Penn College Bowlers Claim Two State Championships

For the third straight year, Pennsylvania College of Technology bowlers have claimed Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association championships.

In the second day of competition Sunday (March 5) at Faxon Lanes in Loyalsock Township, the men's team of Brandon Hendricks (Sunbury), Steve Eckman (Williamsport), Ben Zech (West York), Andrew Hurst (West York), Tim McMahon (Williamsport) and Andrew Parsons (Islip, N.Y.) finished first among nine squads with a total pin fall of 3,799. Northampton Area Community College was second with 3,112.

"The guys turned it up on Sunday," said Lisa Worth, Penn College coach. "All six of them bowled over 600. That's pretty impressive! They pretty much dominated and showed that day how good they are."

One day earlier, McMahon and Zeck, the college's No. 2 men's doubles team, claimed the PCAA championship, placing at the top of a 22-team field with 1,374 pins.

Also in men's doubles, Eckman-Parsons finished fourth (1,227) and Hurst-Hendricks placed 12 th (1,089).

Lisa Ulrich (Wyalusing) and Marly Artley (Milton), competing in women's doubles, teamed to finish fourth in a seven-team field with a 938.

In a field of 43 for men's singles, Hendricks was second (671 three-game series), Eckman eighth (634), Zech 11th (608), Hurst 17th (564), McMahon 22nd (530) and Parsons 23rd (527).

Ulrich was eighth of 22 in women's singles with a 505 series, Erika Banzhaf (Williamsport) was 14th with a 443 and Artley finished 17th with a 428.

In women's team competition, the Penn College women were third of five with a 3,032-pin fall.

In men's all events, where 49 competed, Zech was second (2,007), Hendricks third (1,918), Eckman fourth (1,871), McMahon eighth (1, 792), Parsons 11th (1,750) and Hurst 14th (1,718).

In women's all events, where there were 14 entries, Ulrich was ninth (1,541), Banzhaf 10th (1,523) and Artley 11th (1,323).

"All in all, after it was all said and done, our bowlers did excellent. You couldn't ask any more," Worth said.

"It was a very good tournament. It was well-organized and well-run,"she said of the Faxon Lanes staff.

At the conclusion of the event, Worth, in her eighth season, announced that she is retiring as coach.

"This will be my last year. With my three young children (at home) and taking on more responsibility here (at the college), it's just a lot of time away from home and I can't devote the time to the team. (The bowlers) should get the best that they deserve," she said.