Bowling: Preseason rankings, boys and girls bowlers to watch during 2022-23 season

The 2022-23 high school bowling season is off and rolling.

This year, the NJSIAA finals for boys teams (Feb. 20) and girls teams (Feb. 22) have flip-flopped, while the individual championships (Feb. 24) at Bowlero North Brunswick remain as the finale.

Here is what to keep an eye on as the season unfolds.

Boys bowlers to watch

Morgan Fuld, Fair Lawn, senior

Fuld scored top-five finishes in the North Jersey Singles Classic (fourth), Bergen County individual tournament (third) and North 1A sectional (second) while averaging 192 last season.

Daniel Jeetan, Wallington, senior

Jeetan carried a 201 average in leading the Panthers to Meadowlands Division, NJIC Tournament and North 1B, Group 1 titles last winter. He also has a 300 game to his credit.

Andrew Lee, Glen Rock, senior

The reigning Bergen County individual champion has the highest average among returning bowlers (209), and he qualified for the NJSIAA singles finals by finishing sixth at the North 1A sectional.

Mathew Lugo, Hackensack, senior

Lugo has finished second at the North 1B sectional two years in a row and looks to take the next step after averaging 199 and placing fourth in the Bergen individual tournament as a junior.

Camden Vogel, Eastern Christian, senior

Vogel anchored the Eagles to their first league and county championships, averaging 191 in the NJIC Colonial and 204 at the Passaic County tournament, where he was fifth individually.

Girls bowlers to watch

Natalie Christopher, Indian Hills, senior

The returning All-North Jersey first-teamer made last season’s Bergen County individual stepladder finals and placed fourth. She averaged 180 to help the Braves to the NJSIAA team finals.

Erica Cuciti, Wayne Hills, senior

Cuciti advanced to the second round of the 2022 NJSIAA singles tournament after placing fifth at the North 1 sectional, and she averaged 180 for the Big North Independence champs.

McKenzie Flynn, Bergen Tech, senior

Flynn put together an outstanding postseason, averaging near 190 as the Knights placed second in the state in Group 4. Her average was 181, and she finished top-six at counties and sectionals.

Breanna Hetzer, Holy Angels, senior

The top returner for the four-time reigning Big North United champs, Hetzer averaged 168 in helping the Angels win the North 1, Group 1 sectional crown. Her high game last season was 245.

Michelle Kim, Fort Lee, senior

Kim averaged 155 in Big North play to lead the Lady Bridgemen to the American Division title, then enjoyed a breakthrough sectional tournament, winning the North 1 title with a 605 series.

Boys/coed division overview

* Won division in 2021-22

Big North American

Teams: Cliffside Park, Dumont*, Dwight Morrow, Fort Lee, Ridgefield Park

Outlook: The Huskies will try to stay on top with an entirely new lineup, though senior Nicholas Eder and sophomore Marcus Cumberbatch saw spot duty last season. Fort Lee should make it a challenge, though, with three returners who averaged in the 160s: senior Alvin Jeon, junior Steven Lim and sophomore Yegyeom Seo. Cliffside Park will have an all-new rotation, while Dwight Morrow returns everyone, and Ridgefield Park relies on senior Justin Arciuolo (175).

Big North Freedom

Teams: Hackensack*, Northern Highlands*, Paramus, Ramapo, Ridgewood

Outlook: Of last season’s co-champs, Hackensack has slightly more returning and should get the nod as a slight favorite, particularly with Indian Hills moving to the Patriot Division. Senior Joe Manberg (163) will help keep Northern Highlands in the mix, and junior Jack Karam (168) will be an important leader for a Ridgewood team that has five freshmen on a 12-man roster.

Big North Independence

Teams: Fair Lawn, Lakeland, Wayne Hills, Wayne Valley, West Milford*

Outlook: Fair Lawn could seize the opportunity to take a step forward with its entire rotation back, whereas West Milford and Wayne Hills graduated their top scorers. Juniors Michael McCloskey and Colin Graves are the most experienced returners for the Highlanders and Patriots, respectively, having averaged in the 160s last season. Wayne Valley looks to senior Jake Weiner (187) to help a young squad mature.

Big North Liberty

Teams: Bergen Tech*, Clifton, Eastside, Kennedy, Passaic, Passaic Tech*

Outlook: The two tech schools tied for first place last year and could be at it again. Bergen Tech has senior regulars Hunter Louie (182) and Keith Wild (181) back in the fold, and Passaic Tech has three underclass returners, of whom junior Jack Schmitt (182) carried the high average. Seniors Aryan Maheshwaria and Dhruv Rana will pace Passaic, senior Ellyott Zapata leads three Eastside returners, and Clifton hopes to improve behind senior Tyler Murray.

Big North National

Teams: Bergenfield, Demarest, Old Tappan*, Pascack Valley, Teaneck, Tenafly

Outlook: In winning the division last winter, the Golden Knights had three players average in the 180s as juniors, led by Ryan Woenne-McManus (188). Their chief competition should come from Northern Valley rival Demarest, another team that returns three senior starters, including Aaron Peters (172). Pascack Valley is perennially a factor as well and finished a close third last season.

Big North Patriot

Teams: Indian Hills, Mahwah, Pascack Hills, Ramsey, River Dell*, Westwood

Outlook: Only one school in the conference changed divisions for 2022-23, and Indian Hills’ move from the Freedom will make an impact on the lanes. The reigning North 1A, Group 2 champs return senior Evan Reid (189) and junior Jake Willis (188). River Dell, though, will not give up its crown without a battle, as Tom Short (181) leads a senior contingent of six. Pascack Hills has a solid 1-2 combo in senior Alex Bagdan and junior Jason Sorrentino, and Mahwah features a trio of two-handed bowlers, including senior Tyson Norberto.

Big North United

Teams: Bergen Catholic, DePaul, Don Bosco, Paramus Catholic, St. Joseph*

Outlook: The Green Knights may be hard-pressed to repeat after graduating four starters. Senior Justin Martin (197) will help Bergen Catholic push them for first place. Don Bosco has an experienced squad led by senior Matt Blanco, plus others looking to step up and fill the void left by the graduation of Bergen stepladder finalist Declan Corcoran.

NJIC Colonial

Home center: Parkway Lanes, Elmwood Park

Teams: Butler, Eastern Christian*, Garfield, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, Lodi, Manchester, Paterson Charter, Pompton Lakes

Outlook: After winning the first league title in program history, the Eagles eye a possible repeat with seniors Camden Vogel (192) and Sebastiano Secades (182) returning. Glen Rock has its top four back and will push the Passaic County champions again, with Bergen individual champ Andrew Lee anchoring. Garfield had 30 bowlers try out for its varsity, while Lodi begins season two of its resurrected program under coach Steve Noordeloos, and Butler moves over from the Patriot Division. New Manchester coach James Hornby (2-1 as interim last season) has Abdulrazag Al Haddad-Khaled and his team-high 165 average back, and senior Carlos Santiago leads a Paterson Charter squad that hopes to climb the standings.

NJIC Patriot

Home center: Parkway Lanes, Elmwood Park

Teams: Bergen Charter, Bogota*, Hawthorne Christian, Leonia, New Milford, Midland Park, Palisades Park, Park Ridge, Saddle River Day

Outlook: All of the starters who helped the Bucs to last season’s title have graduated, though senior Casey Grod was a regular in tournaments and is back. New Milford will try to capitalize on the return of senior Tyler Caraccio, who had the division’s high game (264), series (698) and average (185) last winter. At Hawthorne Christian, the top bowlers for second-year coach Tyler Van Dyk are all sophomores, while Leonia has a pair of juniors leading the lineup, including all-division second-teamer Rachel Kang.

NJIC Meadowlands

Home center: North Arlington Bowl

Teams: Becton, Harrison, Hasbrouck Heights, Lyndhurst, North Arlington, Rutherford, St. Mary, Secaucus, Wallington*, Weehawken, Wood-Ridge

Outlook: The Panthers are the defending champions in this division and in North 1B, Group 1, and they return a top four that features All-Meadowlands first-teamers Daniel Jeetan and Jonathan and Tyler Kruk. North Arlington will contend with three starters back, including sophomore Rohan Patel (166), and Hasbrouck Heights has a full complement of returnees for new coach Catherine Cassidy. Weehawken and second-year coach Michcella Tiscornia also bring back their four league starters. Former assistant Andrew Rojas is now the coach at Wood-Ridge, while Lyndhurst appears ready to regroup after a rebuilding year, and Rutherford joins the fray after moving from the Colonial Division.

Girls division overview

* Won division in 2021-22

Big North American

Teams: Cliffside Park, Dumont, Dwight Morrow, Fort Lee*, Ridgefield Park

Outlook: The Lady Bridgemen are well-stocked to defend their title, led by seniors Michelle Kim (158) and Katelyn Lee. Senior Karen Estrada and Cliffside Park hope to take a step forward, while Dwight Morrow returns four seniors, including high average Lynnette Chang.

Big North Freedom

Teams: Hackensack, Northern Highlands*, Paramus, Ramapo, Ridgewood

Outlook: The Highlanders finished in first by two points a season ago, but runner-up Indian Hills has changed divisions. Seniors Jacklyn Paglieri (154) and Meghan Gido (153) helped Northern Highlands win the North 1, Group 3 title and seek to keep the momentum going. Senior Melike Yesil leads Ridgewood’s seven-girl roster, and junior Marrissa Dooley is the lone returning Hackensack starter. Paramus welcomes a brand-new lineup that likely will feature three freshmen.

Big North Independence

Teams: Fair Lawn, Lakeland, Wayne Hills*, Wayne Valley, West Milford

Outlook: Wayne Hills is set up for a strong title defense with anchor Erica Cuciti and junior Moksha Madupuru, who helped the team to a runner-up finish in Passaic County last winter. Fair Lawn has three of its regulars back, including senior Rebecca Peisach, and a young Lakeland squad will compete without a senior.

Big North Liberty

Teams: Bergen Tech*, Clifton, Eastside, Kennedy, Passaic, Passaic Tech

Outlook: The Knights graduated three of the top four averages in the division but remain in solid shape thanks to senior McKenzie Flynn (181) and sophomore Samantha Seneres. Passaic Tech graduated county individual champ Kate Juskiewicz but returns virtually everyone else. Passaic brings back four starters, three of whom are sophomores, and Eastside has three seniors back in the rotation.

Big North National

Teams: Bergenfield, Demarest*, Old Tappan, Pascack Valley, Teaneck, Tenafly

Outlook: The Norsewomen should mount a serious title defense behind the senior trio of all-division first-teamers Rachel Lee (153), Christine Park (147) and Allison Lee (139). Teaneck continues to rebuild with senior Kendra Gordon leading a squad filled with beginners.

Big North Patriot

Teams: Indian Hills, Mahwah, Pascack Hills, Ramsey, River Dell, Westwood*

Outlook: This may be the most intriguing division race Indian Hills coming over from the Freedom. Natalie Christopher and the Braves, senior Alison Guinta and River Dell and Group 1 state champ Westwood all reached the 2022 state team finals. The Cardinals boast the largest contingent of returners, led by seniors Haley Adkins (160) and Claire Halligan (154). Senior Allison Sandler and junior Kayli Hung will help keep Mahwah in the mix, while Pascack Hills has junior Hadyn Hopper (147) leading a group of four returners.

Big North United

Teams: DePaul, Holy Angels*, Immaculate Heart, Paramus Catholic

Outlook: The Angels made it seven titles in nine seasons last winter and show no signs of slowing down. Three girls who saw significant time as freshmen will help support anchor Breanna Hetzer, along with lefty Jennifer Haemmerle. Senior Kathleen Burke looks to lead the way for Paramus Catholic in its second season under coach Aaron Mandel, and senior Olivia Seitter will try to help IHA keep pace.

Independent

Outlook: NJIC schools Eastern Christian and North Arlington once again are fielding girls teams in addition to their coed squads, and to fill out the schedule, they are slated to face each other four times. Senior Ella De Waal Malefyt earned All-Passaic honorable mention for EC last winter, while the Vikings return senior Gianna Rizzi and sophomore Mia DaSilva.

Boys Preseason Top 10

1. Bergen Tech (15-2)

2. Passaic Tech (12-2)

3. Old Tappan (13-0)

4. Bergen Catholic (12-4)

5. Eastern Christian (17-1)

6. Glen Rock (14-2)

7. Hackensack (13-2)

8. Wallington (16-2)

9. Pascack Valley (8-4)

10. Indian Hills (7-8)

Girls Preseason Top 5

1. Bergen Tech (16-0)

2. Westwood (16-1)

3. Indian Hills (13-2)

4. Demarest (15-2)

5. Northern Highlands (14-1)

(Last year's records in parentheses)

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ bowling: 2022-23 Preseason rankings, boys/girls bowlers to watch