STATEN ISLAND, NY
We are so back…
On yet another beautiful October day, the Staten Island chapter of the Mediocre Bowling Association kicked off its FIFTEENTH year of business, even if not number of seasons. “I think something is wrong with the math, but I’m too busy trying to buy a pitcher of Miller Lite.” said league veteran Dan Francesco, while trying to buy a pitcher of Miller Lite. Regardless, it seems like all 48 people in attendance were in agreement: It was time to get (whichever) season started.
The first of three games of the 2026 Sweetness Open kicked off with some buzz, clearly from a long summer of pent up bowling energy. A few women, vying for the event’s trophy Claudia’s Affection, stood out right away. Erin Chiappi, Christine Beaton, and Sara Eadicicco threw excellent first games with a respective 150, 156 and 155. “Does that really say 150?” a confused Chiappi was overheard saying to a, clearly apathetic, Rab’s employee.
As Game 2 got underway, the usual overindulgence of food and drink kicked in and most of the playing field started to level out. A few members bucked the trend, Tom Ryan threw an incredible 194 and, inspired by the energy, lanemate Darla Piergiovanni impressed with a 193. A few lanes down, Joe Seluga was overheard yelling “154, baby!” (To be fair, the league cannot confirm the quote but we thought it looked nice…Seluga would, also, throw a 154 in his third game) and Paul Drozek continued the streak from his first game (183) by throwing a 182.
“What do you mean “overindulgence”…? But real talk, try the fried calzone from Gennaro’s” - George Karyczak
In Game 3, some more competitive scores caught attention. Sara Eadiccico was back on top with a 162, though her Game 2 score (125) dragged her event average below contention. Husband and wife super team Jon and Jill Marotte bowled a 182 and 183 respectively, but their earlier games didn’t meet muster, either. League co-commissioner, Hillary Scott somehow threw a 170 between urging lanes to focus and bowl faster, saying “George Zipp is hosting karaoke in the High Roller’s Lounge right after this, so we gotta wrap it up so I can go to that.”
But in the end, Paul Drozek’s first two games combined with a competitive Game 3 score (154) giving him a 173 AVG and the glory of his first ever Sweetness Open championship. “The trophy shelf is starting to get crowded!” he said to an adoring crowd. Drozek already has a Golden Colt from The Knock’em Back Masters of 2024. Can he add another one? We’ll find out next month.
Drozek takes the win!
Other notables from the event include:
Margaret Licursi (nee: Salzillo), has returned to the MBA after a 10 year absence. In her first game back, she bowled a beautiful 148. In her second and third games, however, she threw a paltry 82 and 61 to finish off her first tournament back. “I wore this cowboy shirt thinking it would bring me luck, and it did for a minute, but then I don’t know what the hell happened.” she moped in the parking lot afterwards. In her quick, sad escape, she wouldn’t find out till later that she’d won the Gutter Trash Award with an impressive 11 gutters.
Salzillo pictured with the trophy she really wanted.
Jillian Marotte has joined her husband in the (still very exciting but getting more meaningless every day) Turkey Club, throwing one in the middle of her third game. “Now Jon won’t be able to rub it in my face anymore,” she said. “...in fact, I think I threw his out.” (referring to the enamel keepsake pin.) Ryan Petersen, first to join the Turkey Club back in 2018, would be the first to throw a turkey on this day. “Cool.” he said between mozzarella stick bites.
Everyone is getting too good! Might have to come up with a new club…………………. 👀
Another returning veteran, Mark Eadicicco, got agitated when he accused several people of crowding his lane approach. After speaking his mind, he claimed somebody pinched his ass. After pointing an accusatory finger at the crowd, he threw a strike. “I’d love for someone to pinch my ass every time going forward,” he said at Lee’s Tavern during a post-event debrief.
Some more on the controversy front: Nancy Izzo’s non-MBA member husband Matt, who was bowling next to the league on an unsanctioned “kids lane”, bowled for Nancy and threw a STRIKE! League officials were unclear as to whether or not they would rectify the situation or just look the other way, but per the MBA High Council, Matt Izzo will be restricted from bowling within 5 hours of his wife going forward.
Shout out to two new members in attendance, Symone Sylvester (78.3 AVG) and Alexis Brunetto (81.3 AVG) for their perfectly mediocre inaugural games. “How have we not been doing this already for years?” they said in unplanned unison. Welcome to the league!
EVENT SCORES
Event Winner: P. Drozek (173 AVG)
Gutter Trash Award Winner: M. Licursi (11)
Highest Total Strikes: 13 (T. Ryan)
Highest Total Spares: 15 (Jon Marotte)
Highest Total Gutters: 11 (M. Licursi)
Highest Score: 194 (T. Ryan)
Lowest Score: 95 (A. Fabiani but she’s pregnant so it’s ok)
Newest MBA recruit loading soon!