On Feb. 11, the Westfield bowling team closed out a successful season, despite losing in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Tournament to Union City 7-0. The Blue Devils finished the season 8-9. Despite ending last season with a very similar record, 7-9, Westfield has improved significantly not only in skill but also in the team’s foundation and chemistry.
Westfield kicked off their season with a strong win against Union Catholic, dominating the Vikings 7-0. However, their next match against their rival Scotch Plains-Fanwood did not go their way, as they lost 7-0. Senior quad-captain Deven Davies said, “That match was a really tough loss for us. Despite not being able to step up and win that rivalry match this year, we were able to still put on a strong overall performance.”
The next three matches went very well for the Blue Devils, as they beat both Roselle Park and Rahway 7-0, and Linden 4-3. Their win against Linden was extremely impactful, as senior Will Singer said, “Beating Linden was great because we bowled amazingly compared to how we normally do. We became more consistent in hitting our averages.”
After this positive streak, a negative one followed: Westfield lost their next four matches to Elizabeth, SPF, Johnson and Elizabeth again, three of them 7-0. Then, a series of ping-pong wins and losses. They were able to pull through with another win against Union Catholic, 7-0, then a loss to Roselle Park, 5-2.
A loss that felt like a turning point in the season was on Jan. 29 against Linden. Head coach Danny Pereira said, “Despite the 5-2 loss, the team hit highs in terms of total pins and individual highs. We put up a great fight against [Linden], which demonstrated how strong we were as a team when each player was confident and worked together.” Singer, a star bowler on the team, had an amazing match against Linden, bowling a 226 in game one.
Westfield’s most notable accomplishment of the season was their performance in the county tournament. The team secured third place and senior quad-captains Thomas Stavrovich and Roux Swaminathan qualified for the individual bowling tournament. Impressively, Stavrovich went on to claim third place in the individual competition. Davies said, “We had a tough season and had a pretty even record all the way out, but I think being able to go home with a trophy [in the county tournament], even if it was only third place, was just a big moment for the team after a couple of hard years, and I think it was a great way to tie up the season on a pretty positive note.”
While the Blue Devils ended their season earlier than they had hoped, they succeeded in growing their skills through teamwork and individual play. Pereira said, “[This season] showcased the team’s growth, both in individual skill and collective performance, and highlighted the importance of teamwork, confidence and resilience. Even in challenging matches, the players demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion, setting new personal and team benchmarks.”
Davies agreed, pointing out the importance of the team dynamic and relationships made along the way, saying, “Even if bowling seems like an individual sport, team chemistry plays a massive role. We had a lot of new members, but also a lot of seniors, and it was amazing to see the seniors put so much effort into instructing these new members and helping them become the best bowlers they could be for future seasons.”
Looking ahead, it isn’t a question that the Westfield bowling team is in good hands. Despite losing a roster full of seniors, the younger players on the team gained valuable experience this season and are well-positioned to carry the team’s momentum into next year. They had the opportunity to compete in high-pressure matches, contribute meaningfully to the team’s success and develop both their skills and confidence. Pereira said that with this foundation, “[underclassmen] are poised to take on larger roles and help continue the program’s growth moving forward.”
