The 2024-25 season proved to be one of the best for the Boys Bowling team. Throughout the season, the team defeated Niles West once, and Deerfield twice, the same teams as the previous year. Along with the team’s victories, it also saw a large increase in membership, with eight new players joining the team, totaling 17, split between seven in varsity and 10 in JV. This left the JV team the biggest it has been in years. Among the varsity players, senior James Prizant advanced to the Sectional tournament for the second consecutive year. He also received the all-conference award after playing the conference tournament at Bowlero Vernon Hills.
Additionally, the team saw coach changes. Their previous head coach from last year, Louie Lainez, was replaced by their assistant coach, Matthew Holbrook. Holbrook’s assistant coach position was filled by Thomas Marinis.
“Being my first year, I was impressed.” Marinis said. “I think the team gets along well.”
Many of the varsity players saw their personal records and averages increase. Prizant’s PR increased to 290. Returning varsity player and senior Jacob Titsworth’s became 276. Returning varsity player and senior Colin Sucherman’s became 242, and senior Jared Belen, yet another returning Varsity player, attained a personal record of 268. The uptick in personal records demonstrates just how hard the team has been working to improve.
“I think the bowling team has improved tremendously to that effect,” varsity bowler and senior Neo Balogo said. “Last year there were a bunch of new people. The difference with this year is last year’s new people became this year’s current team. What that means is that there are some people who trained off-season, me included. And we just picked up bowling and we really loved the sport.”
In addition, for the very first time the team did not bowl at Classic Bowl in Morton Grove and instead bowled at Bowlero Niles.
While this season was one of the best for the team, many of the graduating bowlers worry about the success of future seasons, as a majority of this year’s varsity team was made up of seniors.
“Five out of seven of our varsity team will graduate this year,” Balogo said. “Our best players right now are seniors. Unfortunately, I think we’re not going to be as good when the next season rolls up. [The] juniors [of this year] will have to step up and lead the team. Our team has to do better and work harder to get to where we are right now, in the future.”
With some of the best and most dedicated players gone, the future of Boys Bowling at Niles North does not look to be its best. Though the future of the team looks a bit bleak, this season of the 2024-25 school year will stand out as one of the best in Niles North Boys Bowling history.
