is boys SCT
champion
Rebel teams
sweeps SC divisions
McNamara
is boys SCT
champion
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN — It was quite a week for the Howell High School bowling teams.
Both the boys and girls teams put the finishing touches on their Shore Conference Southern Division Championships, and James McNamara became the Rebel bowler to win a Shore Conference title.
McNamara rolled a 661 series at Harmony Lanes in Middletown to share the individual title with Bobby Rohe of Keyport. His best single game, 228, was the third best.
Rebel coach Dave Clampffer said that he was not surprised that McNamara, a junior and three-year starter, was able to win the conference crown.
"He always had the potential," said Clampffer. "He led the division all year at over 200 a game.
"Jim works very, very hard on his game," he added.
It was typical McNamara at Harmony Lanes, according to his coach.
"He was very, very consistent for the day making his spares," Clampffer remarked. "It proved to be an asset.
"Others had higher single games, but not the consistency," he added.
McNamara rolled games of 219-214-228 on his way to the co-championship with Rohe.
Rohe, a sophomore, was an example of what Clampffer was referring to. The Red Raider had a single-game high of 276, but averaged under 200 in his other two games, falling into a tie with McNamara.
Andrew Schoenemann of Howell was eighth (567).
Howell’s boys finished sixth (2,866) behind champion Brick Memorial (3,059). Manalapan, which finished second to Howell in the division race this year, was the top area team scoring 2,981 and finishing third.
Howell’s girls finished fourth (2,554), and their season-long rivals from Manalapan were sixth (2,378). Brick Memorial made it a sweep for the Mustangs, winning the girls’ crown as well with a 2,853 score.
Liz Carragher of Howell was the top local finisher, taking fourth place following a 547 series.
Manalapan’s Jamie Manzo (509) was eighth, and her teammate Beth Krumholtz, 12th (482). Memorial’s Jessica Worsley was the individual SCT champion with a 667 series.
Manalapan’s girls chased Howell all the way this year in the division. It was a pair of 2-1 wins by the Rebels head-to-head that gave them the separation. The Rebels finished 50-4 while the Braves were 47-7. This was the fourth straight division crown for the Rebels and the most rewarding, according to Clampffer, because of the rivalry with Manalapan.
"It helped us more than anything," he explained. "They [Manalapan] were right there with us. It helped us stay focused and play our best."
Seniors Carragher and Emerald Platzer were the leaders of the 2004 champions. Amanda Pularz, Nikki Hartko, Amanda Jakubowski, Megan Miller and Erica Malangone made it a collective championship effort.
Rebel girls third
at state championships
Carragher and Platzer, the only members of the 2002 state championship team still on the Rebels, ended their careers on a high note Friday leading Howell to a third place at the NJSIAA State Championships at Carolier Lanes, North Brunswick.
The girls scored 2,736 and trailed only champion Brick (3,196) and Woodbridge (3,026).
Carragher bowled a 655 series and finished fifth. Her best game, 253, was the second best of the day. In the bowl-off to determine the individual state champion among the top five finishers, Carragher finished fourth.
Howell’s boys made history with their division title this year.
"It’s the first time we’ve won the division outright," noted Clampffer. "The boys won it our first year as a co-ed team."
The Rebels out-lasted Manalapan to win the championship with a 45-9 mark to Manalapan’s 40-14.
McNamara, Schoenemann, Geoff Whitaker, Trey Tomaino and Ryan Anzalone were the cornerstones of the title effort.
There is one thing that the Rebel boys and girls share, and that is their commitment to bowling.
"They have a dedication you don’t often see in high school," said Clampffer. "They breathe the sport. They love doing it."
And they love winning.