Bowling Preview
Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 19 Dec 2016.
After rolling a 236 at the state championships last season and finishing the year with a 201.18 average, you wouldn’t figure that East Islip’s Julia Bocamazo would want to change much about the way she bowls.
But in her mind, there is always room for improvement.
Bocamazo has worked countless hours with personal bowling trainer Billy Papandrea at East Islip Lanes. When Papandrea recommended in September that Bocamazo use a 15-pound ball instead of her usual 14-pounder, Bocamazo began to notice an immediate difference.
“Switching to a heavier ball helped me throw the ball faster and improve my scores,” Bocamazo said. “I am now able to convert more spares and earn strikes at a higher rate.”
Bocamazo was rewarded for her hard work when she bowled a 300 in the third game of a 729 series on Dec. 13, her first in a match. Coincidentally, she rolled a 300 during a practice session with Papandrea just three days earlier.
The sophomore leads East Islip with a 221.92 average.
Additionally, three other East Islip bowlers are right around the 200 mark, which speaks volumes about the team’s depth this season. Junior Melissa Mavrich and sophomores Julianna Spina and Jenny Murphy are essential pieces to East Islip’s success.
“We might be young, but we are a very experienced and deep team,” East Islip coach Harold Cooley said. “Our goal right now is to try and win the league championship.”
So far East Islip is off to a promising start, winning its first four matches of the season.
One team that could stand in the way of East Islip’s hopes of a second straight county title is Middle Country.
Eighth-grader Hannah Skalacki, who made Newsday’s All-Long Island second team last year, is averaging 204.3 and already has bowled a 649 series. Meanwhile, juniors Allison Burfeindt and Julie Acosta will provide depth for a Middle Country team who is also 4-0.
Longwood will be a formidable team and will compete with Middle Country for a Suffolk League I title.
Longwood 2, Smithtown 0: Danielle Bietz rolled a 245 in Game 3 of a 653 series leading Longwood, 925-925, 933-895, 1,040-886, in Suffolk I. Smithtown’s Taylor Eggert bowled a 225 in the first game of a 640 series. Dec. 7
Longwood 2, Commack 1: Rachel Hines had a 268 in the third game of a 704 series, and Teresa LoCurto shot a 234 in the first game of a 619 series to lead Longwood (2-0) in its 909-966, 1013-843, 1118-967 Suffolk I win. Dec. 9
Middle Country 2, Longwood 1: Hannah Skalacai rolled a 231 in the third game of a 622 series for Middle Country (3-0) in a 910-1,017, 1,043-952, 971-870 Suffolk I win. Nicole Littich bowled a 234 in the second game of 585 series. Dec. 14
Longwood 3, Commack 0: Teresa LoCurto rolled a 255 in the third game of a 649 series as Longwood (5-2) won, 1,005-963, 1,025-877, 969-961, in Suffolk I. Jess Burkitt had a 257 in the second game of a 647 series and Danielle Dietz added a 226 in the second game of a 630 series.Jan. 11
Longwood 2, Middle Country 1: Teresa LoCurto had a 217 in the second game of a 633 series as Longwood (6-2) ended Middle Country’s 7-0 run this season with a 926-878, 1,023-999, 932-1,013 win in Suffolk I. Eighth grader Rachel Hines rolled a 233 in the second game of a 595 series. Jan. 13
One look at Julianna Spina and she seems like your typical 15-year-old high schooler. But put a bowling ball in the sophomore’s hands and look out.
“I was pumped today,” said Spina, who was emotional after every spare and strike. “I felt very motivated to win.”
That’s what East Islip girls bowlers usually do when it comes to county championships: win.
Spina rolled a 236 in Games 4 and 6 of an impressive 1,372 series to help East Islip capture back-to-back Suffolk championships Saturday at a packed Sayville Lanes.
The Redmen had a six-game score of 6,486, followed by Middle Country (6,260), Commack (6,115), Longwood (5,853) and Smithtown (5,644), which rounded out the top five. Feb. 5