2017-18 Greater Middlesex Conference girls bowling preview

Andy Mendlowitz

@andy_mendlowitz

South Plainfield's Lanasia Neal won the NJSIAA Individual Bowling Tournament title on Wednesday at Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick.

Sometimes, athletes have been so good for so long, they just become a part of that sport’s landscape. Lanasia Neal has been a staple in area bowling since her freshman season at South Plainfield High School.

Now, she’s finally a senior and seems primed at making runs, again, at the NJSIAA state individual and Greater Middlesex Conference titles. Neal, the Home News Tribune Girls Bowler of the Year the last two seasons, enters this winter having won the GMCT crown and taking fifth in the state in 2016-17 with a 206 average.

As a sophomore, Neal won the state individual title and took second in the GMCT. As a freshman, Neal took ninth in the GMC.

READ: 2017-18 Greater Middlesex Conference Boys Bowling Preview

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She’s already in the record books. Neal holds the New Jersey high school record with a high two-game series of 537 set last season, according to the U.S. High School Bowling Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes scholastic bowling and keeps records. As a sophomore, she set the state record with a 1467 high six-game series. That was surpassed, however, last season by Toms River North freshman Kamerin Peters’ 1503.

Team-wise, Monroe and Edison may once again duel on the lanes for Middlesex supremacy. Last season, Monroe captured the GMC Tournament title with a 2-1 victory over Edison in the finals. While the Falcons graduated All-Red Division Sarra Wysokowski, they return All-GMC Bridget Bolan (179 average) and All-Red Division picks Victoria Stasicky (164) and Shannon Glynn (151). Seniors Nina Carey and Alexa Hnath (both with a 120 average) are also back.

When it came to the state postseason run, however, it was the Eagles who emerged on top. In the Central Group III tournament, Edison finished 30 pins behind Freehold Township for second place. Monroe placed third. In the Group III tournament, the Eagles took third out of six teams.

The Eagles graduated All-GMC picks Touri Holmes and Samantha Salzone, but bring back All-White Division selections Tori Johnson (167 average) and Samantha Osiadacz (155), as well as promising sophomore Fabriane Jean-Denis (152 average, 16th in GMCs).

Bishop Ahr

Last Year’s Record: 8-9-1

Returning Starters: Katie Eicher, senior; Anne Hoban, sophomore; Lilah Silar, junior; Amanda Dembowski, senior; Katie Schilp, senior

Noted Achievement Last Year: Eicher finished 10th in the GMC Individual Tournament and was All-Blue Division

Carteret

Last Year’s Record: 16-4

Returning Starters: Ashley Espy, senior, 162 average, All-Blue Division; Amanda Medvitz, sophomore, 146; Fantasia Norman, senior, 125

Any Newcomers Who Could Contribute Right Away: Angela Baginsky, Stella Frank, sophomore; Skyla Latella, senior

Noted Achievement Last Year: Central Group I champions

Outlook: The Ramblers graduated three starters, including all-division Nicole Zorrilla and Allison Russell. Still, coach Nick Panos, the division’s Coach of the Year, expects his to team to be competitive.

Colonia

Last Year’s Record: 12-5

Returning Starters: Laryssa Fiore, senior, 174 average; Theresa Gruskos, senior, 131; Jennifer Weber, junior, 112; Brittany Langevin, junior, 141; Rebecca Hoff, sophomore, 138; Kayla Soto, sophomore, 123

Any Newcomers Who Could Contribute Right Away: Haley Vaughn, senior, Robyn Epstein, sophomore and freshmen Sarah Miller and Lakshanyaa Venkatesan

Noted Achievements Last Year: Fiore was an All-GMC pick and won the Woodbridge Classic and 11th in GMCT.

East Brunswick

Last Year’s Record: 5-11

Returning Starters: Madison Steinbeck, senior, 162 average, GMC individual qualifier; Sydney Ramos, senior, 131; Alicia McLaughlin, junior, 156, GMC individual qualifier; Catherine Attia, sophomore, 85; Manisha Parasarathy, sophomore, 88; Rishitha Annamaneni, sophomore, 88

Newcomers: Rebecca Reitano, freshman

Noted Achievements Last Year: Group IV central runners-up

Edison

Last Year’s Record: 16-0

Returning Starters: Tori Johnson, senior, 167 average, 12th in GMCs; Samantha Osiadacz, junior, 155, 19th in GMCs; Fabriane Jean-Denis, sophomore, 152, 16th in GMCs; Evelyn Peralta, junior, 112; Raagavi Manivannan, junior, 112

Newcomers: Jasmine Tewfik, sophomore; Teresa Luciani, junior; Srispoorthi Iyer, sophomore; Christina Osiadacz, freshman

Noted Achievements Last Year: The Eagles won the White Division and the Joe Romer Memorial Classic, while taking second in the GMCT, Baker Challenge and the Bob James Holiday Classic.

J.F. Kennedy
Last Year's Record: 2-16
Returning Starters: Hannah Cestone, Victoria Mancine

J.P. Stevens

Last Year’s Record: 4-13-1

Returning Starters: Akshita Kumar, senior 144.9 average; Aditi Potnuru, junior, 108.7; Anjana Manikandan, junior, 107.3; Riya Varshney, junior, 100.5; Depti Chauhan, junior, 93.1; Freya Patel, sophomore, 90.5

Any Newcomers Who Could Contribute Right Away: Brianna Miller, senior; Emily Tavares, junior; Yoana Hyman-Cruz, freshman; Tarunya Sabapathy, freshman

Monroe

Last Year’s Record: 14-0

Returning Starters: Bridget Bolan, junior, 179 average, 5th in GMCT; Nina Carey, senior, 120; Shannon Glynn, senior 151; Alexa Hnath, senior, 120; Victoria Stasicky, senior captain, 164

Noted Achievements Last Year: The Falcons captured the GMC Red Division, in addition to winning the conference tournament.

New Brunswick

Last Year’s Record: 7-10

Any Newcomers Who Could Contribute Right Away: Anays Garcia, junior

Old Bridge

Last Year's Record: 7-7-2

Returning Starters: Stephanie Sanders, senior, 168 average, All-GMC pick; Grace Bucca, junior 124; Madison Kennedy, junior 76; Cidney Lee-Sam, senior 124; Kaitlyn Cuisinier, junior, 102; Haven Traverzo, junior, 130

Perth Amboy

Last Year's Record: 3-13

Returning Starters: Yadira Poitan, senior; Amy Gomez, junior; Sarah Kennedy, junior; Yvette Rojas, junior

Any Newcomers Who Could Contribute Right Away: Marisol Lino, senior; Jennifer Sousa, junior

South Brunswick

Last Year's GMC Record: 10-4-2 (2nd place Red Division)

Returning Starters: Kirsten Thorne, senior, 155 average; Rachel Guida, junior, 137; Sanjana Senthil, junior, 106

Any Newcomers Who Could Contribute Right Away: Katelyn Schwab freshman; Jillian Kwock, freshman

South Plainfield

Last Year's Record: 14-2-2

Returning Starters: Lanasia Neal, senior, 206 average, GMCT champ, 5th Place NJSIAA Individual Tournament; Hallie Bisgaard, junior, 140; Samantha Lorito, sophomore, 102; Anya Wilson, sophomore, 119

Any Newcomers Who Could Contribute Right Away: Nour Elmajdouli, sophomore; Athena Annum, freshman

Noted Achievements Last Year: The Tigers were the GMC Blue Division champions

South River

Last Year's Record: 9-7-3

Returning Starters: Eleni Feggulis, junior, 165 average, All-Blue Division; Kayelena Brimage, junior, 146, All-Blue; Hailey Zito, junior, 103

Newcomers: Tayna Diaz, sophomore

Woodbridge

Last Year's Record: 14-4-1

Returners: Sarah Fail, sophomore; Isha Chada, junior; Breanna Tolocka, sophomore, 136 average; Eliza Abreu, junior, 116; Leah Gautier, sophomore, 129; Meagan Raimondo, sophomore, 142, 3rd place in Bob James Holiday Classic

Newcomers: Samantha Leonard

Noted Achievements Last Year: The Barrons finished 12-3-1 in in the regular season. Highlights included finishing third in the Woodbridge Classic and fourth in the Westfield Tournament and Joe Romer Memorial Classic.