Muleskinner

Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Sports

The Jennies' bowling team expects to make this season just as memorable as the last, even though they face tough competition on the lanes. As the Jennies' practice this week, concentration is on the upcoming Morgan State/NTC Invitational in Baltimore Feb. 17-18.

According to Coach Ron Holmes, the field of competition will be much harder than in the past, due to 24 instead of 17 teams being in the invitational, including several top-ranked teams.

"There will be teams we haven't seen yet," Holmes said. "But we will go into it with the same plan, to out right win the event."
Over the past two weeks, the Jennies have been dominating the lanes and the competition. The Jennies managed to place fifth in the Ozark Classic, finishing with a 5-5 record. The Jennies beat teams such as Fontbonne University, Elmhurst University and Arkansas State. However, the Jennies dropped matches to No. 2-ranked Vanderbilt and No. 10-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato.

Holmes said the Jennies had times when they performed amazingly, and others when they fell short of competition.
"This was not one of our better performances," Holmes said. "This is the lowest finish yet."

Leading the Jennies in the Ozark Classic was junior Tina Peak with a 222 average. Along with leading the team in the Classic, Peak was named to the all-tournament team for the third time.
"Tina had a solid performance at the Ozark Classic," Holmes said. "She reached the standards she set."

Behind Peak in the Ozark Classic was Bryanna Caldwell with a 211 average. Caldwell and Peak were among seven players who qualified for the 2007 Junior National Team in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. With a 210, average Kim Wirth followed Caldwell closely.
However, the low finish at the Ozark Classic did not stop the Jennies. The Jennies placed fourth out of 17 teams in the Arkansas State Mid-Winter Classic Feb. 2. They won six of their nine matches during the Classic.

On the first day of the Mid-Winter Classic, the Jennies won the first two matches, beating Fontbonne University and Bethune-Cookman University. However, they were later defeated by Fairleigh Dickinson and New Jersey City.

When day two came, the Jennies really stepped up their efforts, beating Morgan State, Delaware State, Southern and Jackson State, but falling to Nebraska ending the day 4-1.

"We played more consistent than the last event," Holmes said.
"We faced harder competition, and we were more prepared this event."

Four Jennies bowlers placed in the top 20 at the Mid-Winter Classic. Amanda Falk led the team in 10th place with an average of 189.60 pins per game. Peak followed in 11th place with an average of 188.33. Closely behind her in 12th place was Jamie Mitchell with an average of 188.00. Rounding out the top 20 for the Jennies, Caldwell placed 15th, with an average of 186.11.

Ranked No. 6, the Jennies hope to dominate the lanes. After weight training and conditioning, they are prepared for anything thrown their way for the rest of the season.

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