By Robert Elkin
Due in large part to a team effort, Xaverian’s bowling team made a turnaround from last year, capturing both the Diocese of Brooklyn and then the Catholic High Schools Athletic Association city-wide titles to advance to the CHSAA Intersectional Bowling Championship against the winner of the Long Island schools in the spring. Last week, the team defeated St. Francis Prep 1034-870 in the first game and 920-896 in the second to win the match and the title at the Whitestone Lanes in Queens. All eyes were on senior Bob Gugliemelli, who earlier in the season threw a perfect or 300 game at the Maple Lanes and came into the championship match with a 215 average. During the competition, he dropped down a bit and rolled a 165 in the first game and improved to a 174 in the second for a 339 two game series. Teammate Tom Agostino picked it up a bit by rolling a 275 in the first game and slightly fell down to 196 in the second for a two game series of 471, while Keith Fiandra threw 236 and 184 games for a 420 series, Paul Aiello tossed 187 and 170 scores for a 357 series and Len Nuciforo bowled a 367 series on 171 and 196 games. They all contributed tremendously to the team’s win. “It’s unbelievable to win the championship,” said Agostino, a junior, who bowled a 278 earlier in the season. “And we hope to take it again next year.” Agostino was on a roll in the first game, bowling ten strikes in a row and set the tone for the eventual outcome. He has a 200 bowling average. He attributes the bowling success to concentration. “I get my mark and just play,” he said. Meanwhile, Gugliemelli, the captain of the team, felt great in taking the title. “This is my first year winning the championship,” said the senior, whose been on the team for all four years. “The key to the win was that we all bowled well, especially Tommy, who bowled awesome.” Of all the athletic varsity teams at Xaverian, bowling won more championships than any of the others, including baseball, basketball and football. “Consistent bowling and concentration were the keys to the victory,” said Coach Dan Mace. “Everybody was strong.” Rounding out the team are senior Pat Bowen who averaged 173 and junior Matt Restrepo (164). Home matches were contested a Maple Lanes. On the junior varsity level, Xaverian took third place in the city as the same time as the Varsity match was in progress. Also on the JV level, Manhattan’s Xavier High Michael Trizzino of Bensonhurst bowled a 170 average and Chris Sheehy of Bay Ridge bowled at a 175 average as they paced the JV squad to a city-wide title over Molloy. CHSAA Bowling Commissioner Eileen Ware praised the efforts turned in by all the boys. “You get to meet wonderful coaches and wonderful students,” she said. “We coaches put the bowlers into tournaments and they could even come out a winner.” Ware and her husband Harvey coach the bowling team at Bishop Ford High School of Brooklyn. “The school has a teaching body who cares about the kids,” said Eileen, whose players Eric Brown and Michael Majewski excelled at the bowling sport with 196 and 199 averages to top the team.
