2 0 1 4 - 1 5 N E B R A S K A C O R N H U S K E R S S C H E DU L E D AT E
OPPONENT
L O C AT I O N
Nov. 7-9
Crusader Classic
Valparaiso, Ind.
Nov. 13-15
Big Red Invite
Lincoln, Neb.
Nov. 21-23
Track Kat Klash
Houston, Texas
Jan. 16-18
Mid-Winter Classic
Jonesboro, Ark.
Jan. 30-Feb. 1
Prairie View A&M Invite
Arlington, Texas
Feb. 13-15
SFA Jacks Invite
Houston, Texas
Feb. 20-22
Hawk Flight Invite
Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Feb. 27-March 1
Central Missouri Women’s Invite
Kansas City, Kan.
March 6-8
Music City Classic
Nashville, Tenn.
April 9-11
NCAA Championships
St. Louis, Mo.
Dates are subject to change. For updated schedule, and game day information, visit Huskers.com.
N E B R A S K A
Kelly Belzeski
Julia Bond
April Campbell
Melanie Crawford
Bethany Hedley
Lizabeth Kuhlkin
Gazmine Mason
Alexandra Mosquera
Andrea Ruiz
Briana Zabierek
Assistant Coach Paul Klempa
Head Coach Bill Straub
HUSKERS.COM
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Introduction
Athletic Administration
Table of Contents..................................................1 University Information/Quick Facts ���������������������1 Season Outlook................................................. 2-3 NCAA Bowling Programs.......................................2 Roster....................................................................3 Pronunciation Guide.............................................3
Board of Regents......................................................18 Chancellor Harvey Perlman......................................19 Faculty Athletic Representative Josephine Potuto............19 Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst �����������������������20 Senior Associate A.D. Bob Burton............................21 Senior Associate A.D./SWA Pat Logsdon �����������������22
Staff and Coaches
This is Nebraska
Head Coach Bill Straub..........................................4 Assistant Head Coach Paul Klempa ����������������������4 Office Manager Kim Straub...................................5 Academic Counselor Sheri Hastings ���������������������5 Life Skills Coordinator Stacey Burling �������������������5
The Huskers
Lizabeth Kuhlkin....................................................6 Andrea Ruiz...........................................................7 Bethany Hedley.....................................................7 April Campbell.......................................................8 Gazmine Mason.....................................................8 Alexandra Mosquera.............................................9 Briana Zabierek.....................................................9 Melanie Crawford...............................................10 Kelly Belzeski.......................................................10 Julia Bond............................................................10
Season in Review
2013-14 Season in Review............................. 11-12 2013-14 Player Statistics.....................................12
History and Records
Program History..................................................13 All-Americans......................................................13 NTCA All-Academic..............................................13 Bowlers of the Year.............................................14 Rookies of the Year.............................................14 All-Time Letterwinners........................................14 All-Time Results and Titles..................................15 Individual and Team Records........................ 16-17
Big Ten Welcome.....................................................23 This Is Nebraska.................................................. 24-25 Academic Success............................................... 26-27 Academic Experience......................................... 28-29 Leading The Way................................................ 30-31 Lincoln, Nebraska............................................... 32-33 National Powers................................................. 34-35 Nebraska Bowling.....................................................36
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Nebraska Athletic Department is to serve our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans by: Displaying INTEGRITY in every decision and action; Building and maintaining TRUST with others; Giving RESPECT to each person we encounter; Pursuing unity of purpose through TEAMWORK; maintaining LOYALTY to studentathletes, co-workers, fans and the University of Nebraska. The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.
NEBRASKA
Integrity
N
Trust
N
Respect
N
Teamwork
N
Loyalty
University Quick Facts
Location..............................................Lincoln, Neb. Population..................................................265,401 Enrollment....................................................25,006 Founded............................................ Feb. 15, 1869 Chancellor..........................Harvey S. Perlman, J.D. Interim President..................... James Linder, M.D. Director of Athletics....................... Shawn Eichorst Executive Associate A.D..................... Marc Boehm Senior Associate A.D............................ Bob Burton Senior Associate A.D./SWA................. Pat Logsdon Colors........................................ Scarlet and Cream Nickname............................. Cornhuskers/Huskers Affiliation........................................ NCAA Division I
Bowling Information
Facility............................Nebraska Bowling Facility Head Coach..........................Bill Straub (18th Year) Straub’s Phone............................... (402) 472-0404 Straub’s E-Mail...................wstraub@huskers.com Assistant Coach................ Paul Klempa (18th Year) Klempa’s E-Mail................. pklempa@huskers.com
Media Relations
Media Relations Director..................... Keith Mann Bowling Contact................................... Gage Peake Media Relations Phone.................. (402) 472-2263 Peake’s Cell Phone......................... (402) 560-0627 Peake’s E-Mail..................... gpeake@huskers.com Internet.............................................. Huskers.com
2014-15 Guide Credits
The 2014-15 Nebraska bowling media guide was written, designed and edited by student-assistant Gage Peake. Editing assistance was provided by Director of Media Relations Operations Jeff Griesch and Assistant Media Relations Director Matt Smith. Covers by Annie Wood. All photos were taken by Athletic Department Photographer Scott Bruhn. Design and layout were prepared in Adobe InDesign CS6 and printed at the University of Nebraska Copy Services. The cost of the guide is $3 tax. For more information on Nebraska bowling, please visit Huskers.com.
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2 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
The 2014-15 Nebraska Bowling Team: Back row (from left): Assistant Head Coach Paul Klempa, Andrea Ruiz, Kelly Belzeski, Briana Zabierek, Lizabeth Kuhlkin, Bethany Hedley, April Campbell, Head Coach Bill Straub. Front row (from left): Melanie Crawford, Gazmine Mason, Julia Bond, Emily Nykiel, Alexandra Mosquera.
Huskers Plan to Make Strong Pitch for 2015 NCAA Title The Nebraska bowling team returns to the lanes for the 2014-15 season with high hopes of winning its fifth NCAA Championship. The Huskers will focus on taking the next step to a title, one year after coming up one win shy at the NCAA Championships. The Big Red, which won the NCAA crown in 2013, will take aim at a third straight appearance in the national championship match. Nebraska, which begins the pursuit of its 10th overall national title under legendary coach Bill Straub, will feature a dynamic, talented cast of bowlers who come to NU from around the world in 2014-15. Straub, who plans to lead Nebraska to its 12th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, said this year’s version of the Husker bowling team may be the best in program history. “We have 10 people on our team this season. One to 10, we have never been better,” Straub said. “I would rank this team better than our 2004 team. The ’04 team was better one through five. This team is better one through 10.” With a Nebraska roster loaded from top to bottom, the challenge for Straub will be to find the right combination to form NU’s best lineup. “We have a lot of potential this year. It is both a blessing and a curse,” Straub said. “We have so many people who can get the job done, it will be challenging to pick a starting rotation.” Nebraska’s depth could provide Straub the flexibility to form rotations to maximize the Huskers’ talent. “In baseball terms, we would like to have our rotation similar to Kansas City’s this year. They have one guy that comes in to pitch the seventh, one guy the eighth and one guy finishes it off. It is pretty much set in stone how they do that,” Straub said. “In our sport, defense and pitching
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
translate to picking up a pin or two that was left. Converting spares is like converting saves. They go a long way toward success.” Nebraska has traditionally featured a dominant reliever on the lanes, including departed senior Yan Ling during the Big Red’s NCAA title run in 2013. Straub said the Husker depth will give him more options in 2014-15. “We have had a relief pitcher before, but this year we have three.” While Straub is excited about his bullpen, the Huskers also feature arguably the most dominant starting rotation in the nation. Senior Lizabeth Kuhlkin headlines the list of talented Huskers in 2014-15. Kuhlkin, a two-time returning first-team NTCA All-American and MVP of Nebraska’s 2013 NCAA title run, could be the nation’s top collegiate bowler. “The easiest part for her is that she is going to be surrounded by people who are really good,” Straub said. “Not that she wasn’t before, but this year on paper her supporting cast is going to be better.
“Liz has worked tremendously hard in her career, and it should culminate in a very special season. She is the best player in the country.” The Huskers will feature one other senior in Andrea Ruiz. The native of Bogota, Colombia, has played a major role in her first two seasons at Nebraska. The senior produced a 192.4 average as a junior to help the Huskers advance to the NCAA Championship match. She also was a key element in NU’s run to the 2013 title. Two other returning bowlers will provide extensive NCAA Championship experience for the Huskers this season. Junior Bethany Hedley and sophomore Briana Zabierek could play crucial roles in the Huskers’ pursuit of their fifth NCAA championship in 2014-15. Hedley has been a mainstay in the NU lineup since her freshman season. The native of Watford, England, will likely be the fourth bowler in the rotation, setting up Kuhlkin in the No. 5 spot. Hedley tallied a 196 average last season. Zabierek, a native of Lockport, Ill., has shown impressive improvement in her game entering
NCAA Bowling Programs Division I Institutions: Alabama A&M, Alabama Birmingham, Alabama State, Arkansas State, Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Delaware State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Florida A&M, Grambling State, Hampton, Howard, Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Mississippi Valley State, Monmouth, Morgan State, Nebraska, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Prairie View A&M, Sacred Heart, Sam Houston State, South Carolina State, Southern, St. Francis College (N.Y), St. Francis University, St. Peter’s College, Stephen F. Austin, Texas Southern, Tulane and Vanderbilt. Division II Institutions: Adelphi (N.Y.), Bowie State (Md.), Central Missouri State, Cheyney (Pa.), Chowan, Elizabeth City State (N.C.), Fayetteville State (N.C.), Johnson C. Smith (N.C.), Kutztown (Pa.), Lincoln (Pa.) University, Livingstone, Salem International, Shaw (N.C.), St. Augustine’s (N.C.), St. Paul’s (Va.), Ursuline College, Virginia State, Virginia Union and Winston-Salem State. Division III Institutions: Adrian College, Alma, Elmhurst College (Ill.), Fontbonne University (Mo.), Medaille, New Jersey City, Penn State University Altoona, Spalding and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
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2014-15 Nebraska Bowling Roster Name Belzeski, Kelly Bond, Julia Campbell, April Crawford, Melanie Hedley, Bethany Kuhlkin, Lizabeth Mason, Gazmine Mosquera, Alexandra Ruiz, Andrea Zabierek, Briana
Yr. Hometown Fr. Schererville, Ind. Fr. Aurora, Ill. So. Bellevue, Neb. Jr. Plano, Texas Jr. Watford, England Sr. Schenectady, N.Y. So. Cranston, R.I. So. Armenia, Colombia Sr. Bogota, Colombia So. Lockport, Ill.
Why They Chose Nebraska... “I chose Nebraska because of the academic as well as athletic successes.” Briana Zabierek, Sophomore Lockport, Ill.
“I chose Nebraska because I wanted to put myself in the opportunity to win a national championship.” Melanie Crawford, Junior Plano, Texas
“I chose Nebraska because when I came on my visit, the bowling team made me feel at home, like a family.” Julia Bond Freshman Aurora, Ill.
“I have wanted to be a Husker since I was a little kid. I felt like NU was the best option for me to help improve my game.” April Campbell Sophomore Bellevue, Neb. “After being on campus during my visit, it just felt right!” Gazmine Mason Sophomore Cranston, R.I.
Follow the Nebraska bowling team all season at Huskers.com
Gazmine Mason hopes to make a greater impact for the Huskers as a sophomore in 2014-15. the 2014-15 season. Straub said the sophomore spent extensive time on her game this summer, including several summer tournaments around the country. “Bri has developed really well over the summer,” Straub said. “She had great success in competitions as well as just practice in the summer with her fundamentals. I expect great things from her this season. She could be a very valuable bowler for us this year.” In addition to the experienced Huskers, NU will add three new members to the team for the 2014-15 season, including one transfer and two incoming freshmen. Junior Melanie Crawford joins the Huskers for this season. A transfer from Stephen F. Austin, Crawford is eligible immediately for the 2014-15 season. Crawford brings a competitive mindset to the Huskers that Straub expects to benefit the entire team. Last season, Crawford captured third-team All-America honors at SFA. Julia Bond (Aurora, Ill.) and Kelly Belzeski (Schererville, Ind.) join the Huskers as highly regarded freshmen. Straub said both freshmen could see immediate playing time this season. “We have the number one freshman in the country in Julia Bond. Kelly Belzeski is not bad either. They are both really good.” The Huskers open 2014-15 on the road at the Crusader Classic in Valparaiso, Ind., Nov. 7-9, before playing host to the Big Red Invitational at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nov. 13-15. Straub said the competition at this year’s Big Red Invite will be at its highest level in history.
“Exact same teams as last year, which is where all the power in collegiate bowling is within 500 miles of where we are,” Straub said. “So we are glad to have all the teams compete at our home event.” After a short break, the Huskers will travel to Houston to compete at the Track Kat Klash hosted by Sam Houston State on Nov. 21-23. Following the Kat Klash, NU will take more than a month off from competition for winter break, before heading to Jonesboro, Ark., for the Mid-Winter Classic hosted by NU rival Arkansas State. The Huskers return to Texas for back-to-back tournaments. The first will come in Arlington, at the Prairie View A&M Invite, Jan. 30-Feb. 1. The Big Red then head to the Stephen F. Austin Jacks Invite in Houston on Feb. 13-15. NU travels to the Hawk Flight Invite in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., for the first time in school history. Straub said Nebraska’s trip to the East Coast will provide premier competition, while giving Kuhlkin a chance to play in front of her family and friends. The following week the Huskers return to the Midwest at the talent-laden Central Missouri Women’s Invite in Kansas City, Kan., Feb 27-March 1. The Huskers finish off their regular season at the annual Music City Classic in Nashville on March 6-8. The Huskers hope their journey through the 2014-15 season ends with their 12th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament with a chance to contend for their fifth NCAA title at Tropicana Lanes in St. Louis, Mo., April 9-11.
2014-15 Nebraska Bowling Schedule Date Nov. 7-9 Nov. 13-15 Nov. 21-23 Jan. 16-18 Jan. 30 - Feb. 1 Feb. 13-15 Feb. 20-22 Feb. 27 - March 1 March 6-8 April 9 -11
Tournament Location Crusader Classic Valparaiso, Ind. Big Red Invite Lincoln, Neb. (Sun Valley Lanes) Track Kat Klash Houston, Texas Mid-Winter Classic Jonesboro, Ark. Prairie View A&M Invite Arlington, Texas SFA Jacks Invite Houston, Texas Hawk Flight Invite Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Central Missouri Women’s Invite Kansas City, Kan. Music City Classic Nashville, Tenn. NCAA Championships St. Louis, Mo.
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Bill Straub
Head Coach | 18th Year | Kensington
Coach Straub at a Glance
Family: Wife: Kim; Daughter: Meghan Education: B.A. in business administration Kensington University
Honors & Awards
• Nine National Titles (1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013) • Six NTCA Player of the Year Awards • Nebraska Hall of Fame • Omaha Hall of Fame • Lincoln Hall of Fame
Bill Straub has been the head coach for the Nebraska women’s bowling team since 1996. However, his dedication and commitment to Nebraska bowling runs much deeper, as he coached both the men’s and women’s teams for 20 years dating back to when both programs were club sports. Under his tenure, the Husker men’s and women’s teams have combined for 11 national titles in the past 22 years. The Nebraska women’s bowling program won national championships in 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005,2009 and 2013, while the men’s program captured national titles in 1990 and 1996. The 2003-04 season was a huge success for Straub and his Huskers, as they competed at the NCAA level for the first time in school history. Nebraska capped the season by winning the firstever NCAA championship, rallying through the loser’s bracket to defeat Central Missouri State in the nationally televised final. Shannon Pluhowsky was named the MVP of the NCAA Championships. Straub then guided the Huskers to a second NCAA title in 2005, while Amanda Burgoyne was named the NCAA MVP. Straub and his team captured the 2009 NCAA title as Husker Cassandra Leuthold earned Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament. Most recently, Straub guided the Huskers to the 2013 NCAA championship in front of an ESPN nationally televised audience against Vanderbilt.
NU used a great all-around effort led by MVP Lizabeth Kuhlkin to defeat the Commodores 4.5 to 2.5. Straub has coached six bowlers who have been tabbed as the National Tenpin Coaches Association Collegiate Player of the Year, including Kim (Berke) Straub (1992), Diandra (Hyman) Asbaty (2000), Pluhowsky (2001, 2004, 2005), Lindsay Baker (2006), Burgoyne (2007) and Cassandra Leuthold (2010). Straub has also coached four bowlers to NTCA Rookie-of-the-Year honors, including Berke, Pluhowsky, Baker and Leuthold. Along with winning nine national titles, Straub’s squads have not been ranked lower than seventh in the top 25 team rankings since becoming a varsity sport in 1997. Straub’s bowling history goes far beyond the University of Nebraska. A Lincoln native, Straub had an illustrious professional career, both locally and nationally. A member of the Nebraska Hall of Fame, Omaha Hall of Fame and the Lincoln Hall of Fame, Straub has gained more honors and titles than any other bowler from the state of Nebraska. His numerous local, state and national titles give proof that his success as a bowler and coach are mirrored by the success of his bowlers. Straub graduated from Kensington University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He and his wife Kim, a former four-time AllAmerican and National Player of the Year, have one daughter, Meghan.
Paul Klempa
assistant Head Coach | 18th Year | Nebraska
Coach Klempa at a Glance
Family: Wife: Leanna; Sons: Jake and Carter Education: B.A. in psychology University of Nebraska
Honors & Awards
• 15 Bowlers, Combined 33 First-Team All-America awards • 12 Bowlers Selected to National Teams
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
Paul Klempa returns for his 18th season as the women’s bowling assistant coach, while his association with the program dates back to 1992. After a collegiate career in which he earned All-America honors as a senior in 1994, Klempa remained in Lincoln and was hired as the Huskers’ assistant coach in 1997. During his tenure as a coach at Nebraska, Klempa has helped guide the Huskers to nine national championships - including back-toback NCAA titles in 2004 and 2005, while adding two more titles in 2009 and 2013. Klempa has tutored numerous bowlers who earned AllAmerica honors during their careers and seven athletes who went on to represent the United States on the national team. Klempa served as Interim Head Coach for the Nebraska bowling team for much of the 2013-14 season, while Head Coach Bill Straub recovered from a medical issue. Klempa led the Huskers to a pair of tournament titles and a No. 2 national ranking. He also helped guide the Huskers to their 11th straight NCAA Championship appearance. “I thought he did a great job. He gives me a great supporting cast. It helps me think better
when I need it,” Straub said. “Paul didn’t have that option last year. He had to make the main decisions on his own. Week after week, it is taxing. “I think Coach grew more by having more responsibility. He not only had his own duties, he had most of mine to boot. I think that is a growth period, and he performed admirably.” A native of Johnstown, N.Y., Klempa graduated from Nebraska in 1994 with a degree in psychology. He owns several 300 games and 800 series in his decorated career. He has represented Nebraska in the U.S. Open and is also a State Match Game champion. Klempa and his wife, Leanna, reside in Lincoln and have two sons, Jake and Carter.
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Kim Straub
Sheri Hastings
Stacey Burling
Bowling Office Manager Seventh Year
Academic Counselor Ninth Year
Life Skills Coordinator third year
Kim (Berke) Straub came to the Nebraska bowling program after an illustrious bowling career, both as an amateur and as a professional. As a Husker, she was a four-time scholastic and athletic All-American (198992). Additionally, she was named the 1992 Collegiate Bowler of the Year. An eight-time champion with the Professional Women’s Bowling Association, Straub retired from her athletic professional career and is now Husker bowling’s office manager. A native Nebraskan from Beatrice, Straub is a member of the Lincoln Bowling Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Bowling Hall of Fame and is a 10-time Lincoln Bowling Association Player of the Year. The most decorated female bowler in the history of the state, she graduated with distinction from Nebraska in 1992 with a degree in business administration. Kim and her husband, Bill, have one daughter, Meghan.
Sheri Hastings serves as an academic counselor at Nebraska. Hastings has been with the athletic department since August of 2006. She will serve as the academic counselor for women’s basketball, rifle, bowling, women’s gymnastics and soccer during the 2014-15 academic year. Before coming to Lincoln, Hastings served as a mathematics learning specialist for Student Support Services at the University of Nebraska. Prior to that, she was a secondary mathematics teacher at Grand Island High School. A Grand Island native, Hastings earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics from Nebraska in 1987. Hastings continued her education at Nebraska and earned a master’s degree in educational psychology in 1995. Hastings and her husband, John, have three daughters, Megan, Kathryn and Abigail.
Stacey Burling enters her third year as a Life Skills Coordinator in 2014-15. Burling serves as Life Skills sport counselor for the men’s and women’s track and field programs, football, bowling, rifle, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis and wrestling. Burling is responsible for coordinating the annual Hero Leadership Breakfast, Husker Life Seminar, Husker Heroes Outreach event, and the Student-Athlete Involvement Fair, as well as codirecting Networking Night. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Burling earned her bachelor’s degree in sport management with a minor in business administration in 2009. She earned her master’s degree in marketing, communication studies and advertising from the University of Nebraska in May 2012. She served as a Life Skills Assistant at Nebraska while she was completing her master’s degree program.
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Lizabeth Kuhlkin
senior | schenectady, N.Y. | Schalmont
impressive 222.8 average through five games (1,104 total pinfall) in the individual competition, including a high score of 258 in her first game. Kuhlkin contributed to an outstanding win at the Central Missouri Invitational by finishing second in the individual standings to earn a spot on the alltournament team. She posted a 224.4 average over the weekend, including a high score of 245. She produced another strong performance at the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn., where Kuhlkin finished fifth overall in the individual standings. She averaged 210.2 in six traditional team games, including a high score of 234. Kuhlkin earned a spot on the Music City Classic All-Tournament Team. Kuhlkin continued her standout role off the lanes by capturing academic All-Big Ten honors and earning a spot on the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team. She was also a member of the Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Honors & Awards
• NTCA First-Team All-American (2013, 2014) • NCAA Championships Most Valuable Bowler (2013) • Junior U.S. National Team (2013) • NTCA Scholastic All-American (2014) • Academic All-Big Ten (2013, 2014) • Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2012; Spring 2013, 2014) • Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014) • Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Board (2013-14, 2014-15) 2014-15 (Outlook) One of the most prolific bowlers in Husker history, senior Lizabeth Kuhlkin hopes to close her collegiate career by leading Nebraska to the school’s fifth NCAA title and second in her NU career. A two-time NTCA First-Team All-American and MVP of the 2013 NCAA Championships, Kuhlkin led the Big Red with a 206.7 average as a junior in 201314. She also helped the Huskers to an NCAA runnerup finish in 2014. “Liz is without a doubt, the best player in the country,” Nebraska Coach Bill Straub said. “The easiest part for her this year is that she is going to be surrounded by people who are really good. Not that she wasn’t before, but this year on paper her supporting cast is going to be better.” 2013-14 (Junior) Kuhlkin captured first-team All-America honors for the second straight season after leading Nebraska back to the NCAA Championship match for the second consecutive year. Kuhlkin sealed NU’s first win of the NCAA Tournament with a strong total pinfall of 247. She also led the Huskers to a victory over top-ranked Arkansas State with a 237. The native of Schenectady, N.Y., entered her third season as a Husker after claiming a spot on the Junior U.S. National Team with an outstanding performance at the Junior Gold Tournament. She captured all-tournament honors at three of the seven invitationals throughout the 2013-14 season, including the Crusader Classic in Valparaiso, Ind. (Nov. 8), the Central Missouri Invitational (Feb. 28-March 1), and the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn. (March 7-9). Kuhlkin got off to a strong start as a junior by averaging a solid 206 at the Big Red Invitational (Nov. 21-23). She finished second in the overall individual standings. She continued her success at the Mid-Winter Invitational in Jonesboro, Ark., where she won the individual competition and pushed the team to a 10-3 overall record at the tournament. She posted an
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
2012-13 (Sophomore) Kuhlkin led Nebraska’s run to the 2013 NCAA title as a first-team NTCA All-American and the Most Valuable Bowler of the NCAA Championships. She recorded a team-high 214.9 average throughout the season, before taking her game to an even higher level with a 219.8 average at the NCAA Championships. During the 2012-13 regular season, Kuhlkin captured a team-best four all-tournament selections, including the Mid-Winter Classic (Jan. 11-13) where Kuhlkin bowled a 218.8 average with total pinfall of 1,094. At Nebraska’s next tournament, the Prairie View A&M Invite (Feb. 1-3), Kuhlkin continued to dominate with a 209.8 average (1,049 total pinfall). Kuhlkin helped the Huskers sweep the field at the Central Missouri Women’s Bowling Invitational (March 1-3), with a season-high average of 238.4. In the final tournament of the regular season, Kuhlkin powered the Huskers with a 221.8 average at the prestigious Music City Classic (March 15-17).
A standout in the classroom as well, Kuhlkin claimed academic All-Big Ten honors, while earning spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters of 2012-13. 2011-12 (Freshman) Kuhlkin was a significant contributor to Nebraska’s third-place finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships. She recorded a 193 average with 73 pocket hits at the 2012 NCAA Championships. Her postseason performance followed a strong regular season that included a season-best 217.8 average at the Prairie View A&M Invitational in Arlington, Texas. She added a 215.6 average at the Big Red Invitational in Lincoln. Kuhlkin opened her collegiate career with a 202.4 average with 62 pocket hits at the Crusader Classic in Valparaiso, Ind. She recorded a 197.4 average over 43 games as a freshman. Before Nebraska Kuhlkin graduated from Schalmont High School in New York as one of the most decorated youth bowlers in the nation. She bowled an 835 series and was honored as a Times-Union Female Athlete of the Month. In 2009-10, Kuhlkin was honored as the USBC youth female high average winner. Kuhlkin also was a member of the Schalmont Sabres Section II Class B State Championship team. Kuhlkin has been bowling since age six and also played softball at Schalmont. Personal The daughter of Mark and Ricki Kuhlkin, Lizabeth was born on Sept. 15, 1993. Lizabeth has one brother, Derek. Lizabeth is a news-editorial major at Nebraska and earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2013 and 2014. She also claimed spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall of 2012 and the spring semester of 2013 and 2014. She also earned a spot on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014.
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Andrea Ruiz
SEnior | Bogota, colombia | bogota central college
2014-15 (Outlook) Andrea Ruiz joins Lizabeth Kuhlkin as senior leaders for Nebraska in 2014-15. A consistent contributor for the Huskers during her career, Ruiz hopes to help the Big Red back to their third consecutive NCAA Championship match, while taking aim at their second NCAA title in the past three seasons. The senior from Bogota, Colombia, tallied a 192 average as a junior. She also performed well in the classroom and the community, earning academic AllBig Ten honors and a prestigous Nebraska StudentAthlete HERO Leadership Award in 2014.
Honors & Awards
• Colombian National Team Member • NTCA Scholastic All-American (2013, 2014) • Academic All-Big Ten (2014) • Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award (2014) • Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014) • Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2012, 2013; Spring 2013, 2014)
2013-14 (Junior) In her second season as a Husker, Ruiz delivered several solid performances as one of Nebraska’s leaders. Ruiz contributed to a win over Central Missouri on the first day of the NCAA Tournament by tallying an impressive 217 to help the team to a second-place finish overall. Ruiz delivered an impressive start to the third day of the Big Red Invitational, Nebraska’s lone home meet of the season, as she bowled a solid 225. Her performance contributed to a victory for the Huskers. Ruiz produced a strong total pinfall of 1,048 to help the team to a third-place finish among 13 teams at the Mid-Winter Invite in Jonesboro, Ark. Ruiz earned NTCA Scholastic All-America honors for the second straight season, while adding academic All-Big Ten accolades in 2014. She earned a Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award, and was named to the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, which honors student-athletes for their outstanding commitment to community service.
2012-13 (Sophomore) A newcomer to Nebraska in 2012-13, Ruiz was a mainstay in the lineup, posting a 190.9 average including a 183.2 at the 2013 NCAA Championships. Ruiz shined in Nebraska’s NCAA Championship match victory over Vanderbilt, rolling her first strike in the eighth frame to seal a crucial Husker win. Ruiz posted a pair of stellar performances in backto-back regular-season tournaments. She notched a season-high 202.6 average at the Central Missouri Women’s Bowling Invitational (March 1-3). Ruiz produced 100 pocket hits with only 12 open frames in the tournament. Her effort at Central Missouri followed her 200.8 average to help the Huskers at the Morgan State Invite (Feb. 15-17). Ruiz earned NTCA Scholastic All-America honors in 2013, as well as spots on the Nebraska ScholarAthlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters. Before Nebraska (Bogata Central College) Ruiz came to Nebraska after competing as one of the top players in Colombia. A member of the Colombian National Team, Ruiz has represented her country in international competition and won medals at several events around the world. Personal The daughter of Nicolas Ruiz and Ayda Luiz Valencia, Andrea was born July 24, 1992. A history major, Andrea captured academic All-Big Ten honors in 2014. She has earned four spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. She claimed a Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award in 2014.
Bethany Hedley
Junior | watford, england | Rickmansworth
2014-15 (Outlook) Bethany Hedley hopes to continue her progression as a bowler while helping power Nebraska’s run to a third straight NCAA championship match in 2015. Hedley regularly competed as the fourth bowler in Nebraska’s five-player starting rotation as a sophomore in 2013-14, helping set up two-time firstteam NTCA All-American Lizabeth Kuhlkin. Nebraska Coach Bill Straub said he expects to use the junior in a similar role in 2014-15. Off the lanes, Hedley claimed academic All-Big Ten honors in 2014, while also earning a spot on the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.
Honors & Awards
• NTCA Scholastic All-American (2013) • Academic All-Big Ten (2014) • Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2012, 2013; Spring 2013, 2014) • Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014) • Junior Team England Member (2011, 2012, 2013)
2013-14 (Sophomore) Hedley helped lead the Huskers to second place at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Wickliffe, Ohio. She recorded a solid 205 to help the Huskers defeat Central Missouri in game two of the tournament. Hedley helped the Huskers to a team title at the Central Missouri Women’s Invitational (Feb. 28-March 1) by finishing eighth with a 209.4 average, including a high game of 235. Hedley helped lead the Huskers to the Big Red Invitational title (Nov. 21-23), recording a strike in the tournament’s second game to propel NU to a win over eventual NCAA Champion Sam Houston State. She also notched two strikes in NU’s win over Arkansas State at the tournament. She drove the team to a fifth-place finish among 29 teams at the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn. She finished 25th individually with a 197.5 average, including a 235. NU went 20-5 on the weekend. Hedley earned academic All Big-Ten honors and a spot on the 2014 Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.
2012-13 (Freshman) After having success internationally for Team England as a youth, Hedley did not miss a step while making the transition to collegiate bowling for the Huskers in 2012-13. A mainstay in the starting lineup for Nebraska throughout the season, Hedley produced a 190.6 average as a freshman while helping the Huskers capture the 2013 NCAA championship. Hedley’s best performances came early in the campaign at NU’s first two tournaments. She bowled her way to a 202.2 game average including a high score of 235 at the Crusader Classic, before adding a 201.8 average at the Track Kat Klash. A standout in the classroom, Headley claimed NTCA Scholastic All-America accolades in 2013, and earned spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters of 2012-13. Before Nebraska Hedley came to Nebraska after competing internationally since the age of 13. Hedley was a member of Team England and competed at the World Youth Championships in Thailand in the summer of 2012. She captured several championships while competing in youth tournaments on the international stage. Personal The daughter of Sandie and Martyn Hedley, Bethany was born June 24, 1994. Bethany is majoring in journalism and advertising and has earned spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in all four of her semesters at Nebraska. She was also an academic All-Big Ten selection in 2014.
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
8 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
April Campbell
Sophomore | Bellevue, Neb.| Bellevue West
2014-15 (Outlook) April Campbell plans to build off the success of her second season at Nebraska in 2013-14, as she continues to gain confidence and experience. The sophomore from Bellevue, Neb., bowled her way into a top-five position in the Husker lineup as a redshirt freshman and helped NU to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. Campbell will likely provide valuable depth to the Huskers in 2014-15, and could contend again for a spot in Nebraska’s starting lineup. “When April turns it on, she can really bowl with the best of them,” Nebraska Coach Bill Straub said. “She just needs to work on her consistency.”
Honors & Awards
• Academic All-Big Ten (2014) • Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2012, Spring 2013) • Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014)
2013-14 (Redshirt Freshman) After redshirting her freshman year, Campbell produced a breakout 2013-14 campaign. In her first collegiate tournament, she rolled a 203 average to place third in the individual standings and earn a spot on the Crusader Classic All-Tournament team in Valparaiso, Ind. (Nov. 8). Her performance fueled the Huskers to a second-place finish among 12 teams. Campbell impressed at the Big Red Invitational (Nov. 21-23) at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln. Her performance at Nebraska’s only home meet of the season solidified her spot in the Huskers’ starting lineup. Campbell delivered again at the Prairie View A&M Invitational in Arlington, Texas (Jan. 31-Feb. 2), where she averaged a 204 and bowled a high of 224. Her eighth-place individual finish helped the Huskers to a
title in a 12-team field that featured seven NTCA top10 teams. Campbell earned academic All-Big Ten honors and was named to the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, which honors student-athletes for their outstanding commitment to community service. 2012-13 (Freshman) Campbell joined the Huskers after performing at a high level at Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Neb. Campbell displayed plenty of potential, while using her freshman year as a redshirt season. A standout in the classroom, Campbell earned spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters of 2012-13. Before Nebraska (Bellevue West) Campbell was a standout for the Thunder Birds, capturing all-state honors as a senior in 2011-12. She carried a 201 average as a senior, including a personal-best 299 three times. Personal The daughter of Jim and Diane Campbell, April was born on Nov. 2, 1993. April is majoring in accounting at Nebraska. She earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2014 and is a two-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. She also claimed a spot on the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014.
Gazmine Mason
Sophomore | Cranston, R.i.| Cranston East
Honors & Awards
• NTCA Scholastic All-American (2014) • Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2013; Spring 2014) • Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014)
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
2014-15 (Outlook) The first bowler in rotation in Baker format games as a true freshman, Gazmine Mason hopes to continue competing at a high level for the Huskers in 2014-15. Mason, the only student-athlete in the Husker Athletic Department from Rhode Island, will likely be a key contributor for Nebraska after making a major impact in 2013-14. Mason, who worked hard to improve her game during the offseason, could see time as a starter or play a major role in relief. A leader on and off the lanes, Mason earned NTCA Scholastic All-America accolades in 2014, along with capturing spots on the Nebraska ScholarAthlete Honor Roll in both semesters of her freshman season. She was also a member of the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014. 2013-14 (Freshman) Mason made an instant impact for the Huskers with several exceptional performances during her freshman season. Mason delivered a team-high 225 in the opening match of the NCAA Championships in Wickliffe, Ohio (April 10). She began her collegiate career by helping the Huskers to a team title at the Big Red Invitational (Nov. 21-23) at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln. She recorded two strikes in the Huskers’ second game of the day to contribute to a 2,813 total pinfall.
Mason captured NTCA Scholastic All-America honors for her performance in the classroom. She was also a two-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll selection. She was named to the first Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, which honors student-athletes for their outstanding commitment to community service. Before Nebraska (Cranston East) Mason ended her high school career at Cranston East High School in Rhode Island as one of the nation’s top recruits. Mason rolled a perfect 300 and added a high series score of 786, while winning three state championships (2011, 2012, 2013). Her 225 average as a senior was the best in the state of Rhode Island. Mason also won the Rhode Island Pepsi state title in 2012. Mason was a standout in the classroom as well, earning a spot on National Honor Society with high honors. Personal The daughter of George Mason and Danielle DayMason, Gazmine was born Aug. 15, 1995. Gazmine is majoring in accounting and earned spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters of 2013-14. She was also an inaugural member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014. Her nickname is GG (Got Game).
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Alexandra Mosquera Sophomore | armenia, colombia | 2014-15 (Outlook) After spending much of her first two seasons at Nebraska adjusting to life in the United States, Alexandra Mosquera hopes to use her experience in international competition to help contribute for the Huskers in 2014-15. The sophomore from Armenia, Colombia, will likely add valuable depth for the Huskers, and could see time as a reliever for the Nebraska bowling team this season. A standout in the classroom as well, Mosquera has earned spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in each of her first three semesters as a Husker.
Honors & Awards
• Colombian National Team Member • Individual Gold Medal (Pan Am Games, 2013) • Academic All-Big Ten (2014) • Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall, 2013; Spring, 2013, 2014) • Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014)
2013-14 (Reshirt Freshman) Mosquera made her collegiate debut for the Huskers at the Prairie View A&M Invitational in Arlington, Texas (Jan. 31-Feb.2). Mosquera came in as a reliever for NU and contributed to Nebraska’s title in a loaded 12-team field. Mosquera was a key contributor to important Husker wins throughout the season. At the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn. (March 7-9), Mosquera delivered another clutch relief performance. She left no open frames to help the Huskers to a fifth-place finish among 29 teams. Mosquera earned academic All-Big Ten honors and was named to the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, which honors student-athletes for their outstanding commitment to community service.
2012-13 (Redshirt) Mosquera joined the Nebraska bowling team after competing at a high level in international competition. She redshirted as a true freshman with the Huskers while making the adjustment to collegiate bowling. Mosquera got off to a solid start in the classroom by earning a spot on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the spring semester of 2013. During the summer of 2013, she won a gold medal at the Masters’ portion of the Pan American Games. Before Nebraska Mosquera came to Nebraska from Colombia as a seven-time medalist and five-time gold medalist at the Pan-American Championships (Sub-16 division). Personal The daughter of Jairo Mosquera and Alba Nora Jimenez, Alexandra was born Jan. 4, 1995. Alexandra is majoring in chemical engineering at Nebraska and earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2014. She is a three-time selection to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. She also earned a spot on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014.
Briana Zabierek
Sophomore | Lockport, Ill. | Lockport Township east 2014-15 (Outlook) Briana Zabierek plans to continue where she left off as a true freshman, when she helped Nebraska to the 2014 NCAA Championship match. The sophomore from Lockport, Ill., performed at a high level as a freshman, including a 255 in the second qualifying round of the NCAA Championships against eventual champion Sam Houston State. Zabierek spent countless hours on her game over the summer and could be a key component in Nebraska’s push for a fifth NCAA title. “Bri has developed really well over the summer and had great success in competitions,” Nebraska Coach Bill Straub said. “She really practiced her fundamentals over the summer, which should bode well for her this season.”
Honors & Awards
• NTCA Scholastic All-American (2014) • Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall, 2013; Spring, 2014) • Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014)
2013-14 (Reshirt Freshman) Zabierek helped lead the Huskers to a secondplace finish at the NCAA Championships in Wickliffe, Ohio (April 10) by delivering several outstanding performances. In her first game of the day, she erupted for a 255 to power the Huskers to a victory over Sam Houston State in the second qualifying round. She produced a team-leading 222 total pinfall in her second game against Wisconsin-Whitewater. Zabierek opened her Husker career with six strikes and four spares for a 197 in a win over Central Missouri at the Big Red Invitational (Nov. 21-23). She was even better with a 213 in the a win over Wisconsin-Whitewater in the second match. She helped NU roll to a team title.
Zabierek helped the team to a third-place finish at the Mid-Winter Classic by finishing 14th individually with a 1,040 total pinfall. She also starred in the classroom, claiming NTCA Scholastic All-America accolades in 2014. She also claimed spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters of 2013-14. Zabierek was named to the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, which honors student-athletes for their outstanding commitment to community service. Before Nebraska Zabierek joined the Nebraska bowling team after compiling a tremendous high school career at Lockport Township East in Lockport, Ill. Zabierek posted a high sanctioned series score of 747 earning two top-20 state finishes in high school. She placed 14th in 2012 and 23rd in 2013, while also recording a school-record 211 average. Zabierek was also a honor roll student all four years of high school. Personal The daughter of Walter and Denise Zabierek, Briana was born on Dec. 29, 1994. Briana has not declared a major, but she did earn spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters of 2013-14. She was also a member of the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
10 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
Melanie Crawford
Junior | Plano, Texas | Stephen F. Austin/Allen
2014-15 (Outlook) Junior Melanie Crawford joins the Huskers in 2014-15 after transferring from Stephen F. Austin following the 2013-14 campaign. Crawford, a thirdteam NTCA All-American as a sophomore, is expected to contribute and challenge for a spot in Nebraska’s top five in 2014-15. Nebraska Head Coach Bill Straub said Crawford could be a key contributor over the next two seasons. “I am very glad Melanie joined us over the summer. She brings a tremendous amount of talent to our team,” Straub said. “She is a really good, solid bowler, and she has a good base of fundamentals. She is also a very hard worker.” Before Nebraska (Stephen F. Austin/Allen High School) Crawford joined the Huskers after spending her first two collegiate seasons at Stephen F. Austin. A third-team NTCA All-American in 2014, Crawford was a two-time letterwinner at SFA.
She was a four-year member of the Allen High School bowling team in Plano, Texas. She produced a 224 average as a senior in 2011-12 - the highest average of any high school bowler in Texas. Crawford led Allen to a state championship in 2009 and runnerup finish in 2010. In 2012, she recorded the highest game, series and average in Texas. Crawford was named to the state regional team and competed at the USBC Junior Gold for four years. She also placed in the top 16 at the Junior Gold Championships. Personal Melanie is the daughter of David and Carol Crawford. Melanie has three sisters, Kristina Crawford and Bailey and Kaitlyn Lamaster. Melanie was born on July 29, 1994, in Plano, Texas. She is majoring in business administration at Nebraska.
Kelly Belzeski
freshman | Schererville, INd. | Lake Central
2014-15 (Outlook) Kelly Belzeski joins the Nebraska bowling team as one of two highly touted freshmen. Belzeski, a standout at Lake Central High School in Indiana, should add valuable depth to the Husker lineup in her first season. She could also compete for a spot in Nebraska’s top five, along with fellow freshman Julia Bond.
The native of Schererville, Ind., also led her team to a runner-up finish at the 2013 Indiana State Championships, before adding a third-place team finish in 2014. She was the Indiana individual runner-up as a senior. A standout in the classroom as well, Belzeski was a member of the National Honor Society in 2013 and 2014.
Before Nebraska (Lake Central High School) Belzeski joined the Huskers after compiling a successful career at Lake Central High School in St. John, Ind. Belzeski earned first-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors, while also claiming Post-Tribune Indiana High School Bowlerof-the-Year accolades as a senior in 2014.
Personal The daughter of Robert and Kathleen Belzeski, Kelly was born June 8, 1996. Kelly has two sisters and one brother. Kelly plans to major in secondary education at Nebraska.
Julia Bond
freshman | Aurora, Ill. | Waubonsie Valley
2014-15 (Outlook) The top rated high school bowler in the country her senior season, freshman Julia Bond could contribute immediately for the Nebraska bowling team in 2014-15. The newcomer from Aurora, Ill., rolled a pair of 300 games before arriving at Nebraska and brings immense talent to the Husker roster. “She has solid fundamentals, and could really contribute for our team this year,” Nebraska Coach Bill Straub said. “She has a big heart and with solid fundamentals, she can become really good for us in the coming years.” Before Nebraska (Waubonsie Valley High School) Bond joined the Nebraska bowling team after being ranked as the top high school female bowler
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
in the United States. Bond rolled two 300 games during her high school career at Waubonsie Valley. She captured all-state honors in 2013 and 2014, while being named all-conference in every season of her high school career. Personal The daughter of Daniel and Sonia Bond, Julia was born on Jan. 28, 1996. She plans to major in biological sciences at Nebraska.
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The 2013-14 Huskers: Back row (from left): Assistant Head Coach Paul Klempa, Head Coach Bill Straub. Middle row (from left): Yan Ling, Andrea Ruiz, Briana Zabierek, Lizabeth Kuhlkin, Bethany Hedley, April Campbell. Front row (from left): Alexandra Mosquera, Gazmine Mason, Amanda Burau, Emily Nykiel, Jessica Eberly.
Huskers Advance to 2014 NCAA Championship Match In a roller-coaster season for the Nebraska bowling program, the Huskers nearly came away with their second straight national title, finishing as the NCAA runner-up in 2014. In a season that included four-time NCAA champion coach Bill Straub on the sideline with an emergency medical issue, the Huskers overcame countless challenges and the nation’s toughest schedule to arrive back in the NCAA title match. After capturing the school’s fourth NCAA crown in 2013, the Huskers came up just one match short in 2014, falling to Sam Houston State 4-2 in front of a nationally televised audience on ESPNU. Although the Huskers narrowly missed a backto-back championship, the Big Red showed their mental toughness, togetherness and talent on the nation’s biggest collegiate stage. Straub, who underwent successful surgery for an aortic dissection on Jan. 9, was sidelined for much of the regular season while he battled back to health. While he recovered, long-time assistant Paul Klempa stepped in and led the Huskers to an outstanding regular season filled with tournament titles and individual improvement. “The easiest way to define it, is that it is confirmation of how good Paul (Klempa) is,” Straub said. “There are not three coaches in the country that are better than him. He is just very good at what he does. We are blessed to have him. “He is deserving of coach of the year. It went
from all the years he spent here trying to help me, to now he was on his own. He did a terrific job.” Straub also commended his bowlers for displaying the resiliency that has become synonymous with the Husker program. During Straub’s absence, Klempa took over as interim head coach, helping guide Nebraska to tournament wins at the Prairie View A&M Invite and the Central Missouri Women’s Invitational. The Huskers were ranked No. 2 in both major national polls throughout Klempa’s time as interim head coach. While Klempa kept the Huskers on course, twotime first-team NTCA All-American Lizabeth Kuhlkin powered the Big Red on the lanes. The junior from Schenectady, N.Y., compiled an impressive 206.7 average on the year, after winning Most Valuable Bowler honors in leading Nebraska to the 2013 NCAA title. Kuhlkin was at her best at the Mid-Winter Classic in Jonesboro, Ark., rolling a 220.8 average over five games. She added a runner-up finish at the Central Missouri Women’s Bowling Invite to fuel NU’s run to a team title. Kuhlkin led the Huskers with a 224.4 average over five games. Senior Yan Ling joined Kuhlkin in a leadership role. The native of Singapore was an important reliever throughout her junior and senior seasons before cracking NU’s top five at the 2014 NCAA Championships.
Ling was reliable as a senior, producing two 200 or above game averages, including a 218.8 at the Big Red Invitational at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln. The Huskers opened the regular season with a second-place finish in a 14-team field at the Crusader Classic in Valparaiso, Ind., Nov. 8-10. Kuhlkin took second individually with a 206 average to earn all-tournament honors. Following a week off, the Huskers returned home to play host to the Big Red Invitational, giving Husker fans a glimpse of the team’s potential. Freshman Briana Zabierek emerged as a future force in her collegiate debut, recording scores of 197, 213 and 195 on the final day of competition. After their lone home tournament of the season, the Huskers took a break from competition, spending the next month and a half on winter break. However, the break did not go as planned as Straub was hospitalized and eventually underwent a medical procedure, putting Klempa in charge of Nebraska’s fortunes. Despite Straub’s situation, the Huskers performed valiantly under the guidance of Coach Klempa. NU finished third in the 13-team-field at the Mid-Winter Classic in Jonesboro, Ark. Kuhlkin showed her focus by winning the individual crown with an impressive 222.8 average through five games, including a high score of 258 in her first game.
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
12 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
After a week off, the Huskers returned to their winning ways with a victory at the 12-team Prairie View A&M Invitational in Arlington, Texas. Nebraska encountered a challenging road to the tournament title, as Kuhlkin battled the flu during the weekend. Alexandra Mosquera stepped up in Kuhlkin’s place. The redshirt freshman from Armenia, Colombia, made her collegiate debut as a key reliever for the Huskers. Mosquera was used in small doses, but her contributions proved to be the difference in the final two days of competition, while lane conditions gave the Huskers fits. Nebraska returned to Texas two weeks later for the Track Kat Klash hosted by Sam Houston State. The Huskers finished third in the 19-team field behind a solid performance from Ling. The senior placed sixth individually with a 211 average. The Big Red closed February and entered March with a strong showing at the Central Missouri Women’s Bowling Invitational. The Huskers powered their way to a tournament title, defeating second place Vanderbilt in a rematch of the 2013 NCAA Championship final. Kuhlkin led the Big Red with a second-place individual finish to earn a spot on the alltournament team. The All-American rolled a 224.4 average, including a staggering 245 high game. Bethany Hedley was also a bright spot for the Huskers, as the sophomore finished eighth in the individual standings with a 209.4 averaging, including a 221 high game. In Nebraska’s final regular-season tournament, the Huskers produced a fifth-place finish in a loaded 29-team field at the Music City Classic in Nashville. The tournament, which serves as a preview of the NCAA Championships, annually features the nation’s top teams. Kuhlkin led the Huskers with a fifth-place finish and a 210.2 average, including a 234 high game. Overall, the Big Red went 20-5 on the weekend in Music City. As Nebraska prepared to defend its 2013 NCAA title, Straub made a dramatic return. The legendary Husker leader returned to the lanes in the weeks leading up to the national championships, providing both guidance and inspiration to his young Huskers. With Straub back at the helm, Nebraska traveled to the NCAA Women’s Bowling Championships in
Cleveland, Ohio at the Wickliffe Bowling Center. The Huskers struggled out of the gates at the NCAA’s, earning the sixth overall seed after the qualifying rounds. NU went just 2-5 during the round. As the sixth overall seed, the Huskers had their work cut out for them as they entered into the elimination rounds. NU opened the competition with a nail-biter against Vanderbilt, as the Huskers beat the Commodores 4-3 in dramatic fashion. The Huskers went on to face off with NTCA No. 1 Arkansas State. ASU was no match for NU, as the Huskers beat the Red Wolves 4.5-2.5 after a game four tie In the NCAA semifinals, NU knocked off a talented Wisconsin-Whitewater squad, 4-2, to advance to the NCAA title game against Sam Houston State. The Huskers started slow in game one, leaving two open frames in their first five attempts. Despite the two open frames, NU managed to keep the pressure on SHSU with six consecutive spares before falling in the first game, 181-166. NU started to heat up in the second game, leaving just one open frame in the game. The Huskers rolled four strikes and six spares, beating the Bearkats, 187-182. Kuhlkin sealed the game with a spare and strike in her final two attempts. Game three brought a back-and-forth battle between the Huskers and Bearkats. NU jumped out to the early lead, rolling five straight spares followed by two strikes before the 10th frame. Kuhlkin tallied a spare and a strike in the 10th, but the Huskers came up short, 193-190, to give the No. 8 seed Bearkats a 2-1 lead. In another seesaw battle, Nebraska took the fourth game, beating SHSU, 197-189 to tie the match. The Huskers used four straight strikes starting in the seventh frame to beat the Bearkats, capped off by a Kuhlkin strike in the 10th frame. The Bearkats opened up game five on fire, hitting four straight strikes. The Huskers were unable to overcome SHSU’s strong start, dropping the fifth game, 205-191. The sixth game proved to be decisive, as Nebraska left three open frames to give SHSU an early lead. The Huskers managed back-to-back strikes in the fifth and sixth frames, but it wasn’t enough in a 195-165 loss.
Tan Yan Ling capped her Nebraska career by helping the Huskers to three straight top-three finishes at the NCAA Championships, including the 2013 national title. Ling posted a 197.8 average as a senior.
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
2013-14 Individual Statistics
Lizabeth Kuhlkin Event Crusader Classic Big Red Invitational Mid-Winter Classic Prairie View A&M SHS Track Kat Klash Central Missouri Invite Music City Classic NCAA Championships Season
Pinfall Games Average 1,238 6 206.3 1,830 9 203.3 1,104 5 220.8 973 5 194.6 1,223 6 203.8 1,122 5 224.4 1,216 6 202.6 1,409 7 201.2 10,133 49 206.7
April Campbell Event Crusader Classic Big Red Invitational Mid-Winter Classic Prairie View A&M SHS Track Kat Klash Central Missouri Invite Music City Classic NCAA Championships Season
Pinfall Games Average 1,222 6 203.6 1,838 9 204.2 959 5 191.8 1,020 5 204 1,221 6 203.5 343 2 171.5 726 4 181.5 0 0 N/A 7,329 37 198
Tan Yan Ling Event Pinfall Games Average Crusader Classic 1,127 6 187.8 Big Red Invitational 1,313 6 218.8 Prairie View A&M 936 5 187.2 SHS Track Kat Klash 1,055 5 211 Central Missouri Invite 566 3 188.6 Music City Classic 936 5 187.2 NCAA Championships 1,326 7 189.4 Season 7,319 37 197.8 Bethany Hedley Event Crusader Classic Big Red Invitational Mid-Winter Classic SHS Track Kat Klash Central Missouri Invite Music City Classic NCAA Championships Season
Pinfall Games Average 1,170 6 195 932 5 186.4 1,034 5 206.8 575 3 191.6 1,047 5 209.4 1,185 6 197.5 1,311 7 187.2 7,254 37 196
Andrea Ruiz Event Crusader Classic Big Red Invitational Mid-Winter Classic Prairie View A&M SHS Track Kat Klash Central Missouri Invite Music City Classic NCAA Championships Season
Pinfall Games Average 1,092 6 182 1,616 8 202 1,048 5 209.6 921 5 184.2 715 4 178.7 925 5 185 1,174 6 195.6 1,360 7 194.2 8,851 46 192.4
Alexandra Mosquera Event Prairie View A&M Season
Pinfall Games Average 573 3 191 573 3 191
Gazmine Mason Event Big Red Invitational Central Missouri Invite NCAA Championships Season
Pinfall Games Average 566 3 188.6 539 3 179.6 796 4 199 1,901 10 190.1
Briana Zabierek Event Big Red Invitational Mid-Winter Classic Prairie View A&M SHS Track Kat Klash Central Missouri Invite Music City Classic NCAA Championships Season
Pinfall Games Average 964 5 192.8 1,040 5 208 308 2 154 1,188 5 198 294 2 147 155 1 155 642 3 214 4,297 23 186.8
Emily Nykiel Event Music City Classic Season
Pinfall Games Average NA NA NA NA NA NA
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History of Husker Bowling
In 18 years as a varsity sport, Nebraska has become one of the top programs in the nation. Nebraska Coach Bill Straub has guided the Huskers to unprecedented success, winning national titles in 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2013. Once bowling became an NCAA-sanctioned sport in 2003, the Huskers won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005 and captured another in 2009. The Huskers added to their trophy case in 2013, bringing home the national championship, giving the program a nation-leading four NCAA titles. With 83 tournament titles in 168 all-time competitions after the 2013-14 campaign including national championship tournaments, Struab has created a dynamic foundation for success for Nebraska bowling. With a world-wide approach to recruiting, Nebraska bowlers have been well-represented in national and international competitions. Under Straub, 10 Husker bowlers have qualified for their national teams, including U.S. National Team members Shannon Pluhowsky, Diandra Asbaty (Hyman), Brenda Edwards and most-recently Elise Bolton. Recent Huskers Danielle van der Meer (Netherlands), Valerie Calberry (Canada) and Shalima Zalsha (Indonesia), and current Huskers Bethany Hedley (England), Tan Yan Ling (Singapore) Andrea Ruiz and Alexandra Mosquera (Colombia) have also represented their home countries on the international level. While the Husker team accomplishments have been paramount, numerous bowlers have also enjoyed individual success.NU has had at least one All-American in each of the last 22 years, dating back to the bowling club program days. Since
1989, 22 Huskers have combined for a total of 48 first-, second- and third-team All-America awards, while Kim Berke (1992), Diandra Hyman (2000), Shannon Pluhowsky (2001, 2004, 2005), Lindsay Baker (2006) and Amanda Burgoyne (2007) were each chosen as the National College Bowler of the Year. Straub has been a visionary in the sport of college bowling, championing the sport through its club program days and was a natural to become Nebraska’s first varsity head coach in 1997. The first year was historic in several respects, but most important was granting of the first full scholarship in the sport’s history to Jennifer Daugherty, who went on to earn first-team All-America honors in both 1998 and 1999. College bowling has experienced rapid growth in recent seasons, tripling to more than 60 schools in the last five years. In 2002, the NCAA announced that bowling would become an NCAA-sanctioned sport, and legislation was approved on April 24, 2003, allowing for the first NCAA Championship in the spring of 2004. Since the NCAA Championship was initiated, NU has captured the title four times in 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2013, giving NU nine national crowns in the sport. Most recently, the Nebraska bowling team was crowned the 2013 NCAA champions at Super Bowl Lanes in Canton, Mich. The Huskers defeated Vanderbilt, 4.5-2.5, for the crown, as sophomore Lizabeth Kuhlkin led the way to earn Most Valuable Bowler of the tournament. Two Huskers earned National Tenpin Coaches Association All-America honors, including first-team selection Kuhlkin as well as third-team choice Elise Bolton.
NTCA Scholastic All-Americans
NTCA All-Americans
Name Year Kiri Berke 1990, 1991, 1992 Shelly Machuga 1991, 1992, 1993 Andrea Rigby 1994, 1995, 1996 Brenda Edwards 1996, 1997 Jennifer Davis 1998 Jennifer Daugherty 1998 Lori Hillman 1998 Kimberly Claus 1998, 1999, 2000 Amanda O’Hayre 1999, 2000 Christine Couvillon 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Diandra Hyman 2000, 2001 Stacy Rogers 2000 Kari Schwager 2001, 2002, 2003 Melissa Stewart 2003 Karla Engh 2006 Katie Ann Sopp 2008 Jasmine Laugerman 2008 Danielle van der Meer 2011 Valerie Calberry 2009, 2010, 2011,2012 Kristina Mickelson 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 Lizabeth Kuhlkin 2013 Bethany Headley 2013 Andrea Ruiz 2013, 2014 Amanda Burau 2014 Tan Yan Ling 2014 Gazmine Mason 2014 Briana Zabierek 2014
Name Year Kim Berke 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 Jennifer Wilson 1991 Carrie Machuga 1993 Shelly Machuga 1993 Andrea Rigby 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 Brenda Norman 1996 Brenda Edwards 1995, 1997 Jennifer Davis 1998 Jennifer Daugherty 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Kimberly Claus 1998 Diandra Hyman 1999, 2000, 2001 Shannon Pluhowsky 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 Kari Schwager 2002 Paola Gomez 2003 Amanda Burgoyne 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Jamie Martin 2005, 2006 Adrienne Miller 2005, 2007 Lindsay Baker 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Cassandra Leuthold 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Katie Ann Sopp 2008 Valerie Calberry 2009, 2012 Danielle van der Meer 2009, 2012 Kayla Johnson 2012 Kristina Mickelson 2012 Elise Bolton 2013 Lizabeth Kuhlkin 2013, 2014
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
14 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
National Collegiate Bowlers of the Year
Kim Berke 1992
Diandra Hyman 2000
Shannon Pluhowsky 2001, 2004, 2005
Lindsay Baker 2006
Amanda Burgoyne 2007
Cassandra Leuthold 2010
National Collegiate Rookies of the Year
Kim Berke 1989
Shannon Pluhowsky 2001
Cassandra Leuthold 2007
Lindsay Baker 2005
All-Time Letterwinners and Career Statistics Bowler
Hometown
Nicole Aleo Sterling Heights, Mich. Lindsay Baker Amherst, N.Y. Christine Bator Warren, Mich. Elise Bolton Merritt Island, Fla. Amanda Burgoyne Newport, Minn. Emma-Louise Butchard Edinburgh, Scotland Valerie Calberry Brampton, Ontario April Campbell Omaha, Neb. Kimberly Claus Mesquite, Texas Christine Couvillon Baton Rouge, La. Jennifer Daugherty Bloomington, Ill. Jennifer Davis Lincoln, Neb. Karla Engh Sioux Falls, S.D. Kimberly Ferris Orange, Calif. Paola Gomez Bogota, Colombia Bethany Hedley Watford, England Kaleena Henning North Platte, Neb. Diandra Hyman Dyer, Ind. Kayla Johnson Washington, Ill. Jennifer Johnston Niagara Falls, N.Y. Sarah Koch Ottawa, Ill. Lizabeth Kuhlkin Schenectady, N.Y. Jasmine Laugerman Brooklyn Center, Minn. Cassandra Leuthold Rapid City, S.D. Tan Yan Ling Singapore Jamie Martin Omaha, Neb. Gazmine Mason Cranston, R.I. Erin McCarthy Omaha, Neb. Suzanne Medwell Victoria, Australia Kristina Mickelson Bellevue, Neb. Adrienne Miller Albuquerque, N.M. Alexandra Mosquera Armenia, Colombia Amanda O’Hayre Northglenn, Colo. Christina Perez San Diego, Calif. Shannon Pluhowsky Phoenix, Ariz. Stacy Rogers Sioux Falls, S.D. Andrea Ruiz Bogota, Colombia Jennifer Schultz Portland, Ore. Kari Schwager Montgomery, Ill. Katie Ann Sopp Circle Pines, Minn. Melissa Stewart Fort Pierce, Fla. Kayla Stram Grand Rapids, Minn. Kelle Valenzuela Brown Summit, N.C. Danielle van der Meer Hilversum, Netherlands Briana Zabierek Lockport, Ill. Shalima Zalsha Jakarta, Indonesia * complete individual stats not available for 1997-98 season
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
Years Lettered
2003-04-05 2005-06-07-08 2008 2012-13 2004-05-06-07 2007 2009-10-11-12 2014 1998-99-2000 1999-2000-01-02 1998-99 1998 2003-04-05-06 1998 2002-03 2013-14 2008-09-10 1999-2000-01-02 2011-12 1999 2007 2012-13-14 2008-09-10-11 2007-08-09-10 2011-12-13-14 2003-04-05-06 2014 2009 2001-02 2010-11-12-13 2004-05-06-07 2014 1999-2000 2001-02-03-04 2001-02-04-05 1998-99-2000 2012-13-14 2003-04 2000-01-02-03 2008-09-10-11 2003-04 2009-10-11 2006 2009-10-11 2014 2010-11-12
GP
Total Pinfall
Avg. Events
1st
Top 5
Top 10
43 7,777 177.839 12 0 0 0 244 49,727 203.799 33 4 19 26 50 9,743 194.800 7 0 2 3 43 8,537 198.500 8 0 0 1 244 50,022 205.010 35 6 21 27 21 4,044 192.500 5 0 0 0 164 31,590 192.621 24 1 5 10 37 7,329 198.000 8 0 0 0 163 32,859 201.589 20 2 5 8 196 38,098 194.378 25 0 1 4 64 13,110 204.884 13 0 6 8 37 7,276 196.648 5 0 3 3 126 24,769 196.580 19 0 4 7 65 13,357 205.492 6 0 2 2 103 20,228 196.388 15 1 4 6 37 7,039 190.200 8 0 0 0 51 9,495 186.176 17 0 1 1 308 63,065 204.756 34 4 15 20 85 17,358 204.164 17 0 3 3 35 6,512 186.057 5 0 0 0 56 10,605 189.300 9 0 1 1 135 27,902 206.550 23 5 5 17 129 24,803 192.271 30 1 2 3 243 49,635 204.260 32 11 17 20 89 17,373 192.500 8 0 0 1 198 39,691 200.460 32 1 9 14 10 1,901 190.100 8 0 0 0 40 7,705 192.600 7 1 2 2 114 23,153 203.096 14 2 4 7 155 30,721 194.000 34 0 5 5 239 47,765 199.854 34 1 14 19 3 573 191.000 3 0 0 0 229 45,136 197.100 20 1 3 7 133 24,874 187.023 25 0 1 3 295 63,518 212.660 36 12 25 30 150 29,429 196.593 - - - 32 14,907 189.200 16 0 0 0 49 9,441 175.596 10 0 1 2 308 61,352 199.195 36 2 8 15 126 24,701 196.040 24 1 3 5 80 15,639 194.191 11 0 2 4 57 10,701 187.737 17 0 2 6 5 944 188.800 3 0 0 0 116 22,610 194.194 25 0 3 8 46 4,297 186.800 8 0 0 0 22 3,981 180.955 5 0 0 0
HUskers.com | 15
Nebraska Year-By-Year Results
1997-98 Date 10/4-10/5 10/18-10/19 10/24-10/25 11/1-11/2 11/27-11/29 12/28-12/29 12/29-12/30 2/7-2/8 2/14-2/15 2/21-2/22 4/15-4/18
Tournament Pins Result Greater Milwaukee Collegiate 10,953 1st/15 Hoosier Classic 9,692 4th/11 Mid-States Invitational 15,612 2nd/9 Great Lakes Classic 10,219 1st/26 National Collegiate Match Games 9,951 9th/32 Las Vegas Invitational 11,449 1st/17 Sam’s Town Shoot-Out 9,034 5th/14 Coca-Cola Classic 13,526 5th/16 Great Plains Conference BKR* 1st/5 ACU-I Regional 8,409 1st/5 IBC Championships BKR* 4th/16
1998-99 10/10-10/11 10/17-10/18 10/24-10/25 11/7-11/8 11/27-11/28 12/28-12/29 12/29-12/30 2/6-2/7 2/27-2/28 4/21-4/24
Mid-States Invitational Hoosier Classic Southern Collegiate Classic Great Lakes Classic National Collegiate Games Las Vegas Invitational Sam’s Town Shoot-Out Coca-Cola Classic Buckeye Classic IBC Championships
10,141 8,223 11,465 9,966 12,669 10,621 10,621 12,937 10,132 BKR*
2nd/9 3rd/15 1st/12 4th/18 5th/32 4th/21 3rd/17 7th/22 3rd/22 1st/16
1999-2000 10/8-10/9 10/16-10/17 10/23-10/24 11/6-11/7 11/25-11/26 12/20-12/21 12/22-12/23 2/6-2/7 2/19-2/20 2/25-2/27 3/4-3/5 3/18-3/19 4/27-4/29
TVEBA Texas Classic 12,024 Hoosier Classic 8,020 Great Lakes Classic 10,373 Southern Classic 11,125 National Collegiate Match Games 13,215 Las Vegas Invitational 11,066 Sam’s Town Shoot-Out 10,796 Coca-Cola Classic 13,639 ACU-I Regional 8,595 Great Plains Conference BKR* Buckeye Classic 10,237 IBC Sectional 12,814 IBC Championships BKR*
1st/4 1st/23 2nd/2 1st/12 1st/38 4th/27 3rd/20 2nd/18 2nd/9 3rd/6 2nd/21 1st/6 3rd/16
2000-01 10/6-10/7 10/21-10/22 11/4-11/5 11/11-11/12 11/24-11/25 12/18-19 12/19-12/21 1/27-1/28 2/3-2/4 3/23-3/25 4/18-4/21
TVEBA Texas Classic 11,257 Mid-States Invitational 14,058 Southern Classic 7,634 Great Lakes Classic 8,058 National Collegiate Match Games 12,147 Las Vegas Invitational 10,961 Sam’s Town Shoot-Out 9,113 Blue and Gold Classic 9,229 Coca-Cola Classic 7,732 IBC Sectional 11,810 IBC Championships BKR*
1st/11 1st/11 2nd/18 1st/25 2nd/36 2nd/21 2nd/19 1st/19 3rd/16 3rd/11 1st/16
2001-02 10/20-10/21 11/23-11/24 12/7-12/8 12/27-12/28 12/28-12/30 1/19-1/20 1/26-1/27 2/2-2/3 2/23-2/24 3/9-3/10 3/23-3/24 4/17-4/21
Mid-States Invitational 13,959 National Collegiate Match Games 13,839 TVEBA Texas Classic 9,324 Las Vegas Invitational 10,924 Sam’s Town Shoot-Out 10,595 Eagle Classic 9,706 Blue and Gold Classic 11,314 Coca-Cola Classic 13,162 Hoosier Classic 8,528 Great Plains Quadrangular BKR* IBC Sectional 12,030 IBC Championships BKR*
1st/9 1st/36 1st/4 2nd/20 2nd/21 1st/13 2nd/20 1st/17 1st/21 1st/4 1st/8 9th/16
2002-03 Date 10/26-10/27 11/2-11/3 11/9-11/10 11/29-11/30 12/7-12/8 1/25-1/26 2/1-2/2 2/8-2/9 3/22-3/23 4/23-4/27
Tournament Pins Result Mid-States Invitational 11,961 4th/11 Southern Classic 11,096 1st/12 Great Lakes Classic 9,710 1st/33 National Collegiate Match Games 9,524 9th/36 Leatherneck Classic 10,227 4th/20 Blue and Gold Classic 10,403 2nd/33 Coca-Cola Classic 11,840 1st/20 ACU-I Region 11 Tournament 8,920 1st/4 IBC Sectional 11,656 2nd/9 IBC Championships BKR* 7th/16
2003-04 11/1-11/2 Brunswick Southern Classic 11/8-11/9 Whitewater Invitational 11/15-11/16 Triad Women’s Classic
6,855 10,548 5,463
1st/6 1st/3 1st/5
11/28-11/29 1/17-1/18 1/31-2/1 3/5-3/7 3/12-3/13 4/8-4/10
National Team Match Games Southern Varsity Invitational Brunswick Coca-Cola Classic NCAA Northeast Challenge Holiday Collegiate Classic NCAA Championships
10,381 1st/11 6,166 3rd/14 6,795 1st/4 4,967 2nd/5 8,904 1st/5 7,633 1st/8
2004-05 10/30-10/31 11/6-11/7 11/19-11/21 1/22-1/23 1/28-1/30 2/25-2/27 3/5-3/6 3/19-3/20 4/14-4/17
Arkansas State Invitational Whitewater Invitational Minnesota State Invitational Greater Ozark NCAA Invitational Brunswick Coca-Cola Classic Bayside Collegiate Classic Collegiate Holiday Classic Nashville Classic NCAA Championships
1st/6 2nd/5 1st/3 2nd/8 1st/7 1st/16 1st/5 1st/7 1st/8
2005-06 11/11-11/3 1/21-1/22 1/28-1/29 2/4-2/5 2/18-2/19 3/4-3/5 3/18-3/19 3/24-3/26 4/12-4/15
Mankato Invitational Greater Ozark Invitational Brunswick Coca-Cola Invite Arkansas State Invitational Morgan State Invitational Alabama A&M Vanderbilt Invitational Brunswick Invitational NCAA Championships
1st/5 1st/5 1st/6 1st/5 1st/6 1st/16 1st/5 1st/5 3rd/8
2006-07 11/10-11/12 11/17-11/19 12/2-12/3 1/19-1/21 2/3-2/4 2/17-2/18 3/17-3/18 3/23-3/25 4/12-4/14
Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational Maverick Challenge Valley Classic Ozark Invitational Mid-Winter Classic Morgan State Invitational Music City Classic Brunswick Windy City Classic NCAA Championships
2007-08 11/9-11/11 11/15-11/17 12/1-12/2 1/18-1/20 2/1-2/3 2/15-2/17 3/1-3/2 3/29 4/10-4/12
Cheeseland Classic Maverick Challenge Capital City Classic Ozark Invitational Mid-Winter Classic Morgan State Invitational Holiday Classic Nebraska Alumni (exh.) NCAA Championships
1st 1st 1st 1st 3rd 1st 1st Tie T7th
2008-09 11/7-11/9 11/13-11/15 12/5-12/7 1/16-1/18 1/23-1/25
Warhawk Classic Maverick Challenge Capital City Classic Mid-Winter Classic Greater Ozark Invitational
1st 1st 1st 2nd 5th
2nd/7 1st/7 1st-Tie/5 4th/8 3rd/18 1st/24 1st/16 1st/7 3rd-Tie/8
2/14-2/15 2/28-3/1 3/13-3/15 4/9-4/11
Morgan State Invitational Holiday Classic Music City Classic NCAA Championships
2nd 1st 2nd 1st
2009-10 10/24-10/25 11/5-11/7 12/4-12/6 1/15-1/17 2/5-2/7 2/20-2/21 2/27-2/28 3/12-3/14 4/8-4/10
Greater Ozark Invitational Big Red Invitational Capital City Collegiate Classic Mid-Winter Classic Griffin Invitational Morgan State Invitational Holiday Classic Music City Classic NCAA Championships
7th 4th 1st 5th 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd
2010-11 11/12-11/14 12/3-12/5 1/14-1/16 1/20-1/22 2/18-2/20 2/25-2/27 3/18-3/20 4/14-4/16
Crusader Classic Capital City Collegiate Classic Mid-Winter Classic Big Red Invitational Morgan State Invitational Holiday Classic Music City Classic NCAA Championships
1st 1st 5th 3rd 1st 8th 1st T3rd
2011-12 11/11-11/13 12/2-12/4 1/13-1/15 1/19-1/21 2/3-2/5 2/17-2/19 3/16-3/18 4/12-4/14
Crusader Classic Sam Houston State Track Kat Klash Mid-Winter Classic Big Red Invitational Prairie View A&M Invitational Morgan State Invitational Music City Classic NCAA Championships
2nd 4th 4th 3rd 4th 2nd 1st 3rd
2012-13 11/9-11/11 11/30-12/2 1/11-1/13 2/1-2/3 2/15-2/17 3/1-3/3 3/15-3/17 4/11-4/13
Crusader Classic Sam Houston State Track Kat Klash Mid-Winter Classic Prairie View A&M Invitational Morgan State Invitational Central Missouri Women’s Invitational Music City Classic NCAA Championships
3rd 5th 1st 1st 3rd 1st 4th 1st
2013-14 11/8-11/10 11/21-11/23 1/17-1/19 1/31-2/2 2/14-2/16 2/28-3/1 3/7-3/9 4/10-4/12
Crusader Classic Big Red Invitational Mid-Winter Classic Prairie View A&M Invitational Track Kat Klash Central Missouri Invitational Music City Classic NCAA Championships
2nd 2nd, 4th, 1st` 3rd 1st 3rd 1st 5th 2nd
Melanie Crawford joined the Nebraska bowling team after transferring from Stephen F. Austin before the start of the 2014-15 season. Crawford earned third-team NTCA All-America honors as a sophomore in 2014.
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
16 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
Nebraska Bowling Tournament Titles Team Tournament Titles Tournament......................................... Pins........................ Teams............................... Year Greater Milwaukee Collegiate.................10,953......................15.................................. 1997-98 Great Lakes Classic..................................10,219......................26.................................. 1997-98 Las Vegas Invitational..............................11,449......................17.................................. 1997-98 Great Plains Conference..........................Team only................5.................................... 1997-98 ACU-I Regional.........................................8,409........................5.................................... 1997-98 Southern Collegiate Classic.....................11,465......................12.................................. 1998-99 IBC Championships............................... Team only.............. 16.................................1998-99 TVEBA Texas Classic................................12,024......................4.................................... 1999-00 Hoosier Classic.........................................8,020........................23.................................. 1999-00 Southern Classic......................................11,125......................12.................................. 1999-00 National Collegiate Match Games...........13,215......................38.................................. 1999-00 IBC Sectional............................................12,814......................6.................................... 1999-00 Texas Connection Classic.........................11,257......................11.................................. 2000-01 Mid-States Invitational............................14,058......................11.................................. 2000-01 Great Lakes Classic..................................8,058........................25.................................. 2000-01 Blue and Gold Classic..............................9,229........................19.................................. 2000-01 IBC Championships............................... Team only.............. 16.................................2000-01 Mid-States Invitational............................13,959......................9.................................... 2001-02 National Collegiate Match Games...........13,839......................36.................................. 2001-02 TVEBA Texas Classic................................9,324........................4.................................... 2001-02 Eagle Classic............................................9,706........................13.................................. 2001-02 Coca-Cola Classic.....................................13,162......................17.................................. 2001-02 Hoosier Classic.........................................8,528........................21.................................. 2001-02 Great Plains Quadrangular......................Team only................4.................................... 2001-02 IBC Sectional............................................12,030......................8.................................... 2001-02 Southern Classic......................................11,096......................11.................................. 2002-03 Great Lakes Classic..................................9,710........................33.................................. 2002-03 Coca-Cola Classic.....................................11,840......................20.................................. 2002-03 ACU-I Region 11......................................8,920........................4.................................... 2002-03 Brunswick Southern Classic.....................6,855........................6.................................... 2003-04 Whitewater Invitational..........................10,548......................3.................................... 2003-04 Triad Women’s Classic.............................5,463........................5.................................... 2003-04 National Team Match Games..................10,381......................11.................................. 2003-04 Brunswick Coca-Cola Classic....................6,795........................4.................................... 2003-04 Holiday Collegiate Classic........................8,904........................5.................................... 2003-04 NCAA Championships........................... 7,633...................... 8...................................2003-04 Arkansas State Invitational......................Team only................4.................................... 2004-05 Minnesota State Invitational...................Team only................3.................................... 2004-05 Brunswick Coca-Cola Classic....................Team only................7.................................... 2004-05 Bayside Collegiate Classic........................8,850........................16.................................. 2004-05 Collegiate Holiday Classic........................10,323......................5.................................... 2004-05 Nashville Classic......................................Team only................7.................................... 2004-05 NCAA Championship............................ Team only.............. 8...................................2004-05 Mankato Invitational...............................9,354........................5.................................... 2005-06 Greater Ozark Invitational.......................7,166........................5.................................... 2005-06 Brunswick Coca-Cola Invitational............Team only................6.................................... 2005-06 Arkansas State Invitational......................Team only................5.................................... 2005-06 Morgan State Invitational.......................7,867........................6.................................... 2005-06 Alabama A&M.........................................10,671......................16.................................. 2005-06 Vanderbilt Invitational.............................9,670........................5.................................... 2005-06 Brunswick Invitational.............................Team only................5.................................... 2005-06 Maverick Challenge.................................13,565......................7.................................... 2006-07 Valley Classic...........................................Team only................8.................................... 2006-07 Morgan State Invitational.......................9,220........................24.................................. 2006-07 Music City Classic....................................9,557........................16.................................. 2006-07 Brunswick Windy City Classic..................13,485......................7.................................... 2006-07 Cheeseland Classic..................................11,841......................5.................................... 2007-08 Maverick Challenge.................................14,968......................N/A................................ 2007-08 Capital City Classic...................................9,060........................5.................................... 2007-08 Ozark Invitational....................................Team only................6.................................... 2007-08 Morgan State Invitational.......................9,247........................32.................................. 2007-08 Holiday Classic.........................................10,505......................5.................................... 2007-08 Warhawk Classic......................................4,553........................N/A................................ 2008-09 Maverick Challenge.................................10,496......................20.................................. 2008-09 Capital City Classic...................................5,241........................N/A................................ 2008-09 Holiday Classic.........................................11,993......................16.................................. 2008-09 NCAA Championship...............................Team only................8.................................... 2008-09 Holiday Classic.........................................11,993......................16.................................. 2008-09 NCAA Championship............................ Team only.............. 8...................................2008-09 Capital City Collegiate Classic..................12,516......................5.................................... 2009-10 Griffin Invitational...................................13,083......................5.................................... 2009-10 Morgan State Invitational.......................6,962........................18.................................. 2009-10 Holiday Classic.........................................Team only................12.................................. 2009-10 Crusader Classic.......................................3,615........................6.................................... 2010-11 Capital City Collegiate Classic .................9,023........................N/A................................ 2010-11 Morgan State Invitational.......................N/A..........................4.................................... 2010-11 Music City Classic....................................6,044........................20.................................. 2010-11 Music City Classic....................................N/A..........................20.................................. 2011-12 Mid-Winter invitational...........................5,014........................16.................................. 2012-13 Prairie View A&M Invite..........................4,544........................16.................................. 2012-13 Central Missouri Invitational...................5,263........................12.................................. 2012-13 NCAA Championship............................ Team only.............. 8...................................2012-13 Prairie View A&M Invite..........................8,681........................12.................................. 2013-14 Central Missouri Invitational...................10,065......................12.................................. 2013-14
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
Individual Tournament Titles Bowler............................................... Tournament......................................................Year Kimberly Claus.......................................Mid-States Invitational................................... 1998-99 Diandra Hyman......................................Hoosier Classic............................................... 1999-00 Diandra Hyman......................................Great Lakes Classic......................................... 1999-00 Diandra Hyman......................................Southern Classic............................................. 1999-00 Diandra Hyman......................................Sam’s Town Shoot-Out.................................. 1999-00 Kimberly Claus.......................................Great Plains Conference................................ 1999-00 Diandra Hyman......................................Buckeye Classic.............................................. 1999-00 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................TVEBA Texas Classic....................................... 2000-01 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Mid-States Invitational................................... 2000-01 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Southern Classic............................................. 2000-01 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Great Lakes Classic......................................... 2000-01 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................National Collegiate Match Games................. 2000-01 Suzanne Medwell..................................Sam’s Town Shoot-Out.................................. 2000-01 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Blue and Gold Classic..................................... 2000-01 Kari Schwager........................................Sam’s Town Shoot-Out.................................. 2001-02 Suzanne Medwell..................................Eagle Classic................................................... 2001-02 Kari Schwager........................................Blue/Gold Classic Tournament....................... 2002-03 Paola Gomez.........................................Coca-Cola Classic............................................ 2002-03 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Brunswick Southern Classic............................ 2003-04 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Whitewater Invitational................................. 2003-04 Amanda Burgoyne.................................Triad Women’s Classic................................... 2003-04 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................National Team Match Games........................ 2003-04 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Holiday Collegiate Classic............................... 2003-04 Amanda Burgoyne.................................Arkansas State Invitational............................ 2004-05 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Whitewater Invitational................................. 2004-05 Lindsay Baker........................................Minnesota State Invitational.......................... 2004-05 Amanda Burgoyne.................................Greater Ozark NCAA Invitational................... 2004-05 Jamie Martin.........................................Coca-Cola Invitational.................................... 2004-05 Adrienne Miller.....................................Bayside Collegiate Classic............................... 2004-05 Adrienne Miller.....................................Collegiate Holiday Classic............................... 2004-05 Shannon Pluhowsky..............................Nashville Classic............................................. 2004-05 Amanda Burgoyne.................................NCAA Championships..................................... 2004-05 Lindsay Baker........................................Greater Ozark Invitational.............................. 2005-06 Lindsay Baker........................................Morgan State Invitational.............................. 2005-06 Amanda Burgoyne.................................Arkansas State Invitational............................ 2005-06 Cassandra Leuthold...............................Maverick Challenge........................................ 2006-07 Cassandra Leuthold...............................Ozark Invitational........................................... 2006-07 Amanda Burgoyne.................................Morgan State Invitational.............................. 2006-07 Cassandra Leuthold...............................Cheeseland Classic......................................... 2007-08 Cassandra Leuthold...............................Ozark Invitational........................................... 2007-08 Lindsay Baker........................................Morgan State Invitational.............................. 2007-08 Katie Ann Sopp......................................Holiday Classic................................................ 2007-08 Cassandra Leuthold...............................Warhawk Classic............................................ 2008-09 Cassandra Leuthold...............................Maverick Challenge........................................ 2008-09 Erin McCarthy........................................Capital City Collegiate Classic......................... 2008-09 Cassandra Leuthold............................... Morgan State Invitational...............................2008-09 Cassandra Leuthold............................... Capital City Collegiate Classic.........................2009-10 Cassandra Leuthold............................... Griffin Invitational..........................................2009-10 Cassandra Leuthold............................... Morgan State Invitational...............................2009-10 Cassandra Leuthold............................... Music City Classic............................................2009-10 Valerie Calberry..................................... Capital City Collegiate Classic.........................2010-11 Jasmine Laugerman............................... Morgan State Invitational...............................2010-11 Kristina Mickelson................................. Music City Classic............................................2011-12 Lizabeth Kuhlkin.................................... Crusader Classic..............................................2012-13 Lizabeth Kuhlkin.................................... Central Missouri Women’s Invitational..........2012-13 Lizabeth Kuhlkin.................................... Mid-Winter Classic.........................................2013-14
Lizabeth Kuhlkin won her third career individual tournament title with a win at the Mid-Winter Classic in 2013-14.
HUskers.com | 17
Nebraska Bowling Records Pinfall (Single Tournament) Rk......... Name................................. Pinfall......... Tournament ............................................Date 1.......... Shannon Pluhowsky........... 3,192.......... Mid States Tournament.................... 10/22/00 2.......... Kari Schwager.................... 2,962.......... Mid-States Tournament................... 10/21/01 3.......... Lindsay Baker..................... 2,946.......... Maverick Challenge.......................... 11/18/07 4.......... Jasmine Laugerman........... 2,934.......... Maverick Challenge.......................... 11/18/07 5.......... Cassandra Leuthold............ 2,888.......... Maverick Challenge.......................... 11/18/07 6.......... Shannon Pluhowsky........... 2,872.......... Mid-States Tournament................... 10/21/01 7.......... Cassandra Leuthold............ 2,837.......... Maverick Challenge.......................... 11/18/07 8.......... Suzanne Medwell............... 2,815.......... Mid-States Tournament................... 10/22/00 9.......... Cassandra Leuthold............ 2,805.......... Wisconsin-Whitewater..................... 11/12/06 10........ Christine Bator................... 2,768.......... Maverick Challenge.......................... 11/18/07 Average (Single Tournament) Rk......... Name................................. Average............. Tournament.......................................Date 1.......... Shannon Pluhowsky........... 254.300............. Wisconsin-Whitewater................ 11/9/03 2.......... Amanda Burgoyne............. 251.750............. NCAA Championships.................. 4/16/05 3.......... Shannon Pluhowsky........... 242.875............. Team Match Games................... 11/25/00 4.......... Shannon Pluhowsky........... 242.182............. Maverick Challenge.................... 11/18/00 5.......... Shannon Pluhowsky............ 241.750..............Southern Classic............................ 11/5/00 6.......... Lizabeth Kuhlkin................. 238.400..............Crusader Classic............................ 11/9/12 7.......... Amanda Burgoyne.............. 236.800..............Triad Women’s Classic................ 11/16/03 8.......... Erin McCarthy..................... 236.200..............Capital City Classic......................... 12/7/08 9.......... Amanda Burgoyne.............. 234.830..............Arkansas State Invite................... 10/31/04 10........ Lindsay Baker...................... 234.000..............NCAA Championships.................... 4/17/05 Pinfall (Single Season) Rk......... Name........................................................... Pinfall.................................................Year 1.......... Shannon Pluhowsky .................................... 19,431..........................................2001-02 2.......... Shannon Pluhowsky .................................... 19,104..........................................2000-01 3.......... Amanda O’Hayre ......................................... 18,138..........................................1999-00 4.......... Kimberly Claus ............................................ 18,035..........................................1999-00 5.......... Kari Schwager ............................................. 17,436..........................................2001-02 6.......... Diandra Hyman............................................ 16,793..........................................1999-00 7.......... Diandra Hyman............................................ 16,784..........................................2001-02 8.......... Diandra Hyman............................................ 16,243..........................................1998-99 9.......... Kari Schwager.............................................. 15,837..........................................2000-01 10........ Kari Schwager.............................................. 15,207..........................................1999-00 Games Played (Single Season) Rk......... Name........................................................... Games................................................Year 1.......... Shannon Pluhowsky..................................... 93.................................................2001-02 2.......... Kimberly Claus............................................. 90.................................................1999-00 ............ Amanda O’Hayre.......................................... 90.................................................1999-00 4.......... Shannon Pluhowsky..................................... 86.................................................2000-01 5.......... Diandra Hyman ........................................... 84.................................................2001-02 ............ Kari Schwager.............................................. 84.................................................2001-02 7.......... Diandra Hyman............................................ 81.................................................1998-99 8.......... Kari Schwager ............................................. 80.................................................2000-01 9.......... Diandra Hyman............................................ 79.................................................1999-00 10........ Stacy Rogers................................................. 77.................................................1999-00 ............ Kari Schwager.............................................. 77.................................................1999-00 Average (Single Season) Rk......... Name........................................................... Average..............................................Year 1.......... Shannon Pluhowsky..................................... 222.140 ..................................... .2000-01 2.......... Shannon Pluhowksy..................................... 221.788 ...................................... 2003-04 3.......... Lizabeth Kuhlkin........................................... 215.700 ...................................... 2012-13 4.......... Lindsay Baker............................................... 213.000 ...................................... 2005-06 5.......... Diandra Hyman............................................ 212.570 ...................................... 1999-00 6.......... Cassandra Leuthold...................................... 209.500 ...................................... 2009-10 7.......... Amanda Burgoyne....................................... 209.250 ...................................... 2004-05 8.......... Shannon Pluhowsky..................................... 208.935 ...................................... 2001-02 9.......... Shannon Pluhowsky..................................... 208.288 ...................................... 2004-05 10........ Amanda Burgoyne....................................... 208.200 ...................................... 2005-06 Pinfall (Career) Rk......... Name........................................................... Pinfall................................................Years 1.......... Shannon Pluhowsky..................................... 63,518......................................2000-2005 2. ......... Diandra Hyman............................................ 63,065......................................1998-2002 3. ......... Kari Schwager.............................................. 61,352......................................1999-2003 4.......... Cassandra Leuthold...................................... 51,387......................................2006-2010 5.......... Amanda Burgoyne....................................... 50,022......................................2004-2007 6.......... Lindsay Baker............................................... 49,727......................................2005-2008 7.......... Adrienne Miller............................................ 47,765......................................2004-2007 8. ......... Amanda O’Hayre.......................................... 45,136......................................1998-2001 9.......... Jamie Martin................................................ 39,691......................................2001-2006 10........ Christine Couvillon ...................................... 38,098......................................1998-2002 Games Played (Career) Rk......... Name........................................................... Games...............................................Years 1.......... Kari Schwager ............................................. 308...........................................1999-2003 2.......... Diandra Hyman ........................................... 308...........................................1998-2002 3.......... Shannon Pluhowsky .................................... 295...........................................2000-2005 4.......... Cassandra Leuthold...................................... 251...........................................2006-2010 5.......... Amanda Burgoyne....................................... 244...........................................2004-2007 ............ Lindsay Baker............................................... 244...........................................2005-2008 7.......... Adrienne Miller............................................ 239...........................................2004-2007 8.......... Amanda O’Hayre ......................................... 229...........................................1998-2001
9.......... Jamie Martin................................................ 198...........................................2001-2006 10........ Christine Couvillon ...................................... 196...........................................1998-2002 Average (Career) Rk......... Name........................................................... Average.............................................Years 1.......... Shannon Pluhowsky..................................... 215.315 .................................. 2000-2005 2.......... Amanda Burgoyne....................................... 205.010 .................................. 2004-2007 3.......... Jennifer Daugherty ...................................... 204.844 .................................. 1995-1999 4.......... Diandra Hyman ........................................... 204.756 .................................. 1998-2002 5.......... Cassandra Leuthold...................................... 204.530 .................................. 2006-2010 6.......... Lindsay Baker............................................... 203.799 .................................. 2005-2008 7.......... Suzanne Medwell ........................................ 203.096 .................................. 2000-2002 8.......... Amanda Burgoyne....................................... 201.839 .................................. 2003-2007 9.......... Kimberly Claus ............................................ 201.589 .................................. 1996-2000 10........ Jamie Martin................................................ 200.460 .................................. 2001-2006 Pinfall (Freshman) Rk.......Name................................... ...........................Pinfall................................................Year 1.........Shannon Pluhowsky ......................................19,104......................................... 2000-01 2.........Diandra Hyman .............................................16,243......................................... 1998-99 3.........Kari Schwager ................................................15,207......................................... 1999-00 4.........Cassandra Leuthold........................................14,572......................................... 2006-07 5.........Amanda O’Hayre ...........................................13,432......................................... 1998-99 6.........Amanda Burgoyne.........................................12,514......................................... 1999-00 7.........Suzanne Medwell ..........................................11,952......................................... 2000-01 8.........Katie Ann Sopp...............................................11,539......................................... 2007-08 9.........Lindsay Baker.................................................11,481......................................... 2004-05 10.......Adrienne Miller..............................................11,416......................................... 2003-04 Games Played (Freshman) Rk......... Name........................................................... Games................................................Year 1.......... Shannon Pluhowsky .................................... 86................................................2000-01 2.......... Diandra Hyman ........................................... 81................................................1998-99 3.......... Kari Schwager ............................................. 77................................................1999-00 4.......... Cassandra Leuthold...................................... 72................................................2006-07 5.......... Amanda O’Hayre ......................................... 68................................................1998-99 6.......... Amanda Burgoyne....................................... 62................................................2003-04 7.......... Suzanne Medwell ........................................ 60................................................2000-01 8.......... Katie Ann Sopp............................................. 57................................................2007-08 9.......... Adrienne Miller............................................ 56................................................2003-04 ............ Lindsay Baker............................................... 56................................................2004-05 ............ Sarah Koch................................................... 56................................................2006-07 Season Average (Freshman) Rk.......Name............................................................. Average.............................................. Year 1.........Shannon Pluhowsky ......................................222.140....................................... 2000-01 2.........Lindsay Baker.................................................206.622....................................... 2004-05 3.........Adrienne Miller..............................................203.857....................................... 2003-04 4.........Katie Ann Sopp...............................................202.400....................................... 2007-08 5.........Cassandra Leuthold........................................202.300....................................... 2006-07 6.........Amanda Burgoyne.........................................201.839....................................... 2003-04 7.........Diandra Hyman .............................................200.531....................................... 1998-99 8.........Jasmine Laugerman.......................................199.400....................................... 2007-08 ...........Danielle van der Meer...................................199.400....................................... 2008-09 10.......Suzanne Medwell ..........................................199.200....................................... 2000-01 Team Pinfall Rk.......Tournament Name........................................ Pinfall.................................................Date 1.........Maverick Challenge........................................14,968....................................... 11/18/07 2.........Southern Classic.............................................14,058....................................... 10/25/98 3.........Mid-States Invitational...................................13,959....................................... 10/21/01 4.........National Collegiate Match Games.................13,839....................................... 11/24/01 5.........Coca-Cola Classic............................................13,639.......................................... 2/7/00 6.........Maverick Challenge........................................13,576....................................... 11/18/06 7.........National Collegiate Match Games.................13,432....................................... 11/25/00 8.........Coca-Cola Classic............................................13,387........................................... 2/4/01 9.........Wisconsin-Whitewater..................................13,372....................................... 11/12/06 10.......Coca-Cola Classic............................................13,162........................................... 2/2/02 Team Average Rk.......Tournament Name........................................ Average..............................................Date 1.........National Collegiate Match Games................ 1,133.091................................... 11/24/01 2.........National Collegiate Match Games................ 1,102.909................................... 11/25/00 3.........Ozark Invitational.......................................... 1,087.000..................................... 1/21/07 4.........National Collegiate Match Games................ 1,083.182................................... 11/27/99 5.........Coca-Cola Classic........................................... 1,074.746....................................... 2/2/02 6.........Mid-States Invitational.................................. 1,073.769................................... 10/21/01 7.........TVEBA Texas Classic...................................... 1,073.571................................... 10/10/99 8.........Windy City Classic......................................... 1,071.200..................................... 3/25/07 9.........Capital City Collegiate Classic........................ 1,058.700..................................... 12/2/07 10.......Central Missouri Women’s Invitational........ 1,052.000....................................... 3/3/13
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
18 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
University of Nebraska Board of Regents The Board of Regents consists of eight voting members elected by district for six-year terms, and four non-voting student Regents, one from each campus, who serve during their tenure as student body president. The board supervises the general operations of the university, and the control and direction of all expenditures. The board also includes a corporation secretary who manages all records including agendas, minutes, notices, policies and bylaws. Those documents can be found on the web at nebraska.edu/board/. The board meets regularly, primarily in Lincoln but also in Omaha and greater Nebraska. Persons wishing to provide information to the board or to appear before it should contact: Corporation Secretary, University of Nebraska, Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege, Lincoln, NE 68583.
James Linder, M.D. Interim President, University of Nebraska
Timothy Clare Lincoln
Hal Daub Omaha
Howard Hawks Omaha
Bob Phares North Platte
Jim Pillen Columbus
Robert Schafer Beatrice
Kent Schroeder, J.D. Kearney
Bob Whitehouse Omaha
Krupa Savalia Nebraska-Medical Center
Connor Schulte Nebraska-Kearney
Kevin Knudson Nebraska-Lincoln
Jordan Koch Nebraska-Omaha
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
HUskers.com | 19
Josephine Potuto
Faculty Athletics representative | 18th year | Rutgers Douglass (1967)
nebraska’s faculty reprsentatives 1931-1946 T.J. Thompson 1947-1958 Earl Fullbrook 1959-1964 Charles S. Miller 1965-1968 Merk Hobson 1969-1970 John R. Davis 1971-1982 Keith L. Broman 1982-1997 James O’Hanlon 1997-present Josephine Potuto
Josephine (Jo) R. Potuto, the Richard H. Larson Professor of Constitutional Law, has been Nebraska’s faculty representative (FAR) at the NCAA and conference level since May 15, 1997. In 2002, Potuto was named Outstanding Faculty Athletics Representative by the All-American Football Foundation. From 2008-09 to 2011-12 she was president of the 1A FAR (FARs from FBS institutions). Among her NCAA positions, Potuto spent nine years (the maximum) on the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions (chair her last two years) and currently substitutes when a member cannot serve. She was one of three Big 12 Conference representatives on the NCAA Division I Management Council, served on the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championship Committee, and currently serves on an NCAA-wide (all divisions) committee to advise NCAA staff on student-athlete issues and educational programming for coaches, staff and student-athletes. A sports law expert, Potuto regularly lectures and consults on sports issues in general and NCAA processes in particular. She is an expert witness in litigation involving sports issues. She testified before the House Subcommittee on the Constitution regarding due process in NCAA infractions hearings. In the past year she has appeared in media reports in the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, CBSSports.com, and the Chronicle of Higher Education, among others. She has presented to the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, the Texas Commission of Higher Education, NCAA regional conferences, law conferences and law firms, NACDA, and to universities and law colleges, including the Universities of Istanbul, Washington, Maryland, Oklahoma, Santa Clara, Baltimore and Mississippi. Potuto is a past adviser to the Uniform Law Commissioners Committee to draft a sports agent
statute, has drafted rules governing search and seizure and hearings for the Nebraska Racing Commission, and also has written on issues of gender equity in college athletics. She has authored numerous articles on sports law issues. She just completed an article on student-athlete use of their names/likenesses with an econometrician and tax professor. Potuto delivered the 2012 Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture. She serves on the senate’s intercollegiate athletics committee. She is a past member of the UNL academic senate and also served on Nebraska’s NCAA site certification steering committee. Potuto teaches constitutional law, procedure, federal jurisdiction, and sports law. She has been a visiting professor of law at the University of Arizona, Rutgers University, the Cardozo College of Law at New York’s Yeshiva University, the University of Oregon, the University of North Carolina, and Seton Hall University. She has worked as an assistant prosecutor in both the Essex and Morris County (N.J.) prosecutor’s offices. Potuto was project director and a drafter of the Uniform Law Commissioners Sentencing and Corrections Act, as well as the drafter for the Nebraska Supreme Court Committee to Draft Criminal Jury Instructions. She is the author of three books. She was elected to membership in the American Law Institute, the Nebraska State Bar Foundation, and the Douglass Society. Potuto earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Rutgers’ Douglass College, and her master’s degree in English literature at Seton Hall. She earned her juris doctorate at the Rutgers Law College. She is a member of the bars of Nebraska and New Jersey and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for Nebraska and New Jersey.
Harvey Perlman
Chancellor | 14th year | Nebraska (1963)
Harvey Perlman was named the 19th Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on April 1, 2001. He had served as Interim Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln since July 16, 2000. A former dean of the University of Nebraska College of Law (1983-98), Perlman has also served as interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNL (1995-96). A Nebraska native, Perlman was raised in York, and earned a bachelor of arts in history and a juris doctorate from the University of Nebraska. During his law school years, he was editor in chief of the Nebraska Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif, a law honors society. He joined the NU law faculty in 1967 after spending a year as a Bigelow Teaching Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School. He served on the Nebraska law faculty until 1974 when he joined the faculty at the University of Virginia Law School. He returned to
Nebraska in 1983 when he accepted the deanship of the Nebraska Law College, a post he held until 1998 when he returned to the professoriate. He has also served as a visiting professor at Florida State University College of Law, the University of Puget Sound School of Law and the University of Iowa College of Law. In 2011, Perlman was named an Honorary University Professor of Xi’an Jiaotong University, in Xi’an, China. This rare lifetime appointment entitles Perlman to privileges at the university, with which UNL has many institutional ties. Perlman also will occasionally lecture and teach at Xi’an Jiaotong University. The title is the highest honor the university awards to a foreign scholar, and recognizes Perlman as an accomplished scholar or professional of important international reputation. The award also recognizes Perlman for his significant efforts in globalizing UNL and Xi’an Jiaotong University through joint research and partnership degree programs. His area of legal expertise lies in torts and intellectual property. He is a member of the Nebraska State and American Bar Associations and is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Association. Perlman is co-author of “Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition” (5th edition, 1998) and co-reporter for the American Law Institute’s “Restatement of Unfair Competition” (1994). He serves on the Council of the American Law Institute, a leading national law reform organization and as one of Nebraska’s Commissioners of Uniform State Laws. He previously served as a member of the NCAA Board of Directors and is past chair of the Bowl Championship Series Presidential Oversight Committee. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation. He received the George Turner Award from the Nebraska State Bar Association for contributions to the legal profession and the Roger T. Larson Community Builder Award from the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
Perlman and his wife, Susan, an NU alumna, are the parents of two daughters. Anne, who earned degrees from UNL and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, practices medicine in Lincoln and is married to UNL alumnus David Spinar; they have three children; Will, Ava, and Marco, Husker fans all. Daughter Amie, who received bachelors and juris doctorate degrees from UNL, is a Nebraska assistant attorney general and is married to UNL alumnus Ron Larson; they are the parents of Caleb and Finn.
nebraska’s chancellors 1871-1876 1876-1882 1884-1889 1891-1895 1895-1899 1900-1908 1908-1927 1927-1938 1938-1946 1947-1953 1953-1954 1954-1968 1968-1971 1972-1975 1975-1976 1976-1980 1980-1981 1981-1991 1991-1991 1991-1995 1995-1996 1996-2000 2000-present
Allen R. Benton Edmund B. Farfield Irvin J. Manatt James H. Canfield George E. MacLean E. Benjamin Andrews Samuel Avery E.A. Burnett Chauncey S. Boucher R.G. Gustavson John K. Selleck Clifford Hardin Joseph Soshnik James H. Zumberge Adam C. Breckenridge Roy A. Young Robert H. Rutford Martin A. Massengale Jack Goebel Graham B. Spanier Joan R. Leitzel James Moeser Harvey S. Perlman
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
20 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
Shawn Eichorst
Director of Athletics | second Year | Wisconsin-whitewater (1990)
Administrative Excellence • Nebraska, Director of Athletics (2013) • Miami, Director of Athletics (2011-12) • Wisconsin, Deputy Athletic Director (2009-11) • Wisconsin, Executive Associate Athletic Director (2007-09) • Wisconsin, Senior Associate Athletic Director (2006-07) • South Carolina, Interim Athletic Director (2005-06) • South Carolina, Senior Associate Athletic Director (2004-05) • Wisconsin-Whitewater, Athletic Director (1999-2003) • Marquette University National Sports Law Institute Board of Advisors educational ledger • Wisconsin-Whitewater, 1990 (Bachelor’s Degree, Business) • Marquette, 1995 (Juris Doctorate) • Assistant Adjunct Professor of Law (Marquette) Shawn Eichorst was named Nebraska’s 14th Director of Athletics on Oct. 4, 2012, by Chancellor Harvey Perlman. Eichorst leads a tradition-rich athletic program of 24 varsity intercollegiate teams, 600-plus student-athletes and more than 275 full-time employees. Nebraska’s reputation as a world-class academic institution and its stature as one of the strongest and most balanced athletic departments in collegiate athletics supports Eichorst’s top priority, which is to ensure all Husker student-athletes have the necessary support to succeed in academics, athletics and life. Since taking over for the legendary Tom Osborne as Director of Athletics on Jan. 3, 2013, Eichorst has immersed himself in Nebraska’s rich traditions. He has made nearly 300 public appearances, including nearly 200 speaking engagements in Nebraska. He serves on the Chancellor’s Senior Administrative Team and regularly meets with campus administrators and deans. Eichorst’s monthly radio show and Connecting on Campus column promote the university’s academic and athletic successes, along with the academic and community achievements of Husker student-athletes. Eichorst was also the first Director of Athletics to visit the Big Ten-based Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) at its Champaign, Ill., headquarters. The CIC is a highly successful academic-based consortium of 15 schools, including all 14 in the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska is leading the Big Ten and the CIC in several areas, including the Digital Humanities and head injury research. Under Eichorst’s watch, Nebraska extended its nationleading total of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans to 314, including seven in 2013-14. NU also increased its nationleading total to 17 NCAA Top Ten Award winners, as Mary Weatherholt (women’s tennis) earned the honor in 2014. A total of 279 Huskers were honored at the Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet, and 208 Husker student-athletes
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2013-14. In 2013-14, NU was one of two NCAA institutions – and the first in Big Ten history – to qualify for a football bowl game and advance to NCAA postseason in the major team sports of volleyball, soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball. Nebraska was the only institution to win a postseason game in six of those seven sports. The Nebraska football team completed its sixth straight nine-win season, while playing in its third consecutive New Year’s Day bowl game, a win over Georgia. The volleyball team advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in its first season at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Husker soccer team qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, and advanced to the second round after winning Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles. The women’s basketball team captured Nebraska’s first-ever conference tournament title while earning an NCAA Tournament win for the second straight year. The Huskers also hosted an NCAA Regional at Pinnacle Bank Arena – the first time since 1993 that NCAA Tournament basketball came to Lincoln. The men’s basketball team earned Nebraska’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1998, following a top-four Big Ten finish. The men’s and women’s basketball teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the same season for the first time since 1998. The bowling team earned an NCAA runner-up finish, and the rifle team finished fifth at the NCAA Championships. The women’s gymnastics program made the NCAA Super Six and earned a share of the Big Ten title. The men’s gymnastics team added an eighth-place NCAA finish, while the wrestling team claimed 11th at nationals - its top showing at the NCAA Championships since 2009. The softball team shared the Big Ten regular-season title and advanced to an NCAA Super Regional for the second straight season. The baseball team earned its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2008. The men’s track and field team finished 12th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, after finishing 17th at the indoor meet. The women added a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Huskers produced 42 All-Americans who won 51 awards, including 29 first-team honors - NU’s best totals in more than a decade. Nebraska ranked in the top 20 nationally in attendance in football (90,933, 9th), volleyball (8,175, 1st), men’s basketball (15,419, 13th), women’s basketball (6,161, 11th), baseball (3,241, 15th) and softball (963) in 2013-14. NU’s football, men’s basketball and volleyball attendances were school records, and the Huskers extended NCAArecord home sellout streaks in both football (333) and volleyball (200). Nebraska is focusing on improving the game-day atmosphere at every venue, including a $12.3 million upgrade of its wireless networks in and around Memorial Stadium in 2014. It is the largest wireless network system installation at a college stadium in history. The upgrade includes a new sound system, IPTV system installation and innovative smartphone applications. In the summer of 2013, Memorial Stadium expansion increased capacity while adding the innovative Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory (NAPL) inside East Stadium next to the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior (CB3). The men’s and women’s basketball teams became the primary tenants at Pinnacle Bank Arena, and the renovated Devaney Center became the home of the Husker volleyball, wrestling and men’s and women’s gymnastics programs. The next major facility project is a world-class, $20.4 million Nebraska Soccer and Tennis Complex, located just north of the Devaney Center and Innovation Campus. When completed in 2015, the facilities will rank among the best in the Big Ten. Eichorst came to NU after serving as Miami Director of Athletics in 2011 and 2012. He helped grow the academic reputation of an already sterling program with NCAA Top 10 recognition in Academic Progress Rates (APR) for five programs – football, baseball, men’s diving, women’s cross country and women’s golf. Miami’s Hurricane Club grew to more than 5,000 nationwide. A total of $19 million in
student-athlete support was generated in 2011-12, and $14.2 million in capital gifts was raised for the Center for Athletic Excellence. Eichorst hired legendary men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga, and the Hurricanes advanced to the NIT second round. The women’s basketball program posted the highest national ranking in school history (No. 5) and advanced to the NCAA second round. The women’s tennis team advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the fourth straight season, and the baseball team made its 40th consecutive NCAA appearance. The women’s soccer team posted the first NCAA Tournament win in history, and the volleyball team made its third straight NCAA Tournament trip. Before heading to Miami, Eichorst was the Deputy Athletics Director at Wisconsin from 2009 to 2011. He was the Chief Operating Officer and oversaw the day-to-day operations (23 intercollegiate programs, 850 studentathletes, 320 full-time employees) under Director of Athletics and former Husker Barry Alvarez. Eichorst was involved in the design and planning of a new ice hockey and swimming facility, and the Student-Athlete Performance Center at Camp Randall Stadium. At South Carolina, Eichorst oversaw daily operations of the department and supervised Lou Holtz’s and Steve Spurrier’s football and Ray Tanner’s baseball programs. The football team was bowl-eligible each season, and the baseball team competed in the 2004 College World Series. From 1999 to 2003, Eichorst served as the Director of Athletics at Wisconsin-Whitewater, which produced four top 10 percent NACDA Directors Cup finishes, one NCAA team title, two NCAA runner-up finishes and five individual national champions. The program also featured 11 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections, seven NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners and 74 All-Americans. A native of Lone Rock, Wis., Eichorst was an all-conference defensive back, three-time letterwinner and 1990 football team captain for Wisconsin-Whitewater. He graduated magna cum laude in business from UW-Whitewater in 1990 and earned a law degree from Marquette in 1995. He practiced law in Milwaukee until 1999. He is a past member of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee and the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors. He previously served as an assistant adjunct professor of law at Marquette Law School, where he taught classes in sports law. He serves on the Marquette University National Sports Law Institute Board of Advisors. In 2006, Marquette awarded Eichorst the Sports Law Alumnus of the Year award. He also is a graduate of the Sports Management Institute and serves on its Executive Committee. Eichorst and his wife Kristin have three sons: Jack, Joseph and Bennett.
Shawn and Kristin Eichorst, with their sons (from left), Bennett, Joseph and Jack.
HUskers.com | 21
Bob Burton
Senior Associate Athletic Director | 17th Year | Nebraska (1985)
Administrative Experience • Nebraska, Senior Associate Athletic Director, (1998-Present) • Texas Tech, Associate Athletic Director (1997-98) • OSU, Assistant Athletic Director (1993-97) • NCAA (1989-93) Education Ledger • B.A. in finance, Nebraska (1985) • J.D., Nebraska College of Law (1989)
Senior Associate Athletic Director Bob Burton is in his 17th season with the Nebraska athletic department, since joining NU’s executive team in 1998. Burton reports to the Director of Athletics and serves on Nebraska’s senior management team. He assists in NU’s financial and facilities master plans, providing supervision to the Athletic Business Office, Concessions, Capital Planning and Construction and Information Technology/Computing Service areas. He also oversees complimentary ticket and gift-in-kind approvals and reconciliation. Burton, who serves on the Big Ten Sports Management Council, is the Athletic Department’s contract administrator, including all game/event agreements, and serves as the department’s liaison to the NU General Counsel Office. He also plays a major role in NU’s risk management program, while overseeing the operations of Nebraska’s camps and clinics. Burton acts as the department’s liaison to Haymarket Park. Working with the Lincoln Saltdogs, he helps set the budget for field and stadium operation costs and create strategic plans for the facility. Burton is Nebraska’s sport administrator for wrestling, men’s and women’s track and field and cross country and bowling. Burton joined the athletic department in 1998 as an associate athletic director for compliance/sports administration. He served in that role until 2007, ensuring that the conduct and operations of Nebraska’s athletic teams were in compliance with NCAA, Big 12 and institutional rules and regulations. He also performed as the primary sports administrator for many of Nebraska’s teams.
Burton filled a similar position at Oklahoma State as the assistant athletic director for sports administration and compliance from 1993 to 1997. He oversaw OSU’s Olympic sports programs as well as the training and strength and conditioning, wrestling, men’s and women’s track and field and men’s and women’s tennis programs. Burton came to Nebraska from Texas Tech, where he served as an associate athletic director for compliance for one year. While at Texas Tech, Burton helped complete the NCAA investigation into the Red Raider athletic department and analyzed the entire compliance system at the institution. He also helped identify and implement financial aid and eligibility systems, including changes in personnel and restructuring of the compliance department. Burton, who was a member of the NCAA Division I women’s soccer committee for three years and was a member of the NCAA Division I bowling committee, served as a legislative administrator for the NCAA from 1989 to 1993. At the NCAA, he was involved in the development of legislation, interpretation of regulations and reviewed legal issues related to the application of the association’s regulations. He served as an NCAA liaison to committees and conducted comprehensive education to several intercollegiate athletic conferences. He has served on the National Association of Athletic Compliance Coordinators Executive Committee and the subcommittee of Big 12 Directors of Compliance. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Nebraska in 1985 and his juris doctorate from the Nebraska College of Law in 1989. A native of Falls City, Neb., Burton and his wife, Krista, have a daughter, Elly, and sons Robert Falk, McClain John and Abram Lawslo.
Pat Logsdon
SENior Associate A.D./SWA | 35th Year | Nebraska (1989)
A member of the Nebraska Athletic Department since 1979, Pat Logsdon was promoted to senior associate athletic director in 2013. She has served as Nebraska’s senior woman administrator since 2008. Logsdon’s duties include oversight on all administrative issues and operational functions of the Athletic Director’s office; oversight in the areas of administration, athletic medicine, nutrition and the athletic training table, softball, women’s gymnastics and rifle; developing and implementing administrative policies and procedures, assisting with strategic planning, reviewing and maintaining game and coaching contracts and oversight of the administrative budget.
Previously, Logsdon spent six seasons as NU’s director of football operations, the first female in Division I to serve in that capacity. She handled organization of all recruiting functions, supervised compliance activities and coordinated all football administrative operations, including travel and practice operations. Logsdon served three years as assistant to the director of football operations and 14 seasons as the football recruiting secretary. Logsdon received a bachelor’s degree in education from Nebraska.
Administrative Experience • Senior Woman Administrator (2008-Present) • Senior Assoc. A.D. for Administration (2013-Present) • Associate A.D. for Administration (2007-13) • Assistant A.D. for Administration (2005-07) • Director of Athletic Administration (2003-05) • Director of Football Operations (1996-03)
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
22 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
BIG TEN CONTINUES TO EXPAND NATIONAL REACH
On July 1, 2011, the University of Nebraska became an official member of the Big Ten Conference, increasing the Big Ten’s membership to 12 institutions for the first time in conference history. The addition of Nebraska marked the Big Ten’s first expansion since Penn State joined the conference in June of 1990. The nation’s oldest conference continued to grow with the addition of Maryland and Rutgers in the summer of 2014. The Big Ten Conference is a union of 14 world-class academic institutions – who share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. The conference’s 100-plus years of history, strong tradition of competitive intercollegiate athletic programs, vast and passionate alumni base, and consistent leadership in innovations position the Big Ten and its entire community firmly on the Big Stage. The Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness in all aspects of its student-athletes’ lives, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that each individual has the opportunity to live a Big Life.
Big Ten Conference Highlights • Big Ten universities provide approximately $200 million in direct financial aid to nearly 9,500 student-athletes on 350 teams across 42 sports. • The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men 14 for women, including the debut of lacrosse this academic year. • Over the past 10 years, current Big Ten institutions have won national championships in 18 sports. • The Big Ten leads the nation in total student-athletes and participation opportunities, while sponsoring more official sports than all conferences other than the Ivy League. • Nearly 1,400 Big Ten student-athletes and coaches have participated in the Olympics, winning at least 480 medals, including nearly 250 gold. • Big Ten fans are some of the nation’s most supportive, with nearly 10 million patrons attending conference home contests for football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball during 2013-14. During 2013-14, the Big Ten led the nation in men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, hockey and wrestling attendance, while ranking second nationally in football and women’s basketball attendance. • The Big Ten leads all conferences with more than 5.7 million living alumni and 520,000 students.
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Big Ten Bowling Facts
• Nebraska is the only Big Ten team with an NCAA bowling program. •Nebraska has won nine national championships, four of which were in the NCAA: 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2013. •Michigan State, Purdue, Illinois, Ohio State and Indiana have women’s intramural bowling teams. •The 2015 NCAA Championships will be held at Tropicana Lanes in St. Louis, Mo. The Central Missouri and St. Louis Sports Commission will play host to the event April 9-11. Nebraska became the first Big Ten team to win an NCAA Championship after claiming its fourth NCAA title and ninth national championship overall with a victory at Super Bowl Lanes in Canton, Mich., in 2013. The Huskers made their 11th straight trip to the NCAA Championships in 2014. The 2015 season will mark the fourth consecutive year that the NCAA Championships have been held in the Big Ten region, as Freeway Lanes in Cleveland, Ohio played host to the national tournament in 2012 and 2014.
NEBRASKA
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THIS IS
The Nebraska Bowling Facility in the East Campus Union is home to the Nebraska bowling team. The six-lane facility provides the Huskers with a tournament-quality practice facility and is one of the best in the nation. The bowling team also enjoys Husker Power, with weight rooms in Memorial Stadium, the NU Coliseum and the Hendricks Training Complex. Nebraska’s excellent practice facilities have played an integral role in the Huskers capturing four national team championships over the past 11 seasons. The Huskers also played host to the 2008 NCAA Championships at Thunder Alley in Omaha. Overall, the Nebraska women’s bowling team has claimed nine national titles (four NCAA, five IBC) under Coach Bill Straub since 1990, including the 2013 NCAA crown.
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CHAMPIONSHIP FACILITIES
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Nebraska's top facilities are not limited to the bowling program. Nearly every Husker sport enjoys a venue that ranks among the nation's best. Nebraska provides its studentathletes top-notch game-day and practice atmospheres in every sport. The nationally prominent Nebraska volleyball team moved into the Devaney Center for the first time in 2013, after the building received a $20 million renovation. The baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling programs have all benefitted from new practice facilities within the last three seasons. Top: Memorial Stadium entered 2014 with a nation-leading 333 consecutive sellouts. The stadium expanded by more than 5,000 seats in 2013, while adding an innovative academic/ athletic research wing in the East Stadium. The Osborne Athletic Complex (bottom left) provides Nebraska student-athletes with topnotch training facilities. The main entrance to the Osborne Athletic Complex and Traditions Lobby features an impressive waterfall and a wall that honors those who contributed to the massive project, as well as memorabilia and trophies from all of Nebraska’s bowl games. Middle: Nebraska’s teams compete in some of the nation’s finest facilities in front of large crowds. The softball, wrestling and track and field programs enjoy some of the best practice and competition-day atmospheres in the country. The Nebraska soccer and tennis programs will benefit from new homes in 2014-15. Bottom right: Hawks Field at Haymarket Park provides the Huskers with the finest baseball stadium in the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska shares its home ballpark with the Lincoln Saltdogs, an independent minor league team. The home of Nebraska softball, Bowlin Stadium, is right next to Haymarket Park and both the baseball and softball programs benefit from the new Alex Gordon Training Complex.
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ACADEMIC SUCCESS
University of Nebraska student-athletes produced another outstanding year in competition, in the classroom and in the community, continuing NU’s tradition of success in 2013-14. The Huskers increased their nation-leading total of all-time CoSIDA Academic All-Americans to 314 with a Big Ten-best seven academic All-Americans across all sports, while also claiming a Big Ten-leading five NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships in 2013-14. Nebraska’s seven CoSIDA Academic All-Americans ranked among the highest totals in the nation across all divisions. The Huskers maintained their lead of 76 all-time CoSIDA Academic All-Americans over national No. 2 Notre Dame. The only school in the nation with 300 academic All-Americans, Nebraska is one of just three schools across all divisions with 200 or more, joining Notre Dame and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). NU leads the nation in CoSIDA Academic All-Americans since 2000 with 124, extending its nation-leading streak to 43 consecutive years with at least one academic All-American. The Huskers also increased their nation-leading total of NCAA Top Ten Award winners to 17, as former women’s tennis All-American Mary Weatherholt was honored during the 2013-14 academic year. Nebraska also ranks among the nation’s best in the total of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners, including five in 2013-14. Spencer Long (Football), Eric Schryver (Men’s Gymnastics), Emily Wong (Women’s Gymnastics), Sunny Russell (Rifle) and Anne Martin (Track & Field) all claimed the prestigious national awards. A total of 675 awards were issued for the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Fall (354) and Spring (321) Honor Roll, recognizing Husker student-athletes who produced a 3.0 GPA or better during a semester. Among that group, Huskers produced 87 perfect 4.0 GPA semesters. A total of 62 Nebraska student-athletes also were honored as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for posting 3.7 grade-point averages or better and All Sports as of August 2014 lettering in their respective sports in 2013-14. Nebraska’s CoSIDA Academic AllAmerica success continues to set the standard for the approximately 1,400 member institutions. The Husker football team leads all individual sport programs in the nation with 107 all-time CoSIDA Academic All-America awards, including 2013 first-team honoree Spencer Long and second-team selections Jake Long and C.J. Zimmerer. Spencer Long added a prestigious Nationall Football Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship worth $18,000, along with prestigious NCAA Postgraduate ($7,500) and Big Ten Wayne Duke Postgraduate ($10,000) scholarships before being chosen in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Zimmerer added a spot on the AFCA Good Works Team and claimed Nebraska’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for his extensive community involvement. The Nebraska men’s and women’s track and field program added three academic AllAmericans, including first-teamers Levi Gipson and Anne Martin, along with secondteam pick Cody Rush. Martin and John Welk swept the NCAA Elite 89 awards for the Huskers as the student-athletes with the top grade-point averages competing at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the second consecutive season. Nebraska’s 38 combined CoSIDA Academic All-America honors since 2002 for the men’s and women’s track and field program lead the nation. Emily Wong, an 11-time All-American in competition for the Nebraska women’s gymnastics team, added a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America award to cap one of the greatest all-around careers for a student-athlete in Husker history. A two-time academic All-American, Wong was named the winner of the 2014 AAI Award presented to the nation's top collegiate gymnast. The Honda Award finalist and Big Ten Gymnast of the Year earned prestigious NCAA Postgraduate ($7,500) and Big Ten Wayne Duke Postgraduate ($10,000) scholarships. Her achievements earned her Nebraska’s Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award and the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Men’s track and field student-athlete Seth Wiedel was Nebraska’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Medal of Honor winner.
Academic All-Americans 314 238 220 186
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Nebraska’s 2013-14 Academic Highlights
• 314 All-Time CoSIDA Academic All-Americans across all sports (leads nation) 107 Football Academic All-Americans (leads all sports, all time) 37 Volleyball Academic All-Americans (leads all women’s sports, all time) 29 Softball Academic All-Americans (No. 2 among all women’s sports, all time) 38 Men’s & Women’s Track & Field Academic All-Americans (leads nation since 2002) • Seven CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (4 first-team, 3 second-team) First-Team: Spencer Long (Football), Emily Wong (Women's Gymnastics), Levi Gipson (Men's Track & Field), Anne Martin (Women's Track & Field) Second-Team: Jake Long (Football), C.J. Zimmerer (Football), Cody Rush (Men's Track & Field) • Five NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Winners ($7,500) Spencer Long (Football), Eric Schryver (Men's Gymnastics), Emily Wong (Women's Gymnastics), Sunny Russell (Rifle), Anne Martin (Track & Field) • Two Big Ten Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship Winners ($10,000) Spencer Long (Football), Emily Wong (Women's Gymnastics) • Two Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Winners ($7,500) Brandon Chapek (Football), Sunny Russell (Rifle) • Big Ten Medal of Honor Winners Seth Wiedel (Men’s Track & Field, Emily Wong (Women’s Gymnastics) • Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Winners C.J. Zimmerer (Football), Sunny Russell (Rifle) • 208 Academic All-Big Ten Selections Across All Sports (3.0 GPA) • 675 Student-Athletes on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Fall and Spring Honor Rolls (3.0 GPA or above) • 62 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars (3.7 GPA and Letterwinner) • 123 Student-Athletes Earned Degrees from August 2013 through May 2014 (August 2013-14; December 2013-52; May 2014-57) • Male Student-Athlete of the Year - Seth Wiedel, Men’s Track & Field (Accounting) • Female Student-Athlete of the Year - Emily Wong, Women’s Gymnastics (Nutrition Science) • Men’s Herman Award Winner - Men’s Golf (3.250 GPA in 2013) • Women’s Herman Award Winner - Women’s Tennis (3.485 GPA in 2013) • Life Skills Team Award Winners - Wrestling, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Top Left: Nebraska Student-Athletes of the Year Emily Wong (left) of the women’s gymnastics team and Seth Wiedel (right) from the Husker men’s track and field team earned Big Ten Medals of Honor in 2014. Wong was one of the most decorated women’s gymnasts in school history, capturing 11 All-America awards and the AAI Award, which is presented to the nation’s top women’s gymnastics student-athlete. Bottom Left: Tan Yan Ling earned her bachelor’s degree from Nebraska in May of 2014. The two-time academic All-Big Ten selection from Singapore was a business administration and management major at Nebraska. She was a member of the inaugural Tom Osborne Citizenship Team for her commitment to Nebraska’s Life Skills program. She was also key player in NU’s run to the 2013 NCAA title. Top: A two-time NTCA All-American, Valerie Calberry was a leader for the Huskers throughout her distinguished career at Nebraska. After helping Nebraska to the 2009 NCAA team title as a freshman, she went on to claim two academic all-conference selections. Calberry earned her bachelor’s degree from Nebraska in December of 2012 after majoring in nutrition, exercise and health science. Bottom: All-American Kristina Mickelson capped a stellar senior season with a pair of NCAA team championships and an undergraduate degree as a Husker. The Bellevue, Neb., native led the 2013 Huskers to the NCAA team title before capturing the X-Bowling Intercollegiate Singles Championship later in the spring at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln. A criminal justice and criminology/psychology major at Nebraska, Mickelson was also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. She posed with Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst at a special reception for student-athlete graduates following UNL’s commencement exercises in May of 2013.
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THE NEBRASKA ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
From the day student-athletes decide the University of Nebraska is the right place to be, the athletic academic counseling unit provides personal and academic support to ensure that student-athletes will get the most out of their years as Huskers. Featuring one of the most innovative and comprehensive academic support systems in the country, Nebraska is dedicated to helping its student-athletes become outstanding leaders in their chosen fields. The academic support team is comprised of 13 full-time staff members and a tutorial staff of approximately 75 tutors addressing all subject areas.
Academic Counseling
Eight academic counselors and three assistant academic counselors are in place to monitor daily academic progress, receive consistent course feedback, assist with the advising/registration process and monitor continuing eligibility and progress toward graduation. Essentially, academic counselors assist student-athletes in navigating the University of Nebraska system.
Tutorial Support
A tremendous resource for all academic abilities, unlimited tutorial support is available from day one up to college graduation. Subject and mentor tutors help provide academic support and study strategies to be successful. Supplemental Instruction, a sub-component of the tutorial program, provides targeted group review sessions to help ease the transition to college academics while improving study strategies and building academic self-esteem.
Study Hall
Nebraska’s study hall program is housed in the D.J. Sokol Enrichment Center within the Dick and Peg Herman Family Student Life Complex. Student-athletes attend a supervised, flex-time study hall that features day, evening and weekend hours. Each student-athlete is required to complete a specific number of study hours each week as determined by their academic counselor and/or coach. In addition, weekly study hall reports are provided to the coaching staff. Additional performance-based or tutor-based study hall may also be determined by the academic counselor.
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Mentoring
Many student-athletes meet with a mentor on a weekly basis to assist in making a smooth transition from high school to college. Mentors collect syllabi, gather and report academic progress information and teach academic success strategies.
Educational Assessments
Assessments are administered upon the request of the student-athlete, academic counselor, or coach to determine student strengths and areas for improvement. Results allow academic counselors to develop a personalized academic support program and to determine if more in-depth testing is warranted. When additional assessments are necessary, referrals are made to a consulting psychologist who conducts the assessments. If it is determined that a student-athlete has a learning disability, appropriate accommodations are made through the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.
Student-Athlete Orientation
The academic staff coordinates New Student-Athlete Orientation to help newcomers adjust to the multiple demands of being a college student-athlete. Presentations are made by academic counselors, compliance officials, NU faculty and administrators, business/community professionals and student-athletes.
Personal Counseling
Student-athletes will find a supportive and caring environment at Nebraska. Transitional issues, stress management, time management, academic focus and problem resolution are all addressed in a proactive manner throughout the year. If necessary, counseling referrals are also made to designated practitioners.
Computer Resources
Student-athletes enjoy a new state-of-the art computer lab and technology center with 58 computers and professional supervision. Laptops are also available during team travel. Student-athletes have the benefit of ongoing education and assistance from a full-time computer technician.
HUskers.com | 29 Nebraska’s Dick and Peg Herman Family Student Life Complex (left page) opened after receiving an $8.7 million expansion and renovation in 2010. The complex tripled the size of NU’s previous academic support area for student-athletes. The Nebraska Life Skills program helps Husker student-athletes experience the benefits of service to others while learning to expand their own leadership skills. In 2014, women’s bowler Amanda Burau (left) and wrestler Caleb Kolb earned two of Nebraska’s four Heart & Soul awards as the most committed Huskers across all sports to NU’s award-winning Life Skills program. Fellow bowler Andrea Ruiz (below) added a prestigious Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award in 2014. The awards were presented by Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst. Burau was a HERO Leadership Award recipient in 2013.
NEBRASKA LIFE SKILLS - SERVING LEADERS The Nebraska Life Skills program is committed to providing proactive education, resources and support throughout college and beyond, best preparing Husker student-athletes for life after sports. Services foster transition, retention, responsible decision-making, leadership, volunteerism and career development. Nebraska has long been considered a pioneer in life skills support and programming. In 1998, Nebraska was one of five Division I schools nationally to win the prestigious Program of Excellence Award recognizing a strong commitment to total person development. In 2005, Keith Zimmer, Associate A.D. for Life Skills, was the recipient of the Dr. Gene Hooks Award recognizing him as the top life skills administrator in the country.
Life Skills Components
Proactive Education Husker Life Seminar – All incoming student-athletes complete a 13-week fall semester seminar addressing a variety of life skills topics ranging from leadership to money to relationships and study skills. Team Workshops – Campus and community experts facilitate team-specific life skills education workshops. Student-Athlete Assemblies – Meetings featuring remarks from nationally recognized life skills trainers. Personalized Support/Individual Sessions Resume Development – Each student-athlete is assigned a Life Skills counselor who assists in the creation of a personalized resume for the student-athlete. Periodic follow-up meetings will take place through graduation to ensure a wellrounded college experience and marketability to realize career goals. Community Outreach Nebraska student-athletes combine to impact over 100,000 people statewide on an annual basis. Team Service Requirement – Each team participates in a minimum of two service projects per year. School Outreach – Individuals participate in numerous school outreach campaigns in both classroom and assembly settings. Hospital Visits – Huskers are frequent hospital visitors providing cheer and encouragement to a variety of patients. Miscellaneous Outreach – Outreach requests are received daily from the entire state requesting involvement from Husker student-athletes. Mentoring Programs – Typically requires one hour of service per week serving as a youth mentor.
Leadership/Citizenship Life Skills promotes leadership development and provides recognition opportunities for extraordinary citizenship. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee – Elected team representatives from each of the 24 sports serve as the “voice” of the entire student-athlete population discussing student-athlete welfare, legislation and service events. HERO Leadership Award – Individual recognition to Huskers who have consistently gone above and beyond serving as an exemplary role-model. Heart and Soul Award – Presented annually to the top senior studentathlete leaders for extraordinary service throughout their college careers. Tom Osborne Citizenship Team – Individual recognition to Huskers across all sports who have completed at least six service projects during the academic year. Nebraska Football Uplifting Athletes - A recognized student organization initiated in 2012, Nebraska football players and UNL student leaders collaborate to raise funds and awareness for those with rare diseases. Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead was named the 2012 recipient of the National Rare Disease Champion Award and C.J. Zimmerer won the award in 2014. Life Skills Award of Excellence – Recognizes team services and leadership with the top men's and women's programs being honored on an annual basis.
Career Commitment In addition to the creation of a personalized resume and game plan, the following career resources are available to every Husker. Student-Athlete Career Fair – Attended by approximately 25 companies. Networking Night – Former Husker student-athletes and other professionals thriving in their chosen career fields share valuable insights with sophomore student-athletes. Assessments – Online assessments to help individuals discover talents and match with a major and career. Practical Experience – Programs in place to facilitate shadowing and internship placements. Job Preparation – Expert advice on cover letter writing, interviewing skills and evaluating the job offer. Postgraduate Assistance Commitment to helping student-athletes pursue postgraduate plans and scholarships. Career Nights – Learn from the experts to gain valuable insight on timelines, application procedures, entrance requirements, personal essays and more. Scholarships – Seniors in their final season of athletic eligibility can apply for numerous postgraduate awards.
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LEADINGLEADING THE WAY THE WAY
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As one of the nation’s premier public institutions, the University of Nebraska is committed to undergraduate learning and world-class research. Quality instruction is emphasized in Nebraska’s 157 undergraduate majors, which are spread through nine undergraduate colleges. Nebraska, which officially joined the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2011, is a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, a consortium of Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago, which has generated unique opportunities for students and faculty by sharing expertise, leveraging resources and collaborating on programs. The University of Nebraska was chartered by the Nebraska Legislature in 1869 as the state’s public university and land-grant institution. Founded in Lincoln, the University of Nebraska was expanded in 1968 into a state educational system now comprising four campuses under the guidance of a Board of Regents and a central administration. To discover more about the University of Nebraska visit unl.edu. To learn more about Nebraska athletics, visit Huskers.com.
Large photo: The Nebraska Student Union is the meeting place on campus where students can spend a little down time between classes. It has study areas and a food court. Bottom left: Love Library is the main library at the University of Nebraska and sits on the southern edge of City Campus. Bottom middle: The Esther L. Kaufmann Center houses the Jeffery S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management. Bottom right: The new, 30,000-square foot Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center is the nation’s largest multicultural center attached to a student union.
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LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
The state capital of Nebraska, Lincoln is a growing city that features activities for citizens of all ages and interests. Lincoln is a scenic city that includes gardens, bike paths and entertainment. The Haymarket District is full of entertainment and dining options and is just blocks from the UNL Campus. The historic state capitol building provides the centerpiece of the downtown area, and famed “O” Street provides numerous options for nightlife and entertainment for UNL students.
One of the nation’s 75 largest cities, Lincoln features the advantages of an urban setting and is only minutes away from the scenic beauty and wide open spaces of America’s Heartland. Home to more than one-quarter of a million people and the third-largest city in the Big Ten Conference, living in Lincoln enables Nebraska student-athletes to enjoy the benefits of city life, while residing in a community that is widely regarded as one of the top places to live in the United States.
Lincoln's National Rankings Happiest U.S. City (LiveScience) Healthiest U.S. City (Center for Disease Control) Best Sport City (Sporting News) Lowest Unemployment Rate (Bureau of Labor) Best Cities for Families (Child Magazine) Modeled after the Power and Light District in Kansas City, the Railyard sits right across from the front entrance of the new Pinnacle Bank Arena, allowing fans to go to an event and then go out to the outdoor plaza. Some of the artists that have played or will play at Pinnacle Bank Arena since it opened in August of 2013 include: Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Michael Buble, Pink, Pearl Jam, Jason Aldean, Elton John, Miranda Lambert and Paul McCartney.
No. 1 Overall Wellbeing (Gallup) No. 1 Quality of Life (State Univ. of New York) No. 2 City in Quality of Life (Gallup) No. 7 Cleanest Air (CNN) No. 7 City for Business & Careers (Forbes) No. 8 Most Secure Places to Live (Sperling’s) Top 10 College Town (Relocate America)
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Prominent People with Nebraska Ties
Grover Cleveland Alexander, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher • Fred Astaire, dancer and actor • Max Baer, boxer • Marlon Brando, Academy Awardwinning actor • William Jennings Bryan, U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Representative, Democratic Party nominee for president 1896, 1900, and 1908 • Warren Buffett, investor; Forbes Magazine’s 2008 Richest Man in the World • Richard N. Cabela, entrepreneur, founder of Cabela’s sporting store • Johnny Carson, comedian • Joba Chamberlain, Major League Baseball pitcher, Detroit Tigers • Dick Cheney, 46th U.S. Vice-president • Brian Duensing, Major League Baseball pitcher, Minnesota Twins • Henry Fonda, Academy Award-winning actor • Bob Gibson, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals • Alex Gordon, Major League Baseball All-Star and Gold Glove winner, Kansas City Royals • Amy Heidemann, Karmin lead singer • Marg Helgenberger, actress • Peter Kiewit, contractor, investor and philanthropist • Jaime King, actress • Ted Kooser, Poet Laureate of the United States and Pulitzer Prize winner • Larry the Cable Guy, comedian • Malcolm X, civil rights leader • Nick Nolte, actor, producer • Edwin Perkins, inventor of Kool-Aid, philanthropist • Andy Roddick, tennis star, 2003 U.S. Open Champion • Gale Sayers, Football Hall of Fame running back, Chicago Bears • Elliott Smith, singer-songwriter • Hilary Swank, 2-time Academy Award-winning actress • Jack Sock, 2014 Wimbledon doubles champion • Gabrielle Union, actress • James Valentine, Maroon 5 guitarist • Tony Watson, Major League Baseball All-Star, Pittsburgh Pirates • Paula Zahn, Former News anchor for CNN
OMAHA Nebraska’s largest city, Omaha, is less than an hour’s drive
from Lincoln and has a population of nearly 800,000. Omaha is home to TD Ameritrade Park, the NCAA College World Series (left) and the world-renowned Henry Doorly Zoo (middle).
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NEBRASKA’S NATIONAL POWER Nebraska competed at the highest levels across the board in 2013-14, producing top-25 national finishes in 14 of its 24 varsity sports. Nebraska was one of only two NCAA Division I schools to advance to the NCAA Championships in the six major team sports of men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball, while also playing in a football bowl game. The Huskers won NCAA Tournament games in five of those sports, while also winning their bowl game, a feat no other school in the country matched in 2013-14. In addition to the success of Husker teams, Nebraska produced its most All-Americans in more than a decade with 42 student-athletes capturing national honors across all sports in 2013-14. Nebraska’s 42 All-Americans included 29 first-team award winners in their respective sports, led by 2014 NCAA 400-meter hurdles champion Miles Ukaoma. The Big Red’s AllAmericans came from 17 U.S. states, including eight from the Cornhusker State, and three foreign countries to claim a total of 51 All-America awards. Not only did the Huskers enjoy success across many fields of competition, Nebraska fans supported the Big Red in record numbers as the volleyball (1st), football (9th), women’s basketball (11th), men’s basketball (13th), baseball (15th) and softball programs all ranked among the nation’s top 20 in attendance. The football (333) and volleyball (200) also carried NCAA sellout streaks into their 2014 seasons. Coach Bo Pelini’s Nebraska football program notched its sixth consecutive nine-win season by defeating Georgia in the Gator Bowl. The Big Red closed the season with a 9-4 record and finished at No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Top 25. Coach Tim Miles claimed Big Ten Coachof-the-Year honors in his second season at Nebraska by leading the Huskers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. Coach Darin Erstad led the Nebraska baseball team to the NCAA Tournament in his third season at his alma mater. The former Major League All-Star and Gold Glove winner guided the Huskers to a 41-21 record and runner-up finishes in the Big Ten regular season and at the tournament held at TD Ameritrade Park. Coach John Cook’s traditionally powerful volleyball program marched to the NCAA Elite Eight and finished No. 7 nationally in the AVCA Top 25. The Huskers featured Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team AVCA All-America outside hitter Kelsey Robinson. Connie Yori claimed Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year honors for the second straight season while leading the women’s basketball program to its first conference tournament title. The Huskers advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round and finished No. 13 in the final AP rankings behind Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team WBCA All-America forward Jordan Hooper.
John Walker added Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year honors of his own for leading the Nebraska soccer program back to prominence. The Huskers swept the Big Ten regular-season and tournament crowns before advancing to the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament while finishing 13th in the final NSCAA Top 25. Jordan Jackson was named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, while Ari Romero captured Big Ten Defender-of-the-Year honors. Big Ten Coach of the Year Rhonda Revelle led the Husker softball team to an NCAA Super Regional for the second straight year after sharing the Big Ten regular-season title and finishing 17th in the final national rankings. The Huskers featured first-team All-America catcher Taylor Edwards and her twin sister, third-team All-America pitcher Tatum Edwards. The traditional national power Husker bowling team took second at the NCAA Championships with first-team All-American Lizabeth Kuhlkin leading the way for Coach Bill Straub’s team. Great America Rifle Conference Coach of the Year Stacy Underwood led the Huskers to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships with young All-Americans Lauren Phillips, Denise Martin and Rachel Martin leading the way. One of the greatest women’s gymnasts in Nebraska history, Emily Wong powered Coach Dan Kendig’s squad to the NCAA Super Six. Wong finished her career as an 11-time AllAmerican by capturing three All-America awards in 2014. The Big Ten Gymnast of the Year was also the AAI Award winner as the nation’s top gymnast. The women’s outdoor track and field team capped the season with a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Championships thanks to first-team All-America performances by Maggie Malone (Javelin), Jazmin McCoy (Long Jump) and Ellie Ewere (Triple Jump). Coach Chuck Chmelka’s men’s gymnastics team took eighth at the NCAA Championships behind a first-team All-America performance in the all-around from Wyatt Aycock. Coach Mark Manning guided the wrestling team to an outstanding season. The Husker wrestlers finished 11th at the NCAA Championships with All-Americans James Green (3rd, 157) and Robert Kokesh (4th, 174) leading the way. Nebraska capped its 2013-14 campaign by receiving the top individual performance of the year from senior hurdler Miles Ukaoma at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Ukaoma raced to the 2014 NCAA title in the 400-meter hurdles to help the Husker men take 12th as a team at the outdoor championships. Coach Gary Pepin’s squad also tied for 17th at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Overall, eight Husker men’s track and field athletes captured first-team All-America honors.
A unanimous All-Big Ten pick in 2013-14, Terran Petteway led the conference in scoring at 18.1 points per game. Petteway and the revitalized Huskers made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998, while ranking among the nation's best in attendance.
Jordan Hooper capped her illustrious career by becoming just the third Husker to earn first-team WBCA All-America honors. The Alliance, Neb., native set a school record with 295 three-pointers, while finishing second in points (2,357) and rebounds (1,110).
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Nebraska’s Top 25 National Finishes in 2013-14 Bowling Rifle Women’s Gymnastics Volleyball Men’s Gymnastics Softball Wrestling Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Soccer Women’s Basketball Men’s Indoor Track & Field Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Football
2nd 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 11th 12th 13th 13th 17th (Tie) 19th 25th
Top: The Nebraska women’s basketball team captured the program’s first conference tournament title in 2014. The Huskers competed in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. Left: I-Back Ameer Abdullah owns three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and ranks among the nation’s active leaders in all-purpose yards.
Middle Left: An 11-time All-American, Emily Wong won the AAI Award as the nation's most outstanding female gymnast in 2014. Bottom Left: James Green earned his third All-America award as a junior in 2014-15. The Willingboro, N.J., native has qualified for two University World Championships.
Top Right: Kelsey Robinson became the first Husker to earn Big Ten Volleyball Player-of-the-Year honors and was one of four finalists for the 2014 Honda Sports Award for Volleyball. Bottom Right: Miles Ukaoma became Nebraska's 78th track and field national champion with his victory in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Ukaoma was the first Husker to win a national title in the event.
THREE STRAIGHT TOP THREE NCAA TEAM FINISHES
36 | nebraska BOWLING | 2014-15
NEBRASKA BOWLING Nebraska has established one of the richest traditions in collegiate women’s bowling over the past two decades. Coach Bill Straub led Nebraska to four national championships during the 1990s, before adding another championship in 2001. The Huskers took their championship success to another level by winning the first-ever NCAA title in the sport in 2004. Nebraska made it back-to-back NCAA Championships with a title in 2005, before claiming another crown in 2009. The Huskers added to their historic hardware haul in 2013, capturing their fourth NCAA team championship. Nebraska bowlers have been well-represented in national and international competitions. Under Coach Bill Straub, 12 Husker bowlers have qualified for their national teams, including U.S. National Team members Shannon Pluhowsky, Diandra Asbaty (Hyman), Brenda Edwards, Elise Bolton and Lizabeth Kuhlkin. Recent Huskers Danielle van der Meer (Netherlands), Valerie Calberry (Canada), Shalima Zalsha (Indonesia), Bethany Hedley (England), Tan Yan Ling (Singapore), Alexandra Mosquera and Andrea Ruiz (Colombia) have also represented their home countries on the international level.
Top: Nebraska captured its fourth NCAA National Championship in 2013. Middle: Nebraska has one of the richest bowling traditions in the country. The four-time NCAA champion Huskers contend for the national title on an annual basis and have advanced to each of the first 11 NCAA Championships, including a runner-up finish in 2014. In 2008, Nebraska played host to the NCAA Championship at Thunder Alley in Omaha. Left: Three-time U.S. Amateur champion Shannon Pluhowsky represented the United States three straight years at the Bowling World Cup, an event considered the world’s premier amateur competition. In 2004, she became the first American bowler to win the Bowling World Cup in 12 years. In 2011, she became the first bowler to ever win four gold medals in the World Women’s Championships.
FOUR-TIME NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS
N E B R A S K A
Kelly Belzeski
Julia Bond
April Campbell
Melanie Crawford
Bethany Hedley
Lizabeth Kuhlkin
Gazmine Mason
Alexandra Mosquera
Andrea Ruiz
Briana Zabierek
Assistant Coach Paul Klempa
Head Coach Bill Straub
HUSKERS.COM
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OPPONENT
L O C AT I O N
Nov. 7-9
Crusader Classic
Valparaiso, Ind.
Nov. 13-15
Big Red Invite
Lincoln, Neb.
Nov. 21-23
Track Kat Klash
Houston, Texas
Jan. 16-18
Mid-Winter Classic
Jonesboro, Ark.
Jan. 30-Feb. 1
Prairie View A&M Invite
Arlington, Texas
Feb. 13-15
SFA Jacks Invite
Houston, Texas
Feb. 20-22
Hawk Flight Invite
Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Feb. 27-March 1
Central Missouri Women’s Invite
Kansas City, Kan.
March 6-8
Music City Classic
Nashville, Tenn.
April 9-11
NCAA Championships
St. Louis, Mo.
Dates are subject to change. For updated schedule, and game day information, visit Huskers.com.