After a tough weekend at the Northeast Classic last time out, the Monmouth University bowling team bounced back with an impressive 9-1 record at the Garden State Classic this weekend. They played host to seven other schools during the two-day event in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
On Friday, the Hawks went a perfect 5-0 in Baker play, picking up wins against Bryant (872-861), William Smith (760-571), Molloy (953-864), Howard (943-806), and No. 25 Merrimack (972-941). In 25 games, the Hawks averaged 180 pins per game, which was good enough for the second-best average on the day.
Saturday was Senior Day for the Hawks as the team honored Jamie Phelan and Skylar Smith before the matches began.
Phelan, Australian native and the only left-handed bowler on the team, was named to the MEAC All-Academic Team in both 2021 and 2022, boasting a total of 24 200 or better games in her career at Monmouth. For her efforts, she was named to the All-MEAC Second Team in 2020-2021.
The right-handed grad student Smith has 29 career 200 or better games to her name, and twice joined Phelan on the MEAC All-Academic Team, having also been named in 2021 and 2022, as well as in 2020.
Smith has been a staple of Monmouth’s success since 2018. In Saturday’s Traditional format, Monmouth went 2-0 in their round robin matches and 2-1 in bracket play.
The Hawks kicked off the day off with wins over St. Francis Brooklyn by a score of 812-675 and Bloomfield by a score of 959-766. In bracket play, the team won big over William Smith, 843-636, before falling short for the first time on the weekend to Molloy, 828-858. In their third-place match, the Hawks again took care of business against Bloomfield, winning 856-735.
Junior Jenna Lehrer and fifth-year Skylar Smith were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts in Traditional play. Individually, Smith and Lehrer ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, as both had high games of 202.
Junior Siyah Sweeny appeared in four games and put together a 234 game in the first matchup against Bloomfield. Freshman Desiré Villalobos and junior Mafe Aguiluz played in three games each and both averaged over 159 pins per game. Freshman Brillian Soedarmasto, senior Jamie Phelan, and sophomore Sierra Poole all had strong high games as well, with Poole and Soedarmasto each posting 175 and Phelan notching 182.
With their performances this weekend, the Hawks now have seven wins against ranked opponents this season.
Monmouth’s highest pin total in Baker format came against a ranked opponent, in the form of #25 Merrimack. The Hawks twice squared off against Bloomfield, with one being their third-place matchup. In their first matchup against Bloomfield in Traditional format, the Hawks recorded their highest Traditional format scoring performance of the weekend.
Monmouth’s performance against William Smith in bracket play was one of their best of the season, winning by a dominating total of 207. William Smith proved to be no match the first time around as well, falling by a whopping 189 in Baker play.
The Hawks are 2-0 versus St. Francis Brooklyn this season, and they did not come particularly close to the Hawks in their latest matchup either.
The Hawks will get to enjoy some time off before heading down to Orlando, Florida to particpate in the Sunshine State Classic, from Friday, Feb. 10 to Sunday, Feb. 12, with more tournaments to follow shortly thereafter.
