Commack boys bowling's Andrew Schaefer earns automatic bid into state tournament
Andrew Schaefer of Commack during a Suffolk boys bowling tournament on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 in West Babylon. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
For the first time, the winner of the Suffolk boys bowling singles tournament earned an automatic bid to the state singles tournament.
It was fitting that the championship was a unique one: an all-Commack final. Senior Andrew Schaefer and junior Liam Schiede both advanced to the final.
“In my 20-plus years of being in this, I have never seen this happen,” Suffolk Coaches Association president Doug Dwyer said.
Schaefer bowled a 246 in the championship match en route to the title at AMF Babylon Lanes in West Babylon Wednesday.
The state singles championships are scheduled for March 14 in Syracuse.
“I’ve been working so hard for this,” Schaefer said. “It was amazing to go against a teammate. Even if he won, it would’ve been great. That’s my teammate and my friend.”
Schaefer earned a bye into the semifinals, and the top seed in the tournament, after bowling a 747 series in the preliminary round. He then defeated 10th seed Rafael Hernandez of Sachem, 257-224.
Waiting for him in the finals was Schiede.
“It was crazy when I realized it,” Schiede said. “Obviously I wanted to win, but I am very proud of him. I’ve seen the work he puts in, and it’s great that as a senior he is going to states.”
Commack’s Luke Jovans earned the second seed in the tournament, capping a strong day for the Cougars. Jovans fell in the quarterfinals.
“The amount of talent this team has is amazing,” Commack coach Brian Gasser said. “It’s exciting to see them in the finals, and the hard work they put into getting there is impressive. I was excited for them, but I knew one couldn’t make it, so it was mixed feelings.”
In the doubles tournament, Sachem junior Michael Pace and sophomore Carter Weinstein captured the championship, defeating Islip’s Jake Conlon and Austin Palme, 427-385, to secure the title.
Pace and Weinstein earned a thrilling 357-353 win over Copiague’s Alejandro Claros-Sanchez and Kasper Sztabinski in the semifinals.
“My teammate Michael carried me through it all,” Weinstein said. “We almost didn’t get here, but it’s all about having a good mindset. We tried our best, picked up spares and kept that mindset the whole way.”
“I can’t really put words to it,” Pace said. “The only reason I’m here is because Carter brought us here in the playoffs. In the playoffs, I had to do my part. I switched balls and tried to stay consistent, and it worked.”
