Fishman’s off-season work leads to success
HUNTLEY — Huntley junior Matt Fishman’s summer routine included heading to the bowling alley, and then the next day and the next week after that. The rounds kept coming and the work is paying dividends.
“I worked on every small thing I was doing wrong – a lot of repetition,” Fishman said after a recent Red Raider dual win over Johnsburg.
Fishman has notched topped a 700 mark for a series against Harvard Nov. 27, but it came the same night as a near 300 perfect game, a 299, by the Hornets’ Gael Roman. He led HHS to a win over Johnsburg Nov. 29 with a 688 series and a 247 high game.
Fishman, one of several junior leaders for the 12th-ranked Red Raiders, followed up with a second place showing at the huge Vernon Hills Tournament Dec. 2. He totaled 1,423 pins to champion Josh Hunt, a senior from Hononegah, who had a 1,445 total, The Red Raiders finished third in team standings at Liberty Lanes.
Fishman rolled a 680 series and a 279 best game against McHenry Dec. 6. Teammate Nicholas Gaspari achieved a perfect 300 game and a 694 series in the HHS win.
Huntley boys bowling head coach Jacob Wagner praised Fishman for his dedication.
“Fishman has been working as hard as anyone I have coached,” Wagner said. “He comes into practice everyday with something to work on for himself and has been doing a great job helping the newer two handed bowlers as well. At the Vernon Hills Tournament he had everything going and executed his shot frequently. A main focus for our team is to control the pocket and give yourself a chance for a strike. Fishman controlled the pocket all day long and has been locked in. We have a ton of inner team competition to be the best guy for our team and I think that pushes us a little more.”
Wagner was pleased with the team’s third place effort at Vernon Hills.
“Noah Waters placed 20th and Austin Tenglin finished 29th overall,” Wagner said. “It was an awesome tournament and the boys threw it great early. We had a great day and the boys continue to grind out the afternoons with another great team score. We continue to build on success.”
The Red Raiders rebounded from their loss to Harvard with a 3,798 to 3,516 pin victory over Johnsburg Nov. 29. Following Fishman were: Matthew Hoglind, 643 series; Tenglin, 636; Waters, 632 and Gaspari, 589.
“It was a good bounce back win because we had one varsity guy out ill,” Wagner said.
