PLATTSBURGH — In recent history, when it comes to bowling, it revolves around Peru and Saranac.
The Nighthawk boys and Spartan girls have been the class of Section VII bowling, capturing regular season and sectional crowns for the past three years.
It’s been slightly longer for Peru, as Ian Reil pointed out, since the Nighthawks have won six straight sectional titles.
Regardless how they’ve performed throughout the year, or in past seasons, it all came down to Monday at the Section VII Bowling Championships.
With their respective wins, the Nighthawks and Spartans advance to the NYSPHSAA Bowling Championships March 13 through 15 in Syracuse.
“I’m not super nervous (of going to the states) because I kind of know what it’s like,” Riel said. “I’m mostly there to just have fun and bowl well and potentially win. Win states is what we’re trying to do. Ultimately, just focus on the gameplay and picking up spares and see what happens.”
GIRLS
The Saranac Spartans went undefeated throughout the season and continued their strong play into the championships.
Admittedly, as the games started to count down Monday, it got tougher, Lacee LaPoint said.
“That last game, us seniors started to get the jitters,” she said. “We all started crying because we knew it would be the last games for us here.”
But the cushion had already been built, and Saranac rolled to a comfortable lead with a high game of 921 and series of 2,648.
“I’ve been bowling with (the same) people for about four years,” Saranac’s Kennedy Paynter said. “I’ve been bowling for five, and it just feels really good to get better every year.”
Advancing to Syracuse for the third consecutive year, LaPoint said this year, they’ve all practiced patience with themselves and the game.
“Definitely be patient with yourself because if you rush it, you won’t get anywhere,” LaPoint said. “And I learned that a lot this year with the strings. It’s very hard to, like, I guess, get good scores because it just messes everyone up. But if you are patient with yourself, you’ll achieve anything you set your mind to.”
BOYS
It’s been half a decade since the Peru Nighthawks haven’t won the section.
While they pushed out to an early lead, Plattsburgh High made things interesting in the final moments, getting within 100 pins.
But the Nighthawks hung on and wrapped up its sixth consecutive Section VII title.
“Bunch of bowlers from the section that are so good, and we really have to do our best here,” Reil said. “(My teammates) are awesome. I love bowling with these guys. I’ve been friends with these guys for years. I’ve been bowling on this team for three years. It feels good to win every time. Even having the confidence to win, there’s always a little bit of doubt. So when we win, it feels great.”
As the games wound down, the nerves could go up, but Reil said the team kept its calm and used the game as a calming source.
“Once you get in there, you get into the motions. You don’t really think about (the outside noise),” he said. “So it’s like you kind of just calm yourself down. But also, bowling is really calming for a lot of people. You just get in there and do whatever you have to do to get the job done and win.”
HEADING TO STATES
Along with Peru and Saranac, a group of Section VII bowlers will be heading to compete in Syracuse.
Unlike previous years, it will not be a composite team. Instead, each bowler will compete individually.
The girls from Section VII are Tori Bump (BCS), Eleanor Quinn (AVCS), Olivia Corrow (BCS), Avrial Fuller (MCS), Piper Bruce (NAC) and Skyler Agonoey (NCCS). The alternate for the girls, in case one of the six cannot make it, is Harley Taylor (MCS).
The Section VII boys are Sebastien Bernier (PHS), Xavier Sorel (PHS), Ayzek Dumas (SCS), Christopher Agoney (NCCS), Logan Hart (BCS) and Jacob Martin (NCCS). David Frederick, of Saranac, is serving as the boys’ alternate.
As everyone prepares for the state championship, Reil said the biggest thing they have is each other. They’ll need one another to lift each other up and support one another, he said.
“It took a lot of teamwork to get where we are,” Peru’s Zech Boucher said. “We back each other up and need to continue to stay confident and consistent with our bowling.”
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Team Awards
CVAC Champions
Girls: Saranac
Boys: Peru
Second Place
Girls: AuSable Valley
Boys: NCCS
Team High Game
Girls: Saranac 921
Boys: Plattsburgh 1031
Team High Series
Girls: Saranac 2648
Boys: Saranac 2913
Sportsmanship
Girls: Peru/NCCS
Boys: Plattsburgh
Individual Awards
High Game:
Girls: Kennedy Paynter (SCS) 256
Boys: Sebastian Bernier (PHS) 288
High Series
Girls: Lacee LaPoint (SCS) 638
Boys Sebastian Bernier (PHS) 740
High Average
Girls: Lacee Lapoint (SCS) 198
Boys: Sebastian Bernier (PHS) 214
Most Improved
Girls: Lauren Comins (PHS) +27.7
Boys: Aiden Adams (PHS) +24.9
Coach of the Year
Girls: Danielle Menard (NCCS)/Chad Duprey (NAC)
Boys: Nick Decoste (PHS)
Section VII Champions
Girls: Saranac
Boys: Peru
Individual State Championship Representing Section VII
Girls: Tori Bump (BCS), Eleanor Quinn (AVCS), Olivia Corrow (BCS), Avrial Fuller (MCS), Piper Bruce (NAC), Skyler Agonoey (NCCS) Alternate: Harley Taylor (MCS)
Boys: Sebastian Bernier (PHS), Xavier Sorel (PHS), Ayzek Dumas (SCS), Christopher Agoney (NCCS), Logan Hart (BCS), Jacob Martin (NCCS) Alternate: David Frederick (SCS).
Outstand Bowlers
Girls (Total Pins): Lacee LaPoint (1235)
Boys (Total Pins) Xavier Sorel (1373)