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March 19, 2010
HAMPTON, VA - As a freshman on the 2007 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Champion Fayetteville State bowling team, Akira Turner set a goal to be the best bowler in the conference. Three years later, she ended up right where she wanted to be. The Detroit, MI native averaged 198.77 pins per match this season - the best in single-season FSU history - en route to being named CIAA Bowler of the Year, the conference announced on Friday. On the season, she knocked down 6, 957 total pins. Turner, a junior mathematics major, was also named to the All-CIAA team for the third consecutive year. On the season, she bowled 200 or more 18 times including a season-high 266 during the Western Division Round-Up on March 5. "I was happy when I found out," said Turner. "I got it from just practicing and trying to stay focused and being committed to improving myself and my team." FSU head coach Bobby Henderson, who is ninth season in charge of the Broncos' program, believes Turner's accolades make her one of the best players in school history. "I've had maybe one or two other players that are in the same category she's in," he said. "There's no limit to how good she can be. She has all the tools, all the skills - the ability is all there. She has an outstanding chance to be a professional bowler." With Turner leading the way, FSU won its seventh-straight Western Division title and finished the season 60-2 in CIAA play. At the Western Division Round-Up in March, the Broncos became the first team in CIAA history to average 1,000 or more pins per match for the weekend in team play (1000.2). FSU also became the first team to average 900 or better in team score for an entire season. With the division's No. 1 seed, Bowler of the Year and a history-making team, FSU will look to win the second conference title in school history at the CIAA Bowling Championships this weekend.
The tournament starts on Saturday and runs through Monday at AMF Bowling Lanes in Durham. Turner hopes the Broncos can give her the same feeling this weekend as they did three years ago. "Words can't even explain how much it would mean to me," she said. "I would be so happy about it and so excited." |
