Kevin Novella is the only member of the Newburgh Free Academy bowling team returning to the state meet.

That doesn’t mean he’s going alone.
Novella is one of two boys – the other is Gage Szymanowicz – and two members of the girls’ team – Katie Bell and Gianna Alisandrella – to attend the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship meet as part of the Section 9 boys’ and girls’ composite teams on Saturday at Strike ‘N Spare Lanes in Syracuse.

The girls will bowl from 8 a.m. until noon and the boys will bowl from 2-6 p.m.

It will be Novella’ second trip to the state meet.

“I definitely feel like this is going to be a year that I really improve on what I did last year,” said Novella, who will be making his second trip to the state meet. “Last year was kind of a bad showing for me. I plan to really improve, and just stay focused and do what I do all season.”

Novella was 54th amongst the state’s composite bowlers, rolling a high games of 214 and 212 on his way to a 1,077 series. He was one of Newburgh’s top bowlers at the February 13 Section 9 tournament with a strong afternoon, rolling a 268 in the fifth game and a 228 in the sixth on his way to a 1,239 series.

Novella and Szymanowicz had already qualified for the state meet heading into the sectional meet due to their performance during the regular season. They very nearly had a third member going, but Dylan Hannigan was edged out for the final spot.

The other spots went to FDR’s Ike Rothman, Monroe-Woodbury’s Chris Gagliardi, and Kingston’s Mark Hammesley and Patrick Keating.

Szymanowicz, a freshman, led the Goldbacks in the morning at sectionals with high games of 259 and 253, for a high three-game series of 734. He was the Goldbacks’ overall top bowler of the day with a 1,277 six-game series.

“It means a lot to me and I’m excited just to keep moving forward on the team,” Szymanowicz said. “I just hope to see a section win in our future. I don’t have any crazy high expectations for states, but I’ll just go out there and bowl the best I can.”

When the Newburgh bowling teams joined Section 9 in the 2019-20 school year, the boys had immediate success with a Section 9 team championship. Success came slower to the girls’ team with no state-qualifying bowlers last year.

This year, Bell and Alisandrella will make their first trip to the state meet after posting series scores of series scores of 977 and 796 respectively at sectionals.

Bell was qualified before the meet, and Alisandrella qualified on the day of the tournament.

“I was really excited,” Bell said. “When we were finding out we were going, it was iffy if Gianna was going. So when I found out she was going too, it was really exciting because having a teammate going is great.”

A good portion of the composite team will come from Marlboro – Emily Tarsio, Olivia Cherubini and Stevie Amato – who share Pat Tarsio Lanes with the Goldbacks. Highland’s Olivia Casabura is the final member of the team.

“We could know each other better because we’re usually on opposite ends,” Bell said. “But a couple of the girls I’ve known since I was little like Emily. I’ve known here since I was like 7 or 8.”

For the Newburgh bowlers, going as teammates expects to be the highlight.

“It’s comforting because I know she’s going to be there,” Alisandrella said.

Bell agreed.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “It’s good to have that support knowing someone so you don’t have to meet all new faces. I know a couple of the girls from Marlboro but It’s just really exciting and we’re able to support each other, knowing I know her and we’re going together, and we’ll have that experience now.”