17-18 Preview: Girls Preseason Top 20

THE TOP 20 GIRLS BOWLING TEAMS IN NEW JERSEY (preseason)

1. Toms River North
After springing the upset in sectionals last year, the Mariners graduate to favorites.  Cassidy Syrdale, Mackenzie Dudas and Kennedy Pfeifer are all very good, Paige Peters is potentially the top freshman in the state (and one of the best bowlers, period), and they have last year's breakout superstar in Kamerin Peters.  It's been a while since the Brick schools didn't dominate Shore-South-A, but I think it's TRN's turn for a while.

2. Brick Township
Plenty of talent left for the Dragons after losing two starters: Caylin Ryan, Cristy Sharkey, Christina Gonzalez and individual TOC star Julianna Forbes give Brick a good chance to win every match and tournament they enter, and favorites to recapture the Group III title.

3. Brick Memorial
For the second year in a row, Brick Memorial lost three exceptionally good seniors.  And yet, here they are right near the top anyway.  Amanda Shelters is fantastic, and Rachel Katz and Veronica Lewis would anchor about 150 other teams. The Mustangs are very much still contenders.

4. Manchester
There's at most an eyelash separating #2 through #4.  Manchester returns the entire lineup from last year's SSB champs, and they're all strong: Theresa Bedaro, Mackenzie Weber, Kimberly Wolf and Victorias Shaw & Smith.  Wouldn't surprise me a bit for this team to improve even more and challenge for #1.

5. Warren Hills
The defending TOC champs lost 3 top-flight starters to graduation, but return an excellent top two in Katie Winch and Kelcie Mannon, as well as welcoming two talented freshmen in Samantha Irwin and Olivia Ostrander.

6. Toms River South
Natalie Swindell and Ciani Sanchez headline a strong group of returnees, and it looks like there's enough depth, headed by Jessica Ramirez, to make the Indians strong contenders.

7. Teaneck
A whole lot of talent returns for last year's surprise team: Margaux Lesser, Mia Aish, Gianni Caldazilla and Valeria Rosario make this the team to beat in the Big North and a darkhorse Group III pick.

8. Lacey
Took a hit when Claudia Schreier was lost to an injury, but Autumn Laird heads a team with plenty of experience and a shot at the Group II title.  Liz Schreier, Julia Muro and Samantha Trembley should also make huge contributions.

9. Holy Angels
2017's Group II state champs lost quite a bit, but Alexa Hernandez and Amelia Brunda are a strong top two, and this program has always come up with enough depth to be a contender.

10. Wayne Valley
Another perennial Big North contender remains strong, with the conference's top returning bowler in Marissa Cosentini and another top-flight bowler in Haley D'Alessandro

11. Monroe
My pick for the top team in the GMC is this squad, led by an emerging star in Bridget Bolan and with plenty of quality throughout the lineup, including Victoria Stasicky and Shannon Glynn.

12. Washington Township
I have a feeling this team may exceed this ranking.  Shannon & Patricia O'Neill look to be improving greatly and are joined by solid bowlers in Diana Chan and Jacklyn Welch.  Lots of potential here.

13. Colts Neck
State qualifiers a year ago, Colts Neck brings back their top two, underclassmen Morgan Gitlitz and Erica Dugan, who both have looked very good on the tournament circuit.

14. Ocean Township
Very few teams were hit as hard by graduation as the Shore Central A champs, but the cupboard is far from bare: Emma Sylvia and Maribella Ferraina are solid in the middle of the lineup, and Alexa Tieto could easily emerge as a star.

15. Edison
Ok, Edison was hit pretty hard by graduation, too. But Victoria Johnson, Samantha Osiadacz and Fabriane Jean-Denis are a very good core, and the program has been so good for so long that I just expect them to find a way to the top of the GMC.

16. Freehold Township
Won the sectional last year, and while they lost one of their top two, they bring back Victoria Parriello, who was very good, and Sarah Orensky, who's simply the best bowler in the Shore Conference Central.

17. Hackensack
They whole gang returns for one of the best in the Big North, including seniors Donna Lee Graham and Annie Quinn, as well as an exceptional talent in Arielle Wallace.

18. Central
This looks like a solid, balanced group, led by Liz McGee and Ally Dalton, who will put up strong numbers in an extremely tough conference.

19. Colonia
Lots of experience in the lineup for Colonia, and Laryssa Fiore could be one of the best in the GMC in 2018.

20. Southern
MacKenzie Olson leads another good Shore Conference team that would be near the top of nearly any other conference in the state.

FIVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON

Barnegat
Developing some depth at Barnegat, and they have a really good one in Alyssa Pilovsky.

Howell
Lost an impressive top two to graduation, but there's a lot of experience remaining that should result in a balanced, competitive lineup. Alexa Scranton and Gianna DeVeau are the top returnees.

Manasquan
Anna Foo is the top returning bowler for this Shore-Central-A contender.

Ramsey
Lindsay Pepper and Angela DiNallo return for last year's North Group I champs.

South Plainfield
Any team with Lanasia Neal is one to keep an eye on.  A little improvement from some underclassmen and this team could take off.

THREE MORE THAT MAY BREAK THROUGH

Eastern
Lost 2 fantastic seniors, but rebuilding around juniors Hailey Dadi, Cloe Lowell and Ryann Werner isn't a bad place to be.

North Brunswick
In this category because I just have no idea what the rest of the lineup will be, but Trinity Gray and Carly Lodise are a very good top two.

Ridgewood
5 girls with varsity experience give this Big North squad a chance to improve dramatically.