As Graduation Nears, Hawks Senior Bowler Credits Success to 'Sportsmanship'

Manchester high school senior Amanda DeMauro possesses an impressive bowling resume.

She finished first place in the 2009-10 N.J. Junior Gold Sport Travel League Girls Division, rolled a 724 to earn the 2009-10 Shore Conference A South high series, helped lead the Hawks to the 2009 NJSIAA Group II state title, and that only scrapes the surface. 

Her reason for success goes beyond just a natural talent. She summed up the lessons's she's learned over her years bowling for Manchester in one word.

“Sportsmanship," DeMauro said, "is the most important thing.”

Sportsmanship can be viewed in different ways: an athlete’s respect for the game, civility in victory and defeat, or dedication to a strong work ethic with an aim to improve.

Amanda is the rare athlete who takes these skills beyond her sport and applies them to her everyday life.

While bowling for Manchester, DeMauro maintained a 3.92 GPA through junior year with a course load that included advanced placement and honors courses.

DeMauro admitted that it was “definitely challenging” to maintain her GPA with her bowling schedule, especially with midterms falling during bowling season. 

Some parents might worry that participation in a high school sport may interfere with their child’s academic success. That was never the case in the DeMauro household, as her father Phil DeMauro describes his daughter as someone who “knows what the big prize is."

"This is a kid we never had to tell her to do her homework or anything like that," he said. "She’s very self-motivated.”

This strong work ethic is a common theme echoed by those who know Amanda, as her high school bowling coach Mike McCrae said that she was a bowler who was “constantly practicing and constantly striving to learn more and more about the game, and she still does it.” 

McCrae is quick to point out that this dedication goes beyond just her bowling. 

“Whenever she takes a strong interest in something," he said. "She goes all out to learn everything she can about it, and really be a part of what she’s trying to do.”

DeMauro caught the attention of the Monmouth University bowling team, and on November 10, 2010, she signed a letter of intent to join the school's bowling team next year. 

“I knew that was really where I wanted to go,” she said.

DeMauro said that she felt “great” the day she signed the letter of intent. It was a “huge weight off my shoulders” to know in November where she would be going to school, she said.

The accomplished bowler has already declared psychology as her major, a subject she speaks about with energy in her voice after working with her mother at special education school.

That experience helped foster a love of helping children for DeMauro, who realized she wanted a career that would allow her to help children.

DeMauro points to her fourth place finish at the 2009 individual stepladders tournament, a contest that is normally more stressful than the typical high school bowling tournament, as the achievement of which she's most proud.

Even though she didn’t take the top spot, she felt accomplished posting a 226 game in a tournament she described as being, “all eyes on you."

"I’m just proud of myself for being able to bowl under that kind of pressure,” she said.

As with any sport, bowling requires a big commitment from parents. For Christine and Phil DeMauro, it meant weekends on the road keeping up with their daughter's travel schedule, including trips to Indianapolis the last two years for nationals. 

"They’ve always been there and supported me," DeMauro said.

Years of balancing work and their daughter's schedule was a challenge, DeMauro's parents said, that came with rewards.

“It’s well worth it," said mother Christine DeMauro.

DeMauro is quick to express the appreciation she has for her parents. 

“They’ve been extremely supportive of me," she said. "They’ve always been there for me, every weekend traveling for my travel league, or their bringing me to my leagues or tournaments."

DeMauro will soon depart Manchester high school and offered some advice for her teammates — words that have helped her.

“Always have sportsmanship. Be friendly, be happy for yourself, be happy for other people," she said. "Always be grateful for what you have.”