Gateway girls bowling team earns berth in state tournament

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, March 12, 2018 | 12:21 AM

After finishing undefeated in its section during the regular season and eighth at the WPIBL team championships Feb. 15, the Gateway girls bowling team had high hopes for Saturday's Western Regional team competition at Princess Lanes in Whitehall.

Gateway placed sixth and earned a spot at states for the first time since 2014.

Twelve teams — six from each region — will compete Saturday at Princess Lanes. Joining Gateway from the west will be regional champion Erie McDowell, runner-up Butler, third-place Plum, fourth-place Montour and fifth-place Chartiers Valley.

Gateway tallied 2,351 pins during the regular games in the qualifying round. Six baker games added to the 3,181 total.

Marissa Maciejewski led the Gators with a 561 series through her three regular games. The series included a 205 game.

Julie Conley recorded a team-best 221 game and finished with a 539 series.

Dannielle Taylor, Chryseis Smith, Tiffani Wilkerson and Julia Ritzel also contributed.

After the state qualifiers were determined, the six teams advanced to the bracket playoffs. Gateway suffered a 2-1 loss to Plum in the quarterfinals.

Butler topped Erie McDowell, 2-1, in the playoff championship series.

The 2014 Gateway girls squad placed fourth at the Western Regional tournament and took 10th at states.

The Gateway boys, 8-2 and runner-up in section play during the regular season, took 12th Saturday with 3,224 pins, 2,380 from the regular games and another 844 from the six Baker games.

Tony Manso paced the Gators with a 568 series that included a team-best 216 game. Steve Churilla added a 211 game and a 466 series, and Robert Jackson (489 series), Dom Rocco (424) and Joey Kalinowski (433) also contributed.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.