Seton Hall Prep's Riley Gnecco unleashes a shot.
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
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