Mariners & Lions Bowl To Victory

In full disclosure, the Shore Sports Network does not have any plans to add bowling to its high school sports coverage but this season proved to be a great one for Shore Conference teams and players.  The season concluded last month on a high note for the Toms River North girls and Jackson Liberty boys at the Tournament of Champions held in North Brunswick’s Bowlero.

Toms River North won the Group 4 girls title rather easily and then captured its second straight TOC crown with wins over St. John Vianney and Freehold Township. It capped a season that also saw North claim their second straight Shore Conference championship for coach Jeff Gelnaw.  As they were all season long the Mariners were led by sisters Kamerin and Paige Peters who just a few days later would compete for the NJSIAA Individual title.  It was sophomore Paige who bowled brilliantly from the outset to finish first with her older sister Kamerin (a junior) placing third after winning the championship in 2018.  Veronica Lewis of Brick Memorial came in third to complete a terrific day for the Ocean County trio.

Jackson Liberty won its first-ever Group 2 crown and then dispatched Woodbridge and South Brunswick to claim the Tournament of Champions and finish off a tremendous season on the lanes.  Like the Toms North girls, the Lions feature a dynamic brother duo of sophomore Justin Bohn and freshman Brandon Bohn and then came up big in the championship matches for coach Chris Pagliaro.

By the way, if the Bohn name rings a bell it should…their father Parker Bohn III is a Hall of Famer whose 35 career PBA titles ranks fifth all-time.

A few days later the NJSIAA Individual Championships were held with Neptune senior Joe Ocello winning the title.

A side note regarding Kamerin Peters, who is a member of Junior Team USA and will be competing beginning this week in the inaugural World Bowling Junior Championships in Saint-Maximin, which is about 40 miles outside Paris.  The 16-year old Peters is one of just four bowlers (2 female, 2 male) competing for the United States in five disciplines; singles, doubles, mixed team, all-events and Masters.  The competition runs from March 17-23.