Brick bowling teams get off to slow starts

It was an inauspicious start for perennially powers Brick Memorial and Brick Township boys bowling teams in the Bishop Ahr Tournament at Carolier Lanes in East Brunswick on Saturday, but both coaches remain optimistic for what lies ahead for this season.

"There's absolutely no question in my mind," said Brick Memorial coach Mike Rusomano.

Rusomano thinks about better days ahead after his team that had two proven starters in the lineup had one of its worst finishes in many years - 26th - with 2,622 pins. What makes that even worse is that the Mustangs finished third in the NJSIAA championships and won the South Jersey sectionals last March. Brick Township was right behind at second place in the state sectionals.

"I don't remember ever shooting this low. We didn't have it but it's too early in the season and we had tryouts and only one or two practices. We have three big guns back from last year and not too much varsity experience beyond that but for the other two spots there are prospects that are doing well. We have four or five other guys who can step in, whoever is bowling well."

Jon Geller, a senior who was one of the top bowlers in Shore Conference A South last year with a 220 average and qualified for the Shore Conference Tournament, led the Mustangs with a 569 series highlighted by a 199 game. Another part of that three-man nucleus - ErikHaas - followed with a 538 series off a 203 game. He averaged 215 last year. The final key player - Frank Appice - was out with a minor injury but is expected back soon as the Mustangs open their A South schedule with three matches this week at Ocean Lanes against Toms River East on Monday, Lakewood on Tuesday and Manchester on Friday.

Cara Lukosius saw Brick Township's boys team she coaches fare a little better with a 2,736 pinfall and also has three seniors in her team's nucleus but shared Rusomano's comments.

"It's tough going into a tournament without having bowled together yet.

We just started practicing so this is a learning experience and we'll learn something from it," said Lukosius. "We went into this tournament, which started a little earlier this year, and did not even bowl any league matches yet. In light of that, I think we did better than we expected."

Travis Breitenbruck led the way with a 618 series off games of 224, 194 and 200 and Terry McMahon followed with a 571 series. Jay Lane, who also bowled a 220 average last year and a 300 game that rated him atop A South with Geller, smashed a 559 series off a 223 game.

As a team, Brick Township opened with an 896 game as a team, followed by a 933 and a 907.

"I think we'll do well in our division," said Lukosius as her team opened up this week with matches against Lakewood on Monday, Toms River East on Thursday and Toms River North on Friday. "We've been bowling phenomenal at Ocean Lanes where scores go up. They're comfortable but once that they are in another house, they'll adjust more."

Brick Memorial plays in the Westfield Tournament on Saturday but Brick Township will pass as Lukosius has her annual showcase when the Women's All-Star Scratch Association rolls off at Howell on Saturday.

One thing both coaches feel feeds their optimism is the feeling that supporting players will emerge. For Brick Memorial, that will help ease the loss via graduation of Tim Tarnowski, who hit two 300 games in his high school career and was an NJSIAA individual qualifier, and Mike Messmer.

Seniors Kyle Murphy and Tom Morris will help along with left-handed sophomore Dominick Romano, who Rusomano said "probably has improved 10 to15 pins (in average) over last year. He averaged 220 in leagues over the summer and is a real good prospect."

A freshman who should see considerable varsity action is Domenick Luongo, who has hit a 300 and averages around 215 in youth leagues.

"Last year they came together as a team and realized the concept that whenever one man is down, another can pick it up, which is why we did well as a team," said Rusomano.

Lukosius feels junior Mike Mellon will be a fixture in the No. 4 spot while she'll rotate three bowlers in the final spot - sophomore T.J. Contino, who tallied games of 183 and 163 on Saturday, senior T.J. Morrison and sophomore

Joe Vescio. Lukosius feels they'll ease the loss of standout graduates Rob Smith, Ryan Soos and Gene Smith.