The William Smith bowling team, ranked seventh in the NTCA Division III preseason poll, will begin its third varsity season this weekend, Oct. 5-6, in the Mercyhurst Invitational.
 
The Herons are coming off a successful sophomore season that saw the program post a 50-23 record, earn a share of the AMCC regular season championship, secure the AMCC Tournament Championship and make its first NCAA Championship appearance.
 
Head Coach Heather Sterner will welcome back five Herons from last season, including the 2023 AMCC Bowler of the Year and the 2023 NTCA Division III National Rookie of the Year, and add four newcomers.
 
Senior Michaela Morgan thrived with the pressure on in her first season at William Smith. The transfer from Upper Iowa was voted the AMCC Bowler of the Year after leading Division III in strike percentage (45.8%). Morgan bowled a season-high 248 in the NCAA Regional win over Fayetteville State.
 
Sophomore Colleen Jump took home the rookie of the year award after leading Division III in single-pin spare conversion (91.9%). She led the AMCC in fill percentage on her way to All-AMCC honors.
 
Junior Caitlyn Anschutz helped win her second consecutive AMCC Championship. She started her career at Medaille, which won the 2023 title, then chose William Smith when Medaille closed, helping the Herons capture their first conference title last spring. Anschutz rolled a season-high 263 in the NCAAs against the Broncos.
 
Sophomore Tiana Wolkiewicz was a steady contributor last year and could play an expanded role this season. Junior Liz Krege also returns to add a veteran presence for the Herons.
 
The newcomers include a transfer from Sacred Heart and three first-years.

• McKenzie Pantola is the former Pioneer and has the talent to make an immediate impact on the lineup.
• Brooke Gervais is a Maine State Champion. She comes to campus from the iconic Bayside Bowl, where the PBA elite league competes.
• Angela Ciccone is a walk-on with tremendous potential.
• Sarah Shoobe is a two-sport Heron, currently competing with the William Smith soccer program.

 
On the heels of last season's success, Sterner upgraded the team's schedule to face a more challenging slate of opponents at top level events like this weekend's Mercyhurst Invitational and the Ebonite Hawks Soar Higher Invitational as well as return trips to the Northeast Roundup and the Niagara Classic.