The Irvington High School girls bowling team took second place at the Essex County Tournament on Feb. 3 at Hanover Lanes in East Orange. From left, head coach Myles Hart, junior Yatabou Njie, junior Anna Boayke, senior Miriam Simbaina, senior Anna Manu and junior Rebeca Nunez.
EAST HANOVER, NJ — The Irvington High School girls bowling team enjoyed a great showing at the Essex County Tournament on Feb. 3 at Hanover Lanes in East Hanover.
The team finished in second place overall behind Nutley in the girls’ team standings.
For decades, the IHS bowling team was co-ed. This season, IHS Athletic Director Dr. John Taylor created separate boys and girls teams. Myles Hart is the head coach for both teams.
The IHS girls team finished 89-37 in the Super Essex Conference play, finishing third in its division. The girls went on a tear in the last few weeks of season, rising in the conference standings to third, Hart noted. “Two of the bowlers, including finalist Yatabou Njie, never bowled a game in their life up until this year,” Hart said.
Njie and teammate Anna Manu also qualified for Essex County Individual tournament on Feb. 5 at Hanover Lanes.
“The girls are slowly learning to take a social activity like bowling and make it into a competitive adventure,” said Hart of the girls team. “They were in third or fourth place going into the last game of the county tourney. I said to them, ‘Hit a 600 series you’ll win second place.’ They got 602!”
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