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NY STATE BOYS BOWLING: TIOGA'S POND COMPETING IN STATE TOURNAMENT (2019-03-08)

ValleySports Report
SYRACUSE - Tioga's Kolton Pond is among three local bowlers on the Section IV "all-star" team, which competes in the Division II Composite tournament at the 2019 Boys NYSPHSAA State Bowling Championships at AMF Strike 'N Spare Lanes here Saturday.

The Section IV team includes Pond, a sophomore who picked up the final spot on the 6-man team with an 1867 series, Newark Valley senior Kyle Pratt, who won the individual gold at the state qualifier with a combined 9-game total of 1991 at the class sectionals and state qualifier, and Owego's Qwinten Adams is the alternate. He finished with an 1829.

Rounding out the Section IV all-star team is bronze medalist Mitch Hamel from Union Springs / Port Byron, who posted a 1931, Hancock's Anton Leonard (1928), Vestal's Nick Lapicola (1918), and Maine-Endwell's Austin Baker (1876).

Lapicola is the lone returnee from a squad that placed sixth in the 11-team field last year. He tied for 14th place individually last year with an 1139 series (6 games), rolling a high game of 207.

At the state tournament, bowlers will roll two three-game sets.

Pond admits he's nervous heading into the tournament.

"I'm worried about the lanes, just trying to bowl my best and just have fun," he said. "I want to bowl a 600 series for the first three and last three."

"I went up there Saturday and it's a whole different world up there," Pond says. "I won't be able to move much and I've probably only got three boards to play with; like here I've got about half the lane."

Pratt, a state qualifier and the No. 4 bowler as a freshman, said he's not feeling any added pressure as the top bowler on the section's "all-star" team this year.

"It feels like every other day," he said. "I've got to pick my spares, stay focused."

He would like to put up another 700 series like he did at sectionals and also has high expectations for the group.

"I've got high expectations for the entire team," he said. "We have good all-around bowlers, good attitudes. I think we'll do well.

He believes Section IV is a contender this year.

"We've just got to focus, keep our minds in the game, work as a team," he said.

The boys composite tournament begins at 2 p.m.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga's Kolton Pond.

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