Herrera leads St. John girls to title

With those new pajama uniforms, St. John the Baptist girls bowling matches this year almost had the look of a slumber party. Add to it, they've got twin sisters on the team.

They may have been a sleeper entering this season, but the Cougars proved throughout they weren't to be taken lying down.

"We had a wonderful year and probably surprised some people," Madison Gervasi said, "but we had to finish it off and show we're the top team."

Well, Wednesday St. John the Baptist put to rest any doubt, defeating Kellenberg, 7-2, in the CHSAA final at Syosset Lanes.

Caroline Herrera bowled a match-high 561 series to lead the top-seeded Cougars (10-0). Katie DeGraff rolled a 477, and Katelyn Coon a 460.

"I didn't expect this at all," Herrera, sounding every bit the freshman she is, said of being named tournament MVP.

The uniforms - white T-shirts and loose fitting red plaid pants - were the result of a long experimentation process. The team did away with jerseys, which they felt were too restrictive, and went through various sweat shirt-pants combos until coach Mary Coon pitched the idea for pajamas.

SEE PHOTOSCHSAA girls bowling finals

"They look good and they're comfortable," said Katie DeGraff, whose twin, Colleen, is also on the team. "It's kind of created a relaxed setting for us."

It did draw a few "PJs?" inquiries and a little ribbing early in the season, Katelyn Coon said, "and we'd just say, 'These are our uniforms.' It's helped us get where we are."

The teams were divided in "A" and "B" groups bowling three games each and St. John the Baptist won four, earning a point for each. Extra points came from winning the by-game pin count. SJB toppled 2,735 total pins to the Firebirds' 2,444.

Monica Weitekamp led Kellenberg with a 539 series, and Ashley Simpson had a 486. The third-seeded Firebirds upset defending champion Holy Trinity in the semifinals Tuesday.

The Cougars had last won the title in 2008, "but it feels much longer than that," coach Coon said. "When you try and try but come up short, it eats at you."

They can rest easy now.

Notes & quotes: Gervasi, Herrera, Coon, Katie DeGraff and Kaila Munkwitz will represent SJB in today's individual tournament at Garden City Lanes, which will feature the league's top 20 by average.