Honors & Awards
- NTCA All-American (Third Team, 2014)
- NTCA Scholastic All-American (2016)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2016)
- Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award (2016)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2014, 2015, 2016; Spring 2016)
- Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2015, 2016, 2017)
2015-16 (Senior)
Melanie Crawford wrapped up her two-year career as a Husker by providing experience and leadership to the 2016 national runner-up. Crawford finished the season with an average of 201.2, producing better than a 200 average in six of NU’s 10 events in 2015-16.
Crawford led the Huskers with a 217.8 average at the SFA Stormin’ Ladyjack Classic in her home state of Texas, finishing fourth overall and helping the Huskers to a third-place finish. She was also strong at the TRACK Kat Klash, finishing ninth overall with a 204 average to lead the Huskers to the tournament victory.
The third bowler in Nebraska’s rotation, Crawford finished 13th overall with an average of 207.8 at the NCAA Championship, helping the Huskers to a second-place finish.
She continued her strong work outside the lanes as a senior, earning NTCA Scholastic All-America and academic All-Big Ten accolades. She also claimed spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters. Crawford earned a prestigious Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award, and was named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team for her work in the community in 2016.
Crawford was one of 20 Nebraska student-athletes to participate in the “No Filter” trip to the Dominican Republic in May of 2016. The group helped local communities by building a sports court, spending time with children and working with a muralist to create a mural on a community center building.
2014-15 (Junior)
Crawford settled in nicely with the Husker women’s bowling team in 2014-15, as primarily the second bowler in the five-woman rotation in Baker format play. An All-American in 2014 at Stephen F. Austin, Crawford played a significant role in defeating the Ladyjacks in the NCAA Championship.
The Allen, Texas, native had an incredible run at the NCAA Championship for the Huskers, as Crawford complied a 212 average throughout the three-day competition. Crawford hit several timely strikes and spares in the championship match to give NU the victory.
Crawford was at her best at the Central Missouri Women’s Invitational, as she rolled the Huskers’ only perfect 300 game of the season during the second day of competition.
Crawford compiled a season pinfall average of 203.2 in 44 games.
She was named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall, and at season’s end Crawford was chosen for the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team for her outstanding work in the community.
Before Nebraska (Stephen F. Austin/Allen HS)
Crawford joined the Nebraska bowling program after spending her first two collegiate seasons at Stephen F. Austin. A third-team NTCA All-American in 2014, Crawford was a two-time letterwinner at SFA.
She was a four-year member of the Allen High School bowling team in Plano, Texas. She produced a 224 average as a senior in 2011-12 - the highest average of any high school bowler in Texas. Crawford led Allen to a state championship in 2009 and a runner-up finish in 2010.
In 2012, she recorded the highest game, series and average in Texas. Crawford was named to the state regional team and competed at the USBC Junior Gold for four years. She also placed in the top 16 at the Junior Gold Championships.
Personal
Melanie is the daughter of David and Carol Crawford. Melanie has three sisters, Kristina Crawford and Bailey and Kaitlyn Lamaster. Melanie was born on July 29, 1994, in Plano, Texas. She earned her bachelor's degree from Nebraska in December of 2016 after majoring in human resource management. She earned NTCA Scholastic All-America and academic All-Big Ten honors in 2016. She was a four-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. Crawford earned a prestigious Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award in 2016 and was a member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2015, 2016 and 2017.