Karl Nickolai
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Registered: 12/08/06
Posts: 486
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The question asked here is a very difficult one because 1) it is very subjective (what really makes a great "team" player?) and 2) the game has changed so much over the history of college bowling.
If I was asked to create a short list of the greatest male and female collegiate "team" players ever, I would look to what the coaches of the different time periods said about the athletes of their day. Since the NCBCA just named the 30th annual All-American teams that is what I would use as a measuring stick. Each season since 1982-1983, the NCBCA has recognized the very best of the best. Beginning in 2005-2006, the NTCA has named women's NCAA All-American teams that I would also include.
Using both longevity and only college bowling accomplishments (ignoring things done pre- and post- college bowling), my greatest collegiate "team" player lists for men and women would be those very few athletes that have been named as All-Americans four times (by either the NCBCA or NTCA).
FOUR-TIME NCBCA ALL-AMERICANS: MEN
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Brown, Travis - West Texas (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
Carter, David - Wm. Paterson (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
Ciccone, Joe - Erie CC (1994, 1995) Arizona State (1997, 1998)
Eoff, Derek - Neb.-Lincoln (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Haggerty, P.J. - CSU-Fresno (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Hoffman, Bill - Ohio State (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
O'Neill, Bill - Sag.Valley (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)*
Sapp, Derek - W. Illinois (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Sonnenfeld, Jeremy - Neb.-Lincoln (1996, 1997) W. Illinois (1999, 2000)
Steelsmith, Rick - Vincennes (1984, 1985) Wichita State (1986, 1987)*
Valenta, Brian - Lindenwood (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Viale, Chris - Wm. Paterson (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992)
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* four-time First Team All-American
FOUR-TIME NCBCA ALL-AMERICANS: WOMEN
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Bandy, Kayla - Pikeville (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Berke, Kim - Neb.-Lincoln (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992)
Coulles, Lindsey - Morehead State (2004, 2005, 2006) Central Florida (2008)
Crawford, Robin - Morehead St. (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)
Current, Elysia - Fairleigh Dickinson (2004, 2005) Wichita State (2007, 2008)
Daugherty, Jennifer- Neb.-Lincoln (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
Harrelson, Brigette - Central Florida (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Kulick, Kelly - Morehead St. (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
Norry, Lynda - San Jose St. (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)
Parker, Vicki - Indiana State (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)*
Pruitt, Lynn- Indiana State (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988)
Rapp, Keli - Erie CC (1996, 1997) CSU-Fresno (1998, 1999)
Rigby, Andrea - Neb.-Lincoln (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
Rocco, Amy - Arizona State (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)
Stack, Lisa - C. Missouri (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
Yioulos, Kim - Pikeville (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
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* four-time First Team All-American
FOUR-TIME NTCA ALL-AMERICANS: WOMEN**
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Earnest, Josie - Vanderbilt (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Hamilton, Brittni - Vanderbilt (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Leuthold, Cassie - Nebraska (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Rodriguez, Maria - Maryland-E.Shore (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
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** For 2006, I would include first team, second team and honorable mention. For 2007-2012, I would include first team, second team and third team.
The two limitations to the above lists are they exclude anyone who started in college bowling before the 1982-83 season and anyone who is currently active and not yet completed four years. The records that still exist for the earlier period are limited at best. This makes inclusion difficult. Any current athletes could be added to the lists after becoming a four-time All-American.
There are some outstanding athletes that have been NCBCA (or NTCA) All-Americans three or fewer times for a lot of different reasons. Some may not have been "nominated" under the old system which required a paper "achievements" form be timely mailed at the end of the season for an athlete to be considered. Some may have been injured or sick, or simply participated in college bowling for three for fewer seasons. Some may have attended schools that just do not provide younger athletes a lot of actual playing time in competition. However, whatever the reason, there is something special about those few individuals that have achieved All-American status four times. That is why the above named athletes would be my short list for the "all-time" best team players in college bowling history.
Karl
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