Varsity Bowling | 1/22/2025 9:57:00 AM

In an exhilarating display of skill and determination, the Union Catholic bowling team delivered a remarkable performance on Tuesday at Jersey Lanes in Linden, rallying from 10th place after two games to secure a spot in the Championship Round of the Union County Tournament.

With only the top 8 teams advancing to Thursday's final, Union Catholic found themselves on the outside looking in, needing a strong finish in the final game to make the cut.

After two challenging games, Union Catholic was sitting in 10th place—far from where they wanted to be. But instead of succumbing to the pressure, the team dug deep and put together a monster third game, rolling a season-high 874, a score that would propel them from 10th place all the way up to 6th, securing their spot in the Championship Round.

The standout performance came from senior Nick Grippo, who rolled a career-high 234 in the third game. His precision and power on the lanes were nothing short of spectacular, providing the catalyst for the team's incredible rally. His performance lifted the entire squad, and his career-high was a game-changer that gave the team the momentum they needed to jump up in the standings.

David Dudas also had an outstanding day, finishing with a series of 581, which ranked as the ninth-best score of the day. Dudas' consistent performance throughout the tournament earned him a spot in the County Individual Championship Round, where he will compete against the top bowlers in Union County. His ability to stay composed under pressure was crucial to the team's success.

The team received further boosts from several other bowlers, who also set career-high marks. Nick Doll rolled a career-high 192, while Nate Thomas stepped up with a career-high 183 in the pivotal third game. Both bowlers were instrumental in helping the team's total score soar, consistently striking and picking up crucial spares when it mattered most. Andrew Compton kept the team steady with a series of 418.