For the second year in a row, the Camden boys’ varsity bowling team has been crowned the Section III Division II team champions. The Blue Devils claimed the 2024 title on Sunday, February 4th at the Section III championship tournament held at Strike N’ Spare Lanes in Mattydale.
Camden led the Division II standings with a total pinfall of 5,698. That total won the Division II title by 25 over second place Homer. They also ranked second in Class B behind New Hartford, who was competing in the Division I bracket.
By virtue of their Division title, the Blue Devils have qualified to represent Section III Division II in the New York State Championship tournament to be held from March 8th to 10th at Strike N’ Spare.
The Blue Devils were led by Daniel Janes, who averaged a 203 game over six outings for the day. His six-game series score of 1,218 was seventeenth among all bowlers at the championship. Ayden Gerow and Gabe Lallier notched six-game scores of 1,167 and 1,166, respectively.
In the morning session, the Blue Devils established an eventual lead by posting its two best games of the day in the three-game session. Fueled by team scores of 1,037 and 1,007 in the first and third games, Camden amassed a total morning pinfall of 2,982. Until the third game, the Blue Devils trailed Central Valley Academy by narrow margins, but pulled ahead when the Thunder rolled a 944 to close out the morning session while Camden rolled 1,007. The Blue Devils led by 62 at the halfway point.
Janes was strong in the morning session with games of 237 and 268 en route to a three-game series of 673, the team’s best series of the day. His 268 game was tied for the second-best performance in the field among bowlers in all divisions for the tournament, and was part of the third game that gave the Blue Devils the lead. Gabe Lallier and Ayden Gerow also came up big for the Blue and White in the morning session. Lallier turned in a high game of 236 amidst a 629 three-game series, and Gerow logged a high of 235 en route to a 574 series. Also as part of the morning session, Braylon Lyke marked down a 561 series, and Garrett Grinnell compiled a series score of 544.
In the afternoon session, the Blue Devils compiled a total pinfall of 2,716 to hold off Homer and Beaver River and take the title. Camden overcame its lowest score of the day, an 862 in the fourth game, to maintain a lead to the end.
A 233 by Ayden Gerow in the fifth game was instrumental to holding the high ground as Camden bounced back from their fourth game struggles with a team score of 906. As the championship ran into its sixth and final game, Lallier set the pace with a 216, and Janes shot a 202 to propel Camden to a 948. That was enough to hold off Homer’s late comeback attempt and secure the title. Homer rolled an impressive 1,017 in their final game while chasing after the Blue Devils.
Also contributing to Camden’s team victory were Ethan Puleo, Conner Bruggeman, and Alex Lallier. The Blue Devils are led by head coach Al Rose.