Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Samuels, Coffey back to lead strong South Florida contingent
Since bowling became a sanctioned high school sport in 2003, South Florida has been well-represented at the state championships, and this year should again have locals in contention to reach the podium.
Coral Springs High School senior Nathan Samuels, who was the Sun Sentinel Broward Boys Bowler of the Year, is hoping to go out with a bang. His Palm Beach County counterpart, Jupiter High senior Logan Coffey is back from a sixthplace finish last year individually at state.
Coffey, who helped the Warriors to a third-place finish as a team at the state tournament, was the Sun Sentinel Palm Beach County Boys Bowler of the Year for the District champion Warriors (70-2).
Coral Springs Charter School girls also are primed for a run at the state championship with the last two Broward Sun Sentinel Bowlers of the Year in senior Crystal Singh (2016) and junior Harmony Romano (2015). The Panthers also return junior Julia Galang (195.6).
Singh, who was fifth at state and was district champion, had the highest average in the county for either boys or girls with a 219.2, which set the county record. Romano had the second-highest average in the county with a 195.8.
“I think we have a really good team this year with a lot of depth,” said Singh, who lists Tulane University among the many schools recruiting her. The Panthers have won four straight district championships.
“We have added six new bowlers to the team this year,” said Coral Springs Charter School coach Nelson Martin, “but our core group of veterans have grown up together, had some success and want much more.”
Coral Springs Charter’s boys are bolstered by the return of junior Thomas Hoag and the addition of junior transfer Cody Stevens from Miami Christian and newcomer Masen Purcell (8th grader).
Berean Christian junior Nichole Lewis, who helped start her school’s team last year, Lewis bowled at Junior Gold and Teen Masters over the summer and also won the Broward County Bowling Association Top-8 competition for junior girls and along the way rolled a personal-best 299.
Archbishop McCarthy lost two four-year starters to graduation, and will need to rebuild to replace their scores and leadership. The Mavericks’ top returners are Nicolas Boyd and Andres Jardon for the boys and Isabella Daulerio for the girls.
West Boca coach Scott Breslow is looking for another trip to state with his bowling team and will have his work cut out for him after losing Megan Garcia to graduation. Garcia had the second-highest average (181) in the county, and finished 52nd at states. It marked the fourth time in seven years that Breslow led the Bulls to state.
JUST PERFECT
Only two girls have ever bowled perfect 300 games at the high school state championships — Hesley in 2003 and Boca Raton’s Lauren Booke in 2011.
CONFERENCE CALL
Palm Beach County is divided into three conferences — North, Central and South for their competitions, while in Broward, it is just one overall division.
BOWLERS TO WATCH Broward County Boys:
Austin Albarado, Coral Springs, Sr.; Joey Galang, Coral Springs Charter, Jr.; Gavin McCarthy, Taravella, Jr.; Shawn Chouinard, Coral Springs, Jr.;
Hannah Carbocci, Douglas, Jr.; Kaitlin Carbocci, Douglas, So.; Ashley Davis, Taravella, So.; Madison Foster, Coral Springs Charter, So.; Julia Galang, Coral Springs Charter, Jr.; Katarina Hagler, Coral Springs Charter, 6th grader; Larkin Kramer, Coral Springs Charter, So.; Jennifer Oxman, Taravella, So.; Alanna Thompson, Taravella, Sr.
Girls: Palm Beach County Boys:
Danny Bosic, Jupiter, Sr.; Dominic Grazioso, Boynton Beach, Sr.; Thatcher Hart, Jupiter, Sr.; Josh Miranda, Lake Worth, Sr.; Garrett Simmons, Palm Beach Central, So.; Matthew Verzi, Dwyer, Sr.
Palm Beach County Girls:
Samantha Clayton, Jupiter, Sr.; Kacie Durr, Park Vista, Sr.; Kayla Grudinsky, Jupiter, Jr.; Melanie Park, Park Vista, Sr., Alexis Robert, Jupiter, Sr.
Key Dates: Oct: 23-25:
Florida High School Bowling State Championships Nov. 1-2: Where: Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center, 10749 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32817
Defending champs: Boys: Girls:
Oviedo.
Broward
District Tournaments Apopka.