KUTZTOWN, Pa. (January 28, 2012)—Senior
Kayla Jones (Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop ) of the Kutztown University bowling team was joined by 30 seniors in a commemorative Senior Day celebration that paid tribute to every senior participating at the Kutztown Invitational earlier Saturday morning at Heister Lanes.
Before starting day two of the KU Invitational that features six traditional team matches, Kutztown University head coach
Joseph Ambrose took over the microphone to express his gratitude for Jones and her dedication to the program.
“KJ was my first recruit so today is somewhat bittersweet,” Ambrose said. “Kayla has been a huge factor in Kutztown's success and I'm really proud of her.”
Jones' teammates handed her a bouquet of flowers along with a memory board that was bursting with pictures throughout the years and signed messages from her friends and loved ones as she stood along in the center lanes of the bowling alley.
What came as a surprise to all is when Ambrose announced over the speakers that he would like for every senior to join Jones for what he would began to make an annual event during the future KU Invitational. As cameras flashed from every direction, each senior stood proudly, grinning from ear to ear, united in a sense of accomplishment.
“I didn't know Coach was going to do that,” Jones said. “I'm really good friends with a lot of the girls from other schools. I've known some of them longer than my teammates so it was really special to share it with them knowing that this will be the last time we're in this place together.”
Jones' presence to the KU bowling family will be deeply missed which became evident as past Kutztown bowlers were in attendance to take part in the celebration.
Jones has been a leading lady for the Golden Bears during her four-year stint. She has racked up several awards for her talent on the lanes as well as academic accolades. Jones dazzled in KU's first game on Saturday morning as she rolled a game-high 255 against Penn State-Altoona to lead Kutztown to a 957-811 win. Additionally, Jones who rolls in the anchor position closed the game out with a bagger, better known as four consecutive strikes.
“We started really well this morning,” Jones said. “I'm really excited and I just want to help my team out by doing my best.”
Jones, a leisure and sports studies major from Johnstown, PA will graduate in May and has her sights set on coaching in the future. Jones' entire life has been encompassed by bowling as her mother managed a bowling alley for several years while she was a little girl. When asked what Jones was the better bowler, Jones' mother replied with a chuckle, “When Kayla started beating me, I put away the ball.”
Kutztown has four more traditional games to complete on Saturday. Sunday's events will also conclude with an awards ceremony. Tournament awards will be given to the first, second, third and fourth place teams as a result of baker bracket position round matches on Sunday. Individual awards will consist of a MVP and All-Tournament Team. MVP and All-Tournament Team will be based on total pin fall for the six traditional team games.
