Vikes shine at Festival of Lights

by Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, January 5, 2007

All hands were on deck for the Grand Island bowling team as the Vikings took part in the annual Festival of Lights Holiday Tournament at Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga.

Competing as a smaller Class B school among a sea of Class A giants, the Vikings did not look out of place as they held their own. The boys and the girls both finished in the middle of the pack, but most of the teams that wound up ahead of them were Class A schools.

The Vikes also had enough bowlers to send two complete five-man teams of both boys and girls instead of just one team of each with reserves. That way, everyone got an opportunity to bowl, according to coach Craig Davis.

“This was the first time we were able to send two teams of each,” Davis said. “The kids have all been working hard, and they all deserved to take part in this tournament.”

Leading the way for the Grand Island boys was freshman Zack Kelly, who finished with a tournament-best six-game set of 1,370. He rolled a 710 triple in the morning and followed it up with a 660 in the afternoon. He was consistent all day long as all six games fell between 218 and 255.

Other top performers for the boys included senior co-captain Brandon Digati (613 afternoon triple) and junior Buddy Boss (600 morning series). The Vikes also got good individual games from sophomore Joe Khreis (239), eighth grader Tommy Kalman (224), sophomore Jason Davis (219), senior co-captain Ross Aydelotte (210), Alex Strauss (208), Eric Breier (192) and Donald Turner (191).

“The guys started out slowly, but they started to move up the standings all morning,” Davis said. “But most of the people ahead of them were from Class A schools, so we like our chances when sectionals roll around. I’ve got three guys averaging better than 200 right now, and another one at 198, so we’re getting consistent performances. I think that we should be able to see at least one of them advance to the state tournament.”

The Grand Island ladies were led by senior co-captain Jessica Coughlin, who had the fourth-highest six-game set with 1,119. Her high game was a 221, and her best triple came in the morning session in the form of a 632.

Other standouts for the girls included senior co-captain Stephanie Cope (235), junior Tory Eldridge (225), Mia Magliazzo (201), junior Lizz Wilson (189), sophomore Nicole Serra (181), junior Erica Barrett (177), Chelsea Foote (170), Missy Fargino (167), Jasmine Rivers (147) and Brianna Wojnar (137).

“After the morning session, the girls were in third place,” Davis said. “And the ones ahead of them were all Class A schools – and from the Niagara Frontier League, too (Niagara-Wheatfield and eventual champion Lockport). In the afternoon, the lanes were dried out, and the girls couldn’t adjust to them. But this was a great experience, and I think it’ll be invaluable at sectionals.”