Suffolk bowling: Newcomers the difference?
The mainstays are firmly in place for contenders like East Islip and Sachem East, but it's the first-year starters who could ultimately determine the Suffolk champion in boys bowling.
With Ed Tuskan and Bobby Martin leading the pack with their 223 averages, it's not easy to crack East Islip's starting lineup as a freshman. But that's just what the talented up-and-coming duo of Jacob Klein and John Cheadle have done, making a team with a county best 1,104.9 average last season even stronger.
Defending county champion Sachem East, which took fourth in the state meet, returns arguably the top bowler in Suffolk in Jeremy Milito, who had the third-best average in the county at 226.7, along with Steve Sabella (199.5). But the Flaming Arrows also get younger with a pair of first-year starters in junior Matt Hecker and seventh-grader Nick Caruana.
Middle County, which has finished third and second in the county the past two seasons, returns its entire starting lineup which includes Matt Skalacki (210.9), Brian Dragotta (203) and Rob Pepe (209.1).
Riverhead features Elliot Jones, whose 226.8 average was the second- highest in Suffolk last season. Also contending will be Greg Reed and Smithtown, Anthony Recek and Sachem North and Michael Kovarick and Islip.
Coming off a county championship and a sixth-place state finish, Sewanhaka should once again be one of Nassau's top teams. Joining returnees Tommy Genova (207), Joshua Kramer (191) and Mike DeFalco (190) will be junior Jay Wagan, a call-up from junior varsity expected to make an immediate impact.
Looking to dethrone Sewanhaka will be county runner-up East Meadow, led by freshman Jeffrey Juarez (213). He is joined by junior Joey Sineno and sophomore Matt Newman.
Bellmore-Merrick features the winner of Nassau's individual tournament Ricky Hough, who averaged a 213 as a junior. Hicksville and Hewlett will also be in contention.
Defending champ Holy Trinity is in a class by itself in CHSAA, led by league and state individual champion Luis Christie as well as Tom Jakubowski. The only team to defeat Holy Trinity last season, St. John the Baptist, could threaten behind Justin Figueroa and Cyle Yambo.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
