Finally, Hancock’s boys bowling team will get a chance to compete for a state championship.
The Section 4 Class D and Division II champion Wildcats are headed to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Division II Championships this Friday, March 11, at Strike ’N Spare Lanes in Syracuse.
If this sounds familiar, it should. The Wildcats were moments away from a state-tournament trek to Syracuse on March 13, 2020 – literally all packed and ready to go at Hancock Central School’s front entrance – when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down everything.
“The team was devastated,” said Hancock bowling coach Bill Gleim, who was to accompany then junior Nick Hazen, sophomore Shane McAndrew, and freshmen Tyler Allen, Ronnie Ellis, Peyton Johnson and Anton Leonard to states in 2020. “It was the lowest point for these guys.”
The Wildcats’ boys won the Section 4 Division II team title in 2020, beating all opponents in classes B, C and D to qualify for state competition as a team. Then COVID-19 hit, on the day they were to leave for states, and changed life as we know it – scholastic athletics included.
“As we all know, things did not get better for anyone the next year,” said Gleim, whose daughter, Brenna, also was denied a trip to states as a senior individual girls qualifier in 2020. “The league season (in 2020-2021) was frustrating – bowling unopposed in your own house with no competition – and all postseason tournaments were canceled because of COVID. It could have easily have been the end of this team.”
It wasn’t, though – not even close.
The four freshmen of 2019-2020 entered the 2021-2022 bowling season as the junior core of a Wildcats’ boys team that delivered in a big way. The regular-season Midstate Athletic Conference champions followed a runner-up finish in the MAC postseason tournament by winning the Section 4 Class D crown and, once again, the overall Section 4 Division II title.
The smallest school based on enrollment numbers amassed the highest pinfall two weekends in a row as Hancock topped all teams from all classes (A-D) during both the class tournaments at Midway Lanes in Vestal and the State Qualifiers at Valley Bowling Center in Waverly.
Sectional tournament highlights included Leonard’s first 300 game, Johnson’s first 700 series, a 266 game from Allen, and a 198 average over six games for Ellis. Freshman Aidan Norton stepped up during the State Qualifiers, too, with a pair of clean 217 games (no open frames) en route to a 569 series – his best three-game set ever. Norton’s previous single-game high was a 184.
With four First Team MAC All-Stars in the lineup, Hancock filled the fifth starting spot by committee as Norton, Davis Herzog, Wyatt Persbacker and Luke Prescott rotated throughout the season. Although Norton earned the fifth-starter position heading into the postseason, all four contributed to Hancock’s 2021-2022 run to the state tournament. Season-highs for the others in the rotation were 175 for Davis, 170 for Prescott, and 160 for Persbacker.
“They all gained valuable experience and confidence as the season progressed,” Gleim said. “No matter what happens this Friday, these boys have showed all the right stuff: Perseverance, commitment, dedication, and the attitude that the team comes first!
“Let’s hope that a state championship is at the end of the road for the Wildcats,” he continued. “But if not this year, we are all coming back next year!”
State Tournament Information
Opening ceremonies for this year’s state tournament begin at 11:30 a.m., with bowling to follow from noon-3 p.m. and again from 4-7 p.m. Spectator tickets cost $10 and must be purchased in advance online.
Please note that Spectrum (television broadcast) and the NFHS Network (streaming) are the official partners of the NYSPHSAA Championships and own exclusive rights to all NYSPHSAA Tournament events. Therefore, broadcasting or live-streaming from any other source is prohibited.
More Bowling Success
Gleim also recognized the dedication and commitment of his junior varsity boys bowlers – first-time team members Ashton Aceves-Amaya, Jesse Burrows, and Holden Dufton – who supported the team and worked on their games at every practice and match.
He also acknowledged a solid 24-28 season record for Hancock’s varsity girls, who were led by junior Regan Worzel. Her 157 average, 192 high game and 529 high series all ranked in the top 15 in the MAC. The rest of the team was comprised of first-time bowlers Aaliyah Fairbairn (181 high game), Allison Lewis (118), Wynter Stanton (171), Zaida Whitaker (144), and Natalie Woodmansee (183).
“Almost posting a .500 record while learning the game was an impressive accomplishment,” Gleim said. “Each of them got better every week. They all should be proud of their season.”
Posted 3/10/2022