Cheesman, Rickert and Robbins named all-conference

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 4, 2024) – The Milligan University women's bowling team had three student-athletes tabbed as all-conference honorees by the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) on Monday.

Sophomore Emily Cheesman and graduate student Brianna Rickert were named All-SSAC First Team. Junior Allison Robbins collected All-SSAC Second Team status.

Cheesman repeats as an All-SSAC First Team selection. She ranks No. 45 nationally across all of collegiate bowling with a 191.739 average in 46 games this season. Cheesman was the tournament runner-up at the MSC Lynne Jordan Memorial and a top-25 finisher in eight of 10 events this season. A clutch performer at Tier 1 events, Cheesman's average rose to 194.864 in 22 Tier 1 games with three top-20 finishes.

Rickert turned in her finest collegiate season on her way to All-SSAC First Team honors. She posted an average of 188.705 pins in 44 games, five top-25 finishes and logged a seventh-place showing at the Tier 1 Roto Grip Keystone Quaker Classic. Rickert closed the season as the No. 62 player in all of collegiate bowling.

"Brianna and Emily have been rock solid for the ladies this year and I'm so glad to see them get acknowledged for their hard work," said head coach Brian Rickert. "They're both tremendous competitors and it's nice as a coach to be able to know you're getting your best from them each and every time they compete."

Robbins joined Cheesman and Rickert as a top-100 player by finishing the season as the No. 82 individual in the nation this season. In 43 games she recorded an average of 186.86 and earned all-tournament honors as the runner-up at the MSC Brandon Burns Memorial. Robbins added another top-10 at the NAIA Southeast Open and finished with four top-25 showings in her first season as a Buff.

"What can I say about Allison… her addition to the team and her consistent determination to excel has been a fantastic motivator for the ladies," said Rickert. "She works so hard and wants it so badly that it makes me want to run down the lane and knock the pins down for her! Her experience has been great for this young team."

In the second season in program history the Buffs broke into the top 20 of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) online ranking system. Milligan finished as the conference runner-up at the SSAC Championships and earned an invite to the USBC intercollegiate sectionals. The Buffs head to Addison, Ill. for sectionals on March 9-10.