By: James McKeever
Going into Thursday’s match against South Plainfield, it was shaping up as a pretty good week for the Monroe High School boys bowling team.
The Falcons opened with two victories in a tri-match on Monday, beating a potent East Brunswick side 3-1 and Cardinal McCarrick 4-0. On Tuesday they went head-to-head with Woodbridge the GMC leader in average pinfall per match and came away with a 2-2 tie. Then on Wednesday, Monroe dealt St. Joseph’s its first loss of the season, 3-1.
The tie was the only blemish on the Falcons’ record prior to Thursday’s match. They stood at 8-0-1.
"So far so good," coach George Packard said after the St. Joseph’s match. "The kids were disappointed in the tie, but they came back geared up for St. Joseph’s. They knew St. Joe’s was undefeated. We try to go into each match with the same level of focus and intensity, but they try to step up their game against the bigger competition."
Monroe’s scores improved with each passing match: 2903 series Monday, followed by 3049 and 3114.
Gregg Puleio and Eric Wysokowski scored big against St. Joseph’s, each producing a 656 set. T.J. Van Gorden chimed in with a 629. Puleio fired games of 258 and 231. Wysokowski finished with a 248 and 243. Van Gorden rolled 243 and 229 games. Nick Zirkel finished with a 593 on the strength of a 222 and 203. Monroe won the first game, second game and total pins. St. Joseph’s took game three by 17 pins.
"Gregg has had the hot hand this year," Packard said of the sophomore Puleio. "He’s a little stronger since last year and he’s been through the league once as a freshman. T.J.’s bowled well for us, Eric is coming around. Nick bowled well against St. Joseph’s. It’s hard to single anybody out. Everybody has been chipping in."
Wysokowski was the big scorer in Monday’s tri-match. The senior fired games a 245-227-245 for a 717 set. Dan Trinkler backed him with a 612 that featured a 255 final game. Van Gorden chipped in with games of 208 and 200 en route to a 573 series.
In the Woodbridge match, Monroe was consistent with games of 1009, 1027 and 1013. Woodbridge won games one and three by close margins, but the Falcons took overall pins, 3049-3031. Wysokowski scored a 635 (235 and 224 games) while Van Gorden recorded a 624 (227, 248). Puleio came in with a 592 (233) and Trinkler had a 585 (202, 203).
The Monroe girls team captured its second victory of the season, shutting out Cardinal McCarrick 4-0 on Monday. The Falcons lost to East Brunswick 3½ to ½ on the same day (the teams tied in game two with 687s). After suffering a 4-0 loss to powerhouse Woodbridge on Tuesday and 3-1 to Mother Seton on Wednesday, Monroe had a 2-7 record.
"The girls have been bowling better," Packard said. "With the girls team we just want them to take baby steps."
Shannon Weber scored the highest in Monday’s tri-match with a 458. On Tuesday she rolled a 507.
On Wednesday the Falcons lost the first two games before earning a 732-706 victory in game three against Mother Seton. Monroe had four girls roll 400 sets: Nicole Chasan (459), Weber (453), Noelle Trinkler (418) and Jen Matikonis (401). Chasan had the team’s high game with a 192.
"Shannon Weber has been bowling very good and so has Jen Matikonis," Packard said.
On Saturday both Monroe teams will compete in the Joe Romer Tournament, an event at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes open to all GMC teams. Most conference teams will enter.
Next week the Falcons play in two tri-matches. On Monday they square off with J.P. Stevens and J.F. Kennedy. On Wednesday they compete against Piscataway and South River.

