By John Beisser, Sports Writer
The same trends are continuing for the Monroe Township High boys and girls bowling teams. Tangible improvement is being shown as a whole but, in the demanding Greater Middlesex Conference, that improvement has not been translating into victories.
How tough is the GMC? Consider that in the latest state top 20 poll, there are two boys teams ranked in the top 10, with Woodbridge at No. 1 and North Brunswick at No. 8. The girls top 20 poll features Woodbridge at No. 7, East Brunswick at No. 10 while South Brunswick and North Brunswick check in at No. 12 and No. 16, respectively. These teams all boast rosters replete with sage veterans who possess a high degree of mental and physical prowess, combined with years of experience.
First-year head coach Brian Latwis is confident the young nucleus in place on both rosters will result in more winning days on the scoreboard in the years to come. After each dropped decisions to powerful North Brunswick on Jan. 17, the boys stood at 4-10 on the season and the girls were 3-10-1.
Sometimes in athletics, progress can be measured by more than the won-loss records. The girls meet vs. North Brunswick is a prime example. After the first series, Monroe trailed by a 763-710 count but the Falcons rebounded in the second series with a fine 819, compared to North Brunswick’s 764. So, entering the pivotal third series, Monroe actually led the ultra-talented Raiders by a pin count of 1529-1527. Yes, North Brunswick pulled away to win the meet 2310-2174, a 3-1 victory.
To win a game off of the No. 16 team in the state and to lead the match after two series, is quite an accomplishment for a lineup that is comprised of one senior, one junior and four sophomores. That’s progress.
”I was extremely impressed with how they bowled against North Brunswick,” said Latwis. “You’re talking about a team that has the individual GMC champion (Amanda Pearce). The 819 second series was higher than any series they had. That’s huge for us. They’ve come a long way in a short period of time.”
Noelle Trinkler, the team’s lone senior, entered the season having never bowled a 500 series now does so with regularity as she paced the Falcons vs. North Brunswick with a 503.
The girls also competed in the Joe Romer Tournament on Saturday that was played in a Baker style format. The Falcons placed 12th out of 20 teams with a pin count of 1732. Carteret was first at 2295.
”We had contributions from top to bottom,” said Latwis of a lineup that, in addition to Trinkler, features junior Jessica Zwirkel and a quartet of sophomores in Kelsie Chasan, Marisa Guerra, Jessica DiPierro and Gabriella LaFata.
Much like the girls team, the Falcon boys are also making strides everywhere but in the final result. The boys turned in an 856-784-833 series vs. North Brunswick but the Raiders turned in an astounding team score of 3,078, which equates to a 205 individual average, a final tally that would have beaten virtually every team in the state.
Consider that 3,078 is an average of 1026 per series. Monroe’s best series of the season was a 963 and its best team score was 2731, both coming in a Dec. 19 meet vs. Sayreville.
Sophomore Nick Chen has been a workhorse for the Falcons all year and boasts a plus-200 average. The story of late however, has been the major improvement being demonstrated by sophomore Joe Doubt, who rolled a personal-best 239 vs. North Brunswick.
”Joe bowled very, very well,” said Latwis. “This was the first game he went over 200 and he didn’t do it by just a little bit. A 239 is a really fine score. He had strikes in all but three frames and lost only two open frames. This is a young man who was averaging 115, 120 in the beginning of the season. His overall average is up around 150 but over the last few weeks, it’s been more like 180.”
Monroe, which has also been receiving steady contributions all season from Tommy Kauffman, Ray Horn and Adam Peterson, placed 17th of 20 teams in last Saturday’s Joe Baker Tournament. Monroe posted a pin count of 2000. Woodbridge, to no one’s surprise, won the event with a pin count of 2789.
