The Old Bridge High School boys bowling team is off to a 9-3-1 start and all five starters are averaging more than 200 pins or close to that mark.
Coach Mike Bilello’s Knights also won the recent Joe Romer Bowling Tournament at the Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick. The Romer used a “Bakers” format, where each of five competitors rolls two frames per game. Old Bridge’s regular-season successes include victories over Piscataway, East Brunswick and Edison (twice).
“In past years, we’ve had excellent regular season records and they we didn’t do well in the postseason,” the coach said. “This year we’ve lost a few matches, and I think that’s made our guys work harder and, hopefully, they’ll be even more prepared for the tournaments.”
Bilello’s team is making its mark without any seniors in the lineup. Junior Sean Magitz and sophomore Russell Seratelli have been the Knights’ top rollers.
Magitz is averaging 214 pins, while Seratelli, who is coming off a strong freshman campaign, averages 210 pins. Both players have rolled a 700 series this season.
“Seratelli has really picked it up this year,” Bilello said. “Last season he had some issues making spares, he spent a lot of time practicing, and you can see the improvement. He’s consistently making his spares now, and he’s also developing into a team leader.”
Ryan Bruhn and Marc Kramer, both juniors, are not far behind in the average department. Bruhn averages 205 pins and Kramer’s average sits at an even 200 pins.
Nick Barracato, a sophomore, is just under that mark with a 198-pin average.
Bilello also has good depth that he can call upon to support his starters. JuniorRick Lagone is averaging 198 pins and sophomore Steve Rievesell averages 190 pins.
“The boys have a pretty solid lineup, and on any given day, one of them
is going to be well above his average,”
the coach said. “That
kind of consistency throughout the lineup makes a big difference
in the close matches.”
The coach said his team is
gearing up for both the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament, which begins Feb. 7,
and the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV.
The top two team in the CJ Group IV competition will advance to the overall Group IV tourney.
“This group has the personality to be the hot teamin the tournaments,” he added.
Bilello, who also coaches Old Bridge’s girls bowling team, noted that the girls are holding their own with a 5-8 mark as he works several new bowlers into the lineup after losing several starters to graduation.
Co-captain Caitlin Duma leads the Lady Knights with a 160-pin average. Fellow co-captain Allison Baumann averages 152 pins and has done a good job working with her younger teammates, Bilello said.
JuniorAnneEchaverria is averaging 155 pins in her first varsity campaign, and freshman Sara McKenna has made an impact, also averaging 155 pins. Katie Purnell and juniors Michelle Cordova and Jessica Goldberg round out the lineup. The three average between 125 and 135 pins apiece.
“The girls are really coming around, but the GMC Red Division is so strong this year, they’ve had a lot of tough matches,” Bilello said. “Still, I think they may surprise some people in the tournaments.”