Hawks Bowlers Look to Continue Successes Heading Into Season

After last year's successes, the boys and girls bowling teams are looking to continue that momentum when their season kicks off on Friday.

"The Lady Hawks are looking strong," said coach Mike McCrae. "Senior captains Julie Taylor and Olivia Osterberg have the team ready to go."

Boys coach Bryan Vargas also expects another strong showing from his squad. 

"We are very excited about this season and all the accomplishments we can achieve," he said. 

Last season,  won the Shore Conference A South, were the NJSIAA South Jersey Group II sectional champions for the fifth consecutive year and were the overall Group II state champions for the third consecutive year.

The girls ended their regular season in first place, finishing one point ahead of Brick Township.

 took home the NJSIAA South Jersey Group II sectional championship title.

They finished in second place in the regular season, 20 points behind Brick Memorial and one point ahead of Toms River East.

Both teams will face off against Brick Memorial to start their seasons on Friday, 3 p.m. at Ocean Lanes in Lakewood.

In addition to coming in one spot behind Brick Memorial during the regular season last year, the Hawks also finished second to their rival in the Shore Conference Tournament.

"I feel confident we will beat Brick Memorial in the season opener, so long as we stay focused," Vargas said. "Brick Memorial is always a strong team and we can't take any team lightly."

The team will enter the season with one fewer senior bowler than last year, but still retains a strong lineup, Vargas said, which includes senior Alan Garcia, who last year averaged a 212 and rolled two 300 games within eight days. 

Other returning bowlers are seniors Ryan Kenny, Christian Robinson and Marc Stutler, junior Dezmyn Edmond, and sophomores Travis Gionattasio, Jimmy Claus, Dan Piskowski, Alex Simsen, Shawn Wernoch and Frank White.

Newcomers to the team are sophomore Domenick Palmiotto and freshmen Anthony Bailey, Chris Lietz and Matthew Sullivan. 

The girls team defeated Brick Memorial in conference matches last year, McCrae said, though he noted that "it's hard to take any team lightly and Brick Memorial is no exception."

"They have always been a formidable team, and I'm sure coach [Dave] Thompson has them as ready for Friday as we are," he said. 

In addition to his two senior bowlers, McCrae said that junior Tina Shahinian, sophomore Kelsey Jrumeich and freshman Julia Ott will round out the varsity squad.

Juniors Jessica Piccard and Nicole Hodges, sophomore Justine Applegate and freshman newcomers Kaitlyn Kettmann, Stephanie Tremper, Susan Squibb and Emily Stein are "waiting in the wings with that 'put me in attitude,'" McCrae said. 

On Saturday, the Hawks will travel to Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick for the Bishop Ahr Holiday Classic.

"Look for both teams to do well," McCrae said.

The teams will next see regular season action versus Toms River South on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m. at Ocean Lanes.