Somers bowlers end season strong with small squad

SOMERS, N.Y. - On Thursday, Jan. 29, the Somers bowling teams traveled to Hudson Valley Lanes with a small contingent, but still managed to make an impact.

“We only had four bowlers,” said coach Erik Tetro, “and we were still able to win a couple of games.” But for Tetro, wins weren’t the only measure of success.

“We had fun,” he added. “That’s what’s most important.”

A big part of that fun came courtesy of Jayden Ferry, who rolled a 192. The junior recently changed his approach to a two-handed style, a move that has paid immediate dividends.

“He’s just changed his whole style to the double arm, and since he’s done that, his average has jumped up,” Tetro said.

Now in his fourth year on the team, Ferry credited observation for the adjustment.

“I saw that it got a lot more curve, and now I’m able to get into the pocket in the right spot,” he explained.

With an average of 130, mechanics were only part of the equation during his strong showing.

“My mindset and my focus,” Ferry said. “The last game of the year—it’s great to end strong.”

Close behind was senior Giuseppe Arena, who posted games of 175, 156, and 140. He, too, recently made the switch to bowling with two hands.

“The switch was a big change,” Arena admitted. “I saw a lot of kids doing it and they were getting really high scores, so I was like, why not copy them?”

The added spin has been a motivating factor, but Arena also enjoys the spectacle.

“I like the way it looks when you get it in the pocket and everything blows up,” he said.

Sophomore Aubrey Rodriguez has her eye on making the same transition.

“I want to learn the two-hand,” she said.

While she experimented with it during Sunday league play, Rodriguez bowled one-handed on Thursday and still produced games of 117, 114, and 136. As she continues to improve, she focuses on consistency.

“I have a lot more control on where I’m aiming and staying aware of my foot placement,” she said.

For Rodriguez, though, the foundation of the sport remains the same.

“Bowling is a fun time for free,” she said.

That sentiment resonated with Tetro, especially as he looks ahead to next season with smaller numbers.

“Everyone has such a good sense of humor,” he said. “If it’s not your best night, the team picks each other up, jokes around, and has a good time.”