NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Following their first tournament of the 2023 calendar year, Wilmington University bowlers Sydney Jones and Carolece Henry have been named Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Bowler and Rookie of the Week, respectively, as announced by the conference office on Thursday.

The Wildcats competed at the Northeast Classic with a field of 33 teams. The tournament featured 22 of the NTCA National Top 25 teams, including a few more that received votes in the national poll, including the Wildcats. Wilmington finished 25th overall.

Sydney Jones (Middletown, Del./Caravel Academy) led the Wildcats with a five-game total of 904, finishing 83rd out of 208 bowlers. She had a day's best 226 against Morgan State but also bowled a 200 against No. 2 North Carolina A&T. She finished with a 180.80 average.

In five Baker matches on Friday, Jones finished with an 18.40 frame average with eight baker double strikes. She had a total of 31 strikes, finishing with a 38.8 strike percentage in Baker matches. Jones collected an 18.08 frame average in traditional matches, going for 16 strikes for a 32.0 strike average.

Carolece Henry (Bridgeton, N.J./Cumberland Regional) had the team's best game of the day, finishing 89th overall with a five-match total of 888. She had a 228 against No. 2 North Carolina A&T for her lone 200-game of the day. She bowled a 189 against No. 13 Delaware State, finishing with a 177.60 average.

Henry held a 17.58 frame average in Baker matches on Friday, moving it to 17.68 per frame on Saturday in Traditional matches. She had 12 baker double strikes and 22 strikes overall for a 27.5 strike percentage on Friday. She collected 14 more strikes on Saturday for a 29.8 strike percentage in Traditional matches.

The Wildcats return to action on Saturday, February 4, when they compete in the two-day Griffin Baker Classic. They will bowl at their home alley of Bowlerama while the tournament is hosted by Chestnut Hill.