Kuhlkin Awarded NTCA Bowler of the Year

Senior Liz Kuhlkin was honored as the 2015 National Tenpin Coaches Association Women’s Collegiate Bowler of the Year Wednesday night, in St. Louis. Kuhlkin also was honored as a first-team All-American to headline a list of three Huskers earning NTCA honors.

Kuhlkin, a native of Schenectady, N.Y., is the seventh Husker to earn collegiate bowler of the year honors and the first since Cassandra Leuthold in 2010.

Now a three-time first-team All-American, Kuhlkin compiled a staggering game average of 218.8 with 14,664 total pinfall in 67 games. Kuhlkin was at her best at the Central Missouri Invitational, where she averaged a 234.3 game average—the highest game average produced by any Husker during the season.

Kuhlkin was ecstatic with the honor, but mentioned that the bigger prize is still at the end of the week though.

“It’s absolutely one of the biggest honors of my bowling career, to be one of the seven players to be on that wall, among some that are now very successful professional women players,” Kuhlkin said. “I can’t go without thanking my parents and Coach Straub and Klempa for giving me the potential to with this award. Hard work pays off.”

Joining Kuhlkin with post-season honors was sophomore Gazmine Mason and freshman Julia Bond, both were awarded with third-team All-American honors Wednesday night.