Rookie of the Year. "My mental game became about 10 times stronger this year, and that's because my teammates helped me out a lot with that. I just came into this year trying to do the best I could, and I got way more out of it than I could have asked for."

Tara Ernst of Briarcliffe was named the women's Rookie of the Year, while Morehead State men's coach Bobby Brown and Pikeville women's coach Ron Damron were named the Kerm Helmer Coaches of the Year.

Also on Wednesday, the Bowling Writers Association of America announced its players of the year. Tan and Kent received those honors as well.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BOWLING COACHES ASSOCIATION
2011-12 ALL-AMERICANS

MEN

First team
Marshall Kent, Robert Morris-Illinois; Chris Via, Notre Dame-Ohio; Brad Miller, Lindenwood; Geoffrey Young, Wichita State; Aaron Lorincz, Saginaw Valley State

Second team
Greg Geering, Fresno State; Jack Castellano, Briarcliffe; Sean Rangel, William Penn; Mike Conn, Morehead State; Dan Lemiesz, Lindenwood

Honorable mention
Mark Scuderi, Rochester Tech; Marcus Berndt, Wichita State; Zach Wilkins, Urbana; Matt Skalachki, Suffolk-Grant; Jay Foote, Wright State

Most Valuable Player - Marshall Kent, Robert Morris-Illinois

Rookie of the Year - Marshall Kent, Robert Morris-Illinois

Kerm Helmer Coach of the Year - Bobby Brown, Morehead State

WOMEN

First team
Jazreel Tan, Wichita State; Brandi Branka, McKendree; Amanda Greene, Lindenwood; Kim Yioulos, Pikeville; Kayla Rhoades, Marian

Second team
Diana Zavjalova, Webber International; Laura Fonnegra, Lindenwood; Kayla Jones, Kutztown; Caitlin Hoffman, Robert Morris-Illinois; Trista Flowers, McKendree

Honorable mention
Brandy Hensley, Pikeville; Holly Harris, Wichita State; Katie Thornton, Webber International; Tara Ernst, Briarcliffe; Danielle Cessman, Briarcliffe

Most Valuable Player - Jazreel Tan, Wichita State

Rookie of the Year - Tara Ernst, Briarcliffe

Kerm Helmer Coach of the Year - Ron Damron, Pikeville

Gordon Teigen Meritorious Service Award - Gloria Behr, Midwest Collegiate


BOWLING WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
2011-12 COLLEGIATE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Male - Marshall Kent, Robert Morris-Illinois

Female - Jazreel Tan, Wichita State

Male runners-up
Jack Castellano, Briarcliffe
Aaron Lorincz, Saginaw Valley State
Brad Miller, Lindenwood
Chris Via, Notre Dame-Ohio

Male honorable mention
Greg Geering, Fresno State
Sean Rangel, William Penn
Geoffrey Young, Wichita State

Female runners-up
Brandi Branka, McKendree
Amanda Greene, Lindenwood
Kayla Rhoades, Marian
Kim Yioulos, Pikeville

Female honorable mention
T'nia Falbo, Maryland Eastern Shore
Laura Fonnegra, Lindenwood
Kayla Jones, Kutztown