The Lady Rattlers are gearing up for their second trip down the road to D’lberville, Mississippi this year.
This is where the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will host the SWAC East round-up Friday through Sunday. The tournament will feature all eight bowling teams in the conference: FAMU, Alabama State, Alabama A&M, back-to-back regular season champions; Southern University, Grambling University, Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern, and Jackson State.
The Rattlers along with the schools mentioned attended SWAC West Round Up in January, where they had an opportunity to warm up to this year’s competition. The ladies placed 8th winning one match. The Rattlers understand the task for this match is to stay consistent and accurate to assure that they get strikes and pick up spares.
Kennedy Richardson, a bowler and junior at FAMU, is confident in the team and their performance in the upcoming tournament.
“I think the team will do better this tournament since we’ve consistently practiced,” Richardson said. “We all know what we’re expecting now with the oil pattern of the lanes.”
Richardson is new to the squad and joined spontaneously after her love for the sport was reaffirmed last semester while out bowling with her family. She decided she wanted to do something different and join the team.
The junior public relations scholar gives praise to her teammates and coach as they have been big supporters in her decision to join the team and as they work together to build the program.
The coach that Richardson is referring to is Jeremy Williams. Williams previously served as head coach of the bowling team at Elizabeth City State University since 2001. He has the highest winning percentage in Elizabeth City’s history, where he led the team to a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championship, three division championships, and more. He received honors as a three-time CIAA Coach of the Year recipient.
The 2024 season brought along many changes for the women’s bowling program at Florida A&M University, after claims of previous bowlers being removed from the team circulated. The program is ready to turn over a new leaf and get back to being on top of the competition.
In 2023, the program finished third in the SWAC tournament. With new head coach Williams, and the team of girls who are driven and supportive of each other, they said they are ready to rise to the top again.
Supporters are able to watch the tournament each day via the SWAC’s YouTube channel.