Geoff M Schneider

Women's Bowling Takes Part In The Wildcat Division II/III Invitational This Weekend

Tournament Features Six Teams In The NTCA Division II/III National Poll

2/14/2024 9:56:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Tom McDermott, Director of Athletics Communications | tmcdermo@daemen.edu

TOURNAMENT #6
WILDCAT DIVISION II/III INVITATIONAL
HOST: Wilmington University
DATE: Friday, Feb. 16 - Sunday, Feb. 18
LOCATION: New Castle, Del. | Bowlerama Lanes
LIVE STREAM: via Daemen Bowling Facebook Page

BACK IN ACTION
The Daemen women's bowling team returns to action this weekend when they head to New Castle, Del. to take part in the Wildcat Division II/III Invitational hosted by Wilmington University. The 14-team tournament will feature six teams (Alvernia, Daemen, Emmanuel, Felician, Kutztown, Mercyhurst, ) that are ranked or receiving votes in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Division II/III Poll released Feb. 8.

WILDCATS RANKED 12TH IN NTCA DIVISION II/III POLL
Daemen is ranked No. 12 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Division II/III Poll released Feb. 8. It marks the first regular season poll for the 2023-24 season. The Wildcats were ranked No. 11 in NTCA Division II/III preseason poll released this past October. The No. 11 ranking was the highest for the Wildcats in program history.

DAEMEN AT THE WILDCAT DIVISION II/III INVITATIONAL
Daemen has participated in the Wildcat Division II/III Invitational each of the last four years (tournament was not held in 2021 due to COVID-19) and claimed the tournament title in 2022. The Wildcats placed fourth out of 11 teams last year. Caitlyn Nowak (West Seneca, N.Y.) placed second among all bowlers with a 213.80 average during the traditional round and was named to the all-tournament team. Paige Bartosz (West Seneca, N.Y.) and Nicole Bergeron (Lima, N.Y.) also finished among the Top-10 bowlers during the traditional matches. Bartosz finished sixth (209.20) and Bergeron placed 10^th(197.20).

BACK AT THE HELM
Carrie Racsumberger returns for her sixth season as head coach at Daemen. She took the reins of the program just prior to the 2018-19 season and entered the 2023-24 season with a 176-144 career record. She guided the Wildcats to a program record 55 wins during the 2021-22 campaign. She recorded her 200th career win during the 2023 Daemen Storm Fall Classic. Danielle Milo, an Orchard Park native, enters her second season as an assistant coach.

RETURNING VETERANS
Daemen returns six student-athletes from last year's team, including All-ECC selections Caitlyn Nowak (West Seneca, N.Y.) and Mollie Gizicki (Brighton, Mich.). Additional returning bowlers include senior Emma Smith (Williamsville, N.Y.) and sophomores Bailey Glass (North Tonawanda, N.Y.), Mackenzie Hutchins (Wheatfield, N.Y.) and Kayla Richardson (Webster, N.Y.). Daemen closed out the 2022-23 season with a record of 47-32. The Wildcats reached the 40-win plateau for the third time in program history and came just three wins shy of reaching 50 wins for the second-straight season. The Wildcats competed in eight tournaments during the year and posted a top-four finish in six of the eight events--including first-place showings at the Grapevine Classic and the Daemen Storm Fall Classic. The Wildcats also traveled to Las Vegas in January to take part in the Stormin' Blue & White Vegas Classic, which featured several of the top programs in the country. Additional highlights of the season included dual match sweeps of rival Roberts Wesleyan University and nationally-ranked Saint Vincent College. Daemen capped the year by placing fourth out of 10 teams at the East Coast Conference Championships.

FRESH FACES
The team welcomes freshmen Brenna Forsha (Tonawanda, N.Y.), Sabrina Palmer (Waterloo, N.Y.), Cassidy Papero (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) and Chelsea Porga (Welland, Ont.) to the lineup. Forsha and Papero have both been named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week this season.

ON THE HORIZON
Daemen is idle until the first weekend of March (Mar. 2-3) when the Wildcats head to New York City take part in the Dezy Strong Classic.

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen women's bowling program on Twitter and Facebook at @DaemenBowling

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