New Egypt bowlers roll out opening victories

By Kyle Moylan, Sports Editor
   New Egypt coach Mike Search was curious to see how his boys’ bowling team would react to the challenge of trying to match the best season in the history of the program.
   ”We practiced a few days, but we haven’t bowled together as a full team yet (before this past Monday’s opener against Rancocas Valley),” Search said. “We’ll find out how fired up they are. It’s a good group of guys, a good mix.”
   Turns out New Egypt did just fine in the opener, winning 3-1 (2711-2487) over Rancocas Valley. Dan Sepp (585 series), Alex Hauge (528 series), Dan Ludwigson (521 series), Alex Funck (537 series) and Shane Weicberger (540 series) did the bowling.
   The majority of this team returns from a season in which it went 17-1-2 and tied for the championship of the Freedom Division (9-1-2) with Bordentown.
   New Egypt graduated Rich Reynolds, but his brother is bowling now. Greg Reynolds is one of four sophomores that should see some time in the lineup. Weicberger averaged 182 as a freshman. Patrick Maleta averaged in the 170’s. Hague, another sophomore, will also see action.
   Dan Sepp, a junior, averaged 183 last season. Alex Funck, a senior, averaged a 172.
   One bowler that could force his way into the lineup on a regular basis is Dan Ludwigson.
   ”I think he lived in the bowling alleys over the summer,” said Search. “He went from bowling in the 130’s to the 170’s and 180’s.”
   ”The boys look really strong,” Search said. “They really have a chance to do something. We had one senior graduate, but we have bowlers really to fill in for him.”
   Graduation hit the New Egypt girls’ team harder. Kay Schmidt, Joy Otten and Amanda Stinson all graduated a team that went 14-5-1 overall and 9-2-1 in the Freedom Division. Those records also included a tie against the Group I champions from Bordentown and a second-place finish in the state sectionals.
   ”The girls are solid,”Search said. “We still have Nicole Kukoda. She’ll make up for a lot of what we lost.”Kukoda, a senior, averages in the 180’s. Karen Liedtka, a junior, is also back.
   Katelyn Schmidt, a junior, would love to fill in for her sister, who graduated. The other girls challenging for a spot in the lineup are sophomores Beth Welsh, Andi Fennimore, Anna Birks and Chelsea Horner.
   The girls won their opener against Rancocas Valley, 3-1 (2174-1920). Horner (464 series), Birks (376), Schmidt (378), Liedtka (423) and Kukoda (533) did the bowling.
   In order to keep his teams going in the right direction, Search started an after school program at the middle school last year. Ten of the bowlers that competed in the program tried out for the New Egypt team as a freshmen this season. A total of 24 boys and 14 girls tried out for New Egypt team. Search can keep 12 bowlers on both squads.
   New Egypt was scheduled to face Trenton Catholic this past Tuesday. It will host Moorestown on Friday. The team will bowl at Pemberton on Tuesday and at the Maple Holiday Tournament on Wednesday.