Last updated on Feb 25, 2019
By Ashley Bowden
Co-Editor-In-Chief
After a season full of ups and downs, the bowling team performed well at the Wildcat Invitational tournament in Wilmington, Del. from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. “We finished after the first two days seated sixth, and we fought the last day to receive third place and get a trophy,” team captain Patricia Kelly, a sophomore business administration major, said. During that tournament, the team beat three teams from Wilmington University, Molloy College and Adelphi University.
The tournament was the team’s proudest moment during the current season. “Adelphi is nationally-ranked, and we worked hard as a team and we beat them,” Francesca Rossi, freshman forensic science major, said. It was her first time accomplishing a feat like that on a team.
“I’m proud of the team really coming together through every tournament,” Emily Cavanaugh, freshman nursing major, said. “Whether we start at the bottom, we always pull it off the last day to place in tournaments.” Her personal best score is 279.
The bowling team was formed on campus three years ago, according to Kelly. She and her teammates are proud to have helped build their team by doing what they love.
Nicole Lettich, freshman nursing major, is proud to be a part of a team that cheers each other on. “We notice that all the better teams are very involved with each other and they cheer, and I feel like we’ve improved that this season,” she said.
Their team’s scores in competition have improved overall. “When we cheer together as a team, our momentum is higher and we perform better,” Lettich said.
“A lot of these athletes are dedicated, and they’re looking to get better no matter what,” Cavanaugh said.
Kelly is glad to have developed a close relationship with her teammates. “I always have a family and girls I know I can trust and depend on if I need anybody,” she said. “It affects gameplay because we know we have each other’s back.” Kelly’s personal best score is 289.
“I knew a lot of girls on the team, so I knew coming in that I’d have a lot more friends,” Lettich said about joining the Pioneers. There are nine members on the team.
“I like the team atmosphere and we all get along very well, we have a lot of laughs,” Rossi said. “They push me to do the best I could do, and I do the same for them.” Rossi’s personal best score is 280.
Lettich anticipates placing higher in tournaments and winning more titles. The team won second place at the Kutztown Duals tournament in Whitehall, Pa. in November 2018 and fourth place at the Red Flash Invitational in Altoona, Pa. in January. Her personal best is 289.
The team members hope to improve their performance moving forward this season and win first in tournaments.
“I’m looking forward to combining with LIU Brooklyn,” Cavanaugh said. “We will have a bigger team, but I know we’ll each work hard to become part of that starting five.” The team will not move to Brooklyn, but they will meet with the rest of the team for practices and play together at tournaments, according to Kelly. The coach for the Brooklyn team will become head coach.
My teammates and I are looking forward to the ECC championships “since this is our last year as LIU Post before the merge,” Kelly said. “We definitely want to make it a big one.”
The Pioneers’ next tournament is at the Metro Classic on Feb. 16 in West Babylon, N.Y. Their season ends on Sunday, March. 24.
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