IAC BOWLING: NEWARK VALLEY HOPING TO ROLL TO SUCCESSFUL SEASON (December 15, 2025)
By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — The Newark Valley bowling teams are hoping to put together a successful season and if early results are any indication, the Cardinals are well on their way.
There’s still a lot of season remaining, but the NV boys and girls squads have swept their first four opponents.
“In my third year of taking over the program, I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with these athletes and witness the success they are having this year,” said coach Cody Cornell. “The Cardinals’ bowling team is off to a great start at 16-0 for both the girls and the boys teams.
“Last year the boys team struggled and finished last in the (IAC) Large School Division with a record of 24-48.
Devon Green led the team with a 186 average, John Sloughter had a 152 average, William Simmons posted a 131 and Mason Peck carried a 130 average. Sloughter and Simmons are seniors, and Peck is a freshman.
James Wales, who recorded a 162 average, and Riley Lavine, who had a 111, have graduated.
“The team has two newcomers to the competition team, however, not new to the bowling team in Reese Illsley and Kaleb Jackson taking over for the two graduating seniors,” Cornell said. “This year, their averages are 128 for Illsley and 120 for Jackson.”
Through the first three matches (9 games) this season, Green is sitting at 200, Sloughter at 160, Simmons at 156, and Peck at 143.
“We plan to improve every single week and would like to try and win the IAC Large School Division and potentially win the IAC Tournament as well,” said Cornell. “Devon Green is a great bowler who is the leader of the boys team, and I have a great group of guys who are working hard behind him.
“We have turned around the team in just one year and look forward to that continued success. I am proud of all the hard work and dedication the boys have put in. Everyone on the boys team has significantly improved their average from last year. This is a testament to how hard these boys are working during the season and during the off season!
The girls won the IAC Large School Division by one-half of a point over Union Springs/Port Byron and advanced to the state tournament qualifier.
While NV didi not meet its expectations at the qualifiers, Rachel Hartman had a strong showing and missed the state tournament composite team by just 12 pins.
Hartman, now a senior, finished with a 170 average. Three other seniors, Abigal Dufresne, Brook Illsley and MaeAnna Jackson6, contributed 144, 134 and 116 averages, respectively. Junior Abigail DeBolt had a 102.
“Dufresne has taken over as the leader of the team, always showing a positive and encouraging mindset,” Cornell said. “I am fortunate to have a great group of girl bowlers, perhaps the best I have seen so far in my coaching career. The talent is evident. I hope that the girls will continue to focus, work hard, and stay dedicated to the sport.
“They got a taste of what it was like to have the chance to go to the state tournament and I think this year, the girls want to go all the way. With a team of four seniors, I would love them to be able to achieve that.”
The lone graduate is Lyla Dufresne, who had a 149 average.
“This year, I plan to have the girls win the IAC Large School Division again and to qualify for the state tournament,” Cornell said. “The team is the same as last year minus Lyla Dufresne and are only bowling five girls this year instead of six.”
Through three matches, Hartman holds a 169 average, Abigal Dufresne is at 149, Brook Illsley has a 145, Jackson is rolling a 133 and DeBolt is at 125.
“I would like to give a huge thank you to Bryan Gleason and the staff at Cardinal Lanes for all of their support and help with the bowlers,” Cornell said. “Bryan is a wealth of knowledge for the bowlers and always helping in regard to obtaining equipment for the kids. He is a major part of the success of our bowling program. I also would like to thank Scott Wandell, our athletic director, for supporting our bowling team. He is also a major part of our success as a program and is helping change the mindset that bowling is a sport and not just a ‘game.’”
NV has bowled two matches at home to this point, but will not return to Cardinal Lanes until Jan. 13, however, it will open 2026 with matches against Candor at Owego Bowl and vs. Tioga at Valley Bowling Center in Waverly.
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