By Christine DeRosa | Cderosa@siadvance.com
For the Staten Island Advance

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – NYPD Neighborhood Coordination Officers Anthony Gomez and Joseph Ranola were so proud of the work youngsters from the Police Athletic League (PAL) program had done this year they wanted to organize a special outing for them.

So the officers treated the students, who attend PS 41 in New Dorp, to a bowling event at Rab’s Country Lanes in Dongan Hills on Monday evening.

Gomez and his partner, Ranola, are neighborhood coordination officers assigned to Sector B in the 122nd Precinct and patrol from New Dorp Lane to Old Town Road. Both officers have worked with all of the schools in their district, developing a great relationship with both children and staff.

The idea for a bowling event with both officers and student members of the PAL was discussed during a meeting with Tannea Manning, the PAL director at PS 41. During the meeting, the group spoke about wanting to reward some of the students for excelling in both school and their assignments.

When talking about his involvement with the students, Gomez said, “We feel it’s important to show the kids the value of their education, along with getting along with one another and enjoying themselves.”

Gomez automatically knew where to host the event.

“Rab’s bowling alley is a business we have developed a phenomenal relationship with through our community involvement,” said Gomez. “We decided to all partner up and host a bowling night for the kids in the after school PAL program at PS 41.”

Both officers have worked with the students for a year. They participate in a classroom program entitled Too Good for Drugs, which has both officers spending class time educating students about controlled substances. Gomez and Ranola also spend time with the students after school and play sports with them.

The officers developed their relationship with the business by participating in its Monday “Golden Oldies” event. The pair attend this event two or three times a month and use the opportunity to update senior citizens on crimes such as phone scams that they may fall victim to. They also hold community meetings, known as Build The Block meetings, quarterly and the last one was held at the alley.

This was the first event the officers had organized for the students.

Gomez said that they are hoping to plan a flag football game for next month, hopefully at Miller Field, for the students and other officers in the precinct.

By Matthew Angell
Staten Island Advance | silive.com

Jeff Scire hasn’t won the Staten Island Singles Classic since 1995, but this year he was more motivated than ever.

After the loss of his father, William Scire, this past September, he dedicated the tournament to him.

“I felt very motivated,” said Scire. “I went to work this morning and the entire time I said to myself ‘this is the first time I made the finals of the tournament since my father passed and I feel like I really have to go out and get it done; I have to dedicate something to him.”

But the road for the No. 2 seeded Scire to the SISC crown was not easy as he went up against John Roam, who he never defeated before Saturday’s 223-184 victory in the championship round at Rab’s Country Lanes.

“John Roam is a very close friend of mine,” said Scire. “When we bowled together in leagues, when we were in our twenties, he had my number. He just beat me over and over. He was just one of those guys I couldn’t beat.

“I dedicate this to my dad. He was the angel on my shoulder and he was here today.”

Scire defeated No. 14 Rich Russo Jr., 241-194, then topped No. 5 Miguel Pagan, 264-192, and downed No. 17 Steve Ennis Jr., 256-220, before winning the crown over Roam.

Roam has been out for over a year due to a finger injury and was pleased with reaching the championship round against his good friend.

“I wasn’t supposed to even bowl ever again,” said Roam. “To come back and just to be in my old bowling alley and make it to the end I’m happy with that. Hats off to Jeff I’ve known him for 25 years and we’ve always battled, but we became friends through that.”

Roam was the No. 11 seed and topped former champion No. 13 Sean McAuliffe, 252-233, then beat No. 8 Erin Schneider, 193-175, No. 12 Tim McAuliffe Jr., 238-218, and No. 4 Mike Vignola, 201-195 before falling to Scire.

“I made the adjustments it just wasn’t meant to be,” said Roam. “I couldn’t lose to a better guy. He’s averaged 249 this year so nothing to be sorry about losing to him.”

41st ANNUAL STATEN ISLAND SINGLES CLASSIC

FIRST ROUND

Ennis Jr. def. No. 9 Gary Ricci, 206-179; No. 20 Jeffrey Martin def. Roger Quiles, 185-122; No. 22 Anthony Everts def. No. 15 Joe Thompson, 191-162; Russo Jr. def. No. 24 Nick DiTomasso, 227-179; No. 10 Tom Hollywood Jr. def. No. 16 Mike Giovinazzo, 216-208; No. 18 John Venosa def. No. 19 Paula Maduri, 188-187; Tim McAuliffe def. No. 23 Rami Ahmed, 200-163; Roam def. Sean McAuliffe, 252-232.

SECOND ROUND

Ennis Jr. def. No. 6 Dan Dunleavy, 205-191; Martin def. No. 1 Mickey Endress, 233-217; Pagan def. Everts, 177-154; Scire def. Russo Jr., 241-194; No. 7 Bobby Sach def. Hollywood Jr., 189-172; Vignola def. Venosa, 167-153; Tim McAuliffe def. No. 3 Andrew Hernandez, 215-205; Roam def. Schneider, 193-175.

QUARTERFINALS

Ennis Jr. def. Martin, 197-170, after tying at 149-149; Scire def. Pagan, 264-192; Vignola def. Sach, 229-179; Roam def. Tim McAuliffe, 238-218.

SEMIFINALS

Scire def. Ennis Jr., 256-220; Roam def. Vignola, 201-195.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Scire def. Roam, 223-184.

PRIZE WINNERS

Scire ($2,000), Roam ($1,000), Ennis Jr. ($550), Vignola ($450), Tim McAuliffe ($300), Pagan ($275), Sach ($250), Martin ($225), Endress ($130), Hernandez ($125), Russo Jr. ($120), Dunleavy ($115), Schneider ($110), Hollywood Jr. ($105), Everts ($100), Venosa ($95), Sean McAuliffe, Giovinazzo, Maduri, DiTomasso, Ricci, Ahmed, Quiles ($60).

http://www.silive.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/05/jeff_scire_dedicates_sisc_fina.html

By DAN PIETRAFESA
Catholic New York

Chris Trapp is a newcomer to bowling with a 130 average and a high game of 201.

The 12-year-old at St. Ann’s School is one of many children enjoying Staten Island CYO’s bowling league.

It’s the only CYO bowling league in the archdiocese.

“I just started bowling about five months ago,” Chris told CNY. “My dad likes to bowl. We went to our bowling center, and I decided to try it. He taught me how to bowl, and I loved it.”

Chris competes for St. Ann’s team in the division for children in grades five through eight at Rab’s Country Lanes in the spring league, which began April 10 and runs for nine weeks. Forty-four children from kindergarten through high school compete on 15 teams representing 12 Staten Island parishes in divisions for grades K-2, 3-4 and 5-8 and for high school students.

Some teams have bowlers from more than one parish, and public school students from Catholic families may participate. Bowlers compete each Tuesday and receive free shoe rental and a jersey as part of the registration fee.

“I like that you can bowl with your friends and you’re all on a team,” Chris said. “I would tell my friends that it’s fun and they should give it a shot. It’s worth it. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to continue.”

Michael Neely, Staten Island CYO county coordinator, first thought about starting a CYO bowling league three years ago, and it became a reality in 2017 after he was talking with the parent of a young bowler. He contacted the bowling center, and a league was formed. Ninety-two children participated in the fall bowling league, and 56 competed during the winter.

Bowling adds to Staten Island’s CYO lineup, one of the bigger programs in the archdiocese. The program fielded 419 basketball and 25 cheerleading teams this past winter. Last spring, more than 600 kids participated in track and field, and Staten Island CYO fielded 39 baseball and softball teams.

“It’s very exciting. I’m happy,” Neely said. “Over the last three years, I started to notice people are looking for different things for their kids to do, especially sports…In bowling, everybody participates, and no one sits on the bench.

“Anything we can do for children to give them opportunities and socialize with other children is really what we do here. I heard from parents, who didn’t know about the program, and they want to keep it going.”

Daniel DosSantos is the father of three young bowlers from St. Ann’s parish, Daniella, 12, Jackie, 11 and Vincenzo, 5. All three started in the fall league and have returned each season. Vincenzo passed on playing soccer to bowl this spring.

“They enjoy being with their friends. They’re having a good time,” said DosSantos. “They have friendly coaches teaching them to be good sports and how to enjoy the game.”

Larry Ambrosino, a Staten Island CYO volunteer, now watches his grandson bowl each Tuesday. His grandson, Jack Harkin, a sixth-grader at Intermediate School 24 on Staten Island, gave up karate to try bowling for the league’s winter season. “Bowling is fun, and I’ve made friends there,” Jack said.

Mary Konz has a 9-year-old son, Paul, in the league. She said bowling is an activity he can enjoy with his peers and his family. Paul sometimes bowls with his father, Paul, grandfather Hans Konz and uncle David Konz.

“It’s a sport he can do, and he looks forward to going every Tuesday. I’m happy to see him smile and have fun,” Ms. Konz said.

Paul Konz, a third-grader at St. Ann’s, holds a 70 average on the lanes, but he had another reason for joining. “I like having fun, and bowling is fun,” he said.

http://www.cny.org/stories/new-cyo-sport-bowling-over-staten-island-youth,17257

By Matthew Angell
Staten Island Advance | silive.com

Many people in the Ciprello family would say that bowling was the best thing that ever happened to Tottenville senior Jacqualyn Ciprello, and they probably wouldn’t be wrong.

The 18-year-old Oakwood resident went from being a shy student with average grades, to an outgoing honor student after joining the Pirates girls’ bowling team sophomore year.

“When she joined she was very shy and kept to herself,” said her father Joseph Ciprello. “When she joined the bowling team they took her in and matured her from a child to a woman in my opinion. She became very outgoing, she used to sit in a corner and not say much to now where if she sees someone struggle she is the first one to help.”

Ciprello played at an elite-level during her three-year career for Tottenville and is set to attend and play Division I bowling for LIU Brooklyn this fall on a scholarship.

“It’s indescribable,” said Jacqualyn. “It’s the most surreal feeling in the world to be bowling with people who are as passionate about bowling as I am.”

She also received offers from Molloy College, St. Francis Brooklyn and Felician University, but her decision to attend LIU Brooklyn came pretty easy.

“The difference for LIU was as soon was I walked on campus I just felt like I belonged there,” said Jacqualyn.

“When she went on her first school visit they took a liking to her and felt it was family oriented,” added Joseph. “That drew her there and she saw the graduation rate was high and the job placement was great.”

Jacqualyn plans on enrolling in the nursing program to be a neonatal nurse and take care of newborn babies.

“I’ve been wanting to do nursing ever since I was little,” said Jacqualyn. “When I would be in hospitals I would see babies and I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing that.”

TAKING UP BOWLING

Jacqualyn’s decision to take up bowling started after the Ciprello family went to bowl for fun.

“I went out with my family to bowl for fun and my mom and dad said I had potential and we just went from there and it escalated,” said Jacqualyn.

After joining the Pirates, she quickly fell in love with it.

“It was just over the time I bowled I was happy and I loved doing it,” said Jacqualyn. “I met some other bowlers and it changed my life. The people that I met at bowling were outgoing and they brought a different person out of me when I joined.”

Her talent was showcased often throughout her high school career as she became a two-time Advance All Star, bowled two 700 series, a high game of 289, earned an MVP award and won two PSAL championships with her team.

Jacqualyn credits much of her success to her parents for their endless support and professional bowler and Islander Vinny D’Ambrosio who she practices with at Showplace. Ray Laursen, the owner of the pro shop at Rab’s Country Lanes, also gives her lessons.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without them [parents] today,” said Jacquelyn. “My dad was always there for me he paid for leagues and all of my equipment and my mom was there physically and emotionally every day.

“After matches at Tottenville, we [Jacqualyn and D’Ambrosio] would stay later and practice until I couldn’t feel my fingers.”

After joining the bowling team, Jacqualyn’s grades skyrocketed.

“She saw that the kids on the team when she first joined had better grades,” said Joseph. “She was an average student maybe around 75. She saw that everyone had better grades and were getting scholarships and that made her hit the books harder and now she’s around a 92 average.”

http://www.silive.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/04/late_bloomer_to_bowling_commit.html#incart_river_index

St. Francis College in Brooklyn is making Staten Island a hot spot for finding recruits.

Notre Dame Academy bowler Taylor Waglione Wednesday became the second Island bowler in a week to sign a National Letter of Intent to attend the school on the other side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

The New Dorp resident will join fellow Islander Victoria Hollywood on the Terriers’ bowling roster. Hollywood, a McKee/Staten Island Tech student, signed her letter of intent to attend St. Francis last week. Islander Alexis Ortiz was recruited last year by the Terriers and will be a sophomore in the fall.

Like Hollywood, Waglione signed her letter at a place that means a lot to her, Rab’s Country Lanes.

“I chose to sign at Rab’s because I started bowling there when I was about six. I grew up practicing there, and bowling in leagues and tournaments,” said the 18-year-old. “It’s become like a second home to me. I have a love for the place and everyone there.”

And she can’t to wait to get going at St. Francis College, which boasts a solid bowling program.

“I chose St. Francis because when I first went to visit the school during junior year. I fell in love with it and hoped to advance in my bowling career there,” said Waglione, who will major in criminal justice.

“I hope to become a better bowler, a more experienced player, and a good asset to the team.”

During her high school career, Waglione maintained an average above 200, and was named Advance All Star, and led the Gators to many victories.

“I have accomplished a lot over these past few years. I am proud of myself and hope to continue and grow throughout college,” she said.

http://highschoolsports.silive.com/news/article/-8704035031892564262/notre-dame-academy-bowler-taylor-waglione-signs-with-st-francis-college-brooklyn/

Staten Island Advance
By Rachel Postiglione| rpostigl@siadvance.com
on April 12, 2018 8:00 AM, updated April 12, 2018 9:50 AM

It was fitting that McKee/Staten Island Tech bowler Victoria Hollywood signed her National Letter of Intent to attend Division I St. Francis College Brooklyn Wednesday at Rab’s Country Lanes.

After all, that’s where Hollywood, one of the top junior keglers in the city, virtually grew up, competing in a number of junior leagues and tournaments.

“I chose to do the signing at Country Lanes because they are like family to me,” said the 18-year-old righty. “They are all the reason I am where I am right now, and a big part of the reason I’m going to the college level.”

And she won’t forget what she learned bowling at the Dongan Hills center when she is competing for St. Francis, which boasts a formidable bowling program, one that reached the championship round of the NEC Tournament the last two seasons.

“St. Francis was always the dream. I’ve always wanted to bowl at the college level,” said Hollywood, an Advance All-Star, who will join fellow Island bowler Lexis Ortiz (Tottenville High School) on the Terriers’ roster. Ortiz will be a sophomore in the fall.

The West Brighton resident rolled three 300 games this season and led the Seagulls throughout her high school career. She was second in the city among PSAL girls’ bowlers with a 192.94 average, which included one 300. Her other two perfectos came in junior league action.

“I’ve accomplished a lot since I started bowling at the age of six,” added Hollywood.

Going forward, she hopes to continue to excel on the lanes and in the classroom as an early childhood education major.