After falling just 19 pins short of first place last season, the boys bowling team finished as Nassau County Champions at Garden City Lanes on Feb. 4, earning them a spot in the New York State Finals this weekend.
Leading the Dalers this year are three-year veterans and co-captains Joe Inzirillo and Eric Kennedy, in addition to second-year varsity bowler Steve Hamlin, . They are joined by new varsity members Chris Olsen, Jon Smalkin, Casey Sparcio and Chris Valentine.
At the County Championship, they were ahead by one pin going into the fourth game, gained a 89-pin lead after the fifth game and won with a total score of 6,332 after the final game. East Meadow finished second with 6,308.
To prepare for states, made extra practice sessions available to the team and threw the the team a party in their honor.
“I've known these boys for two years now and have seen them develop not just into excellent bowlers but great people," said Craig Liguori, manager of Farmingdale Lanes. "Some work for me and many volunteer to coach junior bowlers. We here at Farmingdale Lanes are extremely proud of all of them.”
The coaches and staff of The Bowlers Source Pro Shop located in Farmingdale Lanes have also been supportive of the team and its players. Their services include group and individual coaching sessions along with bowling equipment.
”I have had the pleasure of coaching all of the kids on the Farmingdale team individually in some capacity whether through junior league or private coaching and watched them all grow up during the year," said Derek James, Bowlers Source Pro Shop resident USBC certified coach and St. John’s University assistant coach. "To see the team accomplish the feat of winning the Nassau High School Counties and make it to state competition is fantastic and a dream come true for them."
The Sewanaka High School girls bowling team will join the team at states this weekend.
Kennedy is a bowling team parent.
