LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (February 28, 2008) – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania softball and bowling teams will make their much-anticipated debuts on Saturday March 1.
After three years of competing as a club team, the softball team will play its first game as an NCAA-sponsored sport when it travels to West Chester University for a doubleheader beginning at noon. Meanwhile, the bowling team strikes right into action as a NCAA-sponsored sport when it competes in the super-competitive Alabama A&M Holiday tournament in Birmingham (Al.) against some of the nation's best programs.
The implementation of bowling and softball is part of the Lincoln student enhancement initiative approved by the Board of Trustees in April 2006. With the addition of bowling, softball and football, Lincoln's varsity teams have grown to 17. Football will play its first game in 48 years when it hosts George Mason University on August 30. Lincoln is in its first year of transition from Division III to Division II.
“History is a very important part of life,” Lincoln bowling coach Tim Lewis said. “I know that being the first at anything is important. I know that the ladies are waiting to bowl against someone besides themselves. I know most of the people are happy to see football back as a varsity sport. Most people don't know we have a bowling team. But one thing is for sure, being the first is something you can only do once. I'm very proud of that fact.”
The Lions bowling team is in a tournament dominated by heavyweights. Nine of the 16 schools in the tournament are ranked in the recent NCAA Top 20 including No. 1 Nebraska, No. 2 Vanderbilt (2007 NCAA Champion) and No. 3 Maryland-Eastern Shore. Lincoln will play 10 games over two days.
The competition is equally challenging for the softball team as they meet West Chester in a doubleheader. West Chester plays in the tough PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference), which produced five NCAA tournament teams in 2007 including Lock Haven University, the NCAA runner-up last year and second-ranked team in the country. West Chester finished with a 19-28 record last season.
“This is a young team both as a school and in terms of playing experience,” Lincoln softball coach Chris Cummings said. “Very few had high school experience and none have travel ball which would have helped prepare them for the stage they are about to step onto. I am very excited about the season. This will be the first varsity team to take the field and start a new era in Lincoln sports. I think it is an exciting time.”
The softball and bowling teams highlight a busy weekend for Lincoln's spring sports. The men's and women's indoor track and field team will compete in New York on Friday and Saturday and then at George Mason on Sunday afternoon.
The baseball team will look for its first victory of the season when it participates in the Harrisonburg (Va.) tournament where it will play doubleheaders against Pittsburgh-Bradford (Saturday) and Dickinson College (Sunday).
Fans can get complete results and recaps throughout the weekend at www.lulions.com
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