THE TOP TWENTY GIRLS BOWLING TEAMS IN NEW JERSEY
1. Brick Memorial
LW: 1 T5: 991 GA: 197
All the stats here are amazing, but I continue to be the most impressed with the 11-0 / 33-0 record in a division with three other top 7 teams. They just never have an off game, it seems. Three wins this week against the "bottom" of the division (which includes pretty good teams,including another top 20 team in Central), posting 2830, 2880 & 2790, followed up with a win at the Brick Tournament (3021). Any one of their bowlers could carry 95% of the teams in NJ.
2. Brick Township
LW: 2 T5: 925 GA: 185
Easily maintained their ranking with a very strong week: 2778-2954-2788. Fourth place in the Brick Tournament may have been a bit disappointing, but it took monster scores from Manchester & TRS to beat the Dragons. The five starters range from 177 to 191, but somebody always seems to go above & beyond, as Caylin Ryan & Victoria Gray did this week.
3. Manchester Township
LW: 3 T5: 890 GA: 176
#3 and #4 is about as close as it gets on this list. Warren Hills' scores are a bit higher, but Manchester wins it on volume (more than twice as many games bowled, including 3 tournaments) and the fact that their scores are straight-5 instead of 6/5. This is a young group without a senior starter, and they're going to keep getting better: witness Theresa Bedaro's 720 on Saturday.
4. Warren Hills
LW: 5 T5: 917 GA: 178
Only one result this week, but it was a huge 2874 with Jenna Henderson, Katie Winch & Kelcie Mannon all over 620. Along with Jessica Yerance, they have the 4 highest averages in the Skyland Conference. The Blue Streaks are one or two tournament performances away from moving up to #3, if not #2.
5. Toms River South
LW: 6 T5: 853 GA: 171
Scores were down just a bit this week, but a big 2840 to take 2nd in the Brick Tournament keeps them in the top five. There aren't a lot of huge individual scores for TRS (though Natalie Swindell's 679 at the Brick was pretty awesome), but this is a lineup without a weakness: 20-10 in Shore-South-A is a testament to their ability to perform under pressure.
6. Ocean Township
LW: 4 T5: 877 GA: 173
Disappointing 5th at the Brick, perhaps, but Wednesday provided a strong 2556 and they still sport excellent season-long numbers. Alexa Tieto has emerged as a very solid #3 behind Dana Henry and Jenn Ingulli, and the Spartans can absolutely challenge #2 Manchester in the Group II states.
7. Toms River North
LW: 7 T5: 858 GA: 168
I'm as guilty as anyone of making TRN's success all about Kamerin Peters, but let's be clear: there are more than a few teams in NJ with one great bowler than aren't close to the #7 team in the state. MacKenzie Dudas and Cassidy Syrdale are strong bowlers, averaging over 170, and both underclassmen. This team is going to be around for a while and will probably get even better. 2576 & 2656 last week, both 3-0 wins.
8. Holy Angels
LW: 13 T5: 853 GA: 166
Read about T5 on the boys rankings if you haven't. T5 showed me that I was underestimating AHA, as they have an exceptionally strong top 5, despite being a 4-bowler league team. 2072 & 2122 last week, easily the top 2 in the Big North for the week. Tiffany Rose Sucero is #2 in the (huge) conference with a 189 average, and she has 4 teammates at 157 or higher. This is a dangerous tournament team, to be sure.
9. Teaneck
LW: 9 T5: 813 GA: 172
Cracked 2000 twice (4-bowler) in a pair of 7-0 wins last week. Very strong 1 through 4, now led by Margaux Lesser's 179. I don't know what happens when they go to a 5-bowler lineup, but in Big North league action, they're 49-0 and underdogs to nobody.
10. Lacey
LW: 12 T5: 823 GA: 164
Put up an excellent week, firing 2576-2628-2536. Unfortunately, that last score ran into a buzzsaw against division-leader Manchester. But Autumn Laird's development into a bowler capable of big scores (including a 276 single) is a huge positive, and the Lions will get at least 2 more cracks at Manchester, one in a couple of weeks, and another in South Group II.
11. Edison (LW: 10 T5: 813 GA: 165)
12. Wayne Valley (LW: 8 T5: 806 GA: 169)
13. Eastern (LW: 11 T5: 818 GA: 161)
14. Freehold Township (LW: 15 T5: 803 GA: 155)
15. Howell (LW: 17 T5: 790 GA: 154)
16. Central (LW: 18 T5: 775 GA: 152)
17. Washington Township (LW: un T5: 774 GA: 151)
18. Manasquan (LW: 14 T5: 792 GA: 154)
19. Carteret (LW: 19 T5: 770 GA: 150)
20. South Plainfield (LW: 16 T5: 785 GA: 153)
Edison put up 3 very strong scores last week: 2526-2451-2537 and has turned back all GMC challengers this year (10-0 / 39-1). Wayne Valley drops a bit based on one subpar score (their only result last week), and a T5 a bit lower than the GA. The only Eastern result from last week didn't come with any scores, so..? T5 also gives us some way of finally deciding between the Freehold/Howell twins, but their division was off all week, so no new results.
Central was a strong 7th at the Brick. Is bowling the only sport in NJ where a team can be 5-25 and still legitimately #16? Washington Twp put up a season-high 2495 on Thursday and are headed in the right direction. Manasquan had a tough week, finishing up with a disappointing 10th at the Brick while down a starter. They still have the season-long numbers and are still the favorites to win Group I at states. It took half the season, but Carteret's balanced attack has caught up to South Plainfield's GMC-best top two.
FIVE TEAMS THAT JUST MISSED
Monroe
Barnegat
Hackensack
Woodbridge
Gloucester Tech
Monroe & Hackensack are new additions; both have steadily improved throughout the season. Barnegat & Woodbridge are just a tiny bit behind the ranked teams statistically - the kind of thing that could change easily week to week. Gloucester Tech has the strongest T5 of this group and are dominant in their conference.
FIVE TEAMS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Ramsey
South Brunswick
Bergen Tech
Franklin
Jackson Liberty
I picked South Brunswick because they had 2 good scores last week and Emily Alvarez seems like she may be taking her team to another level. Jackson Liberty is here off a very good showing at the Brick (8th place, 2422). The other three are teams I haven't mentioned at all in the rankings, but T5 has identified them as having strong tournament lineups.
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