Island Trees wins Nassau Division II girls bowling title, MacArthur repeats in Division I
The Island Trees girls bowling team poses after winning the Nassau Division II team championship on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in East Meadow. Credit: Dylan Thiessen
The Island Trees girls bowling team maintained a lead from the opening game, but it took a few timely rolls in the final few frames to secure a victory.
Island Trees totaled 3,988 pins in six games to win the Nassau Division II championship at Bowlero East Meadow on Saturday. Kaitlyn Lesica rolled a 1,088 series and Emma Figueroa bowled a 753 series for Island Trees.
“This was really a big team effort,” Lesica said. “Everybody did really well and bowled a good last game to make sure we were able to win.”
Island Trees had a 95-pin lead after two games. Four-time defending champion Seaford moved into second place after tallying 663 pins in Game 3 and trailed Island Trees by 76 pins entering the final game.
“I was definitely nervous going into the last game, with everyone watching and just knowing how close it was,” Figueroa said. “My friends encouraged me to throw my best, so that’s what I did. I was just happy we were in that position and even more so to get the job done.”
Lesica rolled a 177 and Alexis Rivinius rolled a 163 in Game 6 as Island Trees held its lead and earned the victory. Theresa Scannello rolled a 167 and Olivia Anzelone shot a 152 in Game 6 as Seaford finished with 3,935 total pins.
“This is a big mental sport. Somewhere in my mind, I knew it was getting really close, but I just had to go and bowl the best I could, hoping it’s enough,” Lesica said. “I try to breathe and go slow, focus on each ball.”
MacArthur repeats in Division I
MacArthur got off to a slow start, finding itself in third place through two games. The defending champions quickly righted the ship, knocking down 4,859 pins over six games to win the Division I title.
“It was just two games and we knew it didn’t matter. We were more than capable of coming back,” Holland Boder said. “Our advantage was getting better as the day went on.”
The Generals knocked down 766 pins in Game 3 to take the lead from Massapequa and rolled the highest game of the day, with an 881 in Game 5, further extending their lead.
Abby Buenaventura (195.50) and Boder (191.92) finished with the two highest averages in Nassau and helped anchor the comeback. Boder rolled a 1,111 series, Buenaventura had a 1,096 series and Kylie Glenn had an 872 series for MacArthur.
“We prepared mentally and physically for the opportunity to win this a second time,” Buenaventura said. “We put those early games behind us and pushed ourselves as hard as we could.”
Massapequa rolled an 871 in Game 1, the second-best game of the championship, and finished in second with 4,574 total pins. Nikki Heller shot a 955 over six games and Emma Grauling rolled an 840 over five games.
Island Trees and MacArthur will each compete in the state bowling championships at AMF Syracuse Lanes. Island Trees will take part in the Division II event on Friday, March 13 and MacArthur will bowl on Sunday, March 15.
“This is the fourth time I’ll be up there and the second with the team,” Boder said. “I’m just excited to get one last chance to do it all again.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
