BORDENTOWN: Success continues for bowlers

By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
   The Bordentown Regional High School bowling teams did nothing to diminish their history of success this season.
   Both teams advanced to the Group I state finals by finishing in the top two at sectionals, while the boys added a 13th straight Burlington County Scholastic League Freedom Division title.
   ”That is one tradition they do not want to lose,” Bordentown coach Ron Jones said of the division title streak. “We’ve had half a dozen bowlers visit the alley over the years and say we started this in 1999-2000 and don’t want it to end. They did their part. The girls were third (in the Freedom) but they really came along and put it all together and rolled their best series of the year down at sectionals. So they won sectionals for a sixth year in row.”
   The Bordentown boys advanced to the state Group I championship tournament and finished seventh. Austin Papp finished fourth in the individual tournament, qualifying to make it to the championship ladder portion with scores of 695 and 696. In his first match, Papp dropped a 235-191 decision to Dale Barshewski of Kingsway.
   ”In the ladder it is a one game roll-off and he got eliminated,” Jones said. “It got him the fifth place medal. He’s got his work cut out for him for next year. He knows what he needs to do and wants to do. This was second year in a row some of these kids bowled. Austin was a starter but the rest of them were not.
   The three main bowlers with Austin were part time. They all will be back next year. I don’t lose anybody. Hope they all have the same attitude that Austin does.”
   The Bordentown girls also had a young roster and got better and better as the season progressed. They won the sectional title again this year.
   ”It was unbelievable,” Bordentown sophomore Nicole Weaver said. “We went half the season with only four bowlers and came out on top at sectionals. We came together in the second half of the season and did amazing. We really had to work.
   ”Most of our team was filled with new people they all did amazing so proud of all the girls.”
   Weaver established herself as the Scotties’ top bowler and just missed out on a spot in the individual state finals.
   ”I’m pretty happy with it,” she said of her season. “Over the summer I bowl a lot. I spent a lot of time working on my bowling. My average has gone way up. I was around the 130s and now I am up in the 150s.
   ”I am looking forward to next year. We should have most of our girls back. We were talking about that today that we should be a good team again.”