Memorial girls win early season bowling tourney

Kim Icker has played in the shadows of Brick Memorial girls bowling captain Jess Abrecht.

But the senior anchor surged into the spotlight when she drilled a 650 series, tying for high series in the Bishop Ahr Tournament, while leading the Mustangs to the team title for the second straight year. Brick Memorial finished with 2,807 pins, 42 pins ahead of Immaculate Heart and well ahead of the 2,750 pins of Brick Township, which faded to third place after taking the lead into the third and final game. Nicole Nardiello of Brick Township as second in high series.

"I'm very pleased with the way I'm bowling," said Icker, "I was working hard all summer and bowling almost every day. I really feel the hard work is paying off."

Icker rolled games of 222, 222 and 206 as Brick Memorial stayed in the running for the tournament title. She helped Brick Memorial start off in second place in the first game and to stay there in the second game when Brick Township had a hot stretch to take the lead before faltering in the third game. Abrecht chipped in games of 202, 191 and 191 in 584 series, and Brittany Morris reeled off games of 203 and 201 after a slow 164 start in her 568 series. Jordyn DeMont rolled games of 177 and 174 en route to a 516 series.

"I am most proud and very pleased with their consistency," said Brick Memorial coach David Thompson. "Last year we won this tournament before we fell off where we would have that one game. We did not bowl up to our capabilities. We bowled games of 921, 951 and 935, a 30- pin differential from the low to high. That's consistency. It's not our best bowling but to go in the first tournament and bowl three 900 games and win is definitely a boost and where we want to be."

Icker agreed about the need for consistency and said it will give the team "a very big boost in confidence" after it went just 5-4 in the first week of Shore Conference A South play as it heads into its next tournament on Saturday in the Westfield Tournament. Brick Memorial lost to Brick Township in the only match, 2-1, swept Toms River South and lost two of three against Manchester.

Kaitlyn Nardiello led Brick Township over Brick Memorial with a 693 series off games of 268 and 229 and Katarina Kiseli followed with a pinfall of 647 highlighted by games of 256 and 225. Nicole Nardiello chipped in a 223-629 as Brick Townhip won handily, 3,107-2,952. Icker led Brick Memorial with a 224-237-640 and Abrecht followed with 226-222-633. Jordyn DeMont bowled consistently with games of 216, 203 and 209 in a 628 series. Caitlin Dorey rolled a 204-592.

"I'm a little disappointed with where we are at this point in the league," said Thompson. "It's not where we expected to be. "I

cker said she is eager to do her part for the veteran lineup.

"We all work very hard at what we do and for me, what's better this year is my release and the way I am at the foul line, the way I finish," said Icker.

As for the boys, Brick Township finished in ninth place in the Bishop Ahr Tournament with 2,978 pins led by T.J. Contino's 255 game and 676 series. Matt Fenley shot a 215 high game to start his 603 series. Mike Melon changed his ball after a slow start and finished the day with games of 216 and 217 in a 577 series. Joe Vescio was four pins back and highlighted his day with a 248. Doug Scelfo chipped in games of 203 and 189.

"To be in the top 10 with so many teams from around the state, I'm happy

with the team, although we missed a lot of spares and had some really low games," said coach Cara Lukosius. "For some reason, this house has always been our nemesis, although these bowlers are different from last year when the bowlers covered a lot of boards and used a big hook. This year, our bowlers are more direct and straight." The Green Dragons boys

team will not compete in the Westfield Tournament on Saturday as Lukosius will participate in the Women's All Star Association Tournament of Champions in Howell.

The team in Shore Conference A South is off to a 4-2 start last week, with a bye on Friday, after losing to Brick Memorial, 2- 1, as Doug Scelfo led the way with games of 214, 212 and 208 in a 634 series and Contino topped his 609 series with a 255, and sweeping Toms River East. "We'll compete with top teams," said Lukosius with an assured tone.

As for Brick Memorial, it toppled only 2,875 pins in the Bishop Ahr Tournament, as Franklin DiGiacomo led the way with a 241 game and a 637 series and Brendan Barboza with a 222-607.

"Inexperience showed and we had a lot of problems adjusting," said Brick Memorial coach Mike Russomano as his team got off to an 8-1 start in A South with the 2-1 victory over Brick Township and sweeps over Toms River South and Manchester. Sophomore Domenick Luongo had a hot week ended with a 762 series against Manchester off games of 268, 235 and 259. He also smashed a 652 against Brick Township topped by a 256 game and a 655 against Toms River South. DiGiacomo belted a 688 series against Brick Township off games of 237, 226 and 225 and a 676 against Manchester. Kyle Murphy chipped in a 659 and Barboza logged a 639 against Toms River South.