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Earnest wins Bowler of the Year again; Hamilton and Peloquin named All-Americans

Posted 4/10/2009

Vanderbilt's Josie Earnest was named the NCAA Bowler of the Year for the second consecutive year to highlight the annual pre-tournament banquet of the 2009 NCAA Bowling Championship. The championship game will be televised live by ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com Saturday at 7 p.m. (CT) and replayed Sunday on ESPN at 2 p.m (CT).

The National Ten Pin Coaches Association (NTCA) announced the results of its voting for the All-America teams, Division Player of the Year winners, Rookies of the Year and Coach of the Year here Wednesday evening.

Earnest, a junior, made history by becoming the first woman since the Player of the Year Award began to win it twice. The Vandalia, Ill., native enjoyed a spectacular year, leading the nation with a 214 scoring average while winning an NCAA-best three tournaments and finishing among the top 5 in seven of eight events. Her high game was a 284 against Nebraska, the second-best score in program history.

Freshman Brittni Hamilton was named the Division-I Rookie of the Year after finishing second in the nation in scoring average at 201. The heralded Webster, N.Y. product is the second Commodore to win this prestigious honor; Michelle Peloquin won the award in 2006.

Peloquin, a senior from Enfield, Conn., highlighted her senior campaign by being named to the All-America first-team, giving the Commodores three of the nation's top six bowlers as Earnest and Hamilton were also first-team picks. Peloquin finished fourth in the nation in scoring average with a strong 199.5 average. Six honorees were named to the first team due to a tie in the voting.

Despite the big night, it was clear the Commodore trio was not focusing on individual awards.

"I don't want to think about this award until after the tournament," Earnest said. "Brittni has a motto of 1 shot, 1 frame, 1 game and that serves us well. There will be time later to reflect of anything individual."

Peloquin, who ends her career as she began it as a first-team All-American, agreed.

"I wasn't expecting this," she said modestly, "but right now I remember that last year was tough because we didn't accomplish our team goal. Two years ago I didn't think I accomplished my own goals but we won the championship and that was the important thing."

Hamilton, who came to Vanderbilt heralded as the nation's top prospect, admitted her two honors felt "awesome" but added that "finishing this thing off the right way is what counts right now."

The rest of the first-team includes Maria Rodriguez of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Cassie Leuthold of Nebraska and Erica Perez of Fairleigh Dickinson. The second team includes Adriana Jaime and Angela Reynolds of Delaware State, Samantha Santoro of Arkansas State, Kayla Jones of Kutztown and Amanda Small of New Jersey City.

Contact: Athletics, (615) 322-GOLD

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