Scotch Plains Surpasses Union Catholic in Bowling Season Opener

It was a good day for bowling for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School team.

Wednesday was the day when the first pins fell, and Jersey Lanes in Linden was packed with all of the Union County teams.

The Raiders swept Union Catholic in the season opener for both teams. Scotch Plains is 7-0, while Union Catholic is 0-7. Teams receive two points for each game won while the team with the most points in the three games garners a point or wood.

Scotch Plains just had too much balance for Union Catholic. The Vikings were led by John Galletley, who had a 191 in the first game and a 184 in the third game.

In addition, Union Catholic had a smattering of quality games from A.J. Hyppolite, with a 163 in the second game, and Eric Twaddle, with a 163 in the third game. Meanwhile Mike Pribush chipped in a 171 in the second game and a 163 in the third game.

But the Raiders had too much muscle on the lands and equaled or surpassed Union Catholic's quality games. Scotch Plains would get much better results from the likes of junior Mike Tufaro, junior Greg Budis and senior Peter Cetera.

The Raiders showed their skill the most in the second game when they totaled a score of 1,009, led by 214 by Tufaro and 210 by Cetera. Budis chipped in a 206 score.

With a 612 series for a 204 average, Tufaro said he said that he is just warming up.

"We are trying to get the highest series in the league," said Tufaro, whose career high game is 267.

In response to Tufaro’s proclamation, Scotch Plains head coach James Mason said: "If that is his goal, it is a good goal.”

Despite being the first match of the season, Tufaro thought the team was well prepared for the season after five practices.

"It actually was not that bad," said Tufaro, who is just coming off of playing football.

Mason said that they are not getting ahead of themselves.

"We're just taking it one game at a time," he said.
 
In addition to the trio of Tufaro, Cetera and Budis, the Raiders had some nice contributions from the other two bowlers on the varsity: senior Katarina Nier and sophomore Nick Stawicki. Nier had her best game against the Vikings in the second with 188 pins. On the other hand, Stawicki saved the best for last with a score of 204 in the third game.

Mason said that all five bowlers can contribute to the victory.

"We have a balance team," he said, "but more importantly we have someone who can pick someone up who might be down."