Kats add Dutch International to bowling squad
2/26/2019 9:15:00 AM | Women's Bowling
Sam Houston bowling coach Brad Hagen has added his first Dutch player ever to the 2019-2020 squad with the addition of Denise Blankenzee.
Blankenzee, from Julianadorp Netherlands, is joining the Bearkats as one of the most decorated youth national players to come out of the Netherlands. She has been a member of her youth national team since 2015 and a member of her adult national team since 2017. She is the three time Dutch Youth National Champion with her most recent championship being this last November and a three time Dutch Bowler of the Year recipient.
She is the 9th international bowler to join the Bearkat bowling program over its nine-season history and will be the 12th to have represented their national team as a Bearkat.
“Denise is a very talented young lady who has competed all over the world internationally for her country both on the youth national team and on the adult national team for the Netherlands,” Hagen said. “Denise's international exposure and competitiveness will fit in great with this team. This young woman has an extra gear when it comes to competition with discipline, and that's something that I really look for. She's competitively seasoned and still has a tremendous upside to her.”
Blankenzee's arrival to Sam Houston will be her third trip to the United States as she was In Las Vegas with her adult national team at the Combined World Championships in December 2017, as well as most recently this past summer in Detroit for the World Youth Championships. Additional championships include a German Championship, German All events Champion, and taking home for the Dutch, a Youth European Championship Gold Medal in the masters division in Helsinki which included a bronze in the team event as well.
She will bring in a very strong academic background from Junior College Julianadorp and plans to focus her academic future at SHSU studying International Business.
Other national team members who have joined the Bearkats or made their respective team as a Bearkat include: Dayna Galganski (Junior Team USA), Aida Sanchez (Dominican Republic Youth National & Adult team), Neishka Cardona (Puerto Rico Youth National & Adult team), Janine Kuwahara (Youth National Team-Philippines), Carrie Hopkinson (Canada Youth National & Adult Team), Lynne Fishler (Israeli Youth & Adult National Team Member). Heather Penatzer (2X Junior Team USA), Stephanie Zavala (Adult Team & Junior Team USA 2016-2017), Syasya Ismail (Singapore Youth National) Bea Hernandez (Philippine Adult National Team & Youth National Team)
