(2/4/09) NNJIL Champs: One final time

(*Final averages updated 2/10/09*)

Took a couple of days to update this, but I was able to make it out to Bowler City for Position Day on Wednesday (as I write this, it's now Friday. But hey, it's not like the final standings changed). And, while I will never regret heading out to see a bowling match, it was a bit of a bummer that all the league races had basically been settled before the position round. On the other hand, there are a handful of coaches who aren't huge fans of the position round, so in a way it's good, since no one was driven to start pulling out hair or graying prematurely.

There were a few close races for second place, the best of which was between the Bloomfield and Ridgewood boys in Division B, where Nutley basically ran away and hid with first place – more on that in a bit. Two days prior, the Bengals made it close with a 5-2 win, thanks in part to Steve Grabowski's 694 series. Well, Grabowski bowled even bigger on Wednesday, racking up a 706, but the Maroons responded with their first 2,400 series of the year (remember, only 4 bowlers in the NNJIL) and managed to take total wood.

Just one quirk with the 3-game, 7-point series – it is possible to win total wood but not the match, which is exactly what happened with Bloomfield winning Game 1 by 10 pins and Game 3 by six. In a way, I feel partly responsible, especially since Ridgewood senior Kevin Seavers shot 255 and 228 in his first two games, then a 181 after I got there in time for the start of the third game. Actually, I didn't even notice that until Kevin's dad pointed it out, so in [kidding] actuality, it's all Mr. Seavers' fault for saying something. Either way, the end result is that Bloomfield won, 4-3, and ended up 73-53 – same record as Ridgewood – so they'll have to make up two second-place plaques (At least, I think that's what Debbie at Bowler City told me... also, thanks again to her for faxing over the final standings sheets. In fact, she even told me that she has read this very blog, and yes, that really is all it takes to get name-dropped on this site).

A couple lanes over from Bloomfield/Ridgewood, St. Joseph went into the final day with a chance to overtake Paramus Catholic for second in Division C. Of course, I didn't realize this until after I looked at the final standings... but hey, PC won 5-2 to hold onto second place. Also, in the back-and-forth of trying to see as many teams as possible (35 in all between the boys and girls), I didn't get a chance to jot down any of their scores before the machines were turned off. Crumbs. Well, I did see that PC's Jobee Buenaventura ended up with a 248–626, and I definitely have to find out what the relation is between Jobee and Jaybee, both of whom bowl for the Paladins.

Oh, whoops, I just realized I totally buried the headline. We must extend congratulations to the last-ever division champions of the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League: Bergen Tech, Nutley and Bergen Catholic on the boys side and Hackensack, Ridgewood and Immaculate Heart for the girls. Nutley and IHA both deserve special mention since their JV squads both went completely undefeated (didn't lose a game or a point all year) – the Maroon Raiders, from what I understand, have basically turned into a bowling factory... which is kind of ironic since the breakup of the NNJIL had a lot to do with the dominance of the NON-public schools, particularly in the major sports like football and basketball.

Anyway, a number of current NNJIL teams will see each other again in the new Tri-County Conference, but the Essex County squads must say farewell – Barringer, Belleville, Bloomfield, Montclair and Nutley. I did get the chance to chat a bit with Nutley coach George Ackerman (easily one of the classiest coaches in North Jersey, in any sport), and those teams' biggest issue in the new, yet-unnamed SuperConference 1 will be the lack of girls competition. Apparently you need 6 teams to make an official league, and right now all they have is those 5, since the other schools going into the Conference 1 are from the co-ed Northern Hills and Iron Hills conferences. So glad the NJSIAA realignment committee took bowling into consideration (I know, they wouldn't even if they had to do it all over again, but there's my little soapbox rant for today).

Anyway, couple of last little nuggets... one of the reasons I've always liked going to NNJIL Position Day is to see some of the teams that don't get much notice. And don't ever think or say that no one cares about the quote-unquote "also-rans" – last time I checked, I still carry a 127 average, so I applaud the best efforts of anyone that has the privilege of competing at the varsity level in this game. As long as they give their best... no dogging it. Unless you're this fellow.

Have to mention the Kennedy boys, who lost to rival Eastside, 5-2, but managed to win their first game of the season in one of their final opportunities. No team should ever go winless – insert your own Detroit Lions joke here – and I'm happy to report that there are no zeroes in the win column of any NNJIL team this season... speaking Eastside, the Lady Ghosts got a nice 241 from Tiana Warren. Saving the best for last-- uh oh, I feel a Vanessa Williams song popping into my head, so let's just cut right to the chase with the final numbers...

2008-09 NNJIL FINAL STANDINGS - BOYS
Division A
1. BERGEN TECH: 98-28
2. Passaic: 85-41
3. Hackensack: 76-50
4. Clifton: 69-57
5. Barringer: 16-110
6. Eastside: 12-114
7. Kennedy: 2-124
Division B
1. NUTLEY: 112-14
T2. Ridgewood: 73-53
T2. Bloomfield: 73-53
4. Teaneck: 62-64
5. Paramus: 57-69
6. Montclair: 56-70
7. Belleville: 51-75
Division C
1. BERGEN CATHOLIC: 103-23
2. Paramus Catholic: 69-57
3. St. Joseph: 64-62
4. Don Bosco: 56-70

High game: (TIE) Nick Corvelli (BC), Perrin DeFreitas (H'sack) and Rob Grippo (BC), 300
High series: Vincent Buono (Passaic), 799
High average: Steve Grabowski (Bloomfield), 222.98... he edged out Buono (222.11) by 47 pins. 3rd was DeFreitas (221.5), and Corvelli (218.65) was 4th.

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2008-09 NNJIL FINAL STANDINGS - GIRLS
Division A
1. HACKENSACK: 92-27
2. Clifton: 85-34
3. Bergen Tech: 50-69
4. Passaic: 32-87
5. Barringer: 30-89
6. Eastside: 27-92
7. Kennedy: 2-110
Division B
1. RIDGEWOOD: 108-11
2. Bloomfield: 91-28
3. Nutley: 49-70
4. Belleville: 48-71
5. Paramus: 46-73
6. Montclair: 32-87
7. Teaneck: 28-91
Division C
1. IHA: 119-0
2. Holy Angels: 92-27
3. Paramus Catholic: 63-56

High game: Nicole Linder (IHA), 299
High series: Lauren Rhein (IHA), 748
High average: Sonja Shirak (Clifton), 208.37... it was close until the end of the season with IHA's Lauren Rhein (206.41), but Shirak exploded in the final week with series of 735 and 726, finishing 100 points clear of Rhein, 10,627 to 10,527.

We'll get the All-League teams online as soon as they get released to us. And, as always, e-mail any and all corrections to NorthJerseyBRG@gmail.com.

-North Jersey Bowling... Reporter... Guy