By Jimmy Allinder
The East Brunswick High School boys bowling team earned the top seed in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament and met its first opponent, New Brunswick High School (17th seed), Feb. 2.
Despite their seed, the Bears (14-1-1) face a tough slate of matches against quality teams, including an equally solid Sayreville War Memorial High School, which earned the second seed. The elimination tournament, held in North Brunswick, continued with quarterfinal matches Feb. 3, the semifinals Feb. 4 and the championship match Feb. 5.
Other area boys teams competing in first-round matches included Monroe Township High School (seventh seed), which faced South Plainfield High School (10th seed), and South River High School (eighth seed), which met Carteret High School (ninth seed).
In first-round girls tournament action held Feb. 2 — held concurrently with the boys event — East Brunswick (fifth seed) met South Brunswick High School (12th seed); Monroe (sixth seed) faced off against Piscataway Township High School 12th seed); and South River (13th seed), which advanced by defeating Perth Amboy High School (20th seed) by a 2-1 score, faced Sayreville (fourth seed).
East Brunswick is coached by Doug Spishock, who said his boys team has been led by Brandon Berdoff, Sam Bortnick, Ryan Cumber, Dan Lenk, Jack Deruvo and Ethan Shamin, while the girls (10-6) have been led by Ashley Figueroa, Kate Onorato and Brianna Walsh.
“I’ve been pleased with the performances of both teams, and it’s a testament to how hard they have worked,” Spishock said.
