Nagle aims for high scores, high morale

By John Beisser, Sports Writer
   As one of just two seniors in the starting lineup, along with Tara Prince, Allison Nagle has taken on a true leadership role on the South Brunswick High bowling team and has been a key cog in the Vikings’ 3-1-1 start this season.
   Nagle’s value to the team during competition is obvious. She bowled a 592 set in a 2,546-2,312 victory over Old Bridge on Monday on games of 201-204-187. The only four-year varsity bowler on the roster, head coach Tara Burniston recognizes Nagle’s contributions.
   ”She’s our captain and a four-year veteran,” said Burniston. “She has great knowledge of the different dynamics of the team and has really been instrumental in increasing our team’s focus and maintaining the team’s spirit.”
   Nagle is quick to spread the praise for the Vikings’ success among her teammates.
   ”We all do a good job of being upbeat and focused and we all tend to pick each other up,” she says. “I know when I’m not bowling well that I get very frustrated so when I see one of my teammates struggling, I know how it feels and try to pick her up.”
   Allison’s older sister Meghan was a top bowler at South Brunswick before moving on to Syracuse University where she is a sophomore. Asked whose better, Allison chuckled. “That’s the question we always get. I don’t know, it’s pretty close,” she said. “We always had good competition. There was a lot of give and take. I’d win sometimes and she’d win her share. It’s close.”
   A member of the choir, we caught up with Allison moments after the winter concert. The college application process is underway and having an older sister to help her navigate is a real asset. Among the colleges she is interested include Rutgers, Penn State, St. John’s and Rider.
   Nagle’s top game this season was a 252 last week against J.P. Stevens while her career-best remains the scintillating 267 she rolled during her sophomore year.
   In addition to their 3-1-1 overall mark, the Vikings turned in a fine sixth-place finish out of 16 teams last Saturday at the Carteret-Old Bridge Baker Challenge. The Baker format is essentially bowling’s version of a relay race, where each bowler on the team bowls two frames per game. For example, the first bowler would bowl frames one and six, the second would bowl frames two and seven, and so on. In a Baker format, there are no individual scores kept.
   On the boys side, the Vikings are in the midst of a four-game losing streak after opening the season with two straight wins. On Monday, South Brunswick wound up on the short end of a 3,083-2,836 decision to Old Bridge. Senior Chris DeSouza turned in a fine 685 set on games of 256-234-195. A newcomer to the lineup, sophomore John Ryan delivered a 571 set with a high game of 196. Ryan stepped in for senior Matt Sichel who injured his thumb recently.
   In the Carteret-Old Bridge Baker Challenge, South Brunswick placed 10th out of 18 teams. Both the boys and girls teams were scheduled to face East Brunswick on Tuesday.