Rutherford had fallen short against North Arlington in their first two meetings this season.
That didn’t matter much to senior Brandon Fedarick and Rutherford heading into the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 final against North Arlington on Saturday in North Brunswick.
The Bulldogs knew the third time would be the charm for them against their NJIC Meadowlands Division rival and that they would make history.
They did.
Fedarick and junior Michael Bauman led two-seed Rutherford to a 2-0 victory over top-seed North Arlington to win its first sectional championship in program history.
“It’s crazy to do something that has never been done in school history,” Fedarick said. “This is a really special group.”
Bauman led all bowlers in the sectional final with a high series of 428, while Fedarick finished with a two-game set of 417 in the victory.
It’s been a stellar senior season for Fedarick, who is only in his third year bowling competitively.
The senior currently holds a 220 average on the lanes and rolled a season-best 288 during the Bergen County Boys Team Tournament last month to help Rutherford place fourth in the Group 1-2 Division.
During the sectional tournament, Fedarick recorded a 210 average in the team’s three dual matches.
Rutherford’s ride to a first-ever sectional title is one Fedarick hopes will continue down the ranks of the program in the future.
“You always have to start somewhere,” Fedarick said. “This shows that anything is possible if you don’t give up.
Johnson helps Nutley win 1st sectional title in 6 years
Sophomore Benjamin Johnson had something special brewing on the lanes at Lucky Strike (formerly Bowlero) in North Brunswick on Saturday during the finals North 2, Group 3 Tournament
A new ball change had the sophomore locked in on Saturday to help top-seed Nutley win its first sectional title in six years.
Johnson rolled a two-game set of 484 during Nutley’s 2-0 victory over two-seed Chatham, the No. 14 ranked team in the NJ.com Top 20 rankings.
“My new ball did really well for me today,” Johnson said. “I’m really just happy for Coach (Frank Sasso) and my teammates. This [sectional championship] means a lot to our team. It feels amazing.”
Last month, Johnson had a solid showing at the Essex County Individual Tournament, placing third in the competition.
The sophomore currently holds a 206 average on the lanes this season.
Johnson and seniors Kaiden Cerniglia-Rapavi (442) and Jackson Veneziano (419) led Nutley to tally 1,987 pins during the sectional final.
Nutley averaged just over 997 pins per game during the sectional tournament.
Wall wins rubber match against Ocean Township
When Wall last faced Ocean Township on the lanes in early January, they watched a loss turn into a four-match skid.
Once the Crimson Knights stopped that losing streak, they’ve been on fire ever since.
Two-seed Wall recorded its fifth straight victory on Saturday during the Central Jersey, Group 2 final in North Brunswick with its 2-0 victory over top-seed Ocean Township.
Junior Donaven Kline and senior Luke Kapscos anchored Wall’s march to victory in the Central Jersey, Group 2 final.
Kapscos led all bowlers with a two-game set of 478 in the victory, which included the senior rolling a high game of 254.
Kline, who rolled a two-game set of 470 during the semifinal win over Bordentown, recorded a 440 two-game series in the sectional final.
The junior ended both of his games in the sectional final by striking out in his final frame.
“From the start of the season, we knew what were capable of and knew were a way better team than last year,“ Kline said. ”It feels great to help my team win a sectional title.”
Wall will now seek its first state title in 17 years during the Group 2 Tournament.
Wall’s state championship team in 2009 was anchored by Greg Ostrander, who won the state individual title in 2008.
Kline became the first bowler since Ostrander to win a state individual title from Wall last season.
Having already won a Shore Conference Tournament individual championship this season, Kline hopes to add both a team and individual state championship to his ledger this upcoming week.
The junior is currently averaging 222 pins per game over his last five dual matches.
“I’ve feel really good right now and I hope to keep that going,” Kline said. “It would be great to win a state championship and win another state individual title.”
Montville outlasts Dumont to win 4th sectional title in 5 years
For the third time during the North 2, Group 2 tournament, top-seed Montville was faced with a win-or-go-home third game on Saturday against two-seed Dumont in North Brunswick.
Just as he did during Montville’s semifinal win over Leonia, sophomore Louis Freda stepped up when the Mustangs needed him most during the North 2, Group 2 final.
The sophomore tallied a high game of 258 in his third game to lead No. 12 Montville to a 2-1 victory over Dumont and help the team win its fourth sectional title in five years.
Freda finished the sectional final with a high series of 659, marking the third time this season the sophomore has recorded a three-game series over 650.
Senior Dylan Kaufman followed with a three-game set of 638 in the victory, while sophomore Avi Winokur tallied a 599 three-game set in the sectional final.
Montville tallied 1,082 pins its third game to finish with 3,082 total pins for the match.
The Mustangs will now contend for a second state title in three years.
