Husker Bowling: Martin Named NTCA Player of the Year
The Nebraska bowling team took home several awards Thursday night at the NCAA Bowling National Championship banquet, highlighted by Jillian Martin earning NTCA Player of the Year honors.
Martin led the country in eight National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) recognized individual categories in 2024-25, while averaging a nation-leading 218.95 average with a game high of 279. Martin also leads the nation in individual scoring average (22.086 per frame), as well as strike percentage (59.9%) and six other NTCA individual season stats.
Additionally, Martin earned her third straight first-team selection, as she bowled in 45 games for the Huskers this season, finishing with a 218.95 average, best for third in Nebraska bowling history. The junior claimed three top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes, including a runner-up placement at the Garden State Classic. Martin averaged 200+ pins in each tournament this season and scored a high game of 279.
Three other Huskers were selected to the All-America teams announced Thursday evening. Kayla Verstraete was named to the first team for her fourth-career honor, freshman Kayla Starr was named to the second team for her first-career honor, and Anna Callan earned honorable-mention honors.
Verstraete was honored for the fourth time in her career, and for the first time earned a first-team selection. Verstraete finished with 210 average, and finished in the top-15 in five of the eight tournaments she participated in, earning runner-up honors at the Big Red Invitational.
Starr received second-team honors in her first collegiate season, after being honored with a First Team All-Rookie selection. The freshman competed in eight of the Huskers’ nine tournaments, averaging a 212.24 on the season. Starr finished in the top 15 in four tournaments, including a fifth-place finish at the Garden State Classic.
Callan earned an honorable-mention selection, her first career all-america award. Callan competed in every tournament for the Huskers, despite a foot injury going into the Big Red Invitational. She finished with a 208.53 average and posted four top-15 finishes. The junior eclipsed the 1,000+ pin mark in seven of the nine tournaments the Husker competed in.
Martin is the 12th collegiate bowler of the year for the Huskers, the first since Crystal Elliott in 2021. The Huskers also add to their illustrious NTCA All-American count, moving up to a nation-leading 90.
The Huskers were recognized for leading the nation in five statistical categories. They boasted the nation’s best win-loss percentage (79.8%) with a 91-23 record, led the country in traditional frame average (21.113) and baker frame average (20.931), and had the highest baker double percentage (55.8%) and strike percentage (54.1%), finishing in the lead of five of the seven NTCA recognized team statistics.
The Big Red will compete on Friday, April 11, in Las Vegas at the 2025 NCAA Bowling Championship in a first-round matchup against Youngstown State. The first ball will be thrown at 11 a.m. (CT) as the two teams face off in a mega match, provided at NCAA.org.
Stay up to date with the action by following the Nebraska Women's Bowling Twitter (@HuskerBowling), Instagram (@huskerbowling) and Facebook.