CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 373-1262
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Friday, March 1, 2002
http://www.hvcc.edu
Hudson Valley Community College's nationally ranked men's and women's bowling teams will compete at the NJCAA national championships on March 7 and 8. The tournament will be held at Erie Community College.
Hudson Valley's women are ranked No. 2 in the nation among two-year colleges and Hudson Valley's men's squad is ranked third in the country. Erie sits atop both polls.
At the recent NJCAA Region III tournament, both Hudson Valley teams placed second.
Hudson Valley's Dan Ahl (Colonie H.S.) averaged 229 per game to place second in the all-events category and earn First Team All-Region III status. Ahl also averaged 219 during league play this season to pin down First Team All-Mountain Valley Conference honors.
Additionally, at the Region III tourney, Ahl paired with Joe Marro (Bethlehem H.S.) to capture the doubles title. The duo combined to knock down 1,397 pins. Marro also rolled a 278 single game, tying a season-high for the Mountain Valley Conference.
Erin Fagan (Columbia H.S.) teamed up with Bridget Au Claire (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk H.S.) to capture the women's doubles title at the Region III tourney. They bowled a combined 1,253.
Additionally, the following Lady Vikings were named First Team All-Mountain Valley Conference athletes: Melissa Blair (Columbia H.S.), who finished second on the season with a 204 average in league play; Fagan, who was third with a 203 average; Megan Nault (Lansingburgh H.S.), who took fourth with a 200 average; and Marie Boomhower (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk H.S.), who placed sixth with a 190 average. Boomhower finished the regular-season with the highest single game (280) and three-game series (734) in Mountain Valley Conference action.
Coach Joe Prest, who was inducted into the NJCAA Bowling Hall of Fame in 2001, leads Hudson Valley's bowling teams.
In the 2000-01 academic year, Hudson Valley's athletic teams combined to win 72 percent of their contests. The ice hockey team won the NJCAA championship, the baseball team earned a berth in the NJCAA World Series and the football team won the Region III title. The women's basketball team earned a No. 1 national ranking and turned in a 24-3 record while the men's hoop squad competed in the Region III championship game. Additionally, two Vikings earned Region III Player-of-the-Year status, 20 were named All-Region III performers, and 10 were honored with All-American status.