BOYS NORTH 2
Friday, February 3 at Jersey Lanes, Linden
New for 2017
Roselle (Abraham Clark) and Morris Tech are new additions this year. Chatham moved up from G2 to G3. Union Catholic moved up from G1 to G2.
Ranked Teams Participating:
#9 Montville (G2), #19 Warren Hills (G3), "Next Ten" Livingston (G4)
GROUP I
defending champ: Roselle Catholic
Roselle Park is the favorite here. 3rd place in the Union-Watchung Division, the Panthers are led by a pair of strong bowlers, Jarrod Hall (200 average and 3rd place individual at the Wheeler) and Aaron Heimall (196 average and a 300 game to his credit). I like their numbers (177 GA, 901 T5, both tops in the field by far), I like that they tested themselves at the Wheeler, and I like the fact that their high series is 200 pins clear of the field.
But you can't dismiss Dayton for one simple reason: Evan Weinberg. His 224 average is in the state top 10 and he's taken the Bulldogs to 1st in the Union-Mountain (61-2). Jon Pannullo has shot a few 6's himself. If RC stumbles a bit, expect Dayton to threaten.
Johnson has the next best numbers; back in the pack in the tough UW, Andrew Beach is their top man. An off day by one of the favorites probably puts Johnson in position to steal a spot at the TOC. Roselle (A. Clark) has an absolute star in Freshman Luis Torres, who dominated the Union County individual tournament, but I'm not sure the team is ready to play at that level.
Defending champ Roselle Catholic lost a great deal to graduation and I don't expect them to be a factor. I can't pretend to know much about Glen Ridge, but Junior Bobby Critides won the Essex County individual championship in 2016. Butler and Oratory Prep complete the field.
GROUP II
defending champ: Cranford
#9 Montville has been nothing short of dominant all season. They went 98-0 in the NJAC-South, which includes 2 other teams that have shot 3000 this year. They're anchored by one of the absolute best in New Jersey: Erik Katterman has the 2nd highest average in the state (229) and fired 300-800 in the Morris tournament. Behind Katterman are 4 more guys over 190: Peter Ho (who also owns a 731 set this season), Adam Gelvan, Ron Gorai and Matt Chang. If they're all on the same page, the Mustangs will challenge for a state title. They'll advance to Bowlero as long as the bus doesn't break down.
But maybe don't hand them the Sectional title just yet. Caldwell is a legitimate threat to steal the sectional away from the favorites. The Chiefs are built similarly to Montville, but with perhaps a bit less depth. Lorenzo Donohue is very good #3, averaging 190 and shooting as high as 680, Bryce Bayard sports a 200 average and a 695 high set, and Caldwell has a top-flight star of their own in Senior Colin Dromgoole, whose average stands at 224. After coming up just short in their quest to chase down Livingston to win the SEC-Colonial, watch out for this team to make noise in the postseason.
A trio of teams look like reasonable bets to break into the top two. Defending champ Cranford took some graduation hits, but returns Rickey Poszlyer and his 197 average, along with a starting lineup that may not set records, but will keep the Cougars in the match. They've shot as high as 2763, which may or may not be good enough for a trip to North Brunswick.
Jefferson had a good season in the NJAC-North, a bit under the radar with the fireworks between Wallkill and Sussex Tech, but don't underestimate these Falcons. Two starters, Brandon Vance and Nick Thies average over 190, and Emma Thies fired two 600s last week. Solid darkhorse potential here.
Morris Tech had a good season in the NJAC-South, and have lots of talent up top: John Wrobel finished at 215 (and shot a 300 game) and Matthew Marletta at 198. If Jim DiPrimo and the rest of the lineup have a good day, the Devils have a prayer (see what I did there?)
Nicholas Quinones and Isaiah Boone are solid for Rahway, but probably not enough firepower to keep up with the top teams. Union Catholic was competitive in the UC-Mountain and clearly has some talent, but the numbers weren't there for the season. I may be underestimating them. Delbarton (despite the presence of Andrew White, who's very good) and Butler round out the competition.
GROUP III
defending champ: Warren Hills
#19 Warren Hills lost 3 starting seniors from last year's sectional champs, but reloaded very effectively and comes in as a solid favorite in Group III, with the highest GA (194.7) and T5 (966) by significant margins. Last year's sectional individual champ, Eric Lawson, has had a great junior year, averaging 211 and shooting as high as 752. Behind Lawson are Darryl Price (196), Avante Wilson (189) and Jake Irwin (188), each with several 600s, as well as Freshman Ryan Monahan, who's coming off a Skyland Conference individual championship (707 set). If these guys are on, the Blue Streaks can compete with anyone: 6th place in the CJWC is a very impressive showing given the field.
Morris Knolls took second last year, and there's every reason to believe the Golden Eagles will be right there again. The NJAC-South runnersup are very strong up top, with Robert Murray at 209 and Joey Lamont at 205 (each has shot over 700 this year), and Alex Groome and Walter Lampmann average high 180s and can fire big numbers, too. This could be a very tight battle in Group III...
...and we're not done yet, because Morris Hills is another legit contender from the NJAC-South. The totals (182 GA, 929 T5) are a small step behind the top two, but the Scarlet Knights rely on depth that's just as strong as Warren Hills'. Five MH starters average over 180: Paul Isgett, Shaun Ireton, Andre Trujillo, Aaron Wasilas and team average leader Mike Sperry (194). That's five legit chances for a big series, and this group has cracked 3000 this season.
Still not done with real contenders: the Millburn Millers rely on one of the very best female bowlers in NJ, Senior Lauren Potechin. Averaging 209 and owner of one of the higest girls' series of the season (740), Potechin is backed by Jack Nirenberg (192) and a back of the lineup that's very solid match-to-match. This group has shot 2916, hung with Livingston and Caldwell all season in the SEC-Colonial, and matches Morris Hills' game average.
Yes, one more: UC-Watchung regular season champs Scotch Plains/Fanwood sports a talented top bowler in Grady Szuch (197 average) and five options who average over 170 for the other four spots. The Raiders are coming off an outstanding performance at the Union County tournament, where they fired 2893 and took the title. If they've got another day like that in them, a trip to North Brunswick is absolutely possible.
Nutley, Chatham and Irvington complete the entries. Nutley Junior Anthony Liloia has shot two 700s on the season, so watch out for him in the individual standings. Dartez Moore of Irvington is another genuine threat for the sectional podium.
GROUP IV
defending champ: Linden
Livingston spent the season jumping in and out of the Top 20; they finished just outside, but they're a strong favorite here. They have the numbers (189 GA and the #21 T5 in the state: 973), they have the consistency (first place in a strong SEC-Colonial), they have the tournament chops (3rd place in the Wheeler back in December), and they certainly have the talent. The Lancers have 4 guys available for the 3-4-5 spots, and Justin Schoenbach, Zachary Schwartz, Alec Ammerata and Louis Farer are all solid-to-very-good - no weaknesses in this lineup. Up top the Lancers feature Allen Cai and his impressive 204 average, and precocious two-hander Freshman Michael Liu, who pulled his regular season average up to 209 with a massive closing-day 792 series. These guys are just plain good.
I see five teams with a legitimate shot at second place (or first, but it would take something unexpected in two directions). Seton Hall Prep is deep and solid, with everybody between 160 and 180, but that's the kind of lineup that can surpass expectations if just one or two Pirates go big. Bloomfield competes in the SEC-American, a conference I just don't really get data on. What I do have puts their GA at 171, which means they're right in this mix.
That leaves the three UC-Watchung teams in Group IV. Defending champ Linden has a superstar in Michelle Dekowski, the best bowler in the conference of either gender, and one of the top 5 girls in New Jersey with her 209 average and excellent tournament resume. If the back of the lineup can step up behind Dekowski and Matt Soto (184), the Tigers can be in the mix.
Westfield was mid-pack in the UCW, too, and when you look at the standings sheet, you see just how deep the Blue Devils are: I count seven bowlers over 160, topped by Alex Cohen's 184. If they find the right mix... hey, it's that close among these five.
Finally, there's Union, who rates a slight favorite for that second slot at the TOC. Their tournament results are a bit better than the others, as are their raw numbers (177 GA, 888 T5). Sabir Alim's 193 average and Kiara Powell's 189 give the Farmers an accomplished one-two punch, and the rest of the lineup may rate just a bit better than the other teams'. SHP and Westfield each have higher top series than Union, so if everybody bowls well, the small statistical lead is useless.
West Orange's Kyle Bernokeits should be right in the mix for individual honors. Montclair and Plainfield are the remaining competitors.
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