Women's Bowling - Current Season Preview

last updated 10/09/08

2008-09

The Kutztown University women’s bowling team, led by returners Kayla Stamm (so. Mohnton/Governor Mifflin), Jacquelyn Heimbach (sr. Easton/Easton) and Steph Ray (so. West Lawn/Wilson), will face a new challenge after the program’s inaugural season as it joins the Northeast Conference for 2008-09.

KU, which went 44-59 last season, will roll against new conference foes Fairleigh Dickinson, St. Francis (N.Y.), Sacred Heart, Long Island, Saint Peter’s and Adelphi.

“I think that joining the NEC is a great thing for the growth of the NCAA women's bowling program at KU,” KU second-year head coach Joe Ambrose said. “The format of the matches is very unique, which will combine both traditional and baker play. Having the opportunity to compete for both a conference and national championship is awesome for our student-athletes.”

Stamm was the Golden Bears’ top bowler last season, averaging a 188.16 over 57 games. She totaled a program-high 10,725 pins and set the record for best game at 268 en route to being named the Division II Rookie of the Year by the National Tenpin Coaches Association.

She bowled a 200 or better in at least one of her games in 10 of KU’s 11 events last season. Her best tournament was when she averaged a 213 over five games, helping KU go 9-1 at the St. Francis New Year’s Knockdown on Jan. 12.

Heimbach, the 2008-09 team captain, had the team’s second-best average last season, posting a 180.51 over 57 games. Her career-best at KU was a 245 on Nov. 17 last season.

Ray’s high game was a 242 on March 3, helping her season average finish at 171.61 (56 games).

Joining the three returning varsity starters will be eight freshmen: Chelsea Adam (fr. Reading/Exeter), Lindsay Bechter (fr. Levittown/Pennsbury), Amy Brehm (fr. East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick), Janaya Buck (fr. Northumberland/Shikellamy), Melissa Ellis (fr. Reading/Exeter), Amanda Gallaugher (fr. Enid, Okla./Chisholm), Kayla Jones (fr. Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) and Courtney Woytko (fr. West Lawn/Wislon).

Adam is a four-time varsity letter-winner and was a member of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Berks County championship teams. She also led Exeter to the 2007 East Pennsylvania State Team Championship. She was named an All-Berks bowler in 2007 and 2008, and an All-Eastern State bowler in 2008.

Brehm had a 199 average her senior year at East Brunswick, and was named all-area, all-county, all-sectional, and all-state first team member. She also was an individual section champion. Jones averaged a team high 202.66 and was a three-time medal winning at the Keystone State Games Tournament. She won the state gold medal in 2007 and 2008 and the silver in 2006.

Both Brehm and Jones qualified for Junior Olympic Gold event in 2008, which gives them the opportunity to make Junior Team USA (only eight girls selected nationwide). Stamm also qualified in 2008.

Ellis had a 210 average her senior year and was an All-Berks County Individual Tournament winner.

Bechter was a Suburban One League girls singles champion in 2007.

Buck was a member of the 2007-08 state runner-ups at Shikellamy, averaging 195 as the team’s captain.

Gallaugher was an all-state and all-region bowler all four years at Chisholm High School in Oklahoma.

Woytko finished in fourth place at the Berks County individual championships. She was an all-division bowler, who helped her team to third place at states.

Together, they will compete for the top five spots in KU’s lineup. The Golden Bears will open the season with the Kutztown Duals at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Berks Lanes.