CENTRAL NEW YORK – Both from an individual and team standpoint, area high school bowling teams expect a lot in the 2023-24 season.
Led by reigning individual state champion Elianna Occhino, Christian Brothers Academy began last Thursday against Weedsport, taking that match by a 7-0 margin.
With two games of 215 and a 235 game in between, Occhino claimed a three-game total of 665 as Sophia Ciereck helped out, her games of 181 and 170 part of a 489 series.
CBA’s boys lost to Weedsport by that same 7-0 margin, though Tom Dearnaley had a solid 551 series. Ethan Reitma led Weedsport with a three-game total of 605.
Another program with state titles in its past, East Syracuse Minoa, had a tough opening assignment last Monday against Auburn, ultimately taking a pair of defeats to the Maroons.
The boys Spartans lost 7-0 despite plenty of good scores at Falcon Lanes. Joe Gardner led the way, his 661 series including games of 236, 225 and 202 as Zach Kassel had a pair of 203s in his 599 set.
Luke Liedka had a 571 series and Ryan Dablock had a three-game total of 546, but Auburn got a 695 series from Lucas McConnell with games of 245, 234 and 216 as Eric Barski added a 637 series.
ESM’s girls did get some points in a 5-2 loss to Auburn. Alana Tuberville led with a 428 series, just ahead of Ruth Birmingham (406 series) and Averie Lynch (398 series), while the Maroons featured a 525 series from Grace Ryan and a 496 set from Marissa Capone.
Bowling again on Thursday, ESM’s boys beat Central Square 5-2 and displayed remarkable depth in doing so.
Mike Saunders’ steady 656 series had no game better than 235, Joe Gardner getting a 644 series and 233 high game. Alex Locke stepped up, too, his 641 series closed by a 233 game as Kassel’s 222 and 236 were part of a 615 set.
Liedka closed with a 240 to get a total of 614. Dablock improved to a 552 series as Central Square’s Collin Edwards led all individuals with a three-game total of 661 (252 high game) and teamamte Owen Schlueter had a 655 series.
Sweeping Central Square 7-0, the ESM girls saw Tuberville shoot a 211 on her way to a 457 series. Nicole Baker shot a 394 series, ahead of a 384 set from Ruth Birmingham and 373 series from Jewelianna Hallock.
Fayetteville-Manlius was supposed to open a day later, facing Cicero-North Syracuse at Strike-N-Spare Lanes, but winter weather forced a postponement.
Bishop Grimes began on Wednesday and could not get a point in either match against Chittenango. The twin 7-0 defeats to the Bears included Casey Mierek shooting a 453 series to lead the boys Cobras and Lania Young’s 307 series leading the way for the girls.
