Girls Bowling Preview: [SUFFOLK Edition]
Deirdre Burns. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 07 Jan 2003:
The four Suffolk girls bowling championship plaques displayed in the trophy case at East Islip aren’t taken for granted. Neither is the 22-game win streak or the young talented bowlers who constantly roll in and out of this program.
In fact, if you ask East Islip coach Harold Cooley what is taken for granted in this bowling dynasty, he’s quick to tell you: “Nothing.” He’s also quick to tell you that it’s not a dynasty.
“I have a great group of girls who love to bowl,” Cooley said. “They spend the time and energy it takes to become a good team.”
Last season, Cooley and the gang successfully defended the Suffolk title and placed second in the state. The Lady Redmen also said farewell to two of its top seniors – Jess Figueroa and Marissa Chasanoff.
But even without those stars, the Lady Redmen are still the team to beat. “They are still a very good team,” Longwood coach Steve Abrams said. “They’re still stocked with talent.”
The Lady Redmen are also stocked with consistency, youth and the will to win. The team is sporting a 90-percent winning average, led by senior Judiann McNiff (194 average), freshman Sarah O’Brien (208) and junior Amber Southard (190).
The Lady Redmen’s stiffest competition should come from last season’s county runner-up, Patchogue-Medford. The Lady Raiders are led by junior Noel Ocasio (206), who might be the county’s top bowler. Ocasio and sophomore Mary Darbee (188) represented Suffolk on the all-star team that finished fourth in the state tournament in Niagara Falls.
Sachem, which finished fifth in last season’s county tournament, returns its top bowler, Cheryl Drusin. The sophomore sports a 206 average and had a high series of 695 so far this season. Drusin was also a member of the Suffolk all-star team.
Longwood is a threat with eighth-grader Stephanie Kammer (175), junior Sarah Novotny (170) and senior Megan Walters (177).
Longwood 770,800,783 Eastport / South Manor 660,589,657. Dec. 4
Longwood 906,941,759 Bellport 687,692,642. Dec. 10
Longwood 801,838,827 Ward Melville 624,558,593. Dec. 13
Darbee Leads PM. Mary Darbee had a 266 in a 577 series and Noel Ocasio had a 648 series for Patchogue-Medford in an 895-849, 819- 785, 1,004-811 win over Longwood. Dec. 18
Longwood 793,858,787 Islip 744,827,700. Dec. 19
Longwood 741,814,812 West Islip 673,613,618. Jan.9
Longwood 817,843,814 Northport 718,756,691. Jan. 16
Longwood 946,809,759 Sachem 867,816,728. Kan Do. Eighth-grader Stephanie Kanner rolled a 255 in the first game as Longwood beat Sachem, 946-867, 809-816, 759-728. Jan. 22
At East Islip Lanes
Singles (Two Games) – Class A (200-162 average): 1. Cheryl Druzen (Sachem), 429; 2. Mazur (Northport), 404. Class B (161-140): 1. Crystal Olivieri (EI), 385; 2. Umland (EI), 364. Class C (139-120): 1. Katie Tannuzzo (Ward Melville), 350; 2. Mele (Bellport), 325. Class D (119-under): 1. Jill Kehoe (N), 377; 2. D’Angelo (Longwood), 309. Doubles – Class A (280): 1. EI (Amber Southard, Sarah O’Brien), 794; 2. Bellport (Brown, Neumann), 788. Class B (279-241): 1. Middle Country (Forbes, Plansker), 637; 2. EI (Chavarria, Capone), 620. Class C (240-under): 1. Longwood (Romero, D’Angelo), 564; 2. Ward Melville (Nunn, LaSpina), 525. Jan. 23
Eastport 756,656,744 Longwood 645,695,656. Jan. 23
Longwood 733,833,885 Ward Melville 705,659,647. Feb. 4
Patch.-Medford 985,910,887 Longwood 886,907,842. Feb. 5
Longwood bowler Megan Walters rolled a 269 game and 613 series Tuesday against Bellport . . . Island Trees will host a Coaches vs. Cancer boys basketball game against Oceanside at 7 p.m. Monday. Donations will be taken at the door . . . The Hewlett boys raised more than $3,500 last Saturday with its Coaches vs. Cancer event, coach Bill Dubin said. Feb. 8