That’s a wrap, folks. As the Oratory Prep bowling team played their final regular games this season, they secured for the second year in a row, a portion of the Mountain Division Championship Title.
The season started out going very smoothly for the team. The hope of winning again was uncertain after the loss of four very skilled and high scoring players from last year. However, despite this, the team was still thriving at first, winning all of their first six matches against Roselle, Roselle Catholic, Cranford, Dayton, Union, and Hillside. However, as the season progressed through January, things took a very rough turn. The team suffered their first loss in their second game against Union, due only four players even showing up. To make matters worse, the next game against Roselle Catholic resulted in another loss with most of the players significantly underperforming. The next loss against Roselle was another harsh blow to the team due to how close it was. The team was missing one of the highest scoring players and in the first round, every player struggled more than usual, and eventually lost. The second round was much better and everyone did well, and the team managed to win it. With the third round deciding the winner of the match, everyone got ready. Despite the team’s best efforts, they ended up losing round three by a mere fourteen pins and lost the entire match. Disappointment was even higher, and the team’s standing was now 6-3 but they didn’t lose hope, and soon bowled another game against Union. Although it was close, Union defeated them in a 4-3 loss, but this loss was much different. The team had bowled their highest game yet, with a combined total of 763 in the first round and 754 in the second round, only struggling in the third. If it weren’t for Union’s extremely high first game, then the OP bowling team would have defeated them. The game against Union proved that they could still win the division and everyone’s hopes were high. The team finally ended their losing streak in their next match against Plainfield, gaining a close victory and the start of another win streak. They had an automatic win against Dayton, who didn’t have a team this season and easily defeated Hillside, leaving their standing at 9-4, tied with a few other teams for second place in the division and only behind Cranford at first.
With two matches left in the season, all the players knew that they would decide whether the bowling team won the division or not and got prepared. Against Plainfield, they defeated them in the first round with a score of 679, and things were looking bright. However, they took a deep plunge in the second round with a score of 541, much lower than Plainfield’s. With the third round deciding it all, the team not only won but got the highest score in the season so far, being an 817. They had risen high from their failure and improved greatly.
Now only Cranford was left, and if Oratory won, then they would secure a first place spot in the division. The team excitedly waited and in the first round, defeated them with a 648. In round two, although slightly struggling at the start, they soon rose back up and defeated them again with an even higher score of 658. Finally, in the third round, they finished off their victory with a high 745. Despite their massive failure before, the team still pushed through and emerged victorious. It was due to the dedication and hard work of every single player on the team that this was possible. They proved that no matter what set them back, the bowling team would always rise to the top.
As a special message to the seniors who will be leaving next year to pursue their passions in life. I want to say good luck out there, for the journey you had here at Oratory Prep will carry on in your life.
