The bus has just rolled in, our bags are packed, the headcount is taken, and off we go!
Fall sports have recently ended, and winter is approaching, which means the James Caldwell High School bowling team is back in action. The JCHS bowling team, led by Coach Russoniello, had their first practice on Monday, November 25th!
Here’s a little insight into the daily routine of the JCHS bowling team!
Around 3:05 p.m., members of the bowling team make their way to the athletic lobby entrance. At 3:10 p.m., they board a designated school bus and head over to Hanover Lanes. The bus ride typically takes 15 minutes without traffic. At the bowling alley, there are 32 lanes with automatic scoring displayed on HD flat screens—very retro. On practice days, there are usually 5 other bowling teams from schools within the area. These schools include Seton Hall Prep, Millburn High School, West Orange High School, Livingston High School, and West Caldwell Tech. Throughout the season, each bowling team plays the other bowling teams at least once or twice. Practices typically occur Monday through Thursday each week, unless we have a match on one of those days. Each school uses 4-6 lanes for their team, and each pair of lanes hosts three consecutive matches of 10 turns each.
With the completion of the bowling team’s first full week of practice from December 2nd – December 6th, I can confidently say the bowling team is off to a strong start! The team already has a lot more players compared to last year,” stated Coach Russoniello. The coach mentioned he sees great potential in many of our bowling players. Even newcomers to the sport have shown great growth in their scores. One member stated that it was her first year bowling competitively, and the last time she had bowled was over 4 years ago. On her first day of practice, she scored 190 after 3 games. This gave Coach Russoniello the chance to observe and analyze her bowling style so that he could help her make the necessary adjustments to improve. On the second day of practice, she scored 210, a 20-point improvement. By the third practice, she had reached 253 points. By the fifth practice, with supportive teammates, friendly competitions, and Coach Russoniello’s guidance, she finished with a new personal best of 315 points!
This girl isn’t alone in showing drastic improvement in such a short time, as numerous members have also demonstrated significant progress in their style, technique, and average scores per game.
Only five practices in, our team has been exceeding expectations, outperforming personal best scores almost every practice. Under the guidance of Coach Russoniello, the bowling season so far has been educational, nostalgic for those who bowl recreationally, and most of all, fun and enjoyable! At practice, the bowlers focus on perfecting their overall form. A bowler’s form incorporates five major components: action, address, adjustment, approach, and arm swing (PBA) Here is a breakdown of each component and why it is essential for a bowler to practice them.
Action
Action refers to the spin on the bowling ball and the movement of the pins after the ball comes into contact with them. It is often said that a slower ball with lots of action can be more effective than a ball thrown at a faster speed but with little action.
Address
Simply put, this is the bowler’s stance before the beginning of their approach.
Adjustment
Adjustment involves altering part of a bowler’s game to become more competitive on specific lanes or conditions. Adjustments can include equipment changes, alignment shifts, or even mental or physical adjustments (bowling this month). Some adjustments are minor, while others are more pronounced.
Approach
This refers to the space extending back from the foul line that bowlers use to make their steps and deliver the ball.
Arm Swing
The path your arm takes from push away to release. Generally, it’s desirable to have your arm swing in a consistent plane of movement.
We’re only a week into the season, and the team has shown tremendous potential in a short time. Thanks to Coach Russoniello’s efforts to perfect key skills, I have no doubt that this season will be both educational and enjoyable. Bowling at Hanover Lanes fosters one of the most courteous, supportive, and caring communities in our area.
Here is the JCHS Bowling Team 2024-2025 Roster!
Sabrina Canonaco
Lia Fernandez
Andrew Coiro
Ema Mezini
Cate Humphrey
Aiden Callery
Isabella Parathath
Ekaterina Roberts
Lucas Roman
Jess Sang
Kaylee Schaffer
Maiya Theodule
Kayla Williams
Jada Williams
Ava Yauch
Luke Fierro
Cheers to a great season!
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