Rush-Henrietta senior may be best bowler in country: Section V strikes gold at state championships

The "epitome of consistency" in the lanes, Rush-Henrietta Keaton Ostrowski led a slew of Section V's outstanding performances with his third gold medal at the state championship bowling tournament.

Ostrowski's high-series for composite team garnered one of Section V's two gold medal performances at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Bowling Championships. Newark freshman Sienna Hasseler, the next rising star from coach Mark Rowe's Reds, added to her gold medal collection for her high-game earlier this month at AMF Strike 'N Spare Lanes in Syracuse.

As for Ostrowski, the NYSPHSAAs ended an illustrious varsity career. A two-time All-Greater Rochester Bowler of the Year, Ostrowski's other two NYS golds were for his high-series in 2022, and as a member of the 2023 boys composite team that won first place. Usselman credited Ostrowski's ability to modify his line, and awareness to stay ahead of the curve, for the senior's success.

"He's an outlier. He's that far ahead of everybody else," Usselman said.

What it means

Section V's boys composite team won silver medals, finishing as the runner-up to Section XI by 47 pins in a tight 6,801-6,754 finish. First place came down to the very last game. Section V's girls composite team finished fourth with 6,011 pins on March 9.

"Their range in scores was very low, which kept them in play all day. They bowled well. There's no doubt about that," Usselman said about the boys composite team."

In the Division I tournament, Victor's boys led the first two games but eventually finished placed second by 101 pins, edged by Section IV Corning 6,264-6,163 to earn silver medals. Fairport's girls placed ninth with 4,892 pins March 10.

"We've been in contention all day long," Victor coach Mark Foeder said. "We knew it was going to be a good head-to-head against Corning."

Newark's girls, winners of seven straight Section V titles, returned as the two-time Division II state champion and finished fifth with 4,913 pins. Waterloo's boys team placed eighth with 5,606 pins March 8.

Best bowlers

Keaton Ostrowski

The Rush-Henrietta senior shot the composite tournament's high-series at 1,458 for a 243 average. He had 52 strikes in 60 frames with a 259 high-game. In the 2022 NYSPHSAA tournament, Ostrowski's 1,503 (250.50) led Division I. A left-handed bowler, Ostrowski may be the best high schooler in the nation. His 242.42 average in 2022-23 was the highest in America. He managed to improve to 248.42 this winter. Records are unclear, but it may be the Section V record.

Sienna Hasseler

The Newark freshman struck gold with her 267 high-game in the Division II tournament. Hasseler's 1,212 series ranked fourth. Hasseler previously won gold medals when Newark won states in 2022 and 2023. She's emerged as the Reds' top bowler this winter. Her 194.87 regular season average ranked eighth in Section V. Hasseler also won the inaugural Section V Class C individual championship for high-series with 1,192 pins.

Lorenzo Amadio

A Victor senior, Amadio won a bronze medal for the third best high-game in Division I with a 276 in Game 6. Amadio's 1,332 series was the tournament's fourth highest total. Amadio was Victor's No. 4 bowler in the regular season. The Blue Devils' No. 5 bowler, senior Carter Ortega, also shot well with a 1,180 series.

"That group of seniors, they're really special," Foeder said. "We got there with them, so we were going to let them finish it out."

Zach Manko

Waterloo's boys bowling star rolled a 274 for the Division II boys tournament's third best high-game and a bronze medal. Manko led Waterloo with a 1,245 series.

Brayden Masclee

The Fairport boys bowler rolled the third best high-series of the composite tournament with 1,389 pins, winning a bronze medal. Masclee rolled a 250 high-game in Game 1. His 233.31 regular season average was second in Section V to Ostrowski. Masclee struck gold with the composite team in 2023.

"A 233 puts him in the context of best Section V bowlers ever in Section V," Usselman said. "He led off for that group and he had a lot of strikes."

Toby Prescott

Victor's senior won bronze after rolling Division I's third best series with 1,359 pins. Prescott rolled a 278 high-game in the morning, which led to his 772 total entering the break. Prescott bowled Victor's third best average during the regular season.

Tim Doan and Adam Wakelee entered states as Victor's top two bowlers, and at states shot the team's fifth and fourth best series, respectively. Prescott, Amadio, Doan and Ortega will graduate after guiding Victor to states for the first time since placing fifth in 2018.

"My bottom three did really, really well," Foeder said.

Game balls

Samantha Czerw

The Spencerport bowing star led Section V's girls composite team with 1,250 pins for the 10th best series. Czerw also rolled a 257 high-game. During the regular season, Czerw led Section V with a 205.07 average.

Alivia Kappen

Fairport's bowling star led the team with 1,092 pins, which ranked 18th in the Division I girls tournament. Kappen rolled a 204 high-game.

Josh Winter

The Spencerport bowler rolled a 1,357 series for the eighth best score in the boys composite tournament. His high-game was a 256. Winter was the high-scorer at the 2023 Class A section tournament.

"That kid can bowl. There's no doubt about that," Usselman said.

Sportsmanship Awards

The following bowlers won sportsmanship awards at the NYSPHSAA Championships: Lorenzo Amadio (Victor), Brooke Hamelinck (Newark), Chris Hayden (Waterloo), Alivia Kappen (Fairport), Josh Winter (Spencerport), Aurora Yantz (Rush-Henrietta).

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V bowlers strike gold twice the New York state championships