Hartnell, Wright earn collegiate MVP honors

EL PASO, Texas - Newman senior Derek Hartnell and Pikeville senior Jennifer Wright were named Most Valuable Players for the 2009-10 collegiate bowling season by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association.

Hartnell and Wright were honored along with the rest of the All-Americans at the Night of Champions banquet held Wednesday in conjunction with the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships, which open Thursday at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.




A first-team All-American last season, Hartnell led the nation in average at 215.4 on the way to two top individual honors this season. He won the Midwest Collegiate Championships and the Mid-States Tournament, while finishing second at the Leatherneck Classic.

Hartnell is joined as a first team All-American by Wichita State's Josh Blanchard,  John Szczerbinski and Jake Peters and McKendree's J.R. Raymond.

"All the credit goes to my coach, Billy Murphy, and my teammates because I couldn't have done it without them," Hartnell said. "I guess all the time spent practicing in the bowling center five or six days a week paid off."

Wright, who had the second-highest average in the country this season with 202, won the Orange and Black Classic and Collegiate Shootout, two of her five top-five finishes this year.

She is joined on the women's first team by Jenn Boisselle of Central Florida, Jazreel Tan of Wichita State and two fellow Pikeville players, Kim Yioulos and Becky Sulligan.

"I wouldn't have done as well this season without my team, so a lot of the credit goes to them for this award," Wright said. "The award is nice, but now the focus is on winning a national championship."

Mark Scuderi of Rochester Institute of Technology and Tan were named Rookie of the Year in their respective divisions. Webber International men's coach Joe Slowinski and Pikeville women's coach Ron Damron were named the Kerm Helmer Coaches of the Year.

Tommy Gann, a member of the USBC Advisory Council, was honored with the Gordon Teigen Meritorious Service Award.

Also on Wednesday, the Bowling Writers Association of America announced its players of the year. Blanchard was honored among the men, while Boisselle was the top player for the women.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BOWLING COACHES ASSOCIATION
2009-10 ALL-AMERICANS

MEN
First Team
Derek Hartnell, Newman; Josh Blanchard, Wichita State; John Szczerbinski, Wichita State; J.R. Raymond, McKendree; Jake Peters, Wichita State.
Second Team
Mike Conn, Bellarmine; Paul Hogan, CSU-Fresno; Brian Makan, Arizona State; Greg Geering, CSU-Fresno; Jay Foote, Wright State.
Honorable Mention
Mark Scuderi, Rochester Institute of Technology; RJ Klann, Lindenwood; Adam Voth, Morehead State; Dave Kipperman, Sacred Heart; Nick Klager, William Paterson.

Most Valuable Player - Derek Hartnell, Newman
Rookie of the Year - Mark Scuderi, Rochester Institute of Technology    
Kerm Helmer Coach of the Year - Joe Slowinski, Webber International

WOMEN
First Team
Jennifer Wright, Pikeville; Jenn Boisselle, Central Florida; Jazreel Tan, Wichita State; Kim Yioulos, Pikeville; Becky Sulligan, Pikeville.
Second Team
Nicole Burke, Pikeville; Jasmine Coleman, CSU-Fresno; Rocio Restrepo, Wichita State; Liz Seibel, Penn State; Samantha Kelly, Robert Morris-Illinois.
Honorable Mention
Ashly Galante, Webber International; Sandra Gongora, Wichita State; Dayna Galganski, Central Florida; Jessica Baker, Wichita State; Jenny Petzoldt, Lindenwood.

Most Valuable Player - Jennifer Wright, Pikeville
Rookie of the Year - Jazreel Tan, Wichita State
Kerm Helmer Coach of the Year - Ron Damron, Pikeville

Gordon Teigen Meritorious Service Award - Tommy Gann, USBC Advisory Council


BOWLING WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
2009-10 COLLEGIATE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Male - Josh Blanchard, Wichita State
Female - Jenn Boisselle, Central Florida

Male Runners-up
Derek Hartnell, Newman
Brian Makan, Arizona State
J.R. Raymond, McKendree
John Szczerbinski, Wichita State

Male Honorable Mention
Mike Conn, Bellarmine
Greg Geering, CSU-Fresno
Paul Hogan, CSU-Fresno
Jake Peters, Wichita State

Female Runners-up
Jasmine Coleman, CSU-Fresno
Jazreel Tan, Wichita State
Jennifer Wright, Pikeville
Kim Yioulos, Pikeville

Female Honorable Mention
Nicole Burke, Pikeville
Rocio Restrepo, Wichita State
Becky Sulligan, Pikeville