Valparaiso’s Amanda Cortese (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates [Central Missouri] has been named to the Brunswick All-Academic Third Team as selected by the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA), the NTCA announced today.  In addition, Cortese was joined by Ashley Busiel (Elk Grove Village, Ill./James B. Conant [Harper College]) and Gretchen VanHeeren (Bryon, Ill./Bryon) as All-Academic Honorees.

In their first year of existence, the Brunswick/NTCA All-Academic Teams are made up of fifteen bowlers spread over three teams, selected based upon both performance on the lanes and in the classroom.  In addition, any NCAA bowler who posts at least a 3.4 GPA during the most recent academic year is named an All-Academic Honoree.

Cortese received her Third Team honor after a stellar 2009-2010 season in both the classroom and in competition.  The sophomore ranked second on the team with a 186.0 average on the lanes in the Crusaders’ inaugural season, helping Valpo to a #10 national ranking by the end of the year.  Academically, Cortese carries a 3.63 cumulative GPA as a communications major.  Busiel holds a 3.68 cumulative GPA as a psychology major, while fellow freshman VanHeeren has a 3.472 GPA as a mechanical engineering major.