This isn't all that scientific, but making an all-state team, even at Honorable Mention, is really, really hard. Most freshmen, even those among the best, don't have much of a chance. Some will, of course, but I thought I'd shout out all the top freshmen I'm aware of. There are at least three good bowlers that I think might be freshmen, but I couldn't verify, so if you have someone in mind that deserves a mention, he/she may well be one of those, so shoot me an email and I'll fix it.
FRESHMAN BOYS
Justin Bohn, Jackson Liberty
Very few freshmen come in with such lofty expectations and name recognition, but Justin's been bowling at an awfully high level for a long time, and the bright lights and spectators are just not going to bother him. He got it done in the regular season, averaging 213 to lead Shore-Central-B by 14 pins. He got it done in tournaments, averaging 211 and shooting 749 to place 3rd at CJWC. And he fired a 279 game at the state team tournament, helping his team on a great postseason run.
James Fitz, Linden
The youngest member of the youngest good team out there averaged 204 in-conference, broke 600 at CJWC and the Union County singles (twice), and then in the biggest spot of the season, shot 638 to lead his team to a victory in a very tough North 2, Group III sectional, as well as advance to TOC himself.
Chris Germain, South Brunswick
I'm going to confess, I didn't realize Germain was a freshman until very recently. I do know that he averaged 195 in the regular season, shot a half dozen 600s,including a 690 set, and put up a solid score in all five tournaments I checked on. This is going to be a powerful team in 2018, and Germain should be a big part of it.
Zachary Leinwohl, North Brunswick
Freshmen on good, veteran teams have to earn their keep, and Leinwohl proved he belongs among the GMC's best. He averaged 194 in the regular season with a high of 678, and then shot a big 665 at sectionals to qualify for the individual TOC.
Joseph Mahoney, Park Ridge
When a kid comes with an established nickname, that's usually a good sign. Hammer was everything the hype said, leading the NJIC-Patriot with a big 211 average, finishing 4th at North Jersey singles, 3rd at Sectionals (727) and making the cut at Individual states - all told, a sizzling 221 tournament average. Kid's a gamer.
Collin McBride, Colonia
Colonia wasn't really on my radar in the preseason, but they had a pretty good year by the numbers, and one big reason was the emergence of McBride. More consistent than most talented freshmen, he averaged 197 in the regular season, and also averaged 197 over 12 tournament games, including a 630 at sectionals. He and Will Orak should be a formidable top two next year.
Aaron Reingold, Matawan
When the first time you see a kid bowl, it's in a sport shot league he's bowling in just to get better, that's usually a good sign, too. When it's a freshman, that's a great sign. Reingold had a fantastic rookie year, averaging 195 in conference play, and putting up several tournament 600s before peaking at the exact right time, shooting 709 to help his team to a close second at the Team TOC.
Ben Sherman, Montville
How does Montville stay so good, even in the face of graduating all-state level bowlers like Erik Kattermann? Well, coming up with a freshman as good as Ben Sherman was this year goes a long way. Sherman averaged 196 over a full season (7th in a very good NJAC-South), and took third at the Morris County with an excellent 686 set, and the Mustangs keep on rollin'.
R.J. Utter, West Milford
Averaged a solid 198 in the regular season, consistently putting up good scores in a very competitive division, but Utter really contributed in tournament season. He shot 611 at Passaic, a huge 694 at sectionals, and 631 at the individual TOC. Looks like West Milford is going to stay strong even after graduating Andrew Finke.
FRESHMAN GIRLS
Krista Eskow, Fair Lawn
Her 172 regular season average would have been enough to make this list, but Eskow was also able to go even bigger in tournaments, shooting a 643 to be the top bowler at the FDU Team Challenge and 623 to finish sixth in the North sectional. A little more consistency should get her to another level, but this was a most impressive start.
Amanda Finke, West Milford
I almost missed her, since she's one of the few Big North girls bowling on boys teams, and because she didn't quite qualify for the average lists with only 23 total games bowled. But her results merit inclusion: averaged 173 in conference matches and 171 in tournaments, including 567 for third place in the Passaic tournament.
Samantha Irwin, Warren Hills
Half of the star freshman duo that helped Warren Hills win another state title, and might have been WH's most consistent performer. Irwin raised her average a full ten pins after the first of the year, peaking with a team-leading 628 set at sectionals that earned her fifth place, and followed that up with a 570 at states to finish at 172 overall.
Shayna Jimenez, Teaneck
Teaneck stayed on top of the Big North this season in large part because they replaced a good graduated senior with this freshman, who came out of nowhere to finish 11th in the entire Big North with a 168 average. Along the way, Jimenez reached the quarterfinals of North Jersey Singles and finished 3rd in very tough conditions at Bayshore.
Olivia Ostrander, Warren Hills
The other half. Ostrander's outstanding rookie season included some huge tournament days, placing 5th at CJWC and Snowball (with a 672) as well as her thoroughly amazing run to fourth place in the state TOC. She wound up with a top-20 tournament average at 195 and is a huge reason that Warren Hills's future still looks very bright.
Paige Peters, Toms River North
200 overall average, including 205 in tournaments. Shot a state-best 767 at North Jersey Singles before finishing second, 5th at South Jersey Singles, 1st at Snowball, 4th at Sectionals, 3 700 series, a 300 game in conference play, and a Team State championship. So, that's not too bad for a freshman, huh? My goodness.
Michaella Raab, Mahwah
I was tipped to this incoming freshman's league numbers in the preseason (thanks, Vince) and the tipster was right on the money. Raab led the way for Mahwah's fantastic season, averaging 178 in conference play (7th in the Big North) and stepping up to 183 in tournaments, including a big 599 at team states to help the Thunderbirds finish 4th in Group II.
Jaden Schaefer, Freehold Township
A huge part of Freehold's second half run to greatness. On January 3, Schaefer was averaging 148 and wasn't yet a full-time varsity starter. Four weeks later she had dragged her average all the way to 166 and was even better in the postseason, shooting 597 at sectionals, which qualified her for the individual TOC where she shot a first round 614 to make the cut.
Jazmyn Willis, Ewing
Averaged 160 as the anchor of a good Ewing team, helping them to a 16-0-1 record. And she upped her game in tournaments, where she averaged 181 and led the Blue Devils to 3rd place finishes at both the Olympic tournament and Central Group II sectionals.
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