Vanderbilt Women Win NCAA Bowling Title


Yes, there is a college basketball championship in women's bowling and the Vanderbilt women are national champions after defeating Arkansas State 4-3 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The win was the Commodores' third championship in the history of the program winning titles in 2007 and 2018.  

In the final against Arkansas State, Vanderbilt was down 3-1 in the best-of-7 series.  

The series came down to a nail-biter in the sixth game as the national player of the year - Mabel Cummins - had to convert a 3-10 split to give the Commodores a chance.  The conversion allowed Vanderbilt to win 193-187.  They would then cruise to an easy win in Game 7 and became the first team in championship finals history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win.

Jennifer Loredo was named MVP of the tournament. Despite not playing much during the season, Loredo was familiar with the South Point Bowling Center after playing several tournaments there in the past. Because of that, Vanderbilt Coach John Williamson inserted Loredo into the lineup and she went on a run of 10 strikes in 11 tries.

Vanderbilt was ranked #2 nationally and had a record of 94-29.  In the tournament, the Commodores lost to Arkansas State 2-0 then beat McKendree 2-0 and Nebraska 2-0 in the loser's bracket to get the rematch with Arkansas State in the final. 

Click here to view highlights from the championship final.

Williamson has been coach of the women's team since its inception in 2004.  

Vanderbilt National Championship Roster:
  • Victoria Varano (Freshman)
  • Kailee Channell (Sophomore)
  • Caroline Thesier (Junior)
  • Mabel Cummins (Senior)
  • Paige Peters (Sophomore)
  • Kaylee Hitt (Sophomore)
  • Alyssa Ballard (Freshman)
  • Ameila Keifer (Senior)
  • Amanda Naujokas (Junior)
  • Jennifer Loredo (Junior)

Here are some little-known facts about the women's bowling team:

  • They were the first sport to win a team NCAA championship at Vanderbilt
  • First bowling team ever invited to the White House
  • First bowling team to take an international trip (Paris, Rome, Florence in 2012)
  • First Southland Bowling League team to win the new conference tournament
  • First team in any collegiate sport to win a national championship in Las Vegas
For more information about the Vanderbilt Women's Bowling team:  Bowling – Vanderbilt University Athletics – Official Athletics Website (vucommodores.com)




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Version of Arena Football To Return in 2025

Image
After a rough restart of the Arena Football League (AFL) last season which began with 16 teams and eventually dropped to eight teams by season’s end, the teams which survived formed a new league called Arena Football 1 (AF1)  and have released their 2025 schedule for the 12 teams which will once again try to establish its’ place on the indoor football map. The new AF1 plans to kick off their 2025 season on March 14 with the following teams set to play a 14-game schedule in the new league: West Division Arizona Bandits Billings Outlaws Oregon Lightning Washington Wolfpack Central Division Corpus Christi Tritons Salina Liberty Southwest Kansas Storm Wichita Regulators East Division Albany Firebirds Nashville Kats Orlando Predators Wilkes-Barre (team name TBA) Two other teams are planned for the 2026 season.  Let’s hope they survive this season first. For more information about the league:   https://www.theaf1.com/
Read more

ESPN 8 - The Channel for Obscure Sports

Image
I recently stumbled on to "The Ocho" which is ESPN's channel featuring obscure sports.  The channel was started in 2017.   The Echo broadcasts unconventional and lesser-known sports competitions such as corn hole, horseshoes, darts, air hockey, ax throwing and many others. The origin of ESPN8 came from the fictional television channel in the 2004 movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story which was a full-time channel showcasing obscure competitions that were "almost a sport". Some of the most unusual competitions and events shown on the network include: Mullet championships (yes, I'm afraid there is such a thing) Teqball - combination of soccer and table tennis. Onewheel - Skateboard with one wheel Excel world championship - Did someone say spreadsheets? Slippery stairs - Do we really need a sport for this? Omegaball - Three soccer teams playing on a round field at the same time. Chase Tag - Yes, same as our elementary school playground game. Steinholding - A G...
Read more

2025 Arena/Indoor Football Leagues Preview

Image
Are you ready for some (indoor) football? The arena/indoor football season is upon us. In fact, one league - the American Indoor Football league - has already started the indoor season. Here are some short previews of the most notable seven indoor leagues which will play this season: Indoor Football League (IFL) Website: https://goifl.com/ The IFL is the longest active arena/indoor league as it enters its 16th season.  Although the league is the premier indoor football league in the United States; however, they continue to have issues with franchise stability as the Duke City Gladiators, Frisco Fighters and Sioux Falls Storm deciding to sit out the 2025 season.  The league did add one new team - Fishers Freight - this season.  The Arizona Rattlers won the IFL title last season after finishing third in the Western Conference.  The Rattlers finished the season on a six-game winning streak.  The Rattlers upset the Vegas Knight Hawks 39-38 in the first round the...
Read more