With several key players back, Sayreville War Memorial High School’s boys and girls bowling teams look to have solid seasons.
The boys are coming off an 11-3-1 year that saw the Bombers finish third in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division. The Blue and Gray came on strong in the postseason, winning the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group III and overall Group III titles before falling to Freehold Township High School in the first round of the Tournament of Champions.
Coach Mike Weinert’s team is led by junior Chris DeOcampo, who averaged 215 pins a year ago. Seniors Mark Kozinski and Lucas Leandro averaged 205 and 200 pins, respectively, giving the Bombers a strong trio at the top of the lineup.
There’s plenty of additional experience with seniors Mike Camp, Tyler Santiago and Zack Wranovics. All three hovered around the 190-pin mark while seeing significant playing time last season. Juniors Ryan Johnson and Eddie Peterson both average in the 185-pin range.
“I’m expecting all of our averages to go up because I know all of our guys worked hard in the offseason,” Weinert said. “They also have the experience of bowling in the tournaments last year, and that will help as well.”
As always, the coach has set high goals for his team: winning the Red Division and winning sectional and state titles.
“We want the bar to be high,” Weinert said. Thus far, the Bombers are 2-1. Sayreville has downed division rivals North Brunswick Township High School and Old Bridge High School, but is coming off a loss Dec. 7 to East Brunswick High School. Weinert’s team took third place Dec. 5 in the Bishop George Ahr High School tournament, finishing behind East Brunswick and Roselle Park High School.
Sayreville was set to roll against South Brunswick High School Dec. 10 and will play Woodbridge High School Dec.12. The next day, the Bombers will vie in the Westfield Tournament at Jersey Lanes in Linden.
The girls team, meanwhile, is off to a 3- 0 start and is coming off a 3-1 victory over East Brunswick Dec. 7. After struggling through an 8-8 regular season, Sayreville’s girls built a foundation for this winter by reaching the final four of the GMC Tournament and then taking second place in the Central Jersey Group III tournament.
Senior Mary Kate Kersting leads the Bombers’ girls. She rolled a 260 Dec. 5, which stood up as the top score in the Bishop Ahr tournament, where Sayreville took sixth place. Kersting, who is being recruited by several colleges, averaged just under 200 pins last season.
Fellow seniors Erin Simon and Tiffany Glowacki are coming off a season where they averaged 186 and 180 pins, respectively. Junior Emily Yataco and her sister, Melissa, a soph, each averaged about 160 pins, and more is expected this season.
“The girls made a lot of progress, and we’re looking for even more improvement this year,” Weinert said. “They learned a lot. The bar is higher for them, too. We want to win the division and the state sectional. They’re off to a good start and they’re getting more confident with each game. We have a talented group, and they can go far.”