WEST BABYLON, N.Y. - - Following a record breaking weekend, the Wilmington University bowling team placed a pair of student-athletes on the East Coast Conference Weekly Report with Rachel Hirst being named an ECC Co-Bowler of the Week and CC Riojas earning the ECC Rookie of the Week.
The Wildcats went 8-2 during the Baker and Traditional matches at their own Wildcat DII/DIII Invite last weekend, and then came back to force a game seven in the championship match against Chestnut Hill on Sunday. The Griffins eventually took the match, 4-3, as the Wildcats finished second overall.
Rachel Hirst (Bear, Del.) led the Wildcats as the anchor bowler on Friday in the Baker matches, leading the ECC with a 21.85 baker frame average for the tournament. She also led the conference with a 61.0 strike percentage and a 9.35 first ball average. She finished fifth overall and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team with a fifth place finish on Saturday, setting the second best scoring total in program history with a 1,046 for a 209.20 average. She had a weekend's high 227 against Mercyhurst while adding a 226 against Caldwell and a 202 against New Jersey City. It is the first time in her three-year career that she has earned a spot on the Weekly Report.
In what seems like old hat for freshman CC Riojas, she earned her third ECC Rookie of the Week in four tournaments this year. The freshman led the Wildcats by finishing second overall with a new program record 1,119 in five traditional matches (223.80 average). Her 254 against Caldwell was the program's fourth best single match in program history. She was also second on the team with a 20.35 baker frame average. She had traditional match scores of 235-254-196-203-231, finishing in 2nd by 5 pins.
The Wildcats are off from competition until the New Year when they return to action at the Northeast Classic hosted by Long Island and Sacred Heart in Croydon, Pa. The tournament begins on Friday, January 17.