By: James McKeever
Matt Forthun knows what it’s like to be a freshmen competing on a varsity team. He did it in bowling and in baseball at South Brunswick High School.
Now, a seasoned junior and three-year starter, Forthun has made newcomers to the Vikings’ bowling team feel welcome this season. He cheers them on and offers words of wisdom whenever possible.
But Forthun has been much more than a cheerleader and advisor. He happens to be South Brunswick’s best bowler whose play at the lanes speaks as loudly as his words of encouragement.
"I’ve tried to make the new guys on the team feel comfortable because you can’t bowl well if you’re not comfortable," said Forthun. "I remember what it was like when I was a freshman and how nervous I was at first."
South Brunswick took a 6-4 record into Wednesday’s tri-match with South Amboy and North Brunswick, a big difference from last season’s 2-6 start en route to an 11-13-4 final record.
Forthun has been solid and steady from the start, averaging 200 through Tuesday’s games. His high game is a 247, his best series a 661. Last year Forthun averaged 194.
"He’s been our most consistent bowler and our best bowler," said Vikings coach Brian Burniston. "He’s our leader. He bowls first and likes to set the tone. He’s our most consistent spare shooter."
With juniors Devin Burk, Matt Goddard and sophomores Chris DeSouza and Matt Sichel joining the varsity this season, Forthun knew he would be counted on to show the way. He embraced the opportunity.
"I like being a leader," said Forthun, who also played football as a freshman and sophomore and plans on playing again as a senior after taking a season off. "I tried to give the new guys a boost until they got their feet wet. We have good bowlers and we can be a great team."
"Matt has his head on his shoulders and very seldom does he get rattled," Burniston said. "He’s not a ‘rah-rah’ guy. He’s more of a quiet leader. He drives the team."
Forthun’s presence has benefited DeSouza, who is second on the team with a 196 average. Burk is third at 184. Sophomore Jared Kohutanycz averages 176, Sichel 175 and Adam Kinder 165. Goddard has bowled six varsity games and averaged 176.
Last Saturday the Vikings finished 11th in the Joe Romer Invitational, but DeSouza rolled the third-highest game of the tournament with a 258.
On Monday South Brunswick gained a split in a tri-match, defeating Bishop Ahr 4-0 while losing to Woodbridge 4-0. The Vikings knocked down 2,876 pins, with Forthun (201-247-634), Sichel (227-614) and DeSouza (214-586) leading the scoring.
Despite losing to Old Bridge 3-1 on Tuesday, Burniston said the Vikings walked away with their heads high after a strong finish. After rolling an 865 in the first game, the Vikings produced 994 and 991 sets for a 2,850. They only lost the third game by 11 pins.
"I really think we came together as a team in that match," said Burniston, the Vikings’ first-year coach. "I told the team that I had heard in the past that if South Brunswick lost the first game, they were done. I wanted that to stop. And they showed me something after losing that first game to Old Bridge. After that we really rooted for each other and pulled for each other like we hadn’t done all season."
The South Brunswick girls team entered Wednesday’s match with a 9-1 record. In a matchup of undefeated teams on Monday, the Vikings lost to Woodbridge, 3-1, but defeated Bishop Ahr 4-0 in the tri-match.
Tara Burniston, the girls coach, was proud of her girls since they defeated Woodbridge 895-857 in the first game, Woodbridge’s only game loss in 11 matches this season.
"We bowled really well so I can’t be too disappointed losing to Woodbridge," Burniston said. In the second game the Vikings dipped to 807, but closed Monday’s match with a 980 for a 2,682. But Woodbridge put up an incredible 1,125 third game in its 2,938 set. Jen Tamulevicz led the Vikings with a 562 set (220 high) and Suzanne Bleacher fired off a 546 (227).
South Brunswick defeated Old Bridge 3-1 on Tuesday. Tamulevicz led the way with a 541 (208) and Meghan Nagle rolled a 521 (202).
Through Tuesday’s games Bleacher led the team with a 183 average. Allison Nagle was averaging 179, followed by Tamulevicz (175), Meghan Nagle (166) and Mary Lynn Olsen (164).
After facing Middlesex and New Brunswick in a tri-match today (Thursday), both Vikings team won’t return to action until Jan. 2.

