Bowling team places eighth at Seminole Classic

Wins were hard to come by for the Lady Rattlers bowling team.

Florida A&M placed eight after individual matches in the Seminole Classic this weekend at Capital Lanes Bowling Alley with a team score of 5,078.

Sophomore Carrie Hopkinson led the team with a total score of 1123 and placed 14th overall. No other Lady Rattler placed in the top 20.

The team faced eight intercollegiate teams in a two-day tournament, including individual and team matches.

Head coach Karen Brown was pleased with her team’s effort but expects more success from her bowlers as the season continues.

“It was a rainy day,” Brown said. “We gave the effort and fought to the end. As long as they fight to the end and give their all, then we succeed.”

Sophomore Carrie Jefferis said the team gave its all and will continue to do so.

“Our expectations were to stay focused, bowl a good game and come out on top,” Jefferis said. “That’s the focus for every competition.”

Although the Lady Rattlers weren’t pleased with their results from the individual matches on Saturday, they remained confident in their performances.

On Sunday, the Lady Rattlers improved and moved up to seventh place after the Baker system, or team matches. The team scored 2,174 points, finishing ahead of the University of Florida.

“Teamwork is a big thing,” Brown said. “They feed off of each other.”

The top eight teams moved to a playoff round, requiring them to win the best of 3 to advance. The Lady Rattlers lost in the first round to Victory Universityin the third match, 203-168.

Brown said the Lady Rattlers will continue to work on their drills and focus on the most common problems that occurred at the tournament.

The next bowling tournament, the Wildcat Invitational in Daytona Beach, is February 7.