Melissa Stewart Season 2002-03

Honors and Awards

• 2003 NCBCA Academic All-American
• 2003 U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifier
• 2002 Junior Olympic Gold Finalist
• Three-time Florida Amateur Champion (2001-02-03)

2003-04 Outlook
Melissa Stewart proved to be an invaluable addition to the Husker bowling lineup last spring. After transferring from the University of Florida, Stewart led NU in games played (69) and total pinfall (13,386), while posting four top-10 finishes in eight tournaments. Her efforts propelled the Huskers to four tournament titles and a No. 2 national ranking, despite missing two-time All-American Shannon Pluhowsky and several other bowlers because of injuries. Straub said that Stewart’s contributions last season were one of the main reasons the Huskers remained near the top of the national rankings. In 2003-04, Stewart joins forces with Pluhowsky at the top of the lineup, giving the Huskers maybe one of the most effective 1-2 combinations in college bowling.

2002-03 Review
Stewart’s emergence was one of the main reasons the Huskers stayed near the top of the national rankings. The sophomore led NU in both pinfall (13,386) and games (69), missing one game all season. She posted four top-10 finishes, including a second-place showing at the Coca-Cola Classic, and finished in the top 25 in eight tournaments. Stewart averaged a 190 or better seven times, topped by her 204.571 average at the Coca-Cola Classic. She was also one of six current or former Husker bowlers to compete in the 2003 U.S. Amateur championship, where she finished 36th overall. Stewart also took home academic All-America honors from the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association, carrying a 3.60 GPA in advertising.

2001-02 Review
Stewart transferred to Nebraska for the start of the spring semester, but did not compete in any tournaments for the Huskers.

2000-01 Review
Stewart began her collegiate career bowling at the University of Florida. She appeared in six tournaments for the Gators’ club team, averaging a 179.76 in 51 games. She recorded three top-10 finishes, including a second-place showing at the Sunshine State Invitational.

Before Nebraska/Personal
Stewart attended Lincoln Park Academy, where she led her team to the Florida State High School Bowling championship, She averaged a 210 and and was her conference’s MVP all four years.The daughter of Clarence and Paulette Stewart, Melissa was born on Nov. 3, 1981, and has one sister, Dana. An advertising major, Stewart was named an NCBCA Academic All-American in 2003.