By: Stacey Gorski
As the end of the interscholastic bowling season approaches, junior Cyndi Fregoni has emerged among the elite bowlers in the section, while the boys will compete in their sectional competition this Saturday. Should any of the boys qualify in the top nine of the section, they will accompany Fregoni to the state tournament on Feb. 16.
Last Saturday, Fregoni finished 10th in the sectionals with a 564 series (199-213-172).
"I want to get higher than 10th," Fregoni said of her goal in the states, "I want to be in the top with (Edison’s) Tracey Bowler and (Woodbridge’s) Vicky Stratford."
While Fregoni and the boys have the chance to reach their individual goals at the sectional and state levels, both teams have been eliminated from title contention.
"The boys have had trouble with team strategies at various times all season," coach Marisol Ciccone said, "While the girls tried all week to stick it together."
In the past week, both teams were eliminated in the second round of the Greater Middlesex County team tournament by Colonia.
"The boys went down fighting," Ciccone said, "And the girls were still in a bit of a slump."
The boys lost 2-1 in the best-of-three match-up, beating Colonia in the opening frames and then losing the second two games. The boys’ score 923-908-937-2768 was among their average outings this season, but with one varsity bowler suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct, the team still fought their way to the end.
Leading the way was junior co-captain Ross Winiarz, who bowled a 665 series, with all three of his games over 200. Sophomore Chris Barge had the second highest series for the Vikings, a 564.
The girls, too, won the first game, posting an 845 and winning by one pin. Then they dropped the second two games on team scores of 802 and 775.
"They did not have a great day," Ciccone said, "They started low and went lower."
Leading the way was junior co-captain Lisa Hanan who bowled a 545 series. "After that," Ciccone said, "Nobody really had a good day."
Perhaps the issue for the girls was one of peaking too soon this season. After a break-out performance in the Central Jersey Winter Classic a couple of weeks ago when they beat Woodbridge, Edison and Howell, all teams in contention for the state tournament, the girls have lost a little steam.
"I don’t think we paced ourselves," Fregoni said, "We fired up too soon, and then sort of cooled off."
After the losses to Colonia last Thursday, both teams took out their frustrations in a regular season match-up with Franklin.
The girls won 4-0 posting a 893-774-791-2485. With senior co-captain Sheena Olsen missing the match, sophomore Lisa Nicolaison stepped and her series (186-167-159) was among the team leaders for the day.
Hanan again bowled well (163-165-179), and Fregoni had the best single game of the day with a 194. The boys, too, won 4-0 behind another bowler who has stepped up big when provided with the opportunity. Freshman Billy Orchard’s 600 series (174-213-213) was the team’s second best series of the day.
"He was playing JV all season," Ciccone said, "He had subbed in a couple of times this season, but now he fills the fifth spot, and he will bowl in states."
Winiarz again had a good day, posting a 639 series (210-226-203), and senior co-captain Nick Rocco bowled a 569 series (168-189-199).
"That was the high end for Nick," Ciccone said, "And it is good to see him picking it up as we are winding down this year."
The coach is also hopeful for Winiarz, as he, along with his teammates, will compete in the sectional individual tournament.
"If he keeps bowling this way, he will have a shot at making the cut for states," Ciccone said, "The top five boys all bowl over 700, so he is going to have to get around a 650 to make it."
Besides the individual sectionals and state competitions, both teams will compete in open scholastic tournaments.
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Meanwhile, some of the bowlers like Fregoni will look to keep sharp as the their competitions become more and more spread out across the calendar.
"I just signed up for three leagues, and I practice every day," Fregoni said, "I also watched Edison and Woodbridge (in the GMC) yesterday so I can learn from their mistakes and keep improving."
Even as the season approaches its end, there is no stopping the momentum and desire to improve.
"We get to keep going for another couple of weeks," Ciccone said, "It should work out well."