Laurel House Hosting Annual Bowl-a-Thon

The Norristown-based nonprofit wants your help to "Strike Out Domestic Violence" at Facenda-Whitaker on Friday, May 18.

According to Laurel House, are residents can help “strike out domestic violence” by participating in their 3rd annual bowl-a-thon scheduled for Friday, May 18 from 7-10 p.m. at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes in East Norriton. The cost to participate is $25 per adult and $15 per child 12 and under and includes games, shoes and refreshments. The funds raised from the event will benefit Laurel House, a Norristown-based nonprofit that helps families in crisis as a result of domestic violence by providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, a confidential hotline, counseling, medical advocacy and legal representation.  Each year, more than 1,500 women and their families seek support from Laurel House.  To sign up for the "Strike Out Domestic …

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NASD's Paths to Excellence

Sports Success Stories from Norristown Area High School

The winter season in NAHS athletics ended with some significant accomplishments at the state level.

Norristown Area High School athletes ended the winter season with some serious accolades at the state level. Here are a few of the shining stars of NAHS athletics: The spring season is off to a rainy start! The NAHS baseball and softball teams are currently in contention for a league championship and a district playoff berth and the NAHS boys’ and girls’ track teams have qualified some athletes for the prestigious Penn Relays on April 28, 29 and 30. [Note: Check back with Norristown Patch for coverage of Norristown athletes at the Penn Relays.]

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Grayauskie Takes A Medal at State Bowling Championships

Two-time Suburban One League Bowler of the Year Matt Grayauskie placed 12th at the 2011 PA State High School Championships.

Before Matt Grayauskie can improve his standing among Pennsylvania's best high-school bowlers, he needs a nap. Working on a self-described two-hours sleep, the two-time Suburban One League Bowler of the Year capped off a successful season by placing 12th in the individual portion of the 2011 PA State High School Championships, held Friday at Limerick Bowl in Pottstown. The Eagles, despite having all five starters qualify individually for regionals, failed to earn a team berth. Grayauskie, a junior at Norristown High, shot a 1,265 over six games to earn the final medal from the 24 bowlers who advanced at regionals two weeks ago. Baldwin's Drew Hartman, whose day included a 299 game, won the tournament with a 1,525 series. Latin's Jon …

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Norristown Bowlers Put Season to Rest

Junior Matt Grayauskie moves on to state, while the rest of the Eagles lay down their rosin bags.

While still riding the high of junior Matt Grayauskie's state qualifying performance at individual regionals, the Norristown bowling teams quietly ended their season over the weekend. The boys quintet of Grayauskie, Zac Holak, John Mill, Chris Shock and A.J. Ferrizzi placed 13th out of 36 teams at Brunswick Zone in Feasterville, while the girls group of Taylor Copestick, Miranda Alessandrini, Marybeth O'Connor, Emily Kinsey and Cathryn O'Connor finished 19th of 28 at Bristol Pike Lanes in Philadelphia. The top six squads advanced to the Pennsylvania State Tournament. Only Grayauskie's season continues, and the junior will compete March 18 at Limerick Bowl in Pottstown against 23 other qualifiers. "They were pretty down because they had …

Norristown Bowlers Strive for Spots in State Tournament

Norristown's Matt Grayauskie is the first to qualify at the Eastern Interscholastic Regional Championships in Feasterville on Friday

FEASTERVILLE – Matt Grayauskie kicked, then punched the air in frustration after his ball barely avoided the 10-pin during his attempt to qualify for the Pennsylvania State Bowling Tournament. The miss left a rare open frame and led to a series-low 195 in Grayauskie's second of five games. Another such error would likely force the Norristown junior to wait a year before trying again. "I missed [that pin] by an inch and knew I couldn't miss again," Grayauskie said. "I had worked really hard to bowl and I thought I deserved this, so I had to forget it. I just felt like today was my day and I didn't want to waste it." Shaking it off, Grayauskie rolled a 236, 232 and a series-high 246 in his remaining three games. Adding in the 195 and a 233 …

NAHS Boys Bowling Team Named Suburban One Conference Champs

The Eagles have been the Suburban One champs three years running

On Feb. 10, in a match up versus North Penn, the Norristown boys varsity bowling team clinched first place in the Suburban One Division. This is their third consecutive title in as many years. They now qualify to move on to Eastern Regionals in March. The boys did it in style, rolling three games over 1,000 for the third time this season. North Penn kept it close in game one, but Norristown eventually swept the match 4-0. Each member of the team bowled 600 or above, with Matt Grayauskie topping the team with a 279 high game and a 689 series, and A.J. Ferrizzi close behind him with a 257 high game and 680 series. Chris Shock, with a 243; John Mil, with a 236; and Zac Holak, with a 227, rounded out the team for the big win. The JV boys …

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NASD sports schedule for Feb. 14 through Feb. 20

Looking for local sports? Norristown schools have you covered

Monday, Feb. 14 3:30pm Boys' & Girls' Varsity Bowling @ Hatboro-Horsham High School Wednesday, Feb. 16 11:15am Boys' & Girls' Varsity Bowling @ SOL Championships @ Brunswick Zone in Feasterville, Pa. Friday, Feb. 18 2:30pm Boys' Middle School Wrestling @ Southeastern Pa. Middle School Tournament @ Quakertown High School 5pm Girls' Varsity Swimming @ SOL Girls' Swimming Championships @ Upper Dublin High School 7pm Girls' Varsity Winter Track @ Lehigh University (MOC) Saturday, Feb. 19 7:30am Boys' Middle School Wrestling @ Southeastern Pa. Middle School Tournament @ Quakertown High School 8:30PM Boys' Varsity Swimming @ SOL Boys' Swimming Championships @ Upper Dublin High School TBA Boys' Varsity Winter Track @ Lehigh University (MOC)

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Norristown bowls over Hatboro-Horsham

The boys and girls varsity bowling teams each won decisively Wednesday at Facenda-Walker Lanes

Bowling, Norristown head coach Candy Johnson will tell you, is more complicated than it looks. "Any team is more comfortable playing at home," the ninth-grade math teacher by day, bowling instructor by afternoon, explained as she watched her blue-jerseyed gang sip Yoo-hoo and sling heavy polyurethane balls toward a bundle of pins Wednesday at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes. The Norristown boys and girls varsity bowling teams defeated Hatboro-Horsham that afternoon 3017 to 2515 and 2344 to 1330, respectively. "Some places put oil in the lanes, and some of those lanes have different oil patterns, which affects the path of the ball," Johnson said. "At [Facenda], the players know what oil is down, but sometimes leagues play during the day and break […

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Norristown High girls bowling team keeps rolling

The Eagles need a late-season spurt to compete in regional tournament.

First place remains at the top of a continuous uphill roll for the Norristown Area High School girls' bowling team, but they'll keep striving to reach it. After dispensing with Upper Moreland 3-1, the Lady Eagles head to their remaining six matches in third place at 19-9. They need to find a way past either Upper Merion or defending league champion North Penn to earn one of two berths in the Eastern Regional tournament. Needing a strong finish, the varsity girls gained on Upper Moreland, a team ahead of them in the Suburban One League Continental Conference. The teams split the first two games before the Eagles rolled in the third to a 74-pins victory. Sophomore Taylor Copestick had the best series at 482, with a 193 high game. Despite …

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