The College Report: Jessica Earnest seeking Team USA selection

By Editor | February 16, 2011 |

Jessica Earnest has never had to look very far for bowling competition. Her older sister, Josie Earnest, is more than enough competition for anyone. It is no surprise that Jessica is doing something that her sister did five times before turning 21: become a part of the Junior Team USA. The Vandalia grad drew one step closer to making the team after finishing fourth in a tournament among youth bowlers. She averaged a pin count of 202 over 36 games. She has one more step to be selected. The coaches will make their final decision on which bowlers will represent the United States in the Domincan Republic and in Orlando, Fla. If selected, it will be the second time that the younger Earnest sister has been named. She was also on the 2009 team, with Josie. ‘To be selected to represent your country is something special,’ said the Vanderbilt sophomore. ‘It is an indescribable feeling. My sister set the bar pretty high, and I have been trying to achieve that type of success. I love bowling and simply can’t get enough of it.’ In addition to representing the country, she has also been representing Vanderbilt very well this year. Vanderbilt finished second at the Capital Classic, which was held in Dover, Del. They were topped 4-1 by Fairleigh Dickinson University in the championship round. After FDU won the first game, Vanderbilt won the second game. FDU won the next three. In the Kutztown Invitational, Vanderbilt finished third behind FDU and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. Earnest finished in the top five and earned all-tournament status at the outing, which was held in Reading, Penn. The McKendree University Bearcats have won their last four games and are now in sole possession of first place in the American Midwest Conference. Eric Hobbie, a Vandalia grad, was in double figures in every game and posted a double-double in three of those games. One of his double-doubles was in the Bearcats’ most recent game, a 78-54 win over Missouri Baptist University. Hobbie scored 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and doled out five assists in the contest. He drained 5-of-13 from the field and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Hobbie also finished with 17 points and 14 boards in the 88-49 triumph over Hannibal-LaGrange University, and 20 points and 12 rebounds in the 81-63 whipping of William Woods University. He also had 22 points in a victory over Columbia College. Illinois College got 14 points from South Central grad Isaac Grapperhaus, but it was not enough to power past Grinnell College, which won a 98-91 decision. Grapperhaus hit 4-of-8 from the field and 6-of-8 from the stripe. Grapperhaus, who played 19 minutes after coming off the bench, also grabbed seven rebounds. IC also defeated Knox College 75-62 in the last week, as Grapperhaus scored seven points, grabbed four rebounds and had two steals. Illinois College is 14-7 overall and 10-6 in the Midwest Conference. It is currently in third place in the league, but has yet to clinch a spot in the MWC Tournament. The top four teams will earn a spot in the league tournament. St. Norbert College is 13-4 in league play, and it has clinched not only a spot in the league tournament, but the overall title as well. Grinnell is 11-6 in second place. Three teams are 10-6. In addition to IC, Ripon College and Lawrence University are also 10-6. The Greenville College Panthers are 13-8 overall and 7-6 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after topping Eureka College (86-73), MacMurray College (56-43) and Principia College (59-51). Former Vandalia athlete Laura Hobbie had eight points in wins over Eureka and Principia. In the triumph over Eureka, Hobbie, who started and played 28 minutes, finished with three rebounds and two assists. She had four steals and three rebounds in the win over Principia. The Greenville Panther sophomore had five points, four rebounds and four assists against MacMurray. Rachel Bell, a Vandalia grad and Iowa State University runner, finished 64th in the mile run at the Iowa State University Classic, which was held at the Harry Hoak Track in the Lied Center in Ames Iowa. Bell finished with a time of 5:40.51.