Just a ton of action on Monday & Tuesday, including 37 of the 40 ranked teams. Let's hit some highlights.
The #1 Brick Memorial girls made it to 36-0 with a 3085-2706 sweep of #5 Toms River South. The Mustangs were led by a trio of 600s from Victoria Bird (606), Amanda Shelters (656) and Jillian Stuart (654) while Ciani Sanchez shot 647 for TRS in defeat.
#2 Brick Township (2817) came away with a tough 2-1 win over #7 Toms River North (2783, a season-best). Victoria Gray from BT (626) and Kamerin Peters from TRN (687) put up the biggest scores.
#4 Warren Hills continues to pressure the top 3, firing 2841 behind 600s by Jenna Henderson (630), Kelcie Mannon (643) and Liz Hudock (603). Jenn Ingulli (651) and Dana Henry (609) helped #6 Ocean Township to a pair of 3-0 wins, including a 2738 set against #18 Manasquan.
#9 Teaneck had the highest Big North set at 2049, defeating Demarest 5-2, though Demarest put up a solid 1948. Unranked Paramus Catholic is looking to crack the rankings, as Kristen Kane's 614 helped PC to a 1966 set.
GMC action was headlined by a showdown between #19 Carteret and #20 South Plainfield, with the Ramblers prevailing 3-1 and carding 2419, enough to overcome Lanasia Neal's 631. Bridget Bolan's 604 helped Monroe to a solid 2395. But #11 Edison remains the conference boss, sweeping Colonia with a strong 2511 series.
#10 Lacey put Friday's loss behind them and swept Pinelands with a 2531 set, while #14 Freehold Township got big numbers from both Clare Chaffer (675) and Sarah Orensky (616) in hanging 2447 on Manalapan. Morgan Gitlitz shot 616 to help Colts Neck to their highest score of the season, 2308, and a 2-1 defeat of Jackson Liberty.
They bowl on boys teams, but we've got to recognize Hopatcong's Rhianna Smith for her 702 on Monday, which she followed up with 621 on Tuesday, as well as Hawthorne's Madison Perry who fired 711.
Other 600s:
Katie Robb, Kingsway 602
Shea Balman, Pinelands 618
Danielle Quitola, Ridgefield Park 650
On the boys side, first & foremost we should welcome back Andrew Lazarchick of Brick Memorial and Matthew Stephens of Egg Harbor from their trip to Team USA trials. Both seemed to enjoy getting away from the tough patterns at trials: Lazarchick carded 748 in #2 Brick Memorial's tight win over #6 Toms River South, while Stephens torched the lanes for a 775 in Egg Harbor's sweep of Deptford.
#9 South Brunswick took advantage of a rare off-day from #4 East Brunswick and took a 3-1 decision (2904-2896) in the marquee GMC matchup of the week. Another ranked-teams dual saw #17 St. Joseph (Metuchen) sweep #14 Sayreville 4-0.
#1 Woodbridge (3101) and #5 Brick Township (3158) kept their seasons rolling along with sweeps, as did #7 Ocean Township (2985), #13 Montville (2919), #16 Sussex Tech (3022), #18 Warren Hills (2987) and #20 Livingston (2986).
I speculated on Monday that #10 Cherry Hill East could be deadly with Emerson Levy & Anthony Mathis both "on", and then they went out and did it, shooting 723 & 700 respectively to fuel a team season-high 3140. Olympic conference foe #15 Seneca put up a season-best monster as well, with a 3174 set highlighted by Jacob Boris's 745.
The best match of the week so far may have been the Shore-Central-A showdown between #8 Manasquan and St. Rose. Joe Ocello's 702 helped St. Rose take 2 of 3 games (and points), but Manasquan ended up with the higher set (3122-3103), thanks in part to Austin Devereux's 705. I think we're looking at a preview of Central Group I, and possibly State Group I with these two teams.
Up in the 4-man Big North, #12 Indian Hills continues to raise that huge average with two more sweeps that feature totals averaging over 200: 2467 & 2470 in this case. Joe Mormando's 736 led the way. Fair Lawn's making me look good for putting them on the "keep an eye" list, putting up a very strong 2455 in a sweep of Passaic Tech. Ridgefield Park's Derek Lewandowski's 708 helped his team take 3rd in the BN for the week so far, with a 2331 set.
Lacey is looking like a team back on the rise, carding 2918 in a sweep of Pinelands to move their Shore-South-B leading record to 31-2. North Arligton's 4-man squad continues to improve, this time posting 2486, led by Eric McKenna's 723.
Unranked South Plainfield came up with their highest set of the season, totaling a huge 3090 in a sweep of Carteret. Camden Tech posted their highest series of the year as well with a 2842 in a sweep over Bishop Eustace on Monday. A few more season-highs: Ewing (2940), Scotch Plains-Fanwood (2913), Cinnaminson (2907), and Piscataway (2883 in an upset win over Monroe).
Other 700s:
Evan Weinberg, Dayton 705
Matthew Burzynski, Dickinson 741
Joe Gramignano, High Point 729
Matt Gibney, Keansburg 722
Mike Eak, Central 718
Ryan Donohue, Lyndhurst 712
Kyle Schellberg, Dumont 749
Jordan Tse,Demarest 725
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Girls Rankings for 1/10/17
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.
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.
Monday, January 9, 2017
Boys Rankings for 1/9/17
Rankings explanation here. There's a new section at the bottom - here's the tl;dr version: I have a new tool, the T5 score, which approximates the strength of the team's top 5 bowlers, and is meant to balance out some of the weaknesses of Game Average.
THE TOP 20 BOYS BOWLING TEAMS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
1. Woodbridge
LW: 1 T5: 1050 GA: 213
Fantastic performance in winning the Brick Tournament (3267) seals it for the Barrons, after two 4-0 wins, including one over Sayreville. James Stoveken & Kyle Bilawsky continue to lead the way with conference averages in the mid-220s, but the truly scary thing about this team is its depth: NINE different bowlers have shot 600 for Woodbridge this year.
2. Brick Memorial
LW: 4 T5: 1068 GA: 210
Matched Woodbridge all week, with 3141-3036-3236 in true 5-man matches, and without their top bowler. Alec Hehir & Cameron Waldheim have taken turns as the star. Memorial had probably earned #1. And the Mustangs' performance in their tournament was great, too: 3212. But Woodbridge beat them, in the same house at the same time, for the second time this season, so #2 is where they sit.
3. Shawnee
LW: 2 T5: 1058 GA: 209
Two 4-0 wins, 2991-2831. Seemingly on cruise control until their showdown with Brick Memorial in South Group IV. Andrew Abbonizio & Chris Pagliuso, on paper, are the top 1-2 punch in New Jersey, with both averaging about 228.
4. East Brunswick
LW: 3 T5: 1034 GA: 207
3-1 wins, scoring 2832-3093 keep EB in the mix at the top. Another team with excellent depth, as there are 4 different guys they could run out there behind Sam Bortnick, Daniel Lenk & James Reitano on any given day.
5. Brick Township
LW: 9 T5: 1051 GA: 200
3121 in a 3-0 win, 2913 in a 2-1 win, 3207 in a 3rd place finish at the Brick Tournament. T5 showed me that I had BT too low: their depth is intimidating, Jordan Malizia & Kyle Chirichello are a dynamic top two, and I don't envy Coach Seidelmann a bit trying to figure out which 5 to start any given day; the Dragons are leaving a 200 average bowler on the bench every time they hit the lanes.
6. Toms River South
LW: 5 T5: 1033 GA: 203
3007-2938 in a pair of wins, 3038 at Brick tourney (4th place). Ho hum, another Shore-South-A team with six 200 average bowlers (plus 2 more in the high 190s). Chris Swindell & Kyle Oliveri are the best of a very balanced attack. Seriously, the Ocean Lanes youth coaches should write a book.
7. Ocean Township
LW: 7 T5: 1024 GA: 203
3105 in a win, 3117 in a loss to Manasquan (OT had a higher total). Matt Redbord leads the way with a 217 average, but the Spartans firepower runs deep, including Douglas Rhodes who has a 300 this season. Nip and tuck conference battle with Manasquan should go right to the end.
8. Manasquan
LW: 6 T5: 1016 GA: 200
Consistent week: 2986-2913-3095-2829, 3 wins over good teams and 7th at the Brick. Austin Devereux is having an all-state level season, and Chris Heilos and Kyle Bauter are over 200 as well. Easily the top Group I squad in the state.
9. South Brunswick
LW: 10 T5: 999 GA: 200
The Vikings reached their season high this week (3271) and added a pair of wins (3007 & 2833). Maybe a bit under the radar in the GMC, this is a group of bowlers that as individuals aren't especially consistent match to match, but it seems like at least one or two go big every time, so it all works out. The possibility of 3 or 4 of them going big (Tyler Kohutanycz, Chan Woo Ang, Nick Delacruz & Anthony Fama have all shot 690+) should be terrifying.
10. Cherry Hill East
LW: 8 T5: 1009 GA: 200
Just one result reported since the break, 2917 in a win over Cherokee. Anthony Mathis is the top freshman bowler in the state, while Emerson Levy is a little inconsistent but can fire huge numbers with anyone. If they're both on, South Jersey Group IV (CHE, Shawnee, Brick Memorial) is gonna be a bloodbath.
11. Pascack Valley (LW: 12 T5: 1027 GA: 198)
12. Indian Hills (LW: 13 T5: 970 GA: 203)
13. Montville (LW: 15 T5: 1002 GA: 193)
14: Sayreville (LW: 14 T5: 996 GA: 193)
15: Seneca (LW: 17 T5: 978 GA: 194)
16. Sussex Tech (LW: un T5: 984 GA: 193)
17. St. Joseph-Metuchen (LW: 16 T5: 961 GA: 196)
18. Warren Hills (LW: un T5: 968 GA: 195)
19. Pompton Lakes (LW: un T5: 958 GA: 194)
20. Livingston (LW: un T5: 964 GA: 191)
Pascack Valley vs. Indian Hills really illustrates the two ways to look at things. Indian Hills has as intimidating a top-4 as anyone (4-man 2766 last Monday), and since the Big North is a 4-man league, they're the top team. Pascack Valley seems to almost flaunt their depth, switching up bowlers constantly as they have so many good ones and it's tough to get them all in action. Strictly by results, IH is a top-5 team; by projected strength, PV is top-5. But we're trying to balance things, so they're both right here.
Montville & Sayreville have had some lineup jumbling, but both have superstars (Erik Katterman & Chris DeOcampo) and the strength to make a postseason run. No results this week from Seneca. St. Joe's had 2 scores of 3067+ this week. All the new teams come in on the strength of recent scores. Sussex Tech's Joey Steele & Pompton Lakes' Nick Cilento are well-known top bowlers, and Livingston's Michael Liu is a freshman phenom, but Warren Hills' Eric Lawson may be the best unrecognized bowler in New Jersey.
FIVE TEAMS THAT JUST MISSED
Monroe
Lacey
Egg Harbor
Central
St. Rose
Nothing bad to say about any of these programs - it's just really close at the back end of the top 20.
FIVE TEAMS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Fair Lawn
Howell
Edison
North Arlington
Caldwell
Fair Lawn fired 3 scores of 2349+ this week (4-man) and look to have outstanding depth. Howell came in 2nd in the FDU team challenge and have a great top 5. Edison's 2909 at Brick beat some of the teams ranked above and may signal some real improvement. North Arlington's got their GA up to 190. Caldwell gets recognized here because I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't have any SEC-Colonial data before this week. They have a genuine star in Colin Dromgoole.
Ok, we'll have girls rankings tomorrow.
THE TOP 20 BOYS BOWLING TEAMS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
1. Woodbridge
LW: 1 T5: 1050 GA: 213
Fantastic performance in winning the Brick Tournament (3267) seals it for the Barrons, after two 4-0 wins, including one over Sayreville. James Stoveken & Kyle Bilawsky continue to lead the way with conference averages in the mid-220s, but the truly scary thing about this team is its depth: NINE different bowlers have shot 600 for Woodbridge this year.
2. Brick Memorial
LW: 4 T5: 1068 GA: 210
Matched Woodbridge all week, with 3141-3036-3236 in true 5-man matches, and without their top bowler. Alec Hehir & Cameron Waldheim have taken turns as the star. Memorial had probably earned #1. And the Mustangs' performance in their tournament was great, too: 3212. But Woodbridge beat them, in the same house at the same time, for the second time this season, so #2 is where they sit.
3. Shawnee
LW: 2 T5: 1058 GA: 209
Two 4-0 wins, 2991-2831. Seemingly on cruise control until their showdown with Brick Memorial in South Group IV. Andrew Abbonizio & Chris Pagliuso, on paper, are the top 1-2 punch in New Jersey, with both averaging about 228.
4. East Brunswick
LW: 3 T5: 1034 GA: 207
3-1 wins, scoring 2832-3093 keep EB in the mix at the top. Another team with excellent depth, as there are 4 different guys they could run out there behind Sam Bortnick, Daniel Lenk & James Reitano on any given day.
5. Brick Township
LW: 9 T5: 1051 GA: 200
3121 in a 3-0 win, 2913 in a 2-1 win, 3207 in a 3rd place finish at the Brick Tournament. T5 showed me that I had BT too low: their depth is intimidating, Jordan Malizia & Kyle Chirichello are a dynamic top two, and I don't envy Coach Seidelmann a bit trying to figure out which 5 to start any given day; the Dragons are leaving a 200 average bowler on the bench every time they hit the lanes.
6. Toms River South
LW: 5 T5: 1033 GA: 203
3007-2938 in a pair of wins, 3038 at Brick tourney (4th place). Ho hum, another Shore-South-A team with six 200 average bowlers (plus 2 more in the high 190s). Chris Swindell & Kyle Oliveri are the best of a very balanced attack. Seriously, the Ocean Lanes youth coaches should write a book.
7. Ocean Township
LW: 7 T5: 1024 GA: 203
3105 in a win, 3117 in a loss to Manasquan (OT had a higher total). Matt Redbord leads the way with a 217 average, but the Spartans firepower runs deep, including Douglas Rhodes who has a 300 this season. Nip and tuck conference battle with Manasquan should go right to the end.
8. Manasquan
LW: 6 T5: 1016 GA: 200
Consistent week: 2986-2913-3095-2829, 3 wins over good teams and 7th at the Brick. Austin Devereux is having an all-state level season, and Chris Heilos and Kyle Bauter are over 200 as well. Easily the top Group I squad in the state.
9. South Brunswick
LW: 10 T5: 999 GA: 200
The Vikings reached their season high this week (3271) and added a pair of wins (3007 & 2833). Maybe a bit under the radar in the GMC, this is a group of bowlers that as individuals aren't especially consistent match to match, but it seems like at least one or two go big every time, so it all works out. The possibility of 3 or 4 of them going big (Tyler Kohutanycz, Chan Woo Ang, Nick Delacruz & Anthony Fama have all shot 690+) should be terrifying.
10. Cherry Hill East
LW: 8 T5: 1009 GA: 200
Just one result reported since the break, 2917 in a win over Cherokee. Anthony Mathis is the top freshman bowler in the state, while Emerson Levy is a little inconsistent but can fire huge numbers with anyone. If they're both on, South Jersey Group IV (CHE, Shawnee, Brick Memorial) is gonna be a bloodbath.
11. Pascack Valley (LW: 12 T5: 1027 GA: 198)
12. Indian Hills (LW: 13 T5: 970 GA: 203)
13. Montville (LW: 15 T5: 1002 GA: 193)
14: Sayreville (LW: 14 T5: 996 GA: 193)
15: Seneca (LW: 17 T5: 978 GA: 194)
16. Sussex Tech (LW: un T5: 984 GA: 193)
17. St. Joseph-Metuchen (LW: 16 T5: 961 GA: 196)
18. Warren Hills (LW: un T5: 968 GA: 195)
19. Pompton Lakes (LW: un T5: 958 GA: 194)
20. Livingston (LW: un T5: 964 GA: 191)
Pascack Valley vs. Indian Hills really illustrates the two ways to look at things. Indian Hills has as intimidating a top-4 as anyone (4-man 2766 last Monday), and since the Big North is a 4-man league, they're the top team. Pascack Valley seems to almost flaunt their depth, switching up bowlers constantly as they have so many good ones and it's tough to get them all in action. Strictly by results, IH is a top-5 team; by projected strength, PV is top-5. But we're trying to balance things, so they're both right here.
Montville & Sayreville have had some lineup jumbling, but both have superstars (Erik Katterman & Chris DeOcampo) and the strength to make a postseason run. No results this week from Seneca. St. Joe's had 2 scores of 3067+ this week. All the new teams come in on the strength of recent scores. Sussex Tech's Joey Steele & Pompton Lakes' Nick Cilento are well-known top bowlers, and Livingston's Michael Liu is a freshman phenom, but Warren Hills' Eric Lawson may be the best unrecognized bowler in New Jersey.
FIVE TEAMS THAT JUST MISSED
Monroe
Lacey
Egg Harbor
Central
St. Rose
Nothing bad to say about any of these programs - it's just really close at the back end of the top 20.
FIVE TEAMS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Fair Lawn
Howell
Edison
North Arlington
Caldwell
Fair Lawn fired 3 scores of 2349+ this week (4-man) and look to have outstanding depth. Howell came in 2nd in the FDU team challenge and have a great top 5. Edison's 2909 at Brick beat some of the teams ranked above and may signal some real improvement. North Arlington's got their GA up to 190. Caldwell gets recognized here because I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't have any SEC-Colonial data before this week. They have a genuine star in Colin Dromgoole.
Ok, we'll have girls rankings tomorrow.
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