A fter clinching the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) championship, Sayreville War Memorial High School’s boys bowling team is busy preparing for the GMC Tournament.
The Bombers, 13-0-2, are coming off dominating performances in the Joe Romer and Snowball Classic tournaments.
On Jan. 19, coach Mike Weinert’s team won the Romer event at the Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick.
Sayreville downed Monroe Township High School in the quarterfinals and John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in the semifinals. In the title match, the Bombers outpaced Colonia High School, getting back at a team that forged a regular season tie with Weinert’s keglers.
In the Snowball Classic, held on Jan. 21 at Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade, the Bombers downed Pennsbury High School (Fairless Hills, Pa.) after a four-game qualifier and went on to defeat Lenape Valley Regional High School in the title match. The tournament also used a Baker format.
“I think the Romer tournament was our best performance of the year,” Weinert said. “Then to go down to Maple Shade and win against some of the top teams in Southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania was quite an accomplishment. That really positions us as one of the top teams in the state.”
That being said, the coach cautioned that his team’s toughest matches lay ahead.
“It was great to win the tournaments and to finish on top in what has become a very competitive White Division,” the coach said. “But I’ve always said what you do from December through January doesn’t matter when conference and state tournaments roll around in February.”
True enough, but the Bombers look to be in relatively good shape nonetheless. With five bowlers who have 200 pin and above averages in the starting lineup, Sayreville has deservedly earned the top seed in the upcoming GMC tournament.
Jason Ciszewski, whose 232 average is the best in the conference, anchors the lineup for the blue and gray. Kevin Nettler and Mike Bernstein are not far behind, as each averages about 220 pins. Sophomore A.J. Angotti averages 215 pins and Mike Danchisco has battled through injuries to average just above the 200-pin mark.
The Bombers have plenty of depth as well. Sophomore Andrew Danchisco averages 185 pins when called upon and a pair of freshmen, Chris Hauber and Mark Kozinski, are both hovering around the 180- pin mark.
“Our guys are battle-tested and we’re ready to go,” said Weinert, whose team was set to close out the regular season on Jan. 22 against Perth Amboy High School. “This is the time of year we’ve been gearing toward.”
The coach also noted that his girls team, which bounced back from a slow start to post a 6-8 record heading into the Perth Amboy match, could make some noise at the GMC tournament.
Sayreville’s girls team includes juniors Megan Aucone and Chantelle Glowacki, who both average more than 160 pins. In addition, freshman Mary Kate Kersting has done well, averaging more than 150 pins. Kersting qualified for the GMC individuals and made it into the finals, becoming the first Bombers freshman girl to accomplish that.