Coach: Judy Lucia (17th Season)

Last year’s record: 112-14

Key Returners: Henry Tipping (Sr., 201.6 average), Scott Morris (Jr., 191.3 average), Trevor Lauber (Jr. 190.2 average), Brian Biml (Jr., 191.4 average)

Key Losses: Brian Sumereau and Tom Smith

Key Newcomers: Jake Murad (Jr.), Eric Simon (Jr.), James Holland (So.)

Strength of team: Lucia said that she is proud of how committed her players are to improving. Each bowler has a strong work ethic, and this will be important as the season goes along.

“They went as average freshman bowlers, which is what you expect, to majorly developed varsity bowlers,” she said.

The continued improvement of her players will be key as they face a tough schedule this year, including an early season tournament in Lakewood, New Jersey against a number of top teams.

Weakness of team: Lucia wants her players to improve with the mental aspect of bowling. She said that sometimes her players become frustrated when things don’t go their way, and this can sometimes affect them in later frames.

“If they leave an open frame, if they don’t get a mark, you don’t want to be too disappointed that it affects your game,” she said.

PV also has to figure out who will be the fifth and sixth players at the varsity level. The Indians have four solid bowlers in Morris, Tipping, Biml, and Lauber, but beyond that there is uncertainty. Simon, Murad, and Holland will each try to prove that they are worthy of obtaining one of the final two spots in the preseason.

Outlook: Lucia thinks that her team could possibly accomplish even more than it did a year ago, when Valley won the Bergen County Tournament and came in second place in the state sectional tournament. She is also hoping that her team performs well in the upcoming tournament in Lakewood, proving that PV can hang with the powerhouses from the southern part of the state.

Going into the season, PV is ranked No. 6 in the state and No. 1 in  the region by North Jersey. 

Coach’s Comment: “My goal is to play together as a team… have a good time, and let’s see what happens, ” Lucia said.