Olsen impressive at GMC Championships

By: James McKeever
   South Brunswick High School’s Mary Lynn Olsen took her game up a level last week in the GMC Individual Bowling Championships.
   Although Olsen walked away from the event just three pins shy of a top-10 finish and the medal that goes with it, her 11th-place finish in a talented bowling conference like this one is something Vikings coach Tara Burniston is proud of.
   Plus Olsen averaged 188 in her six tournament games, 31 pins above her 157 season mark heading into the tournament.
   "She was a little disappointed that she just missed out on a medal," Burniston said. "But she bowled really well to qualify and bowled above her average. Finishing 11th in the county is a good accomplishment, especially for a junior."
   In the opening round on Jan. 12, Olsen had the seventh highest series (606), which qualified her for the next round on Jan. 19 with 19 other bowlers. Those 20 girls rolled three more games, with the five highest scores (using the six-game total) moving on to the stepladder finals.
   In the second round Olsen fired off games of 160, 203, 157 to rack up a six-game total of 1126.
   The next day Olsen was ill and missed the Vikings’ dual match against Perth Amboy. South Brunswick responded with a 4-0 victory to break a six-game losing streak.
   "Coming into the match we had a higher average than Perth Amboy so we were hoping to get a win," Burniston said. "We really had a nice game. We had a lot of spirit, were focused and competitive. It felt great to finally get a win."
   With Christine Kelly leading the way with a 531 set and Yasmin Ulloa rolling a season-high 524 – her second straight match setting a new season high – the Vikings won total pins 2351-1687.
   On Tuesday the Vikings tied Old Bridge, winning game one 790-717 and total pins 2391-2349. Old Bridge won the second game 815-797 and game three 817-804. Olsen returned to throw a 532 series (215 high game) while Kelly turned in a 519 (205).
   The girls team took an 8-11-3 record into a tri-match on Wednesday against Mother Seton and Cardinal McCarrick. The regular season ends on Monday with a tri-match against North Brunswick and J.F. Kennedy that was postponed earlier this week.
   The South Brunswick boys team had an 8-10-4 record heading into Wednesday’s tri-match with St. Joseph’s and Cardinal McCarrick. The Vikings defeated Perth Amboy 3-1 last Thursday and lost to Old Bridge 4-0 on Tuesday.
   Adam Kinder sparkled in the Perth Amboy match with a 595 series, featuring a 246 game. Rob Kohutanycz recorded a 569 (208) and Matt Forthun a 565. Against Old Bridge the Vikings rolled games of 915, 946 and 934 for a 2795 total, but Old Bridge lit up the lanes for a 3115 series, eclipsing 1000 in the last two games. Kohutanycz produced a 620 set on the strength of 222 and 211 games. Billy Orchard fired off a 596 (225) and Forthun a 545 (213).
   In the GMC Individual Championships Forthun had the sixth-best series (680) in the first round, breaking out with a 279 middle game, and Kohutanycz sat in 12th place after a 642.
   In the second round on Jan. 19 Forthun opened with a 247 before settling for a 550 set. His 1230 six-game total – a 205 average – gave the sophomore a 15th-place showing in the field of 20. Kohutanycz had a 567 series (247 first game) for a 1209 total – 202 average – to place 17th.The Vikings boys also conclude their regular season on Monday in a tri-match vs. North Brunswick and J.F. Kennedy.
   The GMC boys and girls team tournaments will be seeded this weekend, with matches starting the middle of next week.