Woodbridge bowling wins Tournament of Champions, Group III titles
At first, they didn’t know what was going on.
The team bus pulled over, then police lights started flashing. No, the driver wasn’t speeding on Route 1. Simply, it was a police escort home for the Woodbridge High School boys bowling team after it won the Tournament of Champions on Monday at Bowlero in North Brunswick.
“That was the coolest thing in the world,” senior John Drost said. “And I’m so proud of our police, and I’m so grateful that they were able to do that for us.”
In turn, the township is surely proud of the team.
The Barrons beat St. Rose, 3-0 ,in the final after defeating Sussex Tech 3.5-2.5 in the semifinal. Earlier in the day, Woodbridge advanced to the semifinals by winning the 10-team Group III section with a 3185, edging second-place Toms River South (3079).
East Brunswick captured the Group IV title by 40 pins over Brick Memorial. In the semifinals, the Bears lost to St. Rose 3-1.
This is the second season in a row that a Greater Middlesex Conference team captured the TOC as East Brunswick won in 2017. Woodbridge’s other TOC crown came in 2012.
Monday’s lineup under head coach Amanda Small consisted of Jason Bilawsky, Drost, Alex Silva, Jeremy Soto and James Stoveken.
“This has been our goal for a while,” Drost said. “Ever since we started practicing over the summer, this is what we wanted to accomplish, and I’m glad we did. … It feels amazing. We work so hard as a team all throughout the season and to win it all, especially on a stage like that, really meant a lot to me especially that I’m a senior and this is my last year and to really be a part of it with those guys was the best feeling in the world, honestly.”
Drost noted that team members often bowl together on their own, and hang out and play basketball together. He said, “I wouldn’t even call us a team, I’d practically call us a family with how close we all are.”
It’s their shots on the bowling lanes that have gained attention. The shutout in the final was especially impressive.
“Once we have a rhythm going, there’s no stopping us,” Soto said. “If we’re backing each other up, there’s no stopping us. If we got a good rhythm going, it’s game over.”
Drost said, “It was a team win for us. Nobody bowled amazing. We all bowled very good in my opinion. And it wasn’t really just all one person, and it never really is. It’s always how we all perform as a team. … We’re built on picking each other up.”
After the police led them to the school, the PA announcer told of the win during the girls basketball game to cheers.
“It’s always good to put numbers up on our banner at the school,” Soto said. “It’s always good to see that it’s your year that’s going up on that banner.”