Gateway bowlers set lofty postseason goals

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, December 17, 2017 | 11:00 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

Heading into this season, Gateway bowling coach Joe Bowman saw the potential in his boys and girls teams.

With everyone back for the Gators boys and all but two back for the girls, goals were set high.

Now, with three matches and solid scores in the books, Gateway bowlers are looking for more good things heading toward the championship tournaments in February and March.

“There was a lot of developmental work heading into the season,” Bowman said. “They all responded to that well. We also worked a lot on the whole team concept, and they've also really embraced that. They bowl for their individual scores, but they understand they're also bowling for their teammates and the good of the entire team.”

The top six teams from the Western regional tournament make it to the state championships in Lancaster in March.

The tournament season begins with the WPIBL team and individual championships the week of Feb. 14, and the top two teams from each section qualify.

Both Gateway teams missed the WPIBL team championships last season.

This year's girls team is 3-0 and in first place in the WPIBL's Central section after victories over Steel Valley, McKeesport and East Allegheny by a combined 1,600 pins.

“We have a pretty good team right now,” Bowman said.

Junior Marissa Maciejewski, senior Julie Conley and sophomore newcomer Tiffany Wilkerson led the team through the first three weeks.

Maciejewski posted a 165.7 average through nine games with a personal-high series of 533 in the season opener against Steel Valley.

Conley is right behind with a 164.6 average. Her best series is a 548 posted against Steel Valley, and she rolled a season-best 227 game against McKeesport on Dec. 11.

Wilkerson posted series of 523 against McKeesport and 552 against East Allegheny last week and has a 164.3 average. She recorded games of 206 against the Tigers and 204 against the Wildcats.

Bowman also likes what he's seen from seniors Julia Ritzel (135.1 average) and Chryseis Smith (149.7).

The senior-laden boys team suffered a loss against McKeesport, but topped East Allegheny and Steel Valley for second place in the Central section.

Senior Joey Kalinowski, a WPIBL singles semifinalist last year, is among the team leaders with a 184.7 average.

Robert Jackson and Steve Churilla, both seniors, also competed at the WPIBL singles tournament last year and have started this season strong.

Jackson leads the team with a nine-game average of 192.7. His season-best 650 series against East Allegheny included games of 223 and 247.

Churilla averages 180.3 with a high series of 588 against East Allegheny and high game of 207 against Steel Valley.

Senior Martin Ritter owns a 182.7 average with a high series of 586 and high game of 210, both against Steel Valley.

Juniors Dom Rocco (164.9) and Tony Manso (155.5) also have contributed to the team's start.

Rocco reached the 200 mark with a 201 game against East Allegheny.

“Everyone's ultimate goal is to make it to the state team championships,” Bowman said. “We're going to keep working hard to meet those goals.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Gateway