Herrera helps SJB roll to CHSAA title
In the eyes of the St. John the Baptist girls bowling team, the view from up top can be unnerving. A year ago, they were the surprise squad that found its way into the CHSAA final. Wednesday, the team was defending a championship, protecting an unblemished record -- and doing so against the ultimate upstart, a team that didn't even exist a few months ago.
Clear advantage or added pressure? "You're expected to do something and there's real competition, so there is the fear that it can all change in a blink," Cougars coach Mary Coon said. "It's pressure."
Well, that pressure produced a gem of a season as St. John the Baptist completed its flawless run, beating St. Dominic, 8-1, in the final at Farmingdale Lanes.
Caroline Herrera rolled a 541 series and Katelyn Coon a 485 to lead the Cougars (12-0), who toppled 2,501 pins to the Bayhawks' 2,252.
"This season was a little more difficult because we lost a couple seniors and everyone had to improve to keep us at a high level," said Herrera, a sophomore. "People like Leanne [Cosentino] coming up big is what let us go undefeated."
The Cougars 'A' team outscored the Bayhawks', 1,401-1,255 and their 'B' group, led by Jennifer Budhwa (387) and Colleen DeGraff (368), won its matchup, 1,100-1,003.
Sabrina Gordek shot a 446, Taylor Lubrano a 406, and Sarah Minicozzi a 403 for St. Dominic (8-5), which established a team just two weeks before league play began.
"We're proud," said Mike Gordek, who was named Coach of the Year. "Our goal, initially, was just to win one game, and we made it all the way to the championship."
The league's top 20 bowlers will compete in the individual championships at 4 p.m. Thursday at Sheridan Lanes.
As for St. John the Baptist, if there was any question of the first title being a fluke, an undefeated season surely squelches that.
"Not many people would've predicted us winning it all last year, and this year we wanted to show that we are that good," Katelyn Coon, a senior, said. "I think we proved that."
