Jason Couch claims March Bowler of the Month

Jason Couch (pictured), Clermont, Florida, has been named the March 2011 Kegel Bowler of the Month by the Bowling Writers Association of America.

Couch captured the PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, defeating Parker Bohn III, Jackson, New Jersey, in the title match, 219-175. The win is his 16th career PBA title and first since January 2007. After the 2006-07 season, the three-time Tournament of Champions winner faced knee surgery knocking him out of the 2007-08 season.

"It's a big monkey off my back to win. I'm very happy to see that my hard work has paid off and that my body is keeping up with me," Couch said after clutching the trophy.

The 1992 PBA Rookie of the Year took the lead after the 14-game qualifying round and stayed in the top 4 through the remainder of the tournament. He qualified as the top seed in the four-man stepladder TV finals.

Others receiving votes were Chris Loschetter, winner of the 8th Kuwait International Open, Randy Weiss, top 3 finalist in the PBA Dick Weber playoffs, Dick Allen, also a top 3 finalist in the PBA Dick Weber Playoffs and Clara Guerrero, Colombia, winner of the European Bowling Tour's Brunswick Euro Challenge.

UMES claims MEAC Bowling Championship

As the careers draw to an end for three University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) seniors it is ending up the same as it started, with a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship.

The Lady Hawks captured the 2011 title Sunday, March 20th in Greensboro, their fifth overall and the second for three All-American seniors in Kristina Frahm (right; Oswego, Ill.), Martha Perez (Bogota, Colombia) and Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Colombia). UMES defeated Morgan State 4-0 to capture the crown.

The Hawks, rolling all the way through the winner's bracket made short work of the Bears, 4-0 (206-162, 161-157, 170-138, 187-134) to capture the match in straight games.

"What took us over was the fact that we were able to make our spares. I constantly drive into the young ladies that we have to make spares and it proved to be worth it today," said head coach Sharon Brummell (left).

Despite the solid play of the three seniors, it was a junior, Paula Vilas (right; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) who came up big, being named the Most Outstanding Performer of the championship.

"It feels amazing, I did not expect this award," stated Vilas, "When they called my name I was in shock, but I appreciate the honor." Vilas aided her team throughout the tournament and bowled a high of 193 against Norfolk State during the qualifying rounds.

Also claiming an award was Brummell, who was named Outstanding Coach of the championship. It was her fifth time receiving this honor.

"This fifth championship was very special for me because of our three seniors (Frahm, Perez and Rodriguez). This was their last MEAC Bowling Championship. They were a part of the 2008 National Championship team and they really wanted to go out with a win and they were able to achieve that," Brummell said.

Morgan State, the sixth seed, topped second-seeded Delaware State earlier on Sunday in the semifinal round, 4-2. They were led in the tournament by Danielle Hale, Devin Revels and Keisheena Waldron. Hale averaged a 181 in the event while Revels and Waldron were named to the All-Tournament Team.

The MEAC Bowling Championship finale will air in a tape-delayed format on Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

Up next for UMES are the hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships April 14-16 in Taylor, Mich. A spot will be the eighth straight selection for the Hawks.