BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
Nick Mezzacappa Howell High School’s girls bowling team was again the dominant force in the Freehold Regional District.
Coach Dave Clampffer’s Rebels won three championships this winter, including a fifth straight Shore Conference Southern Monmouth Division crown. The Rebels regained the Freehold District title and then won the first-ever Monmouth County Tournament crown.
In a year in which the Rebels were supposed to come back to the back, instead, they were as strong as ever, compiling a 52-2 record in a repeat as the division champions. They won the county title by more than 100 pins after edging Manalapan by 10 at the District tournament. Seniors Nikki Hratko and Amanda Jakubowski provided the steady, veteran experience.
During Howell’s dominant run, the Rebels have only lost 11 games in five years. Their regular season records have been an astonishing 53-1, 54-0, 50-4, 50-4, 52-2.
Manalapan chased the Rebels all year and were led by the Shore Conference champion Jamie Manzo.
The honors were spread around among the boys. Freehold Township topped Howell to win the inaugural county championship, led by Andrew Bohn.
Colts Neck’s boys won the Freehold District title for the first time, led by Matt Sobel, who rolled the high game of the tournament.
The News Transcript’s 2005 All-Freehold Regional District Bowling Teams are powerhouses, a testament to the talent in the area.
Manzo, Hratko and Jakubowski top the girls’ team with Howell’s Megan Miller and Freehold Township’s Pinar Husseyin rounding out the squad.
Bohn and Sobel head the boys’ team that includes Freehold Township’s Nick Mezzacappa, Howell’s John Romeo and Manalapan’s Chris Cherin.
Manzo concluded her outstanding scholastic career in style this year, winning the Shore Conference title in one of the most incredible three-game series the area has seen. She had a high game of 267 and a series of 703 in capturing the conference tournament.
At the District championships, Manzo had the two high games of the tournament, 205 and 203. The senior was eighth at the county championships and 14th at the state sectional. On the season, Manzo had the third best game average in the division (180).
Hratko was Howell’s clutch bowler this year, performing her best at crunch time. It was her two strikes and an eight in the final frame of the competition that allowed Howell to pass Manalapan and win the District title. She was second at the county championships with a 534 series. Her best game, 202, was the third best score. She was sixth at the Central Jersey sectional (621), advancing to the state championships.
Jakubowski finished third at the county championships (517), helping Howell add that championship banner. She and Hratko did a fine job of bringing the young Rebels along and continuing Howell’s championship tradition.
Howell’s future is in good hands with Miller. The sophomore stepped up big time for Howell this year. She had the best single-game average in the division (188) and performed consistently in tournaments.
Husseyin has a bright future in front of her. The freshman was second to Miller in average this year (184), and had the third best score at the District Tournament (199) behind only Manzo’s games of 205 and 203.
Bohn is a cousin of Professional Bowler’s Association star Parker Bohn, and he did his cousin proud this year. The sophomore was first at the country tournament with a 729 series that included a high game of 255. This year could be the start of something special for the Patriots and Bohn, who is just a freshman.
Freehold Township may be ready to become a force on the bowling alleys as Mezzacappa is just a sophomore. He had the best season average on the team, 188.
Sobel helped lead Colts Neck to the District title, rolling the high game of the day, a 256. He finished second at the county championships with a 672 series and had a high game of 227. Like so many of this year’s stars, he’s an underclassmen.
Youth was served at Howell too, with Romeo, a sophomore, leading the team. His strongest showing was at the county championships, where he was third behind Bohn and Sobel with his 653 series. His high game of 264 was the second best of the tournament. He had the best seasonal average of all the District bowlers, 194, which was fourth best in the division.
Sophomore Cherin has a bright future in front of him as well. His season average of 193 was second best in the District behind only Romeo, and was fifth best in the Southern Monmouth Division.
Those earning Honorable Mention for the girls are Brittany Budra and Amanda Stefan, Howell.
Boys earning Honorable Mention are Joe Ruggiero, Colts Neck; Dave DiGiaimo and Rob DeMarco, Freehold Township; and Geoff Whitaker and John Accisano, Howell.
All-Freehold Regional District Bowling Teams
Girls
Jamie ManzoManalapansenior
Nikki HratkoHowellsenior
Amanda JakubowskiHowellsenior
Megan MillerHowellsophomore
Pinar HusseyinFreehold Townshipfreshman
Boys
Andrew BohnFreehold Townshipfreshman
Matt SobelColts Neckjunior
Nick MezzacappaFreehold Townshipsophomore
John RomeoHowellsophomore
Chris CherinManalapansophomore