Sports
2010-11 Preview: Sachem East/North Boys Bowling
East looks to repeat as county champs, but road will be tough after losing three starters.
Fresh off the heels of a Suffolk County championship, placing fourth at states, the 2010-11 season brings a new look Sachem East boys bowling team still featuring its top bowler, Jeremy Milito. East loses three starters for this season, but with Milito on board and aiming for the county record in average and even more talent on board it should be another exciting season for East.
Head Coach: Mike Stanek
Record Last Year: 10-2 (28-8 single games, 290 points, first place in League III)
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Home Venue: Bowl Long Island at Patchogue
Top Players:
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- Jeremy Milito (226.71 average last season, All League First Team)
- Steve Sabella (199.52, All League First Team)
- Ryan Jones (215)
- Matt Hecker (177.25)
Key Losses: Sachem East graduated four seniors in 2010, including two All-League First Team members Mark Sabella (219) and Bryan Evans (211), another top bowler and starter, Lee Keller (208.69), and Jon Martin (189.50).
Expectations: Despite losing three starters, East returns their top bowler in Milito, as well as another all league player in Steve Sabella. Couple that with Jones' 215 average, and if Hecker can average over 180, another county title could be within reach.
"We want to progress as the season goes on," Stanek said. "We're more inexperienced than last years team who had been together for a few years so we had a lot of experience."
From the Players: Jeremy Milito: "We just want everyone to get better and hopefully we can repeat but we really just want to have a good season. I'm trying to lead the county this year. The record's 232 so I'm trying to average over 233."
Key Games:
- @ Patchogue-Medford (12/2)
- @ Riverhead (12/8)
- @Longwood (12/16)
- vs. Patchogue-Medford (1/6)
- vs. Riverhead (1/12)
- vs. Longwood (1/20)
"Right now we're taking it one at a time," Stanek said. "We're just worried about our first matchup against Patchogue. Right now we're taking it one at a time."
The Final Word: "It should be a fun year," Stanek said. "We do have talent, it's just a matter of them staying calm and doing their job."
Sachem North
It may be a new season, but it's the same old story for the Sachem North boys bowling team. For the third straight year, the team is coming off a season where they made it to the Suffolk County championship, and for the second straight year they need to replace a 220 bowler they lost to graduation. Even so, repetitive success doesn't get boring, so North is looking to make County's once again in '10-11.
Head Coach: Brian Weinstein
Single Games Record Last Year: 22-14 (230 points, third place in League II)
Home Venue: Coram Country Lanes
Top Players:
- Anthony Recek (204 average last year)
- Evan Kantor (201)
- John Echel (181.66)
- Matt Capece (198.56)
Key Losses: North lost just one senior in 2010, but it was a big loss. Tim Starkes had a 222.67 average last season, making it the second consecutive year the team has had to replace a 220 bowler after replacing Joe Novara, who averaged 228 in the '09-10 season, last year.
Expectations: "We want to go back to county's for the third year in a row," Weinstein said. "The team has a lot of potential… with six bowlers rotating in the lineup, three etched in stone and the rest of team will fluctuate up and down."
Key Games:
- vs. Smithtown (12/2)
- @ Middle Country (12/7)
- vs. Commack (12/9)
- @ Smithtown (1/6)
- vs. Middle County (1/11)
- @ Commack (1/13)
The Final Word: "Everyone in our division is a big matchup," Weinstein said. "Everyone's spread pretty evenly, we see everyone twice. Each match is important much like the NFL."
