Two Huskers Earn Prestigious Bowling Honors

Lincoln ? A pair of Huskers were honored this week, as Bowlers Journal International announced its 2003-04 All-America teams in its August issue on newsstands now.

Shannon Pluhowsky (Phoenix, Ariz.) was selected for the first-team while former Husker Diandra (Hyman) Asbaty was tabbed for the second team. The Huskers were the only amateurs selected to their respective teams, as the publication has been choosing women’s All-America teams since the 1961-62 season and men’s teams for the past 66 years. Bowlers Journal International chooses its men’s and women’s All-America teams based upon results from June of 2003 to June of 2004.

Pluhowsky, a senior-to-be for Coach Bill Straub’s Husker bowling team, enjoyed one of the most remarkable runs during 2003-04. She led the Huskers to the first-ever NCAA title in April, earning MVP honors, while also capturing the College Bowling USA Singles title. On the national level, she won her third consecutive U.S. Amateur title, placed second at the 2003 Bowling World Cup and finished seventh at the WIBC Queens Invitational, a competition that includes both professional and amateur bowlers, and won the gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games.

Pluhowsky is joined on the five-member squad by professional bowlers Michelle Feldman, Marianne DiRupo, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Tennelle Milligan. She is one of only a few select amateurs named to BJI's First Team over the last 40 years.

"This is a tremendous honor and one of my goals for last year was to be a first-team All-American," Pluhowsky, who had been chosen to the second team in 2002-03, said. "This is a great way to end the year, and now I am getting focused on the upcoming season."

Asbaty, who competed at Nebraska from 1999 to 2003, enjoyed a strong 2003-04 season, bringing home four medals at the FIQ World Championships last fall. She won a gold medal in the Women’s Masters and established a six-game tournament scoring record with a 1,496 in the Women’s Doubles event.

Asbaty joins Dede Davidson, Tiffany Stanbrough, Liz Johnson and Kendra Gaines on the publication’s second team, as Asbaty was the only amateur on the second-team.

The Huskers begin training for the upcoming season next month, as the 2003-04 season opens Nov. 12-14 at the Whitewater Invitational.

-- Huskers --