New Jersey High School Wins First Ever Bowling Title

Five high school bowlers from Middlesex, New Jersey just proved that sometimes the second chance is the sweetest one.

The Blue Jays bowling team swept Kinnelon 2-0 on Friday at Lucky Strike lanes in North Brunswick, claiming their school's first ever state championship in the sport. Dylan and Daniel Ianiero, Jimmy Thyne, Reese Cascone, and Nick Wells knocked down enough pins to beat the red-hot favorites who had been averaging over 1,000 pins per game heading into the finals.

The victory was especially meaningful because Middlesex had lost to Kinnelon in last year's semifinals. That defeat stuck with them all year long.

"They held on to this feeling from last year and they showed out when they got the chance this year," said Middlesex coach Alex Bollin. The team didn't just wish for a different outcome, they worked for it.

The players practiced nonstop over the summer and throughout the off-season. When they weren't at official team practice, they were at the lanes on their own time, perfecting their technique and building their skills.

That dedication showed in the finals. Cascone bowled a 226 and Thyne rolled a 211 in the first game as Middlesex won 963-805. The second game was closer at 821-818, but the Blue Jays stayed composed under pressure.

"We all got strikes in one or two frames," Thyne said. "Everyone got a strike, and I knew from there we were just going to win it."

Why This Inspires

This story captures what makes high school sports special. Five teenagers could have let last year's loss define them, but instead they used disappointment as fuel. They spent countless hours in bowling alleys when they could have been doing anything else, supporting each other through the grind.

Their coach noticed how tight-knit they became. "They stay together, they practice nonstop," Bollin said, clearly proud of not just their bowling skills but their character and commitment to each other.

Even Kinnelon's coach Jim Soules, despite the tough loss, recognized something admirable in Middlesex's performance. "We ran into a buzz saw today," he said graciously. "The coach did a great job with their guys and they bowled lights out."

For Thyne and his teammates, holding that championship trophy made every practice session worth it: "It's amazing. I knew we deserved it from the first game."