By: James McKeever
As a coach of a high school sports team, sometimes you never know what you’re going to get out of a freshman. That’s especially true in the early part of a freshman’s season.
Although this season is barely a week old, already Nick Chen, a ninth-grader, has experienced the highs and lows of a rookie for the Monroe boys bowling team.
After starting the season with a lackluster performance in the Bishop Ahr Holiday Classic, Monroe started its dual-match schedule with a 4-0 loss to Colonia on Monday. Then came Tuesday’s match against Carteret, and with Chen’s help, the Falcons had something to feel good about with a 3-1 victory.
"Today, Nick had a good day," said Monroe coach George Packard.
Monday wasn’t such a good day as Chen rolled a 526 series and the Falcons had a 2,629 set in the loss to Colonia. But the Monroe newcomer showed his potential on Tuesday, firing off games of 200-237-223 for a 660 series. That pushed the Falcons to a 2,894 for the first victory of the season.
Gregg Puleio helped fuel the triumph with a pair of 224 games and a 607 set, Derek Witt (554) chipped in with games of 202 and 201 and Shawon Danser threw a 210 game and a 551 series.
"We bowled much better (on Tuesday)," said Packard.
In Monday’s match Puleio stood out with 202 and 221 games in a 595 series while Dan Seyfried threw a 202 game.
In the Bishop Ahr Holiday Classic, Monroe rolled a 2,705 series to finish in the middle of the pack (27th out of 47 teams).
"I’m not sure why we didn’t bowl so well in the tournament or in the first match," Packard said. "We need to do a better job converting spares and stringing more strikes together. We’re leaving too many frames open."
The Monroe girls have shown steady improvement in the early going. The Falcons started with a 15th-place finish out of 33 teams in the Bishop Ahr Classic after rolling a 2,188 series.
On Monday they lost to Colonia, 3-1, in a rematch of last season’s GMC Tournament opening-round match won by Monroe. Nicole Chasan’s 529 was the team-high series as the Falcons produced a 2,304 set.
Monroe was defeated again on Tuesday against an exceptional Carteret squad but improved its pinfall to 2,350.
"They bowled pretty well in that match," Packard said. "But that’s a typical, tough Carteret team."
Chasan had a 557 set (206 high game) to lead the Falcons in scoring and Jen Matikonis threw a 454 series.
Both Monroe teams were scheduled to bowl against Perth Amboy Thursday before returning to action next Monday to face North Brunswick. On Wednesday the opponent is South Plainfield before they bowl against Edison on Thursday.
Monroe’s next tournament will be the Carteret/Old Bridge Baker Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 16 at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick.

