WEST ORANGE, NJ — Seton Hall Prep junior Riley Gnecco won the Essex County Bowling Individual Tournament on Thursday, Jan. 23, defeating Jayden Padilla from Bloomfield, 234-182, at Bowlero Belleville. Gnecco was the top seed in the stepladder format with a 713 series (216, 245 and 252). Sophomore Joseph Maiella, as the No. 5 seed, lost his stepladder match 224-204 to Jackson Cerniglia from Nutley. To qualify, Maiella rolled a 638 series (200, 203 and 235).
Two days earlier, the Pirates finished in third place in the ECT team format with a pin total of 2,726. West Orange captured the title with a 2,775 complete seris, while Nutley finished in second place with 2,758.
The top Pirates in the team tournament were Gnecco (238, 217 and 168 for a 623 series) and Maiella (235, 203 and 184 for a 622 series). After the tournaments, Gnecco said, “I feel blessed. I achieved what I wanted to achieve. I did it for my teammates. I couldn’t do it without the help of my coach Mike Smircich.”
Smircich commented on Gnecco’s performance. “Riley was dominant from start to finish. He had a game plan and executed it the entire afternoon. He continues to prove that he is one of the top bowlers in the state.”
Photos Courtesy of Seton Hall Prep
Seton Hall Prep bowler Riley Gnecco wins Essex County Tournament title added by Jeff Goldberg on
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