EMMITSBURG, Md. (June 28, 2022) – With much of the inaugural class from 2018-19 departing following their senior seasons, the Mount bowling team has plenty of positions to fill when it enters the 2022-23 campaign. But with several promising incoming student-athletes, the 2022 recruiting class announced by head coach Kenneth DeGraaf is sure to keep the Mountaineers on the right path for years to come.
 
Sierra Calo, Gianna McGahan, Aliza Shirk, Trishelle Leal-Uribe, and Laney Wells all signed with the Mountaineers and have the resumes to continue the Mount's reputation as a nationally ranked bowling program.
 
"It was important to us that this class was a reload, not a rebuild," said DeGraaf. "We are graduating some great seniors that helped start this thing up four years ago. They have laid down the foundation and then some, exceeding expectations for what a program is supposed to do in its first four years of existence. Now, that baton is being handed down to our returners and this talented incoming class. Those two groups combined not only will help us stay steady on the national level but will work hard to keep the trajectory going upwards."
 
Sierra Calo | Bell Creek Academy | Riverview, Florida
 
Calo joins departing senior Rebecca Dodson and junior Nichole Lewis in becoming the third Floridian to enter the Mount Bowling program. Calo had her fair share of success in the Sunshine State, capturing the individual state championship title her senior year at Bell Creek Academy. The incoming freshman has also made her name known nationally, placing 25th at the 2021 Junior Gold Championships and 3rd at the Storm Youth Championships in Orlando in 2020. She carries a 213 high school average, 300 high game, and 785 high series. 
 
"Sierra is a high energy player that is going to come in and look to make an immediate impact," said DeGraaf. "Her success in the talented bowling state of Florida and on the national level has prepared her well to succeed in college. She is a do-it-all athlete both on the lanes and in the classroom and that is the kind of athlete we love to have here at the Mount. She also has an 'always improve' mentality that I am hopeful will be contagious amongst herself and her teammates. She has the talent to come in and achieve a scoring pace similar to some of our departing seniors, which will help us fill a much missed void."
 
Trishelle Leal-Uribe | Universidad Valle De Mexico | Mexicali, Mexico
 
The first international player in program history, Leal-Uribe comes to the Mount from Mexicali, Mexico, in the state of Baja California. Leal-Uribe has competed on the biggest stages in her home country as well as the US. Back home, she has competed on behalf of Team Mexico at the Pan American Games, where she placed first in girls singles in 2019. In 2021, she took home gold at the Mexican National Games. Stateside, she placed ninth at the 2019 Junior Gold Championships and placed second at the California Pepsi State Championships after being crowned the District 8 Champion. She carries a 280 high game and 718 high series.
 
"The process of recruiting our first international student amidst a global pandemic has been challenging to say the least." said DeGraaf. "That being said, we would not have gone thru the process unless it was an individual we wanted here at the Mount. Trishelle embodies everything it means to be a Mountaineer. Her and her family have been pleasant to speak to in every Zoom interaction and everyone in the States I spoke to with knowledge of Trishelle raved not only of her physical game, but her kind and genuine personality. She has plenty of power behind her shots and is only going to further develop under our system. I cannot wait to see the impact she makes on our program."
 
Gianna McGahan | Gloucester Institute of Technology | Mullica Hill, NJ
 
McGahan is the first player from the Garden State to enter the program. A four-year varsity player for GIT and team captain, McGahan twice earned Most Improved Player recognition. She also has been named a New Jersey potential breakout candidate for high school bowling on two separate occasions. A key member of the three-time Olympic Conference tournament champions, McGahan had the seventh highest game recorded in NJ this past season with a 277 and the fourth highest series with a 719, a few pins shy of her 279 and 723 career highs.
 
"Of these five talented players, Gianna is the newest to the sport of bowling," said DeGraaf. "While some may consider that a disadvantage, as a coach it's a great sign. This means despite all her accolades that proves she is already prepared to compete at this level, there is so much potential left to tap out of her. I cannot wait to work with Gianna as she continues to develop her game and help our team. Her friendly personality made her an instant fit from the second she walked on our campus for her official visit. She will surprise a lot of people with all her future success, but not us. We know what she is capable of."
 
Aliza Shirk | Northern Lebanon High | Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania
 
Shirk comes to the Mount from Northern Lebanon High School in Fredericksburg, Pennsylania. Shirk has dominated youth bowling in the Keystone State, capturing five prestigious PJBT titles to date. In two of the most nationally acclaimed tournaments for youth bowling, Shirk placed 18th at both the Junior Gold Championships and Teen Masters competition in 2021. She was also the Kegel Cup champion in 2020. The NLHS team captain carries a high school bowling average of 227, high game of 300 and high series of 824.
 
"Aliza was one of the most sought after recruits in this part of the country and we are beyond glad she decided to make the Mount her home for the next four years," said DeGraaf. "She is one of those players that will wow you with the way the ball comes out of her hand, and she has the results to prove it with her track record. Every conversation I have had with Aliza has shown me a maturity and calmness not always common in newcomers. This is important as in one season we will turnover from one of the older teams to one of the younger teams in college bowling. There is no doubt we will look back in four years and be amazed at the mark Aliza has left on our program."
 
Laney Wells | Calvert High School | Port Republic, Maryland
 
Wells comes to the Mount from nearby Port Republic, Maryland. She joins departing Seniors Kayla Durbala and Tamera Stanton as the third Marylander to stay in their home state and bowl for the Mountaineers. A member of the 2019 USA Bowl National Championship team and 2018 USA Bowl Regional Championship team, Wells is no stranger to the spotlight. She is a three-time Virginia Pepsi State Champion and carries a 200 average, 289 high game, and 753 high series.
 
"We have been following Laney's career for a long time in large part due to her proximity to the Mount," said DeGraaf. "I always knew her as one of the better bowlers in the area and once it was permissible to open recruiting talks, I was delighted to hear her high interest in the Mount matched our interest in her. She has a tremendous amount of pride in her game and her involvement in the firefighting community, which makes Emmitsburg a great destination for her given its rich history with the FEMA National Training Emergency center in town. Laney has a fiery competitive spirit that you hate to compete against but love to have on your side. Lucky for us, she is a Mountaineer."    
 
Mount fans will get their first chance to see how the incoming freshman perform when the team opens their season at the Bud Whitman Memorial, Oct. 8-9, in New Castle, Delaware.