South Brunswick Boys Bowlers Show Steady Improvement

The South Brunswick High School boys bowlers were an improved team this season. Based on the returnees set to be back in 2012-13, it should be even better next season.

"We had a two-win improvement this season and I'm claiming we were fifth in the GMC," South Brunswick Coach Brian Burniston said. "We had a good year. Now, we just have to find a way to get up to that next tier of teams."

South Brunswick was defeated in the quarterfinals of the GMC Tournament by Colonia. For the year, the team finished with a record of 11-4-3.

While South Brunswick was one of four teams eliminated in the quarterfinals, Burniston believes his team should be viewed as the best of the bunch because of regular season success. The final four GMC teams -- Colonia, Sayreville, Woodbridge and East Brunswick -- were the only teams to defeat South Brunswick this season.

The season came to an end this past Saturday in the Central Jersey Group IV Tournament, held at Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick. The top two teams advanced. South Brunswick placed seventh out of the 12 teams entered.

"We just didn't start very well and put ourselves behind early," Burniston said.

In the C. J. Group IV Tournament, each team bowled three games. South Brunswick started with an 865 and an 858. It had a 1013 in the third game.

"We wanted to show ourselves what we could do," Burniston said. "I think we put too much pressure on ourselves early on in the tournament. The guys put it together in that last game."

This tournament marked the end of the high school careers of Kevin Klemas (183 average this year), Marc Beaudry (174 average), Alex Neer (175) and Steven Thanapuasuwan (169).

Fortunately for South Brunswick, it's a team blessed with talented young bowlers.

Steven Krier, a junior, averaged a 209.5 this season. Dominick Anghelone, also a junior, had an average of 205.

Kris Kimberlin, just a freshman, averaged a 204.6.

"For our knowledge, that's the highest freshman average ever at South Brunswick," Burniston said.

Peter Asciolla (a junior with a average of 169) and Charles Zaabadick (a freshman with an average of 172) are the other two bowlers on the team.

"Moving forward, we have three bowlers back that averaged over 200," Burniston said. "We discussed what it would take to move up to that next level of teams (in the GMC). It'll take improvement by the other guys on the team. It's certainly something within our reach."