ALL-AREA BOWLING: Bowler of the Year: Nick Speanburg, Jupiter

Thursday, January 07, 2010
by Joseph Kairalla

To say that Jupiter sophomore Nick Speanburg came out of nowhere to finish runner-up at the state bowling tournament would be an overstatement — but not much of one.

Speanburg certainly had a solid season with an average of 189, but he was arguably the fifth- or sixth-best bowler on his own team.

So it's safe to say his performance at state, where he qualified sixth and then rolled games of 274 and his season-high of 289, caught a lot of people by surprise — even himself.

"I didn't see it coming. We qualified as a team and I thought I was just going to do my average, but I got hot," Speanburg said. "It felt like someone woke me up."

Speanburg credits a change in his ball — he switched to a model called the High Road made by Storm — for the drastic improvement in his performance.

"I got the new ball just in time for state and it was awesome," Speanburg said. "I was hitting everything. The ball gave me more room to make mistakes and still pick up pins."

Jupiter coach Jill Hilliker had a feeling Speanburg would bowl well at state, despite having the sixth-lowest average throughout the year on the Warriors' squad.

"He slumped a little bit early on in the season but worked out of it," Hilliker said. "He picked up the pace as the season went on and kept it rolling right into state."

Hilliker believes Speanburg's performance at state was less flash in the pan and more a look into the future.

"I really think over the course of the next two years, he can win a state championship," Hilliker said. "He has the ability and just needs to keep working at it."

Speanburg didn't rule out the chance of winning state one day, but currently is focused on making his game more consistent and repeating what he did this year.

"I'm just hopeful I can keep doing what I did this year," Speanburg said. "And with the way I've been practicing and playing, I don't see any reason why I can't."

COACH OF THE YEAR

Tom DiLorenzo, Park Vista

Led the Cobras to the district championship along with a fourth-place finish at state. His entire team averaged above 180.

BOYS FIRST TEAM

Matt Kennedy, Palm Beach Central

The junior averaged a 202 with a high game of 248 for the Central Conference champion Broncos. Was named conference MVP.

Justin Martz, Jupiter

The Warriors' junior recorded a team-high average of 222 for the North Division champions.

Jason Booke, Boca Raton

The senior led the Bobcats with a 222 average, including a high game of 278. Finished in third place at states.

Mike Vitalone, Park Vista

The Cobras' junior had a 208 average with a high game of 267. Led Park Vista to a fourth-place finish at states.

Chris Spoo, Park Vista

The senior ranked third in the South Division with a 205 average and placed 23rd at states. Rolled a high game of 246.

GIRLS FIRST TEAM

Lauren Booke, Boca Raton

The sophomore had an average of 186 with a high game of 234. Won districts and finished fifth at states.

Kayla Henriques, Park Vista

The senior led the county with an average of 190 and rolled a high game of 258. Was fourth at districts and sixth at states.

Marrisa Ferreira, Santaluces

The junior averaged a 187 but rolled a high game of 287 at states, good for a seventh-place finish as the Chiefs won the state title.

Kaitlyn Benedict, Santaluces

The sophomore finished 13th at states, where she bowled a high game of 242, her best of the year.

Zoe Brown, Atlantic

The junior was the Eagles' top bowler and averaged 187 on the season with a high game of 213.

BOYS HONORABLE MENTION

Mike Hill (Dwyer), Morgan Beers (Dwyer), Dustin Wiggins (Dwyer), Tucker Elliot (Summit Christian), Monz Taylor (Palm Beach Gardens), Corey Gellis (Jupiter), Eric Gross (Jupiter), Jarad Hebert (Jupiter), Danny Lami (Jupiter), Robert Bankhert (Kings Acaedmy), Dylan Hillman (Wellington), Erick McGarland (Wellington), Spencer Kittredge (Palm Beach Central), Matt Englert (Palm Beach Central), Kyle Petersen (Palm Beach Central), Matt Kennedy (Palm Beach Central), Jake Fagan (Lake Worth), Alex Zambito (Royal Palm Beach), Joel Rosalez (Santaluces), Conor Martin (Boca Raton), Ian McCann (Spanish River), Ross Pugatch (Spanish River), Matthew Spiller (Park Vista), John Imossi (Park Vista), Ryan Dalamotte (Park Vista), Chris Messina (Olympic Heights).

GIRLS HONORABLE MENTION

Sarah Brooks (Dreyfoos), Ali Hesley (Dreyfoos), Natalee Armstrong (Palm Beach Lakes), Jessica Brinkman (Leonard), Courtney Galassi (Leonard), Sara Radja (Palm Beach Central), Veronica Squires (Royal Palm Beach), Samantha Bandremer (Wellington), Abbi Meshulam (Summit Christian), Kristen Ellers (Santaluces), Sarah Woods (Santaluces), Kellina Mooney (West Boca Raton), Jennifer Cournoyer (West Boca Raton), Tayler Tremblay (St Andrews), Jen Speedy (Boca Raton), Danielle Rother (Atlantic), Megan Havinatpong (Atlantic), Ashley Tapper (Park Vista), Jamie Gray (Park Vista), Kyleigh Roulette (Park Vista), Katie Durr (Park Vista), Lauren Marks (Olympic Heights).