Craft, Gifford Named to All-Tournament Team at Hoosier Classic
by Wade Steinlage
Indianapolis, Ind.–The Statesmen women’s bowling team utilized a dynamic duo to finish high at the Hoosier Classic Saturday and Sunday.
William Penn was 13th out of 66 teams with 8,195 pins at arguably the best tournament of the season. The event, which consisted of six regular games and 15 Baker rounds, was led by Pikeville (Ky.) in qualifying with 8,769 pins, while #7 seed St. Francis (Ill.) took the bracket crown.
Lauren Piotrowski of Pikeville topped the 440-player field with a 211.8 average (1,271 total pins). Nicole Craft (Jr., Wakefield, Neb., Physical Education) and Kayla Gifford (Jr., Camanche, Iowa, Biology) were close behind Piotrowski as both were named to the all-tournament team. Craft averaged 205.5 pins to take third, while Gifford posted a 203.5 clip to end up fifth overall.
Kaylee Gerken (Sr., Dubuque, Iowa, Elementary Education), at 177.6, and Nicole Mottier (So., Madison, Wis., Computer Science), at 175.2, both started five games each.
Jaelynn Klein (Fr., Muscatine, Iowa, Communications) managed a 186.7 average in three rounds, and Bailey Palmer (Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Biology) averaged 162.0 in three games as well. Finally, Amber Ovel (Sr., Waterloo, Iowa, Psychology) knocked down 125 pins in her lone game, while Jade Klinefelter (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) managed 124 pins in her only action.
Next Up: William Penn is off two weeks, returning to action on March 2-3 when it travels to Topeka, Kan. to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships.