While their season came to an abrupt and disappointing finish, several Wright State bowlers had reason to celebrate Wednesday as the Club Team Bowling Coaches Association announced its All Americans in an online awards show.
For a second consecutive year, the Raiders nabbed the top two women’s individual honors as Maddie Stiffler and Fischer were named Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Stiffler, a sophomore, was Rookie of the Year last season while Tori Pappas was Player of the Year. Sophomore Briann McKnight rounded out the Wright State honorees as a first-team All American.
“I’m pretty proud of it, but I came to Wright State to bowl on a team and I was looking forward to qualifying to nationals and trying to repeat as club champions,” McKnight said.
The CTBCA Women’s All American Teams are selected by a panel of member coaches who rank their top 10 individual players. The five players with the most votes are named CTBCA First Team All Americans and the next five players are named to the CTBCA All American Second Team.
• Maddie Stiffler, sophomore, Player of the Year/First Team
Stiffler led all club women with a 194.7 average. She won the National Team Match Games tournament – a Tier 1 event – in Illinois and placed in the Top 5 four times and Top 10 nine times this season.
“We’re definitely going to come out swinging next season,” Stiffler said. “We worked so hard and grew so much as a team, not having a chance to compete really sucked but we have extra motivation now.”
•Sophia Fischer, freshman, Rookie of the Year
Fischer led all rookie women with a 179.9 average. She also posted three Top 25 finishes.
“We are a solid team, from top to bottom, one of the strongest women’s teams out there,” Fischer said. “We will be even stronger and more prepared next season. It will make us want to work even harder.”
• Briann McKnight, sophomore, First Team
McKnight had the fourth highest average among all club women with 190.3. She won one of the Heartland tournaments, finished in the Top 5 twice and posted seven Top 25 finishes.
“Having all of us come back next year gives us a lot of hope,” McKnight said. “But not bowling right now is really driving me crazy,” she added with a smile.
McKnight is not alone as she, like many bowlers, are relying on Wii bowling to satisfy their need to compete. Fischer, meanwhile, is working on her release in her backyard.
“I’m 100 percent in withdrawal,” Fischer said. “I can’t wait to get back on the lanes.”
The young Wright State women’s team will return its entire lineup in the fall.
“We will definitely have some unfinished business,” Raiders coach Jeff Fleck said. “I had a blast with them this season and am so excited to bring them all back.”
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