Hamburg costs Sweet Home girls bowling league perfection
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home's girls bowling team had gone 34-0 over the last three seasons in ECIC Division II but this year, one team stood in its way of continuing its perfection.

Hamburg defeated Sweet Home, 4-3, on Dec. 5 at Legion Lanes and 5-2 on Jan. 3 at Manor II Lanes.

Lady Panthers coach Jim Russo said Hamburg beat his team by 37 pins in the first meeting and 50 pins in the second meeting.

"They bowled well and a couple of our girls bowled under their average," said Russo. "I think both teams are evenly matched. I'd like to think we had the better team but it proves that on any given day, any team can beat another team."

Sweet Home won its other eight league matches, defeating Williamsville South, Williamsville East, Iroquois and West Seneca East twice.

Freshman Charlene Cinelli, who was expected to have one of the top five averages on the team, led Sweet Home with a 176. She averaged 156 last year.

"She's matured a lot," said Russo. "She had one really low set that knocked her down four pins. Otherwise, her average would have been around 180."

Cinelli is one of nine girls to have qualified for the Section VI Championships on Feb. 15 at Thruway Lanes. The other eight are seniors Amanda Page, Nikki Giselman, Shannon Huebert, and Jill Nasisi, junior Margaret Wahl, sophomore Nicole Grunszweig, and freshmen Gina Picone and Kaylee Kaminski. To qualify for girls sectionals, bowlers must have at least a 150 average and bowled in half of the matches.

"We may not be the best team but we don't have to be (at sectionals)," said Russo. "We have to be the best team that day. Hopefully, everyone will be clicking. I'm really confident we can get one or two girls to states."

Picone (166 average) has the team's high set, rolling a 629. Page (170 average) has the team high game with a 259.

Russo said every bowler on Sweet Home bowled in at least one match to get their varsity letter.