Friday, April 09, 2010

Valparaiso sophomore Natalie Cortese (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates [Central Missouri]) was named a Brunswick/National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) Second Team All-American this week after leading the Crusaders on the lanes throughout their inaugural campaign.

Cortese led Valpo this season with a 195.5 average over 52 traditional games, including 22 games over 200 and a high game of 290 on October 24 at the Greater Ozark Invitational.  She earned tournament MVP honors at the Greater Ozark Invitational as well, averaging a 224.8, and later went on to earn tournament co-MVP accolades at the Kutztown Invitational in late January, where she averaged a 220.7.  She also tallied another top-five finish at Valpo’s inaugural Crusader Classic, posting a 200.6 average over the two-day event.