Clarkstown Varsity Bowling Coach Corey Stahl acknowledges the season got off to a rough start. But despite that the team composed of players from Clarkstown North and South high schools won the Sectionals in February and is traveling today to Syracuse for Saturday’s 9 a.m. start of the state tournament.
Stahl related that the season began with one of the team’s returning seniors Al Musiaro still recovering from surgery during the summer. When Musiaro recuperated and returned to form by midseason Team Captain Coby Eiss, also a senior, had surgery. He rejoined the team just in time for the last week of the season.
“It wasn't until the sectionals that we had our full starting five at 100 percent,” said Stahl. “We knew we had the potential to do it but it was a matter of putting it all together.”
He said the team finished second to North Rockland in the league, but its focus all season was the sectional tournament and regaining the title it won in 2011. The players succeeded in taking the title back from Yonkers and then turned its efforts toward improve their ninth place finish at the state match in 2010.
Stahl, who coaches along with John Lenna, shared highlights of the sectionals. It is the second year for both coaches.
“We had the lead after the first half by 68 pins. We added another 26 points to our lead after the first game of the second half. Then North Rockland had a big game and took the lead for the first time all day by 57 pins. The last game came down to the last bowler in the last frame. Their anchor Nick Hanley needed a strike on his first ball, but did not get it.”
Clarkstown North junior Anthony Maresca was the top bowler of the sectional tournament. He finished with the highest total pins with 1352 and a high game of 254. 2 open frames all day.
The Varsity Bowling Team roster includes five starters: Eiss and Maresca from North, Brendan Murray, Musiaro and Jack Perez from South along with A.J. Fierman, David Gilitos and Chris Lundgren from South.
Stahl said the team is very excited about going to the tournament.
“We're very proud of them,” he said. “They worked hard and made changes to improve all season long. They deserve this opportunity. We can't wait to see what happens.”
