Sports

Boys Bowling Preview: New coach takes over Southold

The Southold High School boys bowling team has a new coach, but an outlook that looks the same.

John Myers, who has replaced Sal Campo as the First Settlers’ coach, has his work cut out for him. Last season the First Settlers struggled mightily. They finished at the bottom of Suffolk County League IV, in eighth place with only 22 points. The team went 0-42 in games, with a team average of 648.83 and a player average of 129.77.

If that wasn’t enough, only two players have returned from that team, senior Andrew Seifert and his brother Alex, a junior.

“Everyone else is brand new,” said Myers.

The new additions are seniors Mert Altintoprak, Julia Daddona and Gina Anasagasti, and juniors Bobby Van Mater, Josh Clasing, Stephen Hocker and Fatih Kocan.

Because the team is raw, Myers has been focusing on the basics in practice at the team’s home alley, Wildwood Lanes in Riverhead. “Very basic things,” he said. “Where to step up to the line. Where to stand. How to throw the ball.”

He said, “There’s a certain way to do it and it doesn’t come naturally to everybody.”

Myers said he wants his bowlers to focus, enjoy themselves and improve over the course of the season. A successful season to him would be “if we are better than we were at the beginning of the season and we win a few games.” He added, “I’m not looking for a championship this first year with so many new bowlers, but if we can win a few games, I’ll be happy.”

[email protected]