The Pinheads, Stuyvesant’s girls’ bowling team, had not dropped an A game (the first of three games that make up a complete bowling match) since the second round of the playoffs last year. Despite losing Game A to Seward Park Campus on Wednesday, October 14, the Pinheads were able to fight back and they proceeded to 4-0 on the season.

Due to back-to-back strikes by sophomore Justyna Bujno, as well as strong performances by sophomore Seulbi Lee and senior Irene Ng, the Pinheads easily won Game B, forcing a decisive Game C. In this game, senior and co-captain Jennie Lok, along with Bujno and Ng, led the Pinheads to their 10th consecutive regular season victory.

After losing three seniors, each of whom averaged over 130 pins per game last year, Lok and senior and co-captain Rosanna Sobota were not sure how the team would react. “We’re dealing with a lot of new players,” Sobota said. “As far as making them feel like a part of the team, we have our own team traditions where we all dress up in a theme for Halloween and have our own little Halloween party to help build team camaraderie.”

In addition to bonding events, team practices are extremely important. “Most people think bowling is just throwing a ball down the lane, but there is a technique to it,” Sobota said. “Jennie and I have both guided [teammates] and shown them what they can do and where they should be, in order to improve.”

The younger players on the team greatly appreciate the help the captains have provided. “Jennie always likes to give pointers,” Bujno said. “If you’re doing something wrong, or your ball isn’t going where you want it to, she’ll tell you to keep your wrist straight or not to bend over, so they’re really helpful and really nice.” Practice has paid off for the Pinheads, as the five players who are new to the team this year are combining for an average of 111.05 pins per game.

Although they have dominated their division for the past four years, many Pinheads would not feel satisfied with merely the Manhattan I division title. “Last year we made the quarterfinals and the year before that we made it to the semifinals,” coach and physical education teacher Peter Bolonga said. “If our girls bowl what they are capable of bowling, if they bowl at least their averages then we should win our division, we should make the playoffs, and then take it from there.”

While it may sound simple, maintaining the numbers the Pinheads have put up this year is no small feat. Only four out of the 12 members of the team are averaging under 100 pins per game, with seven out of the 12 girls averaging over 115 pins per game.

Winning is nothing new to the Pinheads, however. Since Bolonga started coaching the team five years ago, the Pinheads have gone 41-1 in the regular season, with their only loss coming last year against Seward Park Campus. Although they have been successful, the team does not receive a large sum of money to fund their practices. “It’s really hard to get funding from PSAL and its hard especially with bowling as a sport, to have practices because it’s not like you can go to any gym. You have to go to a bowling alley and you have to pay for it,” Sobota said. The price for practices is 18 dollars per lane for three hours. Since most of the players have their own bowling shoes, each of them has to pay three dollars for a practice. “We still go to weekend practices and [coach Bologna] helps us fundraise so we can pay for those practices,” Sobota said.

A new squad of Pinheads looks to continue its dominance in the regular season, and while a division title is important, all eyes are on the postseason, as the Pinheads look to reach their first ever Public Schools Athletic League City Championship.