Britney D. Reddick

Women's Bowling 03.10.11 By Britney D. Reddick, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Velazquez has the right frame of mind going into USBC Sectionals

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (March 10, 2011)— Freshman Rebecca Velazquez (Mohegan Lake, NY/Lakeland) of the Kutztown University women's bowling is a cool, calm, and collective individual who loves nothing more than being with her teammates. She considers them her family.

Like any family, there are good and bad times. The Golden Bears (76-28 overall) have definitely had their share of memories and accolades this season, but they have faced some minimal bumps in their road to success.

Kutztown who is ranked eighth in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, competed against the some of the country's best last weekend at the final Northeast Conference (NEC) meet of the season. KU entered the tournament in a four-way tie for first place with No. 1 Fairleigh Dickinson, No. 7 New Jersey City University, No.9 and Sacred Heart.

The Golden Bears fell to 18-9 in the NEC and will be the fourth seed in the NEC Championships but according to Velazquez, they don't have too much to worry about.

“I feel like it is very challenging competing in the NEC because you know that you are going up against a lot of ranked teams,” Velazquez said. “But then you have to take a step back and realize that we are ranked ourselves. When we work together as a team and bowl our best, we are better than anyone out there.”

Velazquez, a political science major who enjoys reading series books like Gossip Girls in her spare time, tries not to strain herself with the pressures of winning every game or throwing a strike every roll she gets, but simply relaxing and having fun.

“What I enjoy most about bowling is the family aspect of it,” Velazquez said. “It's great to go out there, win and bowl really well, but at the end of the day your team is like your family. When you win you are able to talk to your team about it and celebrate it together. The fact that we are just one big family is definitely my favorite part about it.”

Velazquez along with most of her teammates can credit her family for getting her involved in bowling. Her dad is a bowler and needless to say he wanted his little girl to follow in his footsteps.

“When I was three he got me started in bowling,” Velazquez said. “Of course I couldn't do very much but really stand there and half push the ball down the lane but it was a start. As I got older and stronger my dad started getting me into bowling for real. If it wasn't for him and getting me started I don't think I would have ever chose bowling as a sport to play.”

Kutztown will be heading to the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Singles Sectionals in Allentown, March 11-13 at Parkway Lanes. Competing in the Sectionals for KU will be Brooke Bower (Camp Hill, PA/Cedar Cliff), Jara Cohen (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), Deanna DiRado (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Salem), Kayla Jones (Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop ), Samantha Santoro (Reinholds, PA/Cocalico ), Kayla Stamm (Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin), Velazquez, and Heather Van Dyk (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township).

Singles competition will start at 3:30 p.m.on Friday Mar. 11 with six traditional games each. The total pin fall determines the top four individuals from each of the four Sectionals throughout the United States. The other Sectionals will be held in Chattanooga, TN, Peoria, IL, and Euless, TX. The top four will go Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) Singles Nationals in Arlington, Texas on May 18-21.

The format for Saturday and Sunday will be (8) four game matches per day for a total of 64 Baker Games. Competition begins at 8:30 a.m. The top four teams using total pin fall will qualify for USBC Team Nationals in Atlanta, GA on April 20-23, 2011. Seventeen teams will be competing at Allentown Sectionals.

“My mindset going into the tournament this weekend is bowling the best that I can and hopefully being able to walk away as part of a team full of champions,” Velazquez said. “I try not to think about winning because I like to take things one game at a time. I'm looking forward to this weekend because I like baker games more because you really have to focus on throwing two really good shots. I like the pressure of baker because it forces me to make sure that I don't mess up.”

With more communication on the lanes, Velazquez knows that her team is capable of creating magic. Throughout the season she has been working of different types of sports shots to improve her game. Working with her coach and teammates have been beneficial to that progress and she believes that no matter what, her team is her family through thick and thin, she'll always be there for KU.

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