Seaford girls bowling team places fifth at state Division II championships
Seaford’s Ava Caruso competes during the NYSPHSAA Division 2 bowling championships at AMF Syracuse Lanes in Syracuse on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Credit: Marilu Lopez Fretts/Marilu Lopez Fretts
For the fourth straight year, the Seaford girls bowling team made its seemingly customary appearance at the state championships. But this one felt a bit more special for a team consisting solely of seniors.
“The team has remained pretty consistent over the past four years,” Ava Caruso said. “To say that we’ve had a chance at states every year is really special. You can tell that we’ve worked hard and show up when we need to.”
Seaford had a 5,304-pin total to place fifth at the state Division II girls bowling championship at AMF Strike 'N Spare Lanes on Sunday in Syracuse. Caruso bowled a 1,098 six-game series and had a high game of 213 in Game 4. Maine Endwell (Section IV) won the competition with a pin total of 5,753.
“Every one of my girls is moving on, so it’s been an emotional year for them,” Seaford coach Scott Nastazio said. “They’re a great bunch of kids and their focus was always on bowling, they love it.”
The Vikings struggled through the first three games and were in seventh place going into Game 4. But they knocked down at least 900 pins in each of their final three games to improve their standing.
“After the first three games, we were pretty sure we weren’t going to make the podium,” Caruso said. “We decided we just wouldn’t stress about it. We’re all seniors, it’s the last three games of our high school bowling careers.”
Joanna Bello rolled a 1,087 series, including a 222 in Game 5. Megan Reder threw a 225 in Game 5 of a 1,076 series and Kaylee Craft-Almendares bowled a 210 in Game 3 of a 1,060 series. Those three bowlers and Caruso each competed alongside their teammate Taylor Jebaily, as part of the Nassau Division II All-Star team on Saturday.
“We’ve all gotten very close throughout the years and these four years making it to states were very special,” Bello said. “We ended it the same way we started, it felt like a full circle moment for all of us.”
The Vikings increased their pin total from last season’s competition by 267. Seaford led Nassau during the regular with a 729.7 average, over 30 pins better than the second-ranked team. Reder’s 194.11 average was third-highest in the county, Craft-Almandares’ 180.52 average was the seventh and Caruso’s 178.53 was eighth.
“We’ve all grown a lot of confidence and always are there to support each other,” Bello said. “There’s been pressure over the years, but it’s a privilege to have that. We’re honored to have done this well over the past four years.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
