2009-10 High School Bowling Preview: Ready to Roll
Area teams looking to fill voids left by graduation of key bowlersBy PAUL WAGER, The Leader-Herald
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Having already competed in a few matches this season, the area's bowling teams have begun the process of replacing the many talented bowlers lost to graduation.
In the Foothills Council, Johnstown, Gloversville and Broadalbin-Perth all have holes to fill.
The Sir Bills lost Mat Smith and Eric Borden to graduation after finishing second in league play with a 12-2 record and placing sixth at the Section II Class B Tournament.
Smith was a first-team Foothills Council all-star last season after finishing with a 204.0 average, while Borden posted a 198.0 average to earn honorable mention status.
Looking to help replace them will be returnees Matt Marshall, Tommy Marshall, Tyler Horning and Mark Horning. Matt Marshall was a second-team Foothills Council all-star last season as a sophomore.
Joining the quartet of returning bowlers will be a large group of newcomers that includes Brandon Fuller, Daryn Dann, Brett Etherton, James Marshall, Cody Frank, Austin Handy, Karl Lakata, James Lockwood and Steven Vietri.
"Our returning players need to continue to improve if we want to make a run at the Foothills title," Johnstown coach Ron Savoie said. "The talent is here, we just need to focus more in practice and matches."
In Gloversville, Donna Bekkering takes over for longtime coach Joe Vacula.
"Since this is my first year coaching, I hope that the bowlers have fun as well as win as many matches as possible," Bekkering said.
She inherits a group that 11 returning bowlers, a group includes a second-team Foothills Council all-star from a year ago in senior Ross VanNostrand.
The Huskies also lost a pair of Foothills Council second-team all-stars, D.J. Hilts and Joe Chittenden, to graduation.
However, Gloversville returns plenty of experience as Matt Berger, David Buchanan, Thomas Cole, Elton Hiller, Gustin Hilts, Chris Lanphere, Connor McGrath, Jadelynn Putman, Ben VanNostrand, Michael Waffle and Andrew White all return from last year's team.
Rounding out the squad are newcomers Connor McGrath, Michael Marra and Nick Mills.
Having returned all of his bowlers coming into last season, B-P coach Mick Gottung lost three key players to graduation heading into the 2009-10 campaign.
Chris Spakoski (207 average), Ben Gardner (203) and Aaron Smith (193) helped the Patriots to a 37-19 record last season and a third-place finish in the Foothills Council.
Spakoski was named a first-team Foothills Council all-star, while Gardner earned honorable mention status.
B-P returns Joe Wojcik, who earned second-team Foothills Council honors after posting a 204 average last season. Wojcik has boosted his average to 220 so far this season.
Also returning is Owen Chizek who posted a 192 average last season.
"We have two returning veteran players backed up by four very promising and talented new varsity bowlers who led last year's junior varsity team to a 51-5 record," Gottung said. "I anticipate further development from each member of this team which should allow us to be a competitive squad for the 2009-10 season."
Rounding out the B-P lineup will be Kyle Kilburn, Nick Natoli, Ben Frisch and Alex Negrich.
In the Western Athletic Conference, perennial power Canajoharie will need to overcome the loss of Nathan McRedmond, who averaged a 193 during his senior season.
The Cougars, who finished second in the WAC and 12th in the Section II Class C-D Tournament, will look to a group of eight returning bowlers to fill the void.
Leading the way is Jake Pamkowski (185 average), while Dillon Welch, Alex Yacobucci, Joe Mazzarella, Peter Briele, Brandon Johnson, Matt Snyder and Anthony Cardamone also return.
Rounding out the Canajoharie lineup will be Michael Bowman, Bailey Pitowza, Damon Mason, Zack Franchi and Nick Mead.
"Our season's success will be determined by how much the bowlers who bowled junior varsity last year step up and perform at the varsity level," Canajoharie coach Dwayne Heroth said.
Mayfield won the WAC boys title last season, but lost league Most Valuable Player Derrick Lyons to graduation along with Ken Cronin and Jimmy Buckley.
The Panthers return several bowlers including Nick Petricca, Evan Dutcher, Andrew Askew, John Tomlinson, Tyler Dawson and Andy Mott.,
Completing the lineup will be Mike Young, Nick Kiszka and Nick Mormando.
"We hope to have a strong season despite losing some strong bowlers and being a younger team," Mayfield coach Rebecca Woodruff said.
Fort Plain returns several key components from last year's team that went 13-4-1.
Nolan Reese, Ray Ponte, Dylan Pechtel, Shane Conklin and David Beck all return for the Hilltoppers.
Rounding out the lineup for Fort Plain will be Jordan Baker and Meghan Conklin.
"We're looking for a .500 or better record in the WAC. We will be competitive in the league and we've been working hard in practice."
After finishing third in the WAC Tournament to complete its inaugural season, Fonda-Fultonville will be looking to continue its climb this season.
The Braves lost Josh Persse and his 198 average to graduation, but return six bowlers from last year's squad.
"Without a dominant bowler like Josh Persse, we will have to get balanced performances to compete with the better teams, like Canajoharie and Mayfield," Fonda-Fultonville coach Shannon Noonan said.
Among the returnees for the Braves are seniors Ryan Hayner (173 average), Randy Douglas (164), Jaymes Kuehner (162) and Greg Kirk (152). Also back is sophomore Albert Fiorenza (133).
Completing the FFCS roster will be Gerry Robinson, Brandon Persse, Josh Krejewski and B.J. Rorick.
Amsterdam, the area's lone Big 10 squad, lost Joe Quist, Matt Kryzak, Vinny Wilkas to graduation. Quist finished his senior season with a 208 average, Kryzak averaged a 202 and Wilkas averaged a 189.
The Rams return Tom Lalla (198 average), A.J. Bryk (190 average), Jeremy McGaffin (189) and Ashley DeRose (175).
Rounding out the Amsterdam squad are newcomers Joe Eckert, Garrett Anthony, David Hawkins, Jacob Cetnar, Ben Patrick and William McGaffin.
Like the boys teams, the area girls squads lost some key components as well.
Canajoharie lost Samantha Kuhne and her team-high 177 average to graduation.
"The loss of Samantha Kuhne was a big loss for our team," Heroth said. "Our success will be determined by how well the team fills that void."
Attempting to fill in the gap will be returnees Ashley Putnam (144 average), Ashley Yacobucci (135), Shelby Colegrove (131), Carley Edick (122) and Jessica Herringshaw (110).
Newcomers Sierra Frasier, Brittany Buccolo, Gabriel Gomez and Sarah Hupler complete the Lady Cougars' roster.
The Mayfield girls team lost league all-star Danielle Gardner to graduation, but return a young, but experienced squad.
All nine of the girls on the Lady Panthers' roster are sophomore or younger.
However, freshman Selena Barber, freshman Cassie Hammond, sophomore Kayla Thompson and eighth-grader Carly Poyfair all have at least a year of experience under their belts.
"We will look to our veterans, even though they are young, to lead this team," Woodruff said.
Rounding out the Mayfield roster will be eighth-graders Virginia Johnson and Victoria Lander as well as seventh-graders Cheyan Pilchen, Bryanna Hammond and Shelby Wilcox.
Like its boys team a year ago, the Fonda-Fultonville girls team is hoping for a successful debut season.
However, a lack of experience may hamper the Lady Braves.
"The girls team has very little bowling experience of any kind," Noonan said. "Seniors Mary Lewis, Amber Santos and Amanda Krause have assumed some leadership, and the entire team looks to improve as the season goes on."
In addition to Santos, Krause and Lewis, the first-year FFCS squad will include seniors Hillary Habla and Krystal Phelps as well a junior Ashley Weatherwax. Completing the team will be sophomore Rebecca Fox and eighth-grader Abby Oliver.
Johnstown had seven girls come out for its team this season. That group includes three returning bowlers - senior Nicole Mackey, junior Amber Pesce and sophomore Rebecca Jennings. Also on the team are eight-grader Alyssa Hadcock as well as freshmen Katie Fabozzi, Caitlyn VanAernam and Alexis Zebrowski.
"We've had a nice turnout for the girls team this year," Savoie said.