GREENVILLE, S.C. – Belmont Abbey's Hannah Whetzel and Richard Gucwa earned were honored with Conference Carolinas Women's Bowling awards Thursday, while seven players were named all-conference, the league office announced today. Whetzel was named Freshman of the Year, while Gucwa was honored by his peers as Coach of the Year for the second in four seasons. The 2025-26 all-conference awards were chosen by the league's head coaches.

Whetzel is the first Crusader in program history to take the freshman major award. She was selected Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Month in November and posted an average of 178.7 over 166 frames.

Rich Gucwa, Jr., of Belmont Abbey was tabbed Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year for the second time this season. The last came in 2022-23.

Belmont Abbey had seven players selected to the all-conference team, the most of any team in the league. Canan Bademci, Kiersten Michel, Aubrey Lloyd, Hannah Whetzel, Laney Sasso, Emily Holian and Tara Kuster earned postseason honors.

The 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Bowling Championship takes place Friday through Sunday at Super Bowl Bellewood in Newport, Ky.
 

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2025-26 Conference Carolinas Women's Bowling All-Conference

Bowler of the Year
Kaitlin Dekowski, Emmanuel

Freshman of the Year
Hannah Whetzel, Belmont Abbey

Coach of the Year
Rich Gucwa, Jr., Belmont Abbey

First Team
Kaitlin Dekowski, Emmanuel
Hailey Jansky, Emmanuel
Canan Bademci, Belmont Abbey
Danielle Fendenheim, Emmanuel
Kiersten Michel, Belmont Abbey
Aubrey Lloyd, Belmont Abbey
Hannah Whetzel, Belmont Abbey
Laney Sasso, Belmont Abbey
Makayla Angel, Emmanuel
Megan Garrick, Emmanuel
Emily Holian, Belmont Abbey
Tara Kuster, Belmont Abbey