FULL TOURNAMENT RESULTS
NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...The New Jersey City University women's bowling team has added another large trophy to the institution's trophy case and did so by battling adversity. For the fourth time in seven NCAA appearances, the Gothic Knights reached the Final Four at the 2010 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Bowling championship—a championship NJCU was the host of—on April 9 at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes. By doing so, the Knights kept alive a remarkable trend of reaching the Final Four in every even numbered year (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010) that the event has been held.
NCAA RECAPS/QUOTES
ROUND 1/MATCH 2: Fairleigh Dickinson 4, New Jersey City 2 (228-159, 153-159, 278-201, 217-201, 167-178, 247-192)
Fairleigh Dickinson's sixth victory this season over New Jersey City may be its most significant thus far. Not only did the 4-to-2 baker match win tip the seesaw season series in FDU's favor, but more importantly, it sent the Knights into the winner's bracket at the NCAA Championships.
The two Northeast Conference members tussled 10 times during the regular season before finding out there would be an 11th showdown in the first round of the double-elimination national championship meet.
No. 4 seed Fairleigh Dickinson rolled to a 69-pin win in the opening game of the best-of-seven baker bout before NJCU evened the score at 1-1. FDU flew out to a fast start in the third game, wrapping four strikes around a 9-spare over the first five frames on the way to a 278-201 victory. Both teams exceeded 200 pins in the next baker game, but Fairleigh Dickinson's effort proved too much. FDU filled all 10 frames to claim a 217-201 win and a commanding 3-to-1 lead. NJCU forced a sixth game after winning the fifth by 11 pins before FDU shot a 247 in the clinching game.
ROUND 2/MATCH 7: New Jersey City 4.5, Central Missouri 0.5 (189-189, 244-183, 194-193, 193-181, 188-149)
New Jersey City eliminated Central Missouri by handing the Jennies a 4.5-to-0.5 defeat in the second round of championship bracket play. NJCU found itself in a tough spot heading into the final frame of Game 1, but anchor JENN MARMO was up to the challenge. After rolling a 7-spare, Marmo needed a strike to force a 189-189 tie and she delivered.
The senior anchor's clutch shot seemed to serve as a springboard for the Gothic Knights. New Jersey City unleashed a 244-pin performance to win the ensuing game by a 61-pin margin and did not look back from there. The Gothic Knights took the third and fourth games by a narrow 13-pin margin before posting a convincing 188-149 match-clinching win in Game 5.
ROUND 3/MATCH 9: New Jersey City 4, Maryland Eastern Shore 1 (216-192, 157-168, 219-215, 194-158, 178-141)
In the history of the NCAA Championship, no team has been more dominant over another than NJCU against UMES. In another elimination match, NJCU, improved to 4-0 all-time against the Hawks and 16-4-1 in games during those matches, by winning the final three games after the two schools split the first two. All four wins by NJCU against UMES in the tournament's history have come in elimination matches.
NJCU took the first game, striking in the sixth, seventh and eighth before senior anchor JENN MARMO cooked a turkey in the 10th. UMES struck in the ninth frame of a tight game two to even the series.
Game 3 proved to be decisive as NJCU won by four pins to claim a series lead it would not relinquish. NJCU opened with three strikes but only led by 10, 145-135 after seven frames because the Hawks struck in the fifth, sixth, and seventh. The Gothic Knights answered as senior CANDICE D'ANGELO, junior NICOLE DREJERWSKI and Marmo struck in the eighth, ninth and 10th. UMES tossed four final strikes to close the match but Marmo only needed five pins on her second ball of the 10th to win and toppled six.
In Game 4, NJCU played a clean game with all marks and easily won by 36 pins. In Game 5, the Knights converted marks on their first nine balls and clinched the series with a decisive 37-pin win to stave off elimination for the second consecutive match and force a rematch with in-state rival FDU in the semifinals.
ROUND 4/MATCH 11: Fairleigh Dickinson 4, New Jersey City 2 (211-154, 184-189, 171-235, 191-179, 223-173, 203-187);
For the second time on the day and the 12th time this season, NJCU and FDU met, and this one was even more meaningful than round one tilt. An NJCU win would force an if-necessary match on Saturday; an FDU win would put the Knights back in the NCAA Finals.
The North Jersey rivals, separated by 16 miles, opened with a decisive FDU victory by 57 pins. But NJCU tied it in Game 2, winning by five, 189-184. A strike and spare in frame 10 by Marmo sealed the win.
NJCU grabbed a 2-1 series lead by taking Game 3 by 64, tossing eight strikes in the process. FDU took Game 4, 191-179, striking in frames 4-thru-6 to grab the lead.
Game 5 went to FDU by 50 pins, as the Knights notched a 223 with five strikes in the middle to late frames. In Game 6, NJCU led 57-56 after three frames, looking to tie the series, but left an open in the fourth frame. A spare in the fourth by FDU, followed by an Erica Perez strike in the fifth gave the visiting New Jersey team the lead for good, holding on for a 16-pin decision, to advance to the NCAA Finals.
After the NCAA Trophy presentation, NJCU head coach Frank Parisi held a public senior ceremony, as the Gothic Knights bid an emotional farewell to D'Angelo and Marmo—a pair of Long Island, New York natives whom have helped keep the Gothic Knights on a national championship competitive level throughout their careers. NJCU fans and players and families from several participating schools were there to witness and support the host Knights and their seniors in their final shining moment
NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY QUOTES
Head coach Frank Parisi on what changed after his team was up 2-1 in the match against FDU: “I don't think much changed. We tried to make quality shots. You have to give FDU credit because they made the shots that they needed to make. They got some carry and put some strikes together, and that was the difference in the match. But I was pleased with our team's performance. They just came up a little bit short.”
Parisi on whether this year's tournament has been everything that he expected when NJCU submitted a bid to host in New Jersey: “Absolutely. This is a big bowling area, not just central New Jersey, but New York and Pennsylvania as well. We had people who came from all over to support this tournament. This is just what I expected - standing room only crowds, a media presence, and lot of excitement in general. This sport is very popular in this area and people need to see what NCAA bowling at this level is all about.”
Senior JENN MARMO on people's misconceptions about the sport of collegiate bowling: “I would say that people don't understand the intensity at this level. They don't understand the cheering and how we are standing eight, nine hours a day supporting each other. Nobody really understands that.”
Marmo on how much difficulty the average league bowler would experience bowling under championship conditions: “They would definitely be surprised at the difficulty it takes to compete at this level. The lane conditions are much more difficult, and the pressure is a lot more intense.”
Parisi on the light-hearted approach he takes to coaching: “It's kind of our theme as coaches. You have to have fun and enjoy yourself. We try to be as light-hearted as we can. We're serious about this sport and we work very hard to get to this level, because you're not going to accomplish what we've accomplished without that. We try to make it a great experience and joke around a lot - mostly at my expense. We want this to be a great experience for our players, and having fun is important.”
Senior CANDICE D'ANGELO on what she will remember from her career at NJCU: “Everything. Every tournament, every teammate, every experience, every place we've been, and especially every final four we've made. Just giving your all in everything you do.”
Marmo on what she will remember about her NJCU career: “The friendship and memories that have been made over the past four years will never be forgotten. I kind of feel bad for people who don't get the opportunity to compete in NCAA bowling because this is an experience that not a lot of people get to have. If you're lucky enough to get this experience, you have to treasure it.”
Marmo on whether the NJCU players understand how difficult it is for a Division III institution to compete with the likes of Nebraska and Vanderbilt: “We definitely do. Nebraska practices every day and has their own lanes on campus. We practice twice or three times a week off campus and can't practice as early in the season as they do. But we've never used that as an excuse.”
D'Angelo on how a team like NJCU can compete with a team with Nebraska's resources: “We have heart and talent and we're strong. We're just as talented as anyone.”
D'Angelo on who she predicts will capture the national championship: “Nebraska. It would be nice to see someone win from our area [FDU], especially since we lost to them today, but Nebraska is very, very talented. But it's that any given day scenario tomorrow. Anything can happen.”
Marmo on the pressure to perform well in the tournament as the host institution: “There was pressure because a lot of people haven't experienced this tournament and we wanted to show them what this team can do in this type of setting. We wanted to show them who we are, so that they would get to see what we're all about.”
Parisi on whether he believes a team comprised of six Division III players can realistically compete for a national championship in the sport of collegiate bowling: “Yes. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think it could happen.”
Parisi on the challenges of coaching his team while also being the chair of the NCAA National Committee and assisting in NJCU's hosting efforts: “It's been a challenge, but I am extremely proud of everyone associated with this championship. My team performed great and I couldn't be prouder of their effort. I can't say enough about my assistant coach Rusty Thomsen as well. He is a guy who takes good high school bowlers and turns them into very good collegiate bowlers. I'm very proud of our university as well and the way that everyone stepped up and embraced the hosting of this championship. The feedback that I've received from the other coaches and players has been tremendous, and it's a credit to our university staff for a job well done.”
