NICK CILENTO, KAYLA JOHNSON WIN STATE HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING TITLES
North Brunswick, NJ 02-18-15 – Last year, Bergen-Passaic had two boys reach the state stepladder finals with Glen Rock senior Jake Rollins establishing an NJSIAA record by posting a perfect game to win the title. Yesterday, Bergen-Passaic had eight players reach the second round, three of whom qualified for the stepladder big five. Pompton Lakes’ sophomore Nick Cilento earned the third seed with his 678-691: 1369, and fought his way to the final by stopping fifth seed Andrew Lazarchick of Brick Memorial, 235-211 and second seed Greg Khan of Bergenfield, 187-185. The final hurdle was no piece of cake, since sizzling top-seed Immaculata senior Gregory Tack was his opponent. Greg had earned the top spot by averaging 242+ in scorching Carolier with three-game blocks of 740 and 715. Predictably, the battle was nip and tuck with Cilento reaching the ninth frame a scant three sticks ahead. Outwardly cool as a cucumber, Cilento fired a closing four-bagger to shut out Tack, thus earning Bergen-Passaic a second consecutive state crown.
Edison senior Kayla Johnson had been there three times before; as a junior, she came up short and failed to get past round one. She was determined that this last shot would be her best effort and indeed it was as she garnered the top seed by two sticks with blocks of 682-601: 1283. Opening the championship match with a pair of strikes, Kayla took an early lead that she never relinquished, holding off third seed Tori Broughton Brick Memorial to capture the coveted title.
Stepladder Results: Boys – Lazarchick over fourth seed Kyle Schellberg [Dumont] 243-224, Cilento 235-211 over Lazarchick, 187-185 over Khan and 238-214 over Tack. Girls – fourth seed McKenna Collier [Brick Memorial] edged Hopatcong’s Rhianna Smith 173-173 [58-48], but then fell to third seed teammate Tori Boughton, 165-159; Boughton stopped second seed Alize Stevenson [St Mary-Elizabeth], 235-223 before dropping the finale, 183-171 to Johnson.
Qualifiers: Boys – Tack 1455, Khan 1379, Cilento 1369, Schellberg 1340, Lazarchick 1335, Lyndhurst’s Daijon Smith 290-1329, Montville’s Erik Kattermann 268-1312, Rahway’s Darius Singletary 1301, Lyndhurst’s Jordan Lopez 1300, Lenape’s Matt Frei-Funk 1295, Jefferson’s Zak Watson 1283, Seton Hall Prep’s Marcus Regino 1278, Lyndhurst’s Ryan Donohue 1244, Wayne Valley’s Josh Spiegel 1219, Lenape’s Dean Klimek 1216, Roselle Catholic’s Jim Gramiak 1215,Woodbridge’s Kyle Bilawsky 1214 and West Milford’s Jeremy Scott 279-1213. Girls – Johnson 1283, Stevenson 1281, Boughton 268-1273, Collier 1269, Smith 1260, Brick Twp’s Vicky Spirio 1255, Brick Twp’s Nicole Aumack 1249, Woodbridge’s Deanna Calantoni 273-1234, Warren Hills’ Jenna Henderson 1234, Ewing’s Jessie Garzio 1229, Sparta’s Jamie Golden & Linden’s Sinoda Cook 1212, Carteret’s Alexis Policastro 1210, South Plainfield’s Rebecca Armand 1203, South Brunswick’s Amy Caruso 1198, Jackson’s Alexa Asta 1182, Brick Twp’s Brianna MacLeod & West Deptford’s Maddie Miller 1157. North Brunswick’s Imari Perez had girls’ high game of 279.
To reach the state finals is an achievement in itself and all the student-athlete participants are to be congratulated for doing so. Best of luck to all the group champions in Friday’s team tournament.
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