Reloaded West Deptford Girls' Bowling Team Sets Eyes on States

This could’ve been the year the girls’ bowling team took a step back: With three seniors gone and plenty of question marks through the lineup, head coach Aaron Burr was hedging his bets on making a return trip to states.

“I knew it was going to be difficult to repeat our success from last year,” he said.

Difficult, but not impossible.

And, as it turns out, maybe very possible.

Burr’s three new starters—Sarah Brown, Maddie Miller and Jaylynne King—have helped propel the girls back to their form from last year, notching a top-20 ranking in the state by the Newark Star-Ledger.

Now, with sectionals set to go this morning at Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade, the girls said there’s no reason they can’t fight for a spot among the best in the state again.

King, who’s been the leadoff bowler most days for the team, said she’s gotten past early-season nerves, and looked to last year’s team for inspiration as the Eagles gelled to make their push this year.

“We just used them as an example all year,” she said.

Sarah Brown echoed King’s sentiments, and said the key to the season has been the team’s ability to come together and figure out how they can work together to peak at the right times.

“We’ve adjusted pretty well so far,” she said.

For Miller, who Burr called a pleasant surprise find as the varsity team’s lone freshman, it’s been about finding her place in the team, something she said junior standout Morgan Brown has been able to help her with.

“I know I can trust her,” Miller said. “It’s just a matter of taking everything in and trying my best to use what she gives me.”

Morgan Brown said she’s kept focused on the positives of her new teammates, knowing their top game might not be up to her top game—not surprising, given her standing as the top average in South Jersey—and said they’ve all thrown in to make it a true team effort.

“As long as they’re trying and working as hard as they can, that makes me the happiest person in the world,” she said.

With a 214 average—50 pins more than her closest conference rival and 90 pins more than some girls in the top 15—Morgan Brown is unquestionably the team’s anchor, and having her at the bottom of the lineup is a huge advantage, Burr said.

“Morgan’s like having an extra bowler,” he said.

Her teammates had high praise, as well; Steph Fanelli said Morgan Brown’s like no other girls’ bowler she’s ever met, in terms of form and dedication.

“She’s like our safety net,” Fanelli said. “She’s there to catch us when we fall.”

With any luck, they won’t need that net today, as they set their sights on punching their ticket back to Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick with a high finish at sectionals starting at 9:30 a.m.