North Arlington won the Group 1 championship at the NJSIAA boys bowling team finals on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 at Bowlero North Brunswick. From left: Liam Henkel, Eric McKenna, Rahul Patel, Trent Petito, Peyton Esposito and coach Dan Farinola.

North Arlington won the Group 1 championship at the NJSIAA boys bowling team finals on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 at Bowlero North Brunswick. From left: Liam Henkel, Eric McKenna, Rahul Patel, Trent Petito, Peyton Esposito and coach Dan Farinola. 

(Photo and Story by: Greg Tartaglia/NorthJersey.com)

NORTH BRUNSWICK — Eric McKenna waited by the scoreboard behind Lanes 1 and 2.

As soon as the final Group 1 total was written on the board, the senior turned to his North Arlington teammates and confirmed, “We won.”

The Vikings tallied 2,624 to capture their first state championship in boys bowling at Thursday’s NJSIAA team finals.

North Arlington is the first Bergen County school to win a title at the event since 2015 and the third since group play began in 2007. It bowed to top-seeded South Brunswick in the Tournament of Champions semifinals, 3-1.

“Ever since my sophomore year when I started bowling [varsity], I wanted to do this for my team,” McKenna said. “In past years, we had even better teams, but it means a lot to do it with this group, because it was really a full-team effort today.”

What it means

The last prior Bergen County team to bring home a title from the Bowlero on Carolier Lane was Lyndhurst in 2015. That fact was a bit ironic for the Vikings, who finished second to the Golden Bears in the NJIC Meadowlands by two points this winter.

“Even though we lost the league this year, I’m still proud to be a state champ,” said senior Liam Henkel, who had North Arlington’s high game (223) in qualifying.

“Last year, we thought we had a shot to take it and were a little disappointed [with fourth place],” Vikings coach Dan Farinola said. “So this is a nice reward for them for really coming through at the end of the season.”

GROUP 1: 1. North Arlington 762-963-899–2,624; 2. Hudson Catholic 2,524; 3. Keansburg 2,516; 4. Wallkill Valley 2,455; 5. Medford Tech 2,245; 6. Oratory Prep 2,207; 7. Maple Shade 2,157; 8. Leonia 2,060; 9. Midland Park 2,020; 10. South Hunterdon 1,843.

 

Everyone in the NJIC congratulates the Vikings on this fantastic day !!