Camden Central School District -

Four student athletes from the Camden High School bowling programs had the honor of taking on the region’s top competitors at the Section III Individual Bowling Shootout in Syracuse, and one will continue into the New York State Championship. Across two days, and up to a twelve-game series, over 90 bowlers vied for one of 24 available spots in the upcoming New York State Championship. Competition was held on Thursday, February 26th, and Monday, March 2nd at the AMF Strike-N-Spare lanes.

The Blue Devils were represented by Ayden Gerow, Braylon Lyke, and Alex Lallier in boys’ competition, and Pietra Van der Werff in girls’ competition. All four competitors made it out of the Thursday qualifying round, and into Monday’s finals.

When all was said and done, senior Gerow stood above his peers in the Division II boys’ competition. The Division II shootout champion topped the table with a total pinfall of 2,665 over the full twelve game series to earn a spot in his third state championship event. Gerow previously attended the 2023 and 2024 events as a member of Camden’s qualifying teams, and was twelfth at the Division II state tournament in 2024.

In this year’s shootout, Gerow posted six-game series scores of 1407 and 1258 across the two days. His average of 222.08 across the entire competition included three games over the 250 mark, and a high game of 267. He led following both days of competition.

Braylon Lyke placed ninth overall with a total series of 1,690 across nine games. He bowled an opening six-game series of 1,142 to stand in tenth after the first day, spearheaded by his highest game of the tournament of 227. He bowled games of 195, 139, and 214 on day two to move up one spot, but was the first bowler under the cutline for the final three games. The top eight bowlers advanced.

Right behind Lyke was Alex Lallier, who placed tenth with a total pinfall of 1,670. He was eleventh after the first day of competition with a six game pinfall of 1,131, and a high game of 243. On the second day, he rolled games of 160, 190, and 189 before bowing out with a 185.56 average.

In girls’ competition, Pietra Van der Werff placed twelfth in a field of 26 total competitors with a pinfall of 1,272. She ended the first day in a three-way tie for eighth place with a score of 905, and was just ten pins back of the sixth and final state qualifier spot. She rolled games of 110, 105, and 152 in the shootout finals before departing competition.

Gerow will return to Strike-N-Spare for the NYSPHSAA Individual Bowling Championship on Saturday, March 14th. Bowling begins at 8 AM.