Sectional title deepens West Milford’s love of Lodi Lanes by Greg Tartaglia of The Record
LODI – Mike Nicholas keeps leaving Lodi Lanes with more than he had when he arrived.
At Thursday’s North 1B boys bowling tournament, the West Milford sophomore shared the high game award after firing a 279 in the second game. That helped the Highlanders take home their third Group 3 title in six years, 3,021-2,905, over league rival Wayne Hills.
The last time West Milford bowled at Lodi this season, it won the Baker style playoffs at the New Year’s Team Championships (NYTC) – where Nicholas won the raffle for a new bowling ball.
“I bowled with it [Thursday],” the right-hander said, adding with a grin, “I just like this house. I have no idea why.”
That last bit was facetious, of course. Nicholas also reached the North Jersey Singles Championships quarterfinals at Lodi in December, and in the sectional, he rolled a 600-plus series for the second year in a row.
For his 279, he began with three strikes and got a 9-spare in the fourth before striking out. He tied individual champ Jivan Persaud (730 series) for the top game.
“I’d done that one other time,” Nicholas said. “I got a 9-spare in the seventh frame, and was just like, ‘Alright, I’m not getting a 300 anymore,’ so there was no pressure on me.”
Freshman R.J. Utter led West Milford with a 694 series, good for third place and a spot in the Feb. 14 state singles finals at Bowlero North Brunswick. Senior anchor Andrew Finke shot a 634 with a 236 high game.
MORE: Bowling boys and girls rankings for Jan. 27
MORE: Ridgewood, Holy Angels girls are Bergen’s best at Baker bowling
Seesaw rivalry
The top two schools in each group advanced to the Feb. 12 state team finals in North Brunswick, where Wayne Hills will compete for the second straight year.
The Patriots were 41 pins behind West Milford after the opener, then did not have a bowler break 200 in the second game. They regrouped with a 1,043 in the finale, thanks to a 243 from Dylan Heinold and a 235 from Tom Luchetta.
“My sophomores bowled really well, Tom and Dylan,” Wayne Hills coach Rich Basilicato said. “That last game was huge, it catapulted us right to second and made it a no-doubter.”
The Patriots secured the Big North Independence title earlier this week, beating out Fair Lawn and West Milford. In tournament play, however, the Highlanders have come out ahead of Wayne Hills three times, including the NYTC and Passaic County events.
“We get along with West Milford very well,” Basilicato said, “the kids seem to be friendly.”
Heinold had a 640 series to tie for the 12th and final transfer spot to the state singles finals, along with Lakeland sophomore Ray Schmitt and Harrison senior Kenyi Vivanco.
Tide comes in
Harrison was one of three other North Jersey schools that reached the state team finals by finishing runner-up in their groups. The Blue Tide took second to five-time Group 2 champ Sussex Tech, 3,294-2,523, as the Fighting Mustangs came within 20 pins of tying the North 1B scoring record.
Since the section was formed in 2000, Harrison had not qualified for states, and its last success at that level came when it won the 1959 NJSIAA title.
The Blue Tide is in position to clinch the NJIC Patriot Division for the first time since 2015, needing to defeat Park Ridge in Tuesday’s season finale. “[Former longtime coach] Joe Cucci is actually flying up from Florida to come see the team,” second-year coach Paul Herbster said.
Hudson Catholic took the North 1B, Group 1 crown over Pompton Lakes, 3,031-2,546. Senior Michael Milligan helped the Cardinals book a sixth straight trip to North Brunswick by shooting an 11th-place 643.
Clifton had a pair of bowlers advance, junior Johann Gamo (fourth, 688) and sophomore Sean Cruz (tied-ninth, 660), as it placed second to St. Peter’s Prep, 2,962-2,853, in Group 4.
North 1B boys bowling tournament
TEAM RESULTS (Top 2 in each group qualify for state tournament)
GROUP 4: 1. St. Peter’s Prep 947-1,022-993–2,962; 2. Clifton 2,853; 3. North Bergen 2,638; 4. Dickinson 2,481; 5. Hopatcong/Mount Olive 2,479; 6. Passaic 2,459; 7. Passaic Tech 2,379; 8. Union City 2,365; 9. Bayonne 2,231.
GROUP 3: 1. West Milford 1,018-1,046-957–3,021; 2. Wayne Hills 2,905; 3. Lakeland 2,792; 4. Sparta 2,538; 5. Wayne Valley 2,500; 6. Snyder 2,499; 7. Kearny 2,374; 8. Vernon 2,126.
GROUP 2: 1. Sussex Tech 1,107-1,030-1,157–3,156; 2. Harrison 2,523; 3. Lincoln 2,439; 4. Manchester 2,235; 5. Hawthorne 2,209; 6. High Point 2,161; 7. Newton 2,116; 8. Lenape Valley 1,961.
GROUP 1: 1. Hudson Catholic 1,041-1,034-956–2,795; 2. Pompton Lakes 2,546; 3. Wallkill Valley 2,426; 4. McNair Academic 2,257; 5. Secaucus 2,149; 6. Eastern Christian 2,102; 7. Hoboken 2,096; 8. DePaul 1,877.
HIGH SERIES (Top 12 plus ties qualify for state tournament): 1. Jivan Persaud (Hudson Catholic), 730; 2. Pat Danielson (Sussex Tech), 720; 3. R.J. Utter (West Milford), 694; 4. Johann Gamo (Clifton), 688; 5. Matt Danielson (Sussex Tech), 686; 6. Joey Steele (Sussex Tech), 683; 7. Joe Gramignano (High Point), 672; 8. Hunter Perry (Hawthorne), 670; 9. (tie) Sean Cruz (Clifton) and Brandon Crawford (Snyder), 660; 11. Michael Milligan (Pompton Lakes), 643; 12. (tie) Kenyi Vivanco (Harrison), Ray Schmitt (Lakeland) and Dylan Heinold (Wayne Hills), 640.
HIGH GAMES: 1. Persaud and Mike Nicholas (West Milford), 279; 2. Briants Rodriguez (Lincoln), 268; 3. Pat Danielson, 267.