All-state lists are tough. We're trying to balance conference, tournament and overall averages, key tournament performances and postseason success. Bowling is a marathon, the whole season matters. Sectionals and states are the biggest event of the year, they might matter more. It's messy. You all know this. I'm doing my best.
There's a new category: "High Honorable Mention" which recognizes that a subtle change in methodology changes everything; the bowlers on the HHM list are those that most easily could have been on an all-state team if I changed the way I was looking at things.
As for the total number of bowlers honored, I arrived at about 6%, which means 70 boys and 50 girls, an increase of 17 boys and 7 girls over last year. Independent bowlers are eligible, but any team or level at which they're honored will have another bowler added. Those without a HS team are indicated by *.
By the way, as always, if anyone wants to share a link on a public Facebook post, that's great. The top freshmen post yesterday blew up a bit, but I have no idea whom to thank because it wasn't done with a public post. So, thanks, mystery person or people!
NEW JERSEY BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING ALL-STATE TEAMS FOR 2018
FIRST TEAM
Jared Ammugauan, Senior, St. Peter's Prep
A huge senior-year leap gave Ammugauan the state's 10th best league mark (225, which led a very strong HCIAL). While only getting in 15 tournament games, he took fourth place at the Falcon Frenzee (645), destroyed the Hudson County tournament (737 for 1st place), led SPP to a sectional title, and then fired a fantastic 726 at Team States (3rd in the event) to help them crack 3000 and finish 5th in the state. And at the end of the season, Ammugauan's overall average was 223, good for eighth best in New Jersey and a spot on the all-state team.
Sam Bortnick, Senior, East Brunswick
Bortnick's third straight year averaging over 220 resulted in another state title for his Bears and a well-earned first team all-state nod. His 227 in GMC play ranked fifth statewide, as did his 223 in tournaments. He was one of only four bowlers to crack 800, finished 6th at South Jersey Singles, 2nd at CJWC (766), 4th at Sectionals (733), and shot 651 at Team States. In the last action of a wonderful high school career, Bortnick shot 689-659 to finish 9th at the TOC. The lefty will be missed at East Brunswick, and years of high scores and clutch shots will not be soon forgotten.
*Ryan Carlisi, Senior, Steinert
He came. He saw. He conquered. Ryan Carlisi only bowled 10 games during the 2017-18 high school season. Within those ten games, he shot a 300 game, an 803 series, an 824 series, and a 299 game in the state finals to win his unprecedented second consecutive state individual title. I need some new superlatives. Carlisi averaged 263.9 over his "season". He's powerful, and accurate, and exciting, and excitable. He has nothing left to accomplish at this level and he has a hell of a future in this game.
Daniel Lenk, Junior, East Brunswick
There's very little left to say about Lenk's 2017-18 season. It was consistently brilliant and historically successful. His 244 conference average included a pair of 800s, one an 826 that was high in the state this season, and stands as the highest average in the history of New Jersey high school bowling. Amazingly, he was just as good in tournaments, leading the state with a 239 mark. 664 at James, 668 at CJWC, 668-720 at GMC Individuals and then 790(!) in the stepladder to take the title. 715 to take 5th at Sectionals, 785 for the high set at team states, leading the Bears to another state title, 724-748 to make the individual stepladder and making the title match before losing to Carlisi despite a 248 with zero bad shots. All this from a lefty who's not huge, doesn't throw with the crazy power of bigger guys or the revs of the two-handers. He just makes shots. Over and over and over. And he'll be doing it for one more year at East Brunswick. Enjoy it.
Michael Liu, Sophomore, Livingston
After nine weeks of the SEC-Colonial regular season, Liu was averaging 196. A good number for many, but not up to this sophomore's standards after a breakout 209 mark last year. Over the last six sessions of the regular season, the high-rev two-hander averaged 237 over 18 games, including a 300 game and an 804, pulling his average up sixteen pins in just six matches. Tournaments? Never anything but phenomenal, as he had the #2 tournament mark in the state at 235. He won the Wheeler (699), won the CJWC (771), was sixty pins clear of the field at North 2 sectionals (758) and put up 671 at Team States. Liu has clearly joined the best of the best, but he's somehow still getting better.
James Stoveken, Junior, Woodbridge
Not quite as many stratospheric scores for the two-hander, but the overall numbers are every bit as awesome as ever. Stoveken shot eight 700s in league play with a high of 781, finished at 228 in GMC matches (4th in New Jersey) and 226 overall, which puts him at #3 state-wide. He finished 3rd at the James (672), 3rd at Wheeler (676), shot 651 at CJWC, 740-673-245 to finish second at GMC Individuals, and posted 631 at sectionals and 679 at Team States to help the Barrons win a state title. He is by any measure one of the very best we've got, and his senior year could be something incredible.
Evan Weinberg, Senior, Dayton
One of the most consistently brilliant high school bowling careers we've had the pleasure to witness came to an end in 2018. Evan Weinberg was scalding hot right from the outset, shooting 694 to take 2nd at the Wheeler in early December. Over the next two months, he ripped up the Union-Mountain conference to the tune of a 231 average (2nd best in the state) and sets of 764 and 770. Tournaments? Absolutely. He averaged 228 over 7 games to take the Union singles title and scored 4th at Sectionals with a 673. At the individual TOC, Weinberg rose to the occasion yet again, carding 718-730 to make the stepladder for the second year in a row, and won his first match before succumbing to Lenk by a razor-thin margin. His competitiveness and excellence will be missed.
SECOND TEAM
Louis Folgore, Junior, Monroe
One of the very best regular seasons around belonged to Folgore, whose 226 GMC average (8th in NJ) and top sets of 771 and 762 led his team to a top ten ranking. Folgore was equally brilliant in the GMC Individual tournament, where he posted 693-714-234 to finish 3rd in one of the season's top fields. In his final 2018 action, the demonstrative junior shot 255-218 to lead Monroe to a sweep of Edison for the GMC Team Tournament championship and leaving him with a 224 overall average, 7th in NJ.
Cameron LaPlant, Junior, JP Stevens
A stunning regular season helped his team to a top-20 avearage. LaPlant was relentlessly good in GMC action, posting sets of 757, 738, 734, 712, 739 and 767, and ending up with a 6th-best-in-the-state 227 mark. His tournament scores were good enough to put LaPlant at #6 overall as well, including 655 at CJWC, 656-720-210 at GMC Individuals (6th) and 633 at Sectionals. Added up, it equals a second straight all-state selection.
David MacGillivray, Junior, Barnegat
MacGillivray was the best high school bowler at Ocean Lanes in 2018, leading both Shore-South divisions at 218 and making it stick with a huge 223 tournament average, 4th in the state. Shot a two-game 478 at the Mustang, placed 3rd at RWTI (682), 2nd at Brick (733), 3rd at South Jersey Singles (1317 over 6 games) and averaged 226 over 5 games to place 3rd at the Shore Individual.
Joey Ocello, Junior, Neptune
A mandatory transfer sit-out cost Ocello a good chunk of his season, but it didn't take long for him to remind us just how good he is. Top sets of 785 and 769 contributed to his awesome 229 league average (3rd in the state), and he managed 645 at Shore Teams and 658 at Sectionals, narrowly missing the TOC field, but leaving him with the 5th best overall average in New Jersey at 225.
Kyle Oliveri, Senior, Toms River South
The second-best average in Shore-South-A (213) is just the beginning. Oliveri terrorized tournaments, posting 635 at RWTI, 637 at Brick, 730 at Snowball (5th) 694 at Shore Team (2nd), 613 at Shore Individual, 659 at Sectionals, 657 at Team States, and having his best day of the season at the TOC, shooting a fantastic 749-735 to qualify 2nd and finish 3rd.
Joey Steele, Junior Sussex Tech
I may never be completely sure how Sussex Tech does this every year, but Joey Steele is obviously a huge part of it. He led the NJAC-North with a 223 average and finished 10th in the state with a 221 overall mark. Steele took the title at the Sparta NYE (711), shot 621 at Falcon, took 6th at Sectionals (683) and came up huge at Team States, producing a sizzling 707 (7th in the building) to lead his Mustangs to their third state title in his three years on the team.
THIRD TEAM
Johann Gamo, Junior, Clifton
Really strong both in Big North matches (215, 4th high in the conference) and tournaments (217, 16th in NJ). Gamo shot an unofficial 770 on his way to a runnerup finish at North Jersey Singles and took 4th at North 1B sectionals with a 688 set. At the state individual TOC, he shot 667-672 to take tenth place.
Matthew Marletta, Senior, Morris Tech
Best 'out of nowhere' story in 2018, I think. Started out blazing hot with several big sets and just stayed there, averaging 225 in-conference (9th in NJ) and 222 overall (9th). Marletta's tournament highlights in limited opportunities include a second place finish at the Morris County (693) and the Falcon Frenzee title (726).
Rob Murray, Senior, Morris Knolls
The #1 reason Morris Knolls was able to take over the NJAC-South was Rob Murray's sensational season, finishing with a 226 conference average and 220 overall. He shot 686 to win the season-opening James, finished 5th at South Jersey Singles (averaging 211), 7th at CJWC (707) and 7th at North 2 sectionals (660).
Jason Smith, Senior, Edison
Two days after both he and Edison failed to advance to the TOC, Jason Smith shot 264-299 to help the Eagles sweep #1 East Brunswick in the GMC semifinals. Then he shot 279-258 in the finals. That alone may have qualified him for an all-state spot. Throw in a 220 GMC average (13th in the state), 4th place at Brick (719) and 718-630 (8th) in the GMC individual tournament, and it's a lock.
Nick Thies, Senior, Jefferson
One of NJ's most improved, sure, but also one of the best, posting a 216 NJAC average and 216 overall (15th in state), with a high set of 743. In limited tournament opportunities, Thies didn't let them go by, posting 693 at the Falcon Frenzee (3rd), and 693 at North 2 (2nd place).
Jordan Tse, Senior, Demarest
A switch to a two-handed style helped Tse improve from a very good 205-average bowler during his junior year to multiple 300s, the best average in the Big North (220, 12th in NJ), 5th at FDU (659), 4th at Bergen (662-641) and a runnerup finish at Sectionals (731). And a spot on an all-state team.
HIGH HONORABLE MENTION
Kyle Bauter, Junior, Manasquan
Backed up his impressive conference avg (215) with a sterling tournament record, never failing to break 620 in any team tournament: 648 at RWTI, 660 at CJWC, 622 at Wave, 633 at Shore Teams, 658 at Monmouth, and 8th place at Central Sectional (689) before finishing up with a 653 at TOC.
Jason Bilawsky, Sophomore, Woodbridge
His 209 league mark is good, but Bilawsky really shined in tournaments, tossing 614 at James, 670 at Brick, 646 at CJWC, 603-676 at GMC Individual, 671 at Sectionals, 688 at Team States (9th overall) and 659 at TOC. That is consistent brilliance across several different houses.
Justin Bohn, Freshman, Jackson Liberty
An awfully strong rookie season had Bohn leading Shore South B by a a lot at 213 and scoring well in pretty much every single tournament appearance: 631 at RWTI, 616 at Brick, 749 at CJWC (3rd place), 624 at Shore Teams, 632 at Shore Individuals, 633 at Sectionals at 635 at Team States.
Nick Greco, Junior, Fair Lawn
Second in the Big North at 215, shot a 300 game and a towering high set of 787. Tournament successes include a quarterfinal run at North Jersey singles, 644 at FDU, and 686-666 to take first overall in the Bergen County tournament.
Alec Hehir, Senior, Brick Memorial
Shore-South-A average leader at 215, and added some great tournament days: 684 at RWTI (2nd), 682 at CJWC, 632 at Shore Team, 4th at the Shore Individual and a huge 695 to finish 7th at South Sectionals.
Dan Kenny, Junior, Maple Shade
223 tournament average (6th) elevated him to 25th overall at 213. Kenny shot 656 at Olympic, averaged over 200 at South Jersey Singles, put up a 770 top set, took 5th at South Sectionals (704) and torched the TOC with 674-728 to finish just out of the stepladder in sixth.
Joseph Mahoney, Freshman, Park Ridge
Fantastic debut season, leading NJIC-Patriot by a huge margin at 211 and even better in tournaments, where he averaged 221 (10th in NJ). Hammer finished 4th at North Jersey Singles (averaging 223), shot 618 at Bergen, took 4th at Sectionals (727) and posted 673-627 to take 13th in his first TOC final.
Thomas McKeon, Junior, Keansburg
Led the Shore-North-A in average and finished at 209 overall, despite a tough home house. Did a lot of tournament damage: 676 at James (2nd), 665 at Bayshore (1st), 622 at Brick, 617 at CJWC, 623 at Wave, 647 at Monmouth, and 7th at Shore Individual.
Ryley McKiernan, Junior, Monroe
The jump from "around 200" to "approaching 220" is a tough one that not many can do mid-high-school-career, but McKiernan went out and shot so very many big scores, headed by a 780 set plus two more 700s and a 217 conference average (15th in NJ). He finished the season shooting 2-game 462 & 453 as Monroe won the conference tournament.
Geoffrey Origenes, Junior, Hudson Catholic
217 conference avg was 2nd in HCIAL, 16th in the State, while overall (216) was 17th. Postseason saw Origenes shoot 607 at Sectionals and 654 at Team States to lead Hudson Catholic to a state 3rd place finish.
Joe Paolillo, Junior, Clifton
214 overall average (21st) included stellar 220 in tournaments (12th). Shot 4-game 888 at North Jersey Singles, finished 3rd at Passaic County tournament (645) and led Clifton with a huge 715 set at Team States (5th best in the event).
Luis Torres, Sophomore, Roselle
Torres' 213 conference average put him near the top of Union-Mountain, his 734 to win the Wave put him on the all-state radar, and his brilliant run at the Union County - 1263 over six games, then 237-245-259 to reach the finals - earned him this spot. Only a sophomore.
HONORABLE MENTION
James Bolish, Senior, Toms River North
210 conference (3rd in SSA), 206 overall (50th), 617 at CJWC
Shuan Boffard, Sophomore, South Plainfield
208 conference, 205 overall, 708 at Irwin, 653 at GMC Ind, runnerup at SJS (212 average)
John Boughton, Junior, Brick Memorial
213 tourney avg, 208 overall; 1st at RWTI (723), 4th at CJWC (721), 1st at Snowball (760), 656 at Sectionals, 646 at Team States
Wyatt Buchany, Junior, Edison
211 overall avg, 3rd at Brick (730), 790 high set, 618-688 at GMC, 256-300 in GMC semis
Kenny Burdge, Sophomore, Manchester
207 conference avg, 2gm 435 at Mustang, 300/719 at CJWC (5th), 619 at Sectionals, Shore Individual Champ (687-626)
David Burrows, Senior, North Brunswick
208 overall avg, up 24 pins from 2017, 668 in GMC Individual
Dennis Carrino, Senior, Toms River East
209 conference (4th in SSA), 207 overall, 5th at RWTI (681), 661 at Shore Individual
Joey Chiusano, Senior, St. Rose
213 conf, 207 overall, 617 at Sectionals, 636 at Team States
Nick Delacruz, Junior, South Brunswick
208 tourn avg, 652 at Brick, 651 at GMC Ind, 7th at Sectionals (706), 14th at TOC (660-637)
Kevin DiBernardo, Sophomore, Toms River South
209 overall, 658 at RWTI, 4th at SJS (213 avg), 638 at Brick, 613 at CJWC, 658 at Snowball, 648 at Shore Team and 731 at Shore Individual (731)
John Drost, Senior, Woodbridge
209 conference, 207 overall, 620 at CJWC, 680 at Sectionals, 664 at Team States
Anthony Fama, Junior, South Brunswick
215 tourn. avg (23rd) 208 overall, 651 at James, 635 at Brick, 624-714 at GMC Ind., 656 at Sectionals
Andrew Finke, Senior, West Milford
207 overall (44th), 697 at Irwin, 4th at FDU (671), 2nd at Passaic (661), 634 at Sectionals
Brian Garofano, Junior, Howell
211 tourn. avg, 624 at James, 610 at FDU, 653 at Shore Ind, 5th in Central (716), 8th at Team States (705), 758-699, 5th at State TOC
Adam Gelvan, Junior, Montville
204 overall avg, 619 at Falcon, Morris County champ (708), 630 at Team States
Michael Guzman, Junior, Brick Memorial
206 overall, 684 at Brick, 651 at CJWC, 703 at Snowball, 627 at Shore Team, 669 at team states
John Hoban, Senior, St. Joseph-Metuchen
207 overall, 646 at CJWC, 631-637 at GMC Ind, 636 at Sectionals, 608 at Team States
Justin Korman, Senior, Manalapan
219 tourney avg (13th), 643 at CJWC, 635 at Shore Ind, 1st at Monmouth (782), 633 at Sectionals, 630 at Team States
Joey Lamont, Senior, Morris Knolls
217 conference avg (17th), 608 at CJWC, 669 at North 2 Sectional (669), 628 at Team States
Tom Laskay, Senior, Freehold Township
221 tourney avg (7th in NJ), 205 overall, 629 at Shore Team, 2nd at Shore Ind (697-647), 2nd at Monmouth (729)
Derek Lewandowski, Senior, Ridgefield Park
223 overall (25 games), 219 avg at SJS, 764 top set, 4th at Sectionals (709), 644 at TOC
Josh Lipko, Senior, Cherry Hill West
214 conference (24th), 211 overall, 632 at Sectionals, 4 sets of 688+
Chris Lopez, Junior, North Bergen
216 tourney avg (21st), 205 overall, 3rd at FDU (676), 5th at NJS (215 avg), 634 at Sectionals
Tom Luchetta, Sophomore, Wayne Hills
210 conference (5th in Big North), 206 overall, 2nd at FDU Team (680)
Andrew Mai, Senior, East Brunswick
208 overall and 217 (19th) in tournaments; 665 at James, 642 at CJWC, 651 at TeamStates, 758-619-5th at GMC Ind.
Ryan McGuire, Senior, Indian Hills
209 conference avg, 629 at Bergen, 7th at North 1A (677)
Matt Myers, Senior, Ridgewood
205 overall, QF at NJS, 613 at FDU, 626-638 at Bergen, 5th at North 1A (700)
Hunter Perry, Junior, Hawthorne
207 tourn, 202 overall, 1st at Passaic (670), 8th at N1B (670), 12th at TOC (674-626)
Jivan Persaud, Senior, Hudson Catholic
203 overall average, 1st in North 1B (730), 644 at Team States, 637 at TOC
Matt Redbord, Senior, Ocean Township
216 conference avg (18th), 613 at CJWC, 632 at Wave, 657 at Shore Individual
*Eddie Ross III, Sophomore, Absegami
221 average across 13 tournament games, 653 at sectionals, 705-687 to finish 7th at TOC
Armen Shamim, Sophomore, East Brunswick
Huge improvement to 208 overall; 623 at CJWC, 663-692 at GMC Ind, 665 at Sectionals
Chris Shymanski, Junior, Brick Township
207 overall, 624 at RWTI, 649 at Brick, 4th at Shore Team (676), 663 at Shore Individual, 8th at South Sectional (693)
Brian Skettini, Sophomore, Ridgewood
207 conference, 206 overall, 679-625 at Bergen (3rd), 699 at Sectionals (6th)
Nick Striffler, Senior, Lacey
211 conf avg (2nd in SSB), 208 overall, QF at SJS, 638 at Brick, 640 at Shore Teams, 671 at South Sectional
Jarrett Toth, Junior, St. Rose
211 conference, 209 overall, 1st at Bayshore (647), 633 at Wave, 652 at Monmouth, 627 at Team States
*Francis Vitelli, Junior, North Hunterdon
3rd at North Jersey Singles (745 in qualifying), Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex champ (712)
Cameron Waldheim, Junior, Brick Memorial
203 overall, 478 at Mustang (2gm), 666 at CJWC, 641 at Snowball, 724 at Team States
Preston Williams, Sophomore, Jackson Liberty
215 tournament avg (24th), 610 at RWTI, QF at SJS, 654 at CJWC, 648 at Shore Team, 1st at South Sectional (773), 654 at Team States, 11th at TOC (687-617)
Dylan Wolfe, Junior, Manasquan
210 overall (32nd), QF at SJS, 675 at CJWC, 2nd at Wave (681), 630 at Sectional
Andrew Xiques, Junior, Toms River South
206 overall, 635 at RWTI, 641 at Brick, South Jersey Singles Champion, 659 at Shore Team, 657 at Shore Individual
Zach Young, Senior, Bishop Eustace
643 at sectionals, 664 at team states, 204 overall average
There are at least 62 more male bowlers in New Jersey high school action this year that can claim an average over 200, either in-conference or overall. This was a brutal list to assemble, with so very many good bowlers on the other side of the cutline.
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