By STEVE SINISKI
Clarke senior Molly Karcher, however, continues to raise the bar higher on both ends of the spectrum. The soon-to-be Valedictorian for Clarke's Class of 2009, Karcher also ranks as the No. 1 bowler in Nassau after capturing the individual tournament at Garden City with a 1,267 series on Feb. 7.
"I think that's a lot of pressure going into the tournament because you're expected to win," Clarke coach Courtney Castle said of Karcher, who also paced Nassau with a 207.9 average during the regular season.
The day didn't get off on the right foot-Karcher opened with a 168-but the four-year varsity bowler and now three-time state qualifier didn't panic and ended with a 211.2 average, nearly three pins better than her regular-season mark. She followed up the 168 with games of 205, 199, a match-high 255, 214 and 226 and ran away with first place by 89 pins. "In the first game I crumbled," Karcher said. "I had an awful game but once I got past that I got into a rhythm."
Karcher's finish qualified her as one of six individual Nassau bowlers that will compete in the state tournament March 8 at Gates Lanes in Rochester. The only Nassau girl to average better than 200 this season, Karcher's increased her average by nearly 50 pins since a 160 mark as a freshman, and jumped into the exclusive 200-pin territory of one after a 193.7 average as a junior. "I definitely think it's great," Karcher said of the individual tournament win, which was her second in a row. "It kind of validated my average throughout the season. And to do it as a senior [is great]."
Castle has noticed a not-so-subtle difference in Karcher's approach compared with prior seasons." She came out very strong," Castle said. "She always was very graceful, but this year she was more powerful and more confident."
Karcher was also the driving force behind the Lady Rams' second-place finish in the Nassau County Section VIII team tournament at Garden City Bowl on Jan. 31. Led by Karcher and senior Ashley Palandro (177 average during the regular season), who just missed the state cut by finishing eighth at the individual tournament, Clarke finished second to Levittown-Division.
Clarke won its conference for the third time in four seasons with major contributions from senior Nicole Hill (153.0 average) and freshman Carlie Mendoza, who averaged a 148.6 in her first year at the varsity level. Freshman Brooke Wood finished with a 139 average as the fifth bowler at the county team tournament. "This year was very intense," Karcher said, noting the conference title came down to the final game of the positioning round against Hicksville. "It made us come together as a team."
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