IAC BOWLING: NEWARK VALLEY FOCUSING ON FUN WHILE LOOKING FORWARD (2021-01-13)
BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
NEWARK VALLEY — 2021 isn't so much about winning and losing as much as it is about surviving. As some local high school athletes return to sports, the Newark Valley bowlers are just trying to enjoyably endure the coronavirus.
"My expectations are have fun this year, get through this year and then go on to the next," head coach Ed Pratt said.
The Cardinals have a small number of returnees and small rosters as well. There are seven boys and four girls out this season.
"My top returning boy is Johnny Fiacco," Pratt said. "He was a starter last year. My top girls are Lily Austin and Rosie Hines. I had three boys not come out, starters that didn't want to because of COVID, and one girl."
NV opened its season Tuesday against Candor in a virtual match, dropping 4-0 verdicts. The Cardinals face Odessa-Montour virtually Thursday.
GIRLS
Austin, a sophomore, and Hines, a senior, carried 154 and 127 averages, respectively, last season. Austin posted a high game of 188 and a high series of 511 while Hines had a 184 game and 467 series. She would land a spot on the 2019-20 All-Tioga County Team.
Juniors Hunter Gorsline and Kori Hall rounded out the roster in Tuesday's season opener.
The Cardinals went 20-28 in IAC matches last season.
BOYS
Fiacco, a sophomore, carried the fourth-highest average, 165, on a squad that took second to perennial powerhouse Waverly in Division 2 (Large Schools) last year. The Wolverines went 38-10 while NV was 36-12.
His high series of 646 trailed only Jason Brown and Alex Umiker. He also had a 248 high game.
Brown and Alex Umiker, both of whom posted averages 150 190, have graduated.
Joining Fiacco, who was named to the 2019-20 All-Tioga County Team, on this year's team are senior Schuyler Sophie, sophomores Owen Sailus, Barden Hines, Brody Hines and John Umiker, and freshman Vincent Peck.
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IN PHOTO 1: John Fiacco. ... IN PHOTO 2: Lily Austin. ... IN PHOTO 3: Rosie Hines.
