The team’s winning streak now stands at 75 matches and counting dating back to 2017.
That’s a lot of wins without a single loss for the Kearny High School girls’ bowling team.
“It has been a good run,” said an obviously understating head coach Alan Correnti.
“It’s pretty crazy,” said senior Hannah Paszkiewicz. “Six years without losing anything? It’s really unbelievable.”
And the win streak is something that is not ignored.
“We always talk about it,” said fellow senior Anna Powell. “During the season, I do get a little nervous, because I don’t want to be the one to have it end. But there’s definitely a sense of pride.”
The Kardinals competed in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group III tournament Saturday at the Lodi Lanes and finished second overall to move on to the Tournament of Champions in North Brunswick next week.
The Kardinals fell short of state-ranked Phillipsburg by a little more than 100 pins, 2,306 pins to 2,195. The top two teams advance to the TOC.
Both Paszkiewicz and Powell advanced to the individual portion of the TOC. Paszkiewicz was 14th overall and Powell 19th.
Paszkiewicz rolled a 511 series with games of 166-186-159, with Powell rolling a 144-169-151 for a 464 series.
“Hannah has had an incredible career,” Correnti said of the senior leader, who will enter the Hudson County King and Queen Tournament this week as the tourney’s favorite. “Every year, she’s improved, but not only with her scores, but with her maturity and leadership. She’s always helping the other bowlers.”
Paszkiewicz, whose father David is the long-time crew coach at Kearny, but wants no part of putting an oar in the water, is happy with the way she’s bowling.
“It feels really good right now,” Paszkiewicz said. “I’m finishing off my high school career the way it started by making the TOC. It was a big surprise being able to make it again. It was really exciting to have that opportunity as a freshman. I don’t expect to do well, but I’m just happy to have the opportunity to go.”
But as for the county tourney this week?
“I do feel pretty confident,” said Paszkiewicz, who has won the county tournament twice before in her career. “I’m pretty confident in the way I’ve been bowling.”
Paszkiewicz’s top competition this week should come from Powell, who has the second highest average in the county next to Paszkiewicz.
“Anna has been extremely consistent,” Correnti said. “She has the high game and high series in the county this season. It will all come down to who makes their shots. They are two excellent bowlers. It makes my job easier. They are extremely coachable and fun to coach.”
The other three Kearny bowlers are junior Atianna Gutierrez (431 series, 162 high game), junior Mirakle Brown (402 series, 155 high) and junior Destiny Figueroa (387 series, 153 high).
“We’ve been pretty dominant throughout,” Correnti said. “Having the two seniors alleviates any pressure on the younger girls.”
“I feel so incredibly proud of myself and my team,” Powell said. “I really thought since we lost people that this couldn’t go on or drop off a little. But we didn’t lose a single game.”
As for the win streak?
“We had a close match this year against McNair (Academic of Jersey City), where we won by one. In bowling, you never know. I think the girls are all aware of it, but we don’t stress it. I just think it’s icing on the cake for a tremendous season. I don’t think there’s any pressure on them.
Added Correnti, “You never know. It could end at any time.”
It just hasn’t ended in five full years, six full seasons. Astounding.
Paszkiewicz plans on continuing her bowling career at New Jersey City University in the fall.
She will major in exercise science there.
Powell is headed to Universal Technical Institute in Bloomfield. She plans on learning to become a diesel mechanic like her father Charles and will seek an apprenticeship in that field. She looks forward to getting the chance to work with her father.
Will there be competition between the two this week?
“Sometimes there is, but we’re mostly like sisters,” Powell said. “I’m very sad that my high school career is coming to an end. I hope to keep bowling outside of school.”
But never losing? That’s hard to duplicate.
“It’s really a team effort,” Correnti said. “The girls come in and listen. They’ve been consistent and it showed this weekend.”
CAPTION
The Kearny girls’ bowling team finished second at the NJSIAA state sectionals at Lodi Lanes Saturday. From left are Atianna Gutierrez, Mirakle Brown, Anna Powell, Alan Correnti, Hannah Paszkiewicz and Destiny Figueroa. Photo courtesy of David Paszkiewicz
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Jim Hague | Observer Sports Writer
Sports Writer Jim Hague was with The Observer for 20+ years — and his name is one of the most recognizable in all of sports journalism. The St. Peter’s Prep and Marquette alum kicked off his journalism career post Marquette at the Daily Record, where he remained until 1985. Following shorts stints at two other newspapers, in September 1986, he joined the now-closed Hudson Dispatch, where he remained until 1991, when its doors were finally shut.
It was during his tenure at The Dispatch that Hague’s name and reputation as one of country’s hardest-working sports reporters grew. He won several New Jersey Press Association and North Jersey Press Club Awards in that timeframe.
In 1991, he became a columnist for The Hudson Reporter chain of newspapers — and he remains with them to this day.
In addition to his work at The Observer and The Hudson Reporter, Hague is also an Associated Press stringer, where he covers Seton Hall University men’s basketball, New York Red Bulls soccer and occasionally, New Jersey Devils hockey.
He’s also doing work at The Morristown Daily Record, the very newspaper where his journalism career began.
During his career, he also worked for Dorf Feature Services, which provided material for the Star-Ledger. While there, he covered the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.
Hague is also known for his announcing work — and he’s done PA work for Rutgers Newark and NJIT.
Hague is the author of the book “Braddock: The Rise of the Cinderella Man.”