3/22/10 "GHT All-Area" Teams

As our pal Jon Fass from WGHT Radio told The Messenger earlier today, there's good news and there's bad news. The good news is that Sports Overtime will proceed with the unveiling of its Winter 2009-10 All-Area teams as scheduled this week (2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday on 1500 AM or ghtradio.com), starting today with wrestling.

The bad news? That's somewhat relative... everyone at the station is okay, as is the station building itself, but all of the GHT Sports archives — old Game of the Week tapes, the Sports OT episode archive, historical binders, brackets, etc. — were completely destroyed by the flood that NONE of our genius meteorologists saw coming two weekends ago. TM does have some copies of old tapes lying around and will try to see how far back they go (particularly in terms of the bowling stuff), but he did not get a copy of this year's "bowling extravaganza" show from Feb. 23. If anyone did get a copy of it, please notify the NJBB at NorthJerseyBRG@gmail.com ASAP... we can't recover all of the lost info, but certainly want to do our part to help the GHT guys with what we can.

So, to lift spirits (and take our minds off the 1-2 additional inches of rain they say is going to fall today), we will continue a tradition that started last year. Again, we use the quotes because it's not really official, BUT... if TM could take the liberty, he proposes to take a look at what the GHT All-Area bowling teams might look like, if they had them.

A reminder: Unlike most All-Star selection committees, the Sports Overtime fellows do things a bit differently, in that they pick an actual team of starters and reserves — who they would pick if they fielded a real team — plus year-end awards. P.S. that “Area” in All-Area is Passaic, western Bergen (Mahwah, Indian Hills, Ramapo, Northern Highlands, Midland Park, Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn and Saddle Brook) and northeast Morris (Kinnelon, Butler, Pequannock, Montville) counties.

Without further ado:

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2009-10 WGHT All-Area Boys Bowling Team

STARTERS (in alphabetical order)
Rob Andresen, Ramapo (Sr.)* – 213 average; led Ramapo to its first-ever NBIL Division 1 championship, rolled 23 games of 200+ in league play. Tied for fifth at Bergen County tournament with 1,314 series (featuring a high game of 247) to help the Green Raiders finish fifth in Groups 3-4 and eighth overall.

Chris Auld, Fair Lawn (Sr.) – 215 average; carried highest average in NJTCC-Bergen division, having shot the league’s second-highest series (739) and a high game of 277. Tied for fifth a Counties (1,314), where his high game was 256, and helped the Cutters finish second in the league and third in Group 4 at North 1A sectionals.

Greg Corradi, DePaul (Sr.) – 212 average; had second-highest average and highest number (36) of 200+ games in NJTCC-Passaic division, tossing a league-high 803 series and leading the Spartans to a second-place finish (and a league-best total pinfall of over 47,000 in 60 games). Finished runner-up at North 1B sectionals with a 247–712 (2 out of first) and qualified for State singles finals, where he shot a 256–1,332 to place 10th overall.

Jaylin Floyd, Manchester (Sr.)* – 213 average; led the B-PSL in average (210), total wood (6,746) and high series (516; the only league bowler to top 500), boosting a young Falcon squad to second place in the King Division. The four-year starter also placed fifth at the Passaic County tournament with a 253–657 and was named first-team All-Passaic for the second straight year.

Tim Scott, West Milford (Jr.)* – 222 average; one of three members of the ‘300 Club’ on the GHT All-Area team, he amassed the highest average in the NJTCC-Passaic, recording 34 games of 200+ and five series of 700+ (including a high of 782). His 235–651 at the Passaic County tournament gave him sixth individually, and he helped the Highlanders place fifth as a team.

SUBS
Corey Burtwell, Passaic Tech (Sr.) – 202.9 average; caught fire at the Passaic County tournament, shooting 232-275-234–741 to win the individual title and help the Bulldogs secure the team championship by over 300 pins. Had 31 games of 200+ in NJTCC-Passaic play, notching a high series of 648 as PCT tied Clifton for third in the league.

Matt Guarino, Passaic Valley (Sr.)* – 204 average; led the Hornets in average and 200+ games (25 in league play), rolling a high game of 277 and a high series of 744. His 276–694 at Counties gave him the second-high game and third-high series in the tournament, where PV finished in third place, just 8 pins behind runner-up Lakeland.

Rich Gutches, Passaic Tech (Jr.)* – 207 average; had the Bulldogs’ high average, posting a high game of 289, a high series of 730 and a total of 33 games of 200+ in NJTCC-Passaic action. Added a 237–647 at Counties, good for seventh individually, as PCT won the team championship.

Ryan Kattine, Wayne Hills (So.) – 204 average; with two years still ahead of him, he will have the chance to lead Hills to other league titles, since their NJTCC-Passaic championship was a one-shot deal. Placed eighth at both the Passaic County (215 – 616) and North 1B sectional (665) tournaments.

Kevin Macchia, Ramapo (So.) – 206 average; picked the perfect time to fire his first perfect game, which was part of a 300-237-193-214-192-237–1,373 at the State individual finals. That helped him finish fifth overall, augmenting a list of accomplishments that included seventh at sectionals (237–674) and aiding in the Green Raiders’ first league title.

Dominic Pascucci, Wayne Valley (Sr.) – 202 average; in NJTCC-Passaic action, he produced a high game of 280, high series of 721 and 30 games of 200+. After a so-so County tournament, he rallied the Indians to a second-place score of 2,815 at North 1B sectionals, giving the team its first trip to Carolier Lanes in over a decade.

Jason Scott, Pompton Lakes (Sr.) – 203 average; led the Cardinals to their fourth consecutive B-PSL Carpenter Division title, while fashioning the second-highest average (206), second-highest series (487) and high game (277) in league play.

Zach Zuravner, Lakeland (Jr.) – 200 average; led off the County tournament with a 300 game and ended up second individually with a 701 series. His efforts helped the Lancers finish second in the team standings. In the NJTCC-Passaic, he had Lakeland’s high average and high game (266) and rolled 29 games of 200+.

*Indicates repeat selection from 2009

BOWLER OF THE YEAR: Greg Corradi, DePaul — This was a much tougher call than last year. Others had higher averages, others won more titles, but in The Messenger’s eyes, Corradi was the most consistent all the way through the season from start to finish.

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Passaic County Tech — The only local squad to capture a County or State sectional title, the Bulldogs won big enough at the Passaic Tournament (2,944 to Lakeland’s 2,696) to get the nod.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Michels, Indian Hills — Braves’ senior Bob Klein (197 average) and his classmates deserve a mention to this end as well… Michels rallied his troops from the loss of their anchor bowler late in the season and guided them to a second-place finish at North 1A sectionals and their second trip to the State team finals in three years.

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2009-10 WGHT All-Area Girls Bowling Team

STARTERS (in alphabetical order)
Alex Hubelbank, Northern Highlands (Sr.) – 168 average; finished fourth at Bergen County tournament (235–581), earning medal for second-high game. She added a 197–519 at the North Jersey sectional tournament, helping the Highlanders finish sixth in Group 3, and she led them in league play with a high game of 222 and high two-game series of 414.

Colette Malyack, DePaul (So.)* – 200 average; the Passaic County champ (241–680) continued to impress this winter, earning two trips to Carolier Lanes by finishing ninth individually at sectionals (224–614) to propel the Spartans to the North Group 2 title in their first year of existence. Had the second-highest average in the NJTCC-Passaic, with a 267 high game and 715 high series.

Emily Ostapczuk, Indian Hills (So.) – 174 average; led all NBIL girls in average, led the Braves with six games of 200+. Added a high game of 222 and high series of 399 in league action and finished in the Top 25 at the Bergen County Tournament (171–482), then shot a 209–558 at North Jersey sectionals, coming within 4 pins of advancing to the State singles finals.

Bridget Pyryt, Indian Hills (So.)* – 169 average; placed third individually (243–584) at Bergen County tournament, winning medal for high game, as the Braves pushed defending champ IHA to the brink in the Baker semifinals before falling. She tossed a 201–463 at sectionals and finished NBIL play with a high game of 223 and high series of 422.

Sonja Shirak, Clifton (Jr.)* – 209 average; for the second straight year, she was the top finisher from the GHT listening area at the State individual finals, rolling a six-game 1,194 to take 13th, one spot better than last year. She was second at Counties (204–548) and North Jersey sectionals (255–695), tops in the NJTCC-Passaic in average and games of 200+ (35) and helped the Mustangs topple IHA for the North Group 4 title.

SUBS
Rebecca Dykstra, DePaul (Jr.) – 160 average; finished sixth at Passaic tournament (170–495) while helping the Spartans to the team championship. Her personal bests in NJTCC-Passaic play were a 236 game and 548 series. She shot a 221–565 at sectionals, aiding in the team’s North Group 2 title and placing 15th individually, earning a pair of trips to Carolier Lanes.

Rachel Kammen, Ramapo (Sr.) – 152 average; a big reason why Ramapo tied Holy Angels for second in the NBIL Division 1, she registered a high game of 214 and high series of 386 in the league. Added a 178–456 at the Bergen County tournament, where the Green Raiders finished seventh, and closed with a 172 – 465 at sectionals, where the team was fifth in Group 3.

Nicolette Maggiolo, Ridgewood (Jr.) – 153 average; the Maroons’ anchor helped facilitate somewhat of a “rebuilding” for a team that lost its top two scorers from the previous season. She had a team-leading 616 series in NJTCC-Bergen play, throwing a high game of 214, and she rebounded from a tough County outing to shoot a team-best 209–535 at sectionals.

Rebecca Nemeh, DePaul (Sr.) – 156 average; rolled a fourth-place series of 499 at Passaic tournament, finishing six pins behind younger sister Isabelle and giving the County champion Spartans four individuals in the top six. She had a 203 high game and 538 high series in the NJTCC-Passaic and an 18th-place 218–562 at sectionals, qualifying for the State singles finals.

Michele Sadkin, Passaic Valley (So.) – 169 average; anchored the Hornets to third in Passaic County, taking fifth individually (184–498). She had the third-highest average in the NJTCC-Passaic, notching a 278 high game and 609 high series to help PV finish third. Missed the State singles finals by 1 pin, scoring a 561 at sectionals, but should get two more cracks at Carolier.

Amelia Silvestro, Lakeland (Jr.)* – 160 average; went from bowling with the boys to anchoring a team with two brand-new bowlers and handled it with aplomb. She led the Lancers to third place in the NJTCC-Passaic, where she posted a 221 high game and 552 high series, and fourth in the North Group 2 tournament, where she shot a team-best 203–535.

Adriana Stapelman, Fair Lawn (Sr.) – 162 average; rolled a 188–482 at the FDU Holiday Challenge, helping the Cutters to the semifinals, then finished 16th at the North Jersey Singles Classic with a 493. She was 23rd at Counties with a 177–487, and in the NJTCC-Bergen, she helped the Cutters place fourth, recording a 223 high game and 562 high series.

*Indicates repeat selection from 2009

BOWLER OF THE YEAR: Sonja Shirak, Clifton — A repeat selection in this category, here are a few additional highlights: an FDU Holiday Team Challenge All-Star (220–556), eighth at the North Jersey Singles Classic (210–568), had second-high game at sectionals (255) and had both high game (269) and series (731) in NJTCC-Passaic.

TEAM OF THE YEAR: DePaul — The Spartans won the “Triple Crown”: league, County and State sectional titles, all in the same year (and, point of order, all in their first year of varsity existence!)…

COACH OF THE YEAR: Jerry Fazzio, DePaul — …and this was the man at the helm for the Spartans’ debut campaign. In addition to the trio of titles, he guided them to a fourth-place finish in Group 2 at the State team finals, while three of DePaul’s five starters earned spots in the State individual finals.

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There you have it. Any thoughts, complaints, compliments, comments and general feedback an be sent to NorthJerseyBRG@gmail.com. Please remember that the above views and opinions are those of the N.J. Bowling Blog and do not necessarily reflect those of any WGHT employee besides the humorously-named "Gutterball Greg."

Tomorrow: What might The Ridgewood News All-Suburban bowling teams look like?