Schwartz, Lemke Garner NTCA Honors
4/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Stephen F. Austin claimed two of the National Tenpin Coaches Association's (NTCA) major awards, announced at the 2015 NCAA Bowling Championship banquet Wednesday evening.
Freshman Stephanie Schwartz was tabbed the NTCA Freshman of the Year for Division I, as well as garnering first team All-America honors. Head coach Amber Lemke was named the NTCA Coach of the Year for the Division I level as well.
In addition to the honors for Schwartz and Lemke, senior Chelsea King and sophomore Paige Kraushaar were named honorable mention All-Americans for the 2014-15 season.
The first team All-America honors for Schwartz marks the first time in program history a Ladyjack has been named a first team All-American. Former SFA bowler Nicole Parkhurst was a two-time second team selection while former Ladyjack Melanie Crawford was a third-team selection in 2013-14.
A freshman from Racine, Wis., Schwartz has been a key figure for the Ladyjacks, consistently ranking among the team leaders. She captured MVP honors in her first collegiate tournament at the All State Sugar Bowl Invitational, posting a 241.6 average, while earning all-tournament honors at both the Fairleigh Dickinson Jamboree and the Southland Bowling League Championship.
Lemke, in her fifth season as the helm of the Ladyjacks, was named NTCA Division I Coach of the Year after guiding SFA to its first NCAA Championship appearance in program history. A constant in the national top-10 rankings, she has built the Ladyjacks into one of the top programs in the country, currently ranking fifth in the NTCA coaches poll as SFA has recorded six top-10 finishes in 2014-15.
The All-American teams are based on votes from collegiate head coaches who are members of the National Tenpin Coaches Association.
SFA begins competition this morning in the 2015 NCAA Bowling Championships, being held at the Tropicana Lanes in Richmond Heights. One of four Southland Bowling League schools to earn a bid, the Ladyjacks begin qualifying rounds later today before beginning the double elimination baker-style bracket play Friday.
Stay tuned to @SFA_Bowling on Twitter as well as SFAJacks.com for all the latest regarding the Ladyjacks' quest for a national title.
2014-15 NTCA All-Americans
First Team
Liz Kuhlkin -- Nebraska
Sarah Lokker -- Arkansas State
Robyn Renslow -- Vanderbilt
Stephanie Schwartz -- Stephen F. Austin
Thashaina Seraus -- Maryland-Eastern Shore
Second Team
Mariana Alverado -- Maryland-Eastern Shore
Melanie Hannon -- Fairleigh Dickinson
Jordan Richard -- Central Missouri
Nicolette Sarin -- Fairleigh Dickinson
Liat Vizenfeld -- Fairleigh Dickson
Third Team
Julia Bond -- Nebraska
Jodi Gawlik -- McKendree
Gazmine Mason -- Nebraska
Katie Stark -- Vanderbilt
Emily Strombeck -- North Carolina A&T
Honorable Mention
Torrie Decker -- Valparaiso
Brittany Hart -- LIU Brooklyn
Lauren Hoffman -- Sacred Heart
Chelsea King -- Stephen F. Austin
Paige Kraushaar -- Stephen F. Austin
Janine Kuwahara -- Sam Houston State
Karsyn Lukosius -- Fairleigh Dickinson
Haley Richard -- Central Missouri
Mackenzie Robinson -- North Carolina A&T
Jadee Scott-Jones -- Arkansas State
Brooke Wood -- Arkansas State
Player of the Year: Liz Kuhlkin -- Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: Stephanie Schwartz -- Stephen F. Austin
Coach of the Year: Amber Lemke -- Stephen F. Austin
-SFA-
