BERNE — The final season for Berne-Knox-Westerlo bowling coach Don Dennis was a satisfying one.

Dennis will be retiring from coaching the bowling team after 19 years at the helm, but he will continue to coach the golf team in the fall.

Assistant Coach Matt Decker will take over next winter.

“I’m kind of regretful,” Dennis said. “I hate to give it up. But I’ll stick with one sport.”

Since Dennis started coaching in 1989, this might have been one of the better years. Though he has coached sectional winning teams — and this year neither the boys nor the girls won a title — both teams showed a lot of heart and determination this season.

“The boys’ team, we were looking to rebuild,” Dennis said. “We improved a lot during the year. The girls’ team could have been one of the strongest I’ve ever had. But we lost four of the top six. We had two that were injured, one moved, and one was ineligible. We pieced a team together and we ended on a high note.”

The girls’ team was led by state team representative Sammy Moak. The senior was also named the most valuable player in the Western Athletic Conference.

“We started disappointed,” Dennis said of the girls’ team. “We had to piece together a team. We had four girls that had never been in matches. I had to put them in. They then ended up averaging over 100 at the end of the year. We had a couple that ended with 120 to 130 or better.”

Moak was one of the few experienced bowlers returning and put together a good final campaign. She was joined by classmates Emily Pierce, Aurora Becker, and Sara Hallenback.

Joining the seniors were a pair of sophomores — Katlynn Overbaugh and Christina Skinner.

The team finished fourth out of eight teams in the league and moved up a slot at the WAC tournament, coming in third.

At the Class C/D tournament, the Lady Bulldogs matched their finish in the WAC.

“We beat all the teams in our league,” Dennis said. “But we finished behind Mechanicville and Voorheesville. We came in third and that was a great accomplishment for the girls. At the sectionals, Pierce stepped up at the most important times.”

Pierce bowled a 207 game at sectionals and Overbaugh had a 183 game.

“They both bowled well above their average. That was a highlight.”

Moak bowled a 1,143 series to end with a 191 average. That score placed her on the Section II team.

“She made the all-star team that competed at states,” Dennis said. “She was the only girl from a small school to make it.”

The scores from all the class competitions are figured in and only the top six scores qualify for the state team.

“At states, the team finished fourth out of 11 teams,” Dennis said.

But Moak received another award at the state meet. She won the Sportsmanship Award for Section II.

“They pick one from each section,” Dennis said. “That was a nice honor for Sammy.”

The boys’ team finished sixth out of nine teams in the Western Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs improved during the year to finish fourth at the WAC Tournament.

The team was led by sophomore Tim McIntyre. His high game of the year was 279 and his high triple for the season was 723.

“He was a second-team all-star,” Dennis said.

Josh DeNyse had a high series of 692 and an average of 231 during the season. He also had a high game of 247.

The Bulldogs finished 10^th out of 25 teams in the Class C/D tournament.

“We actually finished in third among teams in our league,” Dennis said. “We improved the whole year.”

McIntyre had a 199 average at the sectional meet. DeNyse and Dan White each bowled to 191 averages. Luke LeGodais bowled a high game of 254.

“This is a nice bunch of kids,” Dennis said. “All of them. The boys gelled together all year.”

White and LeGodais along with Brazilian exchange student Igor Silva are the only bowlers who won’t return to the team next year. White and LeGodais are both seniors and Silva will return to Brazil for school next year.

Chet Ferriero and Chris White — Dave’s brother — also competed at the sectional meet.

“I’ll miss the seniors,” Dennis said. “There is a nice team coming back. They are a lot of young kids — sophomores and freshmen. The team has a lot to look forward to.”

Eighth-grader Mike Field, freshman R.J. Kelly, and sophomore Keith Newcomb will be contributors to the team next year, Dennis said.

Though he won’t be coaching next year’s team, Dennis feels good that he left a good foundation on both the girls’ and boys’ side for his long-time assistant Matt Decker when he takes over the head-coaching duties.

As he retires, Dennis expressed gratitude to those who had helped him coach.

“I want to thank Matt Decker, my assistant who will be moving up,” Dennis said.

Dennis was also grateful to some other people.

“Marty Van Buren is a parent that has helped out a lot,” Dennis added. “And the Cobleskill Bowling Center has treated us great every time we go there.”

With the future of the program set, Dennis will probably look back at the past season as being one of the most satisfying of his 19-year tenure.

“It was a real nice year,” the coach said “I enjoyed this year. They are a terrific bunch of kids. They were a pleasure to be with.”