Another banner season in the books for Barrons
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

WOODBRIDGE - The results are in and Woodbridge rules once again.

The only difference this year is that both of the high school's bowling teams are state champions. This season marks the first time in 32 years since the first female bowling team took the lanes in New Jersey that a school has captured state titles on both the girls and boys sides.

Following the lead of 2005, state individual bowling champion Amanda Small, the Woodbridge High School girls bowling team captured an NJSIAA Group III title with 3,115 total pins that far outdistanced second place Toms River East and third place Brick Township.

Following the Group III title, the Barons went on to capture this year's Tournament of Champions with a win over Group IV winners Brick Memorial. Brick Memorial won its group with a total of 2,800 pins, which is further indication of Woodbridge's dominance heading into the Tournament of Champions.

"Amanda kept us up all year," Woodbridge head coach Mike Yannazzo said. "As the team's lone senior she provided so much leadership. Her departure is going to be a tremendous loss."

While Small did not put in the highest scores in the Group III tournament, that honor belongs to junior Nicole Caggiano, her steady influence allowed for the younger talent to blossom this season.

A two-time state champion herself, Caggiano finished fourth in the individual tournament this season. In Group III action, she led the team with 737 total pins off games of 211, 247, and a team-high 279. Her dominance over the area continued this year with her third-straight GMC title.

"She was outstanding," Yannazzo said. "She did a solid job for us all season and she really came through in the post-season."

Junior Ashley Scesney turned in the next highest series for the team in Group III with a 604 series. She bowled games of 173, 186, and 245. Also a qualifier for the state individual tournament, Scesney finished in 16th place.

Small finished the tournament with a 580 series. She bowled games of 179, 199 and 202. After Small, junior Kellie Kocher bowled a 576 series (194, 194, 188) and classmate Melissa Huntley finished with a 618 series (204, 202, and 212).

The male counterparts on the Woodbridge team captured a Group III title with 3,188 pins to beat out second place St. Joseph (2900) and third place Morris Knolls (2840). Despite tallying more pins than Cherry Hill East in the Tournament of Champions finals, the Barons had to settle for second place.

In Group III action, the team was led by junior Brian Small, Amanda's brother, with a 708 series off games of 247, 251, and 210. A state individual qualifier, Brian finished in third place.

Teammate John Kociolek also qualified for an individual title and finished in sixth place overall. In Group III he bowled a 630 series (223, 190, 217).

Junior Albert Patrick bowled 193 and 183 through two games before substitute Evan Simon came on for the third game and bowled 228. Freshman sensation Matt Sabin bowled a 632 series (193, 246, 193) and senior Matt Lapp gave the team a 614 series (180, 227, 207).

"In much the same way we'll miss Amanda next year, we will miss Matt Lapp," Yannazzo said. "He gave a very young team tremendous leadership."

For the 25th time in his 34 years of coaching Yannazzo was named the Greater Middlesex Conference's Red Division Coach of the Year.

"It's a nice honor," Yannazzo said. "I've been lucky to get some really good bowlers over the years."