Girls Bowling Takes Undefeated Season to Semifinals

The team huddles up before their playoff game against Madison. *Photo: Jennifer Impoco*

By TIFFANY TAN and SAFOWANA ISLAM

Tiffany Tan is a member of the girls varsity bowling team.

Girls Bowling wrapped up the 2023-2024 season with an undefeated 10-0 record, finishing first in the division for the third year in a row, as well as third overall in the city. However, the team’s journey came to an end on November 15, when they lost 3-0 to Brooklyn Tech at Melody Lanes in the semifinals.

Midwood started off strong, with all members of the A team throwing strikes or spares. Unfortunately, Tech began closing frames and eventually pulled too far ahead, dealing the A team a 626-531 pin loss. The B team fought their hardest to give Midwood a chance at redemption in a decisive C match. They came close but were ultimately unsuccessful, losing 479-429.

“The game against Tech was very emotional since it was the last game for Adesola [Odufunade ‘24] and me,” said senior Emily Impoco, the team’s captain. “We tried to encourage each other as much as possible, but the game was too far gone.”

“This was our best season in the past three years,” said junior Chloe Liu, the A team’s anchor. “I really thought we were going to get that W.”

Some of the girls had difficulty adjusting to the conditions at Melody Lanes, they said. While Brooklyn Tech practices there regularly, Midwood is usually stationed at Funfest Lanes.

“I’m not a sore loser, but their lanes were dry,” said Odufunade, one of the highest playoff scorers with a 167. “I know when I hit my spot, I’m gonna strike. So, when I hit my spot there and I didn’t strike, I knew we had a problem.”

Serenity Eaddy ‘25, who rolled a 116, said, “It sucks we lost. But I think everyone did the best they could with the conditions [the lanes] presented to us.”

Despite questions over the lanes, Mr. Giordano gave full credit to Brooklyn Tech for their performance. “They train and practice every day, they knew what they were doing, and they deserved to win,” he said.

Previously, in round two, Midwood secured a dominant 3-0 victory against Young Women's Leadership School-Astoria with an A team score of 693-476 and a B team score of 417-403.

“In my 12-13 years of coaching, 693 is the highest A team score I have ever seen,” said Mr. Giordano.

Not only did the team collectively break through, but Impoco and Liu bowled their season highs, Impoco rolling a 199 and Liu a 233. Impoco’s score was her career-high, way above her sophomore year average of 88.

Liu said, “I was nervous to play Astoria since they had the same standing as us. I knew it would be competitive. But, lo and behold, we won.”

In the quarterfinals, Midwood topped James Madison 2-1. The B team fell short by a narrow 11 pins, but the A team’s crucial 607-540 win kept them in the game. Mr. Giordano described the victory as “the best game of the year, probably of my career.”

“The game against Madison was nerve-wracking since we were going into our first decisive C match of the season,” Impoco said. “However, my teammate Serenity really lightened the mood and kept our spirits high.”

“[Madison] swore that they could beat us, and they just didn’t,” said Odufunade, who led the B team with a 139. “It made me so happy.”

Keeping the energy high in the C game, Midwood hurled nonstop strikes and spares, crushing Madison 635-442.

“It was our most exciting game yet,” said Mr. Giordano. “Knowing that the A team crossed the 600 mark in their match, I was happy to see them cross that line again in the C match.”

“We like to go in, do what we can, and take what we can get,” said Eaddy. “That was our secret to going undefeated.”

The Hornets started the season off on a high note by beating Goldstein 3-0, and wrapped it up by beating them again 3-0 right before the start of playoffs.

“I was really excited at the start of this season,” said Mr. Giordano. “I could see the potential in all the players, the old and the new. [The upperclassmen] really improved from last year. It was a season of historical ability.”

Liu also placed first in the Brooklyn borough individual competition, finishing with a 595 series and the highest game of the tournament, a 221. In city individuals, she bowled even better, finishing with a 619 series, placing second in the city.

Impoco, who also qualified for Brooklyn individuals, bowled a 424 series. “I was really nervous as this was my first time in individuals, but knowing I had a great support system behind me made me feel so much better,” she said.

Bowlers credited their teammates’ encouragement and ability to pick each other up as the keys to their success. They also praised their coach.

“Coach Gio has always been there to support us regardless of how well or poorly we do on any given day,” Liu said.

“He always makes sure we’re ready and maintain a positive mindset, even after a bad throw,” said Chloe Cho ‘26, a B Team bowler who was new to the team this year.

“The sport was foreign to me since I had never played before,” said Cho. “With all these good players around me, it was intimidating. But they were so welcoming and positive that I was quickly at ease.” After just three months of bowling, with guidance from her teammates, Cho was able to rack up a playoff high of 113.

Impoco said, “I’m so proud of each and every one of my teammates, and I’m so grateful my team was able to make my last season one of the greatest Midwood’s ever seen.”

“No matter what, benched or on the alley, we’re always hyping each other up to keep going even if we’re losing,” Odufunade said. “It’s what makes us a family.”

Sophia Luo said, “I didn’t know it was possible for a team to be as close-knit as we were. But that’s one of the perks of our small team of twelve.”

“I'm proud to say that I’m the coach of this team,” Mr. Giordano said. “I can’t wait to see the way we’re going to come back and kill it for next year.”