Garus enters Amherst history books
Bowling
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Justin Garus had a feeling that he was going to bowl well at last Thursday's Section VI Championships at Thruway Lanes and the Amherst Central junior left-hander delivered.

Garus became the first Tiger bowler on record to qualify for the New York State Championships, putting together a six-game series of 1355.

The state meet is March 1-2 in White Plains, N.Y.

Garus opened his day with a 245 and 667 morning set. He bowled a 668 in the afternoon set, including a second game of 257.

"I felt really good," said Garus. "The lanes were perfect conditions (dry). I was able to get a strike almost every time."

"I was really surprised I made it," he added.

"It's a huge accomplishment," said Amherst coach Jason Beckman. "There had to be about 280 kids he competed against. I felt he had the potential."

Garus' high series at sectionals before this year was 1200.

Joining Garus at the state meet will be Depew's Kevin Alajko, who he bowls with in a Sunday Pepsi B travel league, Lockport's Adam Jozwiak, Frontier's Dan Darnley, Maryvale's Andy Goncharz and Silver Creek's Jason Golubski.

Garus' teammate, eighth-grader Eric Michalski, was 15 pins behind him in the morning session. Michalski finished with an 1122 series.

Michalski did place first in Division III Class A with a 706 set at last Monday's ECIC Roll-offs, also at Thruway. Michalski shot 224, 227 and 255. The 706 set was the second highest set for the entire tournament.

Brandon Jeffords also bowled well, rolling games of 197, 240 and 234 for a 671 set. Jeffords also rolled a 1211 series at sectionals, including a 237 in the morning set and 257 in the afternoon.

Michalski finished the season with a 198.75 average followed by Garus at 188.97 and Jeffords with a 186.14.

Amherst finished 3-9 for the season but broke two school records for team scores.

The Tigers "A" team set a new school record with a three-game total of 2502 against Maryvale on Jan. 14, breaking the previous record of 2448 in 2004. In the same match, the "A" and "B" teams combined for a new school record of 4583. The previous record was 4524 set in 2002. Sweet Home

girls

The Lady Panthers, led by freshman Gina Picone, took eighth out of 54 teams at the Section VI Championships last Friday at Thruway Lanes.

Picone shot an 1136 series and missed the all-state team by 62 pins.

Senior Jill Nasisi rolled a 225.

At ECIC Roll-offs, Margaret Wahl had high set in her division with a 636. It was also the second highest set of the entire tournament behind Tonawanda's Gina Maduri.

Wahl also bowled a 248 which tied Maduri for high game in the tournament.

Charlene Cinelli was named to the ECIC Division II all-star team with a 175 average.

"We only lose two bowlers from our 'A' team and bowlers who bowled on the 'B' team will have to step up next season but I'm already looking forward to it," said Sweet Home coach Jim Russo.