Rocky: 0:01

This morning I get to talk to two champions. I get to talk to a coach that's just won a men's boys basketball national champion and then I get to talk to a coach that's won back-to-back section three titles and I'm going to ask him what it was like to coach a local high school state champion. That and much more this morning here on the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch. So stay tuned. Welcome this morning to the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch. Thanks for tuning in this morning. I'm your host, as always, the coach Rocky Craig-Lieno. The guys are out and about today. I can't get them all on the show. I promise you at some point in time we will get the entire crew here on the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch. We'll get everybody back this morning. We got a fun show for you this morning. Another local show here on sports watch. In just a little bit we'll talk to the men's boys basketball coach at mohawk valley community college. Coach harlan fuller will join me. He's fresh off a national championship. We'll talk to coach in a little bit, probably about 10 after, and then at the bottom of the hour we'll talk to the head women's bowling coach here at rome. We'll talk to Coach Brian Rondu. The girls won back-to-back Section 3 titles. We're going to talk to them about what it was like to coach a state champion. That and more here at the bottom of the hour. If you're tuning in on YouTube, make sure to hit the subscribe button. If you're on Facebook, you have any questions for the coaches this morning. Please, as always, put your comments in there. The playback will be up on all social media sites. It'll also be up on iHeartRadio, apple Podcasts and Spotify. Some more changes coming to the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch and the Rock Pile, so stay tuned for more of that.

Rocky: 1:55

If you've been watching March Madness, like I have, I'm going to say I'm very, very, very disappointed. So far in the tournament we haven't really had that real true upset yet. Mcneese State was the 12. We've had the 10 seeds. Arkansas yesterday was good, but I thought the game so far of the tournament and I'm not being biased here I thought it was Gonzaga who, as Coach Calvin Sampson of Houston said last night, gonzaga was poorly seeded as an ace seed. I know they had seven or eight losses and I'm not saying it because I'm a Zags homer, but they lost a lot of close non-conference games and they were some big non-conference games that in the past they've won. But if you watched that game last night, if you're a basketball fan, that felt like either an Elite Eight game, final Four type game Zags battled. At the end I really thought they were going to pull it out.

Rocky: 2:49

This is the first year in a long time that I've went complete chalk in my bracket. I had McNeese in the first round. I did have some 10 seeds. I had a few other teams but I got the 4-1 seeds in the Final Four. I've never, never, done that, ever. I don't think.

Rocky: 3:08

Normally I ride with Tennessee's and Kansas. I was going to pick the Johnny's. I was going to ride with them because I really thought that the Johnny's had a chance. But I think the piece with St John's that drew me not to pick them going too far is they can't shoot the basketball. They have no shooters on that team at all. They play really good defense. They get points in transition off their defense. That was one of the keys. But how about Rick Pitino? But how about John Calipari? I mean, here's a guy that a lot of people don't like. He's won everywhere he's been. He didn't really have probably the career that he thought he was going to have at Kentucky down the stretch.

Rocky: 3:50

Arkansas started the year 0-5, I think 0-5, 0-6, and a lot of people are saying, well, he's not the right fit at Arkansas, blah-de-blah-de-blah. Well, they got healthy late in the year and they started playing some good basketball. And here they are in the NCAA tournament. They're going to the Sweet 16. So I think that's a really good story. St Mary's out of the West Coast Conference is still alive. We'll see if any of the games today. Well, michigan right, I'm not a big Michigan basketball fan but I'll root for them. But the job that Dusty Mays done at Michigan in year one after where they were a year ago, I think is another great story.

Rocky: 4:29

I'm going to run through some of these scores. Auburn 82-70. I think Auburn is the most vulnerable one seed of the four. Houston, as I said last night, 81-76 over Gonzaga. Arkansas 75-66 over St John's. Tennessee and Rick Barnes. A lot of people have Tennessee going to the Final Four. They beat UCLA 67-58. The dream season of Drake that won 31 games. They fall last night to Texas Tech 77-64. And BYU advances again. I did have BYU win in two games. They beat Wisconsin 91-89. Purdue over McNeese 76-62, and then, as I said last night too, michigan 91-79 over Texas A&M. When you look through some of those, I think the job Bruce Pearl's done. I think this is probably the best team Pearl's had in a long time. I think they're the most vulnerable of the ones.

Rocky: 5:27

I think Duke is with Cooper Flagg playing. Cooper Flagg looked as good as he normally does, didn't look like the ankle was bothering him too much. I think Duke with Flagg, I think, gets to the Final Four. And then I watched Houston last night. I haven't seen a lot of Houston because they're another team where every year at least the last four or five years they've been a one or two seed and they get beat by somebody. I don't see anybody beating them until they get to the Final Four. They're really good defensively. Cryer last night, I know, played out of his mind and knocked down a lot of shots and, I think, beat Gonzaga. But they're really physical, they can guard, they can guard, they can get out in transition. I think they're really good. And then I think Florida's the best team in the country.

Rocky: 6:08

Now. I picked Duke to win it all. I have all the four seeds and I have Duke playing Florida in the national champ. And the reason why I picked Duke is, I think Flag's the best player in the country. So this is like the first year and I'm not a Duke homer at all, by any means this is the first year that I picked the best player to win it all. I think Florida is the best all around team. I think Houston's the best defensive team. I think Auburn's the best team that has the most leadership for Bruce Pearl. They can win it all, any four of those teams. I think Rick Barnes's team, the two C, can win it all. We'll see what Sparty does today.

Rocky: 6:45

A lot of good games scheduled today, another day, and I always say this tournament for basketball fans. You know by the time sunday night rolls around, because tonight by about what 11, 11, 30, this thing will probably be done. We need a break. I've watched basketball thursday, friday, saturday, and then I'll watch it all day. Today we'll tip off a UConn in Florida. We'll see if Danny Hurley's team can pull their stunner off against Florida. Baylor-duke today is at 240. The fight in Illini, kentucky, they're at 515. Listen, if the fight in Illini get hot, they're as good as anybody too. They just haven't really played well most of the season.

Rocky: 7:23

St Mary's out of the West Coast Conference. I picked them the first round but unfortunately I picked them to lose to Alabama. But if Alabama shoots the ball really well, I think Alabama can beat anybody. If they don't shoot the ball well, this could be a tough matchup for them today against St Mary's. St Mary's is really physical up front and they'll try to slow Alabama's down. So it'll be that up-tempo pace against the slow-down half-court pace of St Mary's. Colorado State they beat Memphis. That was an upset in the first round but Memphis was out one of their key players. They'll play a Maryland team who's playing really good basketball right now. That's one of the night games.

Rocky: 8:01

Ole Miss how about the job that Chris Beard has done? I don't know if anybody wants to talk about Chris Beard. I know there are a lot of. You know he got himself in a little bit of trouble when he was over at Texas Tech, but all the guys done has won basketball games. And if I was Indiana, I know he didn't get the job.

Rocky: 8:19

But I had said if I'm, if I'm, indiana, there's two calls that I make. Make or I said three calls that I make. One of them was to Brad Stevens. Who, brad Stevens, isn't leaving the NBA. The second call I would have made was to Steve Alford. I'm really not sure why Steve Alford doesn't get the call. I know some of the guys on TV were talking about it. I was trying to listen to Dan. What's his name? Dan Dockich. He was kind running through why because he's got some ties to Indiana of why Steve Alford isn't getting the call. And then the third call he said it was to Chris Beard and Rick Pitino, in an interview on ESPN, said the same thing. He goes if I'm in the ad.

Rocky: 8:56

I make one phone call and that's to Chris Beard and what he's doing at Ole Miss in year one. He's got them in the second round of the NCAA tournament. They're good. They can beat Iowa State today, so that'll be a good game. Then how about Patino's kid, richard Patino, new Mexico winners of the Mountain West Conference and they're really good. They're without two of their best players that were first-round picks, second-round picks in the NBA. They're playing without them all season. Here they are 27-7. So that game's tonight at 840. I just don't know if they're going to be physical enough to rebound the basketball enough against Michigan State. And then the nightcap game at 940. I'm a big Tommy Lloyd fan. He's a longtime Gonzaga assistant. They'll take on Oregon tonight at 940. So some good games, another fun day of basketball. But in the meantime we're going to talk more basketball here, with Coach Fuller here in just a minute. Let me see if we got him on. How are you, my friend?

Coach Fuller: 9:58

Hey, good morning, how you doing today.

Rocky: 10:00

I'm doing fantastic. How are you?

Coach Fuller: 10:02

Doing wonderful, doing wonderful.

Rocky: 10:04

Listen, I appreciate you taking the time to come on with me this morning, especially on a Sunday morning.

Coach Fuller: 10:10

Oh, absolutely.

Rocky: 10:12

So, Coach, I want to talk to you. This was, I believe this was, your fourth season at MV as the head coach, and I want to talk to you about your time from when you took over the program, which MVCC has always had a rich tradition of basketball here locally in the area. What's it been like for you from when you first got this job until now? How would you assess where you think the program's at in your short time?

Coach Fuller: 10:36

Well, as you said, I was fortunate when I got here. Coach St Croix did a great job building this program up and they had a few great seasons leading up to my time taking it over as well, you know. But when I interviewed here I wasn't really sure what to expect. But it was evident when I got on campus that you know all the resources were here to, you know, to chase the national championship and ultimately win one. You know, our administration, just the administration here, our athletic director, everything was kind of in place. So I kind of saw that and I thought we really had a foundation to go after here. Certainly that first year just had about a month to build the team, but I thought we really got some good momentum. And then, going into year two, we were able to get to that elite eight. You know we had an injury. Our starting point guard from this year actually was the starting point guard on that team but he tore his ACL right before the Elite Eight game there for us two years ago. So you know it's kind of been positive momentum.

Coach Fuller: 11:35

We had a solid season last year. Again, you know, unfortunate with a few you have to have a little bit of luck for sure to stay healthy, to stay healthy. But this year kind of all the pieces came together. You know we had a veteran groove, a few older guys that really helped lead our team, mix in with some young talent locally from the Syracuse area Andre Pash is one guy that comes to mind you know a six, eight, six, nine center who was really special for us all year. So you know it's it's been quite the journey here these last four years. Mind, you know, is 6'8", 6'9" center who was really special for us all year. So you know it's been quite the journey here these last four years. But you know we're excited to kind of put it together finally this year.

Rocky: 12:11

Coach, how much of the experience you had coming over to MV and I know you spent some time at Siena, I know I believe you were over at was it Mount St Mary's as well? You guys got to the NCAA tournament at Iona. But how much of that experience helped you and how much of that did you bring with you.

Coach Fuller: 12:30

I mean I think it's huge. You know I've been fortunate to work for a few really great coaches. You know Coach Carmen Massarillo at Siena and Jamie and Christian at Mount St Mary's and Siena. You know. So, having those guys you know has been huge for my career. You know Jamie and Christian is someone I still keep in touch with every day. You know he's kind of helps me, a mentor for me, it's kind of helped me build my coaching philosophy over the years.

Coach Fuller: 12:55

But you know, I think it's more just kind of about the culture. You know I was fortunate to work with some great coaches to see what it's like to have a winning culture. You know we were able to win a couple of championships at Siena, as you said, and you know there's kind of a blueprint for it in my opinion. You know there's a type of student athlete you need to have in order to build successful teams. You know there's certainly a level of support you have to have, you know, from your administration. So I think for us, you know, for me personally, you know I've been able to, as I said, I've been able to work with some really great people that have helped me become, you know, I think I'm still learning every day, but you know, I think they've helped me become the coach I am today.

Rocky: 13:32

And coach, let's talk about the tournament run. You know, in the championship game you had a tough one before that against Minnesota. Was it St? What is it coach? Minnesota, St Community, Minnesota, was it St? What is it Coach? Minnesota, St Community and Tech College. Is that who it was?

Coach Fuller: 13:48

Yes, yeah, Minnesota State Technical College. Yes.

Rocky: 13:52

So you guys had a really good game against them before taking on Herkimer College and you know I want to get into that in a minute here because Coach Matt Lee is a friend of mine. He's done a great job over there at Herkimer Tough game. Before that, Talk to us a little bit about that game. I think it was 92-90, Coach, Did you guys run by a couple?

Coach Fuller: 14:10

Yeah, just an unbelievable game, Probably one of the best games I've been a part of as a coach. Obviously I can say that now because we were fortunate enough to win that one. But Minnesota State comes out. I think they hit about 16 threes in that game. You know unbelievably well-coached team just flying up and down the floor. They had unbelievable talent across the board. We were fortunate to be able to kind of stay side-by-side with them until the end. And then Jameer Smith. As I talked about him a few minutes ago, he's able to knock a shot down from about 15 feet with about one second remaining. That put us in the championship game. So that was huge.

Rocky: 14:50

And then talk to us, too, about the atmosphere for the championship game and, as I said, matt Lee's been on with me numerous times. I played with Matt back in the day in the job that he's done at Herkimer College. Just talk to us about the environment there and how big that game was.

Coach Fuller: 15:05

Yeah, matt Lee obviously has done a phenomenal job at Herkimer. I was fortunate enough to play against him when I was a player at Cobleskill back in my junior college days and Coach Matt Lee was the head coach there then. Longevity for him and just a really impressive career that he's had. But yeah, that championship know the environment leading up, I think when the tournament bracket came on I'm sure coach, we've received some similar text messages Everybody's you know, texting us saying, well, it's going to be Herkimer MV, herkimer MV in the championship. And you know, I'm sure both of us kind of had that same reaction where it's like, you know, we got to get through a few really tough games before we can get there.

Coach Fuller: 15:44

But leading up to that, one of the better environments I've been around, just unbelievable support. I know we had a few hundred fans make the trip each day to Herkimer for those games Just electric environment. Herkimer obviously has their set of fans there as well, but you couldn't really hear yourself in that gym. But just an amazing environment for our players and just a lot of fun to be a part of.

Rocky: 16:12

Coach, you mentioned Jameer Smith that played for you, but this was a special team. I think all coaches have that idea. When you're in the offseason, you got a chance to do something special. But talk to us about this team. And first I want to just ask you recruiting-wise I know it's different at the junior college level. Talk to us. You know what goes involved with you with recruiting. How do you sell MVCC and your roster? You did have some local kids from the area on there as well.

Coach Fuller: 16:42

Yeah, certainly recruiting is different, Did a ton of that at Siena in my last few years there. But it's really to me it's just, it's all about relationships. So you know I'm able to use a lot of the relationships that I've built over those over the stretch of time. But you know, again, those relationships really hold strong. You know, coming into the season I was excited bringing Jalen Bradbury back. Obviously he had a great year last year and Isaiah Earl who was, you know, incredible for us, especially down the stretch this year. You know both those guys were all conference and all region players last year.

Coach Fuller: 17:21

But you know we were fortunate, you know, with that with St Rose, unfortunately for St Rose with the school shutting down. But Alex Barnhill, you know, was there last year. He's a kid I've had a relationship with since he was about 13 years old. So when that school shut down we were able to get him over here to Mohawk Valley and you know, similar Andre Pascha was another one that was, you know, to me. He was a scholarship kid out of high school. You know he had some opportunities with some Division II schools but you know he was excited to kind of chase the opportunity to get a Division I scholarship at some point, so we were able to kind of get him here. It really goes down the line so many different pieces and a lot of different guys sacrificing, you know, their personal accolades to be part of to chase something special. But yeah, that's. That's been been huge for us. I mean Mohawk Valley. To be honest though it's, it sells itself in a lot of ways. I was, I hadn't been there since 2007,.

Coach Fuller: 18:16

you know when I was a player, when I when I you know I took this interview and you know you walk around the campus. It's really a four year school feel, feel you know at a two-year school. You know beautiful facilities. You know state-of-the-art field house. You know beautiful fitness center and then I think the academic support system that we have there. You know in our athletic department especially, you know Brittany Mexico does a great job with that. You know she's meeting with our student-athletes weekly. You know our housing. We have on-campus housing. You know our housing. We have on-campus housing. You know beautiful dorms that our student athletes are able to come to. You know, and again I think there's just a there's kind of a vibe at Mohawk Valley. There's not a. There's a lot of people. When I started walking around campus interviewing here, it was a lot of people that had been here 10, 15, 20 years. You know, and I think I don't think you see that a ton in a lot of junior colleges.

Rocky: 19:11

So I think when I when I saw that and kind of saw all the pieces that were put together here you know we saw this you could really build something special and coach what goes into into this roster now, because I'm sure here in the offseason you'll have to sit down and look at this roster and you have to see who's coming back, who's you know, who's gone and what's the offseason like.

Coach Fuller: 19:23

Look for you guys I mean to be honest, it's going to be a complete rebuild. Um, you know a lot of. Andre pasha, for example, is only a freshman but you know he's he's got to go on to the scholarship level and, uh, you know, kind of further his career. Um, uh, we lose all of our starters. We lose kai pasha, who was an all-american last year at tc3 at his last school. Jalen's going to go on, I think we have. I think we'll probably only bring back two or three guys.

Coach Fuller: 19:49

So you know that's the challenging but exciting part at the junior college level. You know I love the recruiting piece. I love getting out there. I'm actually in Binghamton right now at the state tournament. I do a little bit of color commentary for the NHFS network here, so that's a lot of fun. But you know I'm obviously able to see, you know, games over the course of three days. So you know the recruiting trail is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure at the junior college level. But there's a lot of talented student athletes in New York and beyond. So you know, excited to continue to stay out here and build another talented roster.

Rocky: 20:22

So, coach, has it sunk in yet? What's changed for you? I'm sure you get a chance to walk around the area and people coming up to you saying congratulations. I know we've all followed, um, you know the journey in the season, but what's it been like for you if you actually had time to sit down, take a deep breath and say, geez, we just won a national championship I'll be.

Coach Fuller: 20:41

I'll be honest, it's been really incredible the amount of one of the greatest things kind of about this. You know, obviously as you start getting down the stretch, you just want it so bad for the kids. You know you wanted them. They've worked so hard since August to have this opportunity and then for it to finally come to fruition. You know I get so many messages from our players every day just how grateful they are to have been part of something like this and really just the relationships they've built with each other. It's just all of that stuff kind of coming together has been really amazing. Um, so it's really been exciting.

Coach Fuller: 21:14

But really the one of the another great part about it's just been the alumni base at mohawk valley. You know we've had a scott snyder, who's an alumni uh, an alumnus at mohawk valley, put together a group of guys. He had about 15 guys that have played on the mohawk valley teams. I think there were a few guys from like the 1980s and early 90s making the trip up and saying how much it meant to them to have a team you know win this championship and you know it's been really, really great to kind of see. You know how much it's meant to a lot of people that maybe you don't understand in the moment how much it means. So I have moments where I wake up in the morning and it takes a few minutes to kind of set in. But you know, it's just it's really been special. You know, doing it here at Mohawk Valley has just really been incredible.

Rocky: 21:59

Coach, last question I have for you. I don't know. Hopefully you've had time to watch some of the March Madness here from Thursday, and then tonight will be another long day as well. I think my wife's tired of me sitting on the couch watching basketball. But who do you like to get to the Final Four?

Coach Fuller: 22:14

That's a tough one. I'll be honest. I had a. This is completely true and I'll send you a graphic if you don't believe me. I had a perfect bracket through the first day and into the second day and I was sending it to my guys. You know, in the group chat I was feeling pretty good about it. Final four is going to be tough to pick that. I had St John's regrettably huge Rick Pitino fan. You know I was sad to see them go down but also excited for Cal Perry to kind of silence some of the doubters that he's had as he made that move to Arkansas. Really like Houston, really like Duke. You know, looking to see Cooper Flagg's been, you know him being healthy is obviously going to be huge down the stretch. But would love to see Calvin Sampson get it done. You know the way he does things defensively and so physical and gritty and tough. You know I really think they have a chance to make a run at it.

Rocky: 23:04

Yeah, coach, this is the first time that I've asked. I'm a diehard Gonzaga fan. I thought they were under-seeded. I thought that game last night felt like it was like an Elite Eight Final Four type game. But this is the first year that I've went chalk in the Final Four because I think all the one seeds are truly the best teams. I think Auburn's probably the most vulnerable team, but um man houston's physical. They're big up front, they can defend they're. They're going to be a tough out yeah, absolutely, absolutely.

Coach Fuller: 23:32

I think this is I don't know if it's the nil that's doing this, which is a whole nother topic, but I don't know if it's the nil that's doing it. But you're seeing a little bit more with those top. You know five to ten teams in the country they're they're of breaking away, I think a little bit. In regards to talent, obviously you saw the SEC this year how talented they were top to bottom, just unbelievable conference. But like you said, I think when you're Houston, when you defend like you do, you make every possession difficult for the opposing team. You give yourself a chance. Calvin Sampson, with his experience, I think he's going to have a chance to make a run at. Always sad to see Mark Few go down, though Gonzaga is always one that has a chance. I saw the stat. I can't remember how many Sweet 16s in a row he's been to, but it was something unbelievable. So, you know, always kind of surprising to see them go down. But, as you said, tough, tough matchup for them.

Rocky: 24:21

Yeah, absolutely. It was nine straight for Gonzaga and it was five straight for Houston last night into the Sweet 16. So, coach, listen, let's do it again. If I do a Sweet 16 Elite Eight show, you're welcome. Maybe I'll reach out to you. See if you got any time to come on and talk some hoops.

Coach Fuller: 24:38

Absolutely. I'd love to Listen. I appreciate you having me on and you know great, great opportunity to get on here and talk to you. No, I appreciate it, coach, thanks a lot and congrats on a great season. Absolutely have a great rest of your day. Enjoy those games today too.

Rocky: 24:56

Thanks, coach. So that was Coach Harlan Fuller, the MVCC men's basketball coach. Some crazy, crazy stats I was looking at. They were 29- 1 overall this past season. Their their only loss was to herkimer college earlier in the year, um, and they were 13 and 1 in conference playing. Then they went on a great run, um in the tournament to win a national championship and it's it's tough at that junior college level because you only get kids maybe one year, two years and then they're off. Hopefully that you know they can go play somewhere else, um, and I was going to actually get into the, the player development for him, um, but I just didn't have enough time, um to talk to coach. So we'll see.

Rocky: 25:36

I'm debating on whether or not I have time to do, whether it's going to be maybe an elite elite eight show or maybe what we'll do is have a Final Four show. We'll break down the games. I just haven't had all the time in the world here with my own kid's schedule, with my daughter's busy with soccer and she'll be playing softball. My son's just finishing up basketball, going into baseball here pretty soon. So it's been crazy on my front. But again, I want to get into. Before we talk to Coach Brian Rondu. He is the head women's bowling coach here in Rome and the run that the bowling team has been on here in Rome is unbelievable and I don't think they get enough credit. Miley Wyatt, for the girls, this year won a state championship. So we'll talk to coach about her and this and this team and just the longevity of the of bowling here in Rome and Bowen's probably, I would say.

Rocky: 26:35

Other than soccer, I'm learning soccer just from watching, as much as I've been watching with my daughter. As my little one always says to me you know, dad, you always coach Aiden sports. Well, that's because I played basketball, baseball and football, so it's a little bit easier. I don't have a clue how to coach soccer so I always tell her I can't coach soccer. I did coach her in basketball this year which was a lot of fun. But I think bowling's the other sport Like bowling, hockey, like I know when I have on um, when I talk hockey here, um in Rome, it's it's like I can't really break it down as much as I can break down some of the other sports, but there are a lot of fun to learn Um. It's fun to learn about some of the other sports that don't get a lot of publicity. So I'm happy to talk to coach. He was on with me last year, um, so I'll talk to him here in just a few minutes.

Rocky: 27:27

Again, if you're following on all the social media platforms you got any comments you want to say good morning, put it in there, say hey, good morning coach. You got any questions, comments, feedback. You know, make sure you subscribe to the channel. The playback will be on all the social media channels. It'll also be on Spotify, iheartradio and Apple Podcast as well. Again, thanks to Coach Fuller for coming on here with me in just a little bit Great interview. If you missed it, I'll make sure I play it back. So, without further ado, I think we have Coach on. Let's go to Coach now. Coach, how are you? My friend? Good morning.

Coach Rondeau: 28:00

Can you hear me okay?

Rocky: 28:01

I can hear you loud and clear this morning. How are you?

Coach Rondeau: 28:08

Fantastic. How about yourself?

Rocky: 28:09

Doing great Good to have you on again. I know we spoke last year and I was just telling the group. I said go easy on me, because there's maybe three or four sports that I really can't break down, like some of the other sports. Bowling is one of them, hockey is another's another one and soccer, which I'm learning through my kids, um.

Rocky: 28:28

So I said go easy on me this morning, but I but I appreciate you coming on of course, of course so, coach, talk to us a little bit about I was talking about the bowling team in general here in rome the the run that this team's been on over the years. I know when I had you on last year, you know the records were through the roof and it was like, oh my goodness, they haven't. They're like 90-something and four-something. Crazy, you guys are coming off back-to-back sectional titles on the girls' side. Talk to us about how special you know not only the team is, but the bowling program in general has been here in Rome.

Coach Rondeau: 29:08

Yeah, actually, with capping off our season right now, since I took over in 2017, we're 105-2. So, yeah, the seasons each year we have. I think that I've been lucky to have some good quality bowlers coming from Rome. The junior program has certainly helped out in that regard and it seems like every year, you know, when I lose a senior or something like that, I have other ones that step up and, you know, go from like mid-level to, you know, the top of the cream of the crop. You know, um, and then this year, uh, miley wyatt did that for us this year, with, uh, for the first time ever, winning the individual state title. Um, so it's yeah, each year, it's just, you know, I lose a couple, but then, all of a sudden, I gained some. And then, uh, a couple of players get better and better, all you know. And then, during matches and throughout the season, they just, uh, you know, they all get along and they all have fun and, um, they impress me, you know, week in and week out.

Rocky: 30:29

And coach, I think in the in the Coach, I think in the state tournament, I think the team finished sixth and I think you had some young ones that placed. I think I saw Sophia Parker, who's only an eighth grader, and then I know you had junior Sophia Toste that placed as well. But you know, talk to us about some of the girls you know on this team We've got a lot of young ones as well. But I believe, coach, you guys finished sixth.

Coach Rondeau: 30:50

Yes, that's correct. Yeah, we finished sixth out of the entire sections of New York State. You know we just couldn't have that big game that we needed for everyone to come together. But you know, you got bowlers all over New York State that we've never seen before. You know you got bowlers all over New York State that we've never seen before. You know their talent level is. You know we don't know what to expect when we do it. And you know we just tried it. We came out and did the best we could.

Coach Rondeau: 31:24

And yes, Sophia Parker she's an eighth grader. She did awesome this season. She blew me away, she blew a lot of people away, even coaches from other schools. You know, when we had matches, they're like, who is this? And I've actually had a couple of them say how are you so lucky to get these good bowlers? But yeah, next year is going to be tough, I'm going to. But yeah, next year is going to be tough. I'm going to have four seniors next year and that may be a rebuilding after that, but four seniors and all four of them are right there at the top, all five, actually, of my main girls actually qualified to participate in the state finals. However, the last two spots were for an alternate position if somebody was to be ineligible or there was an injury and stuff. So I actually had five girls that could have participated in the States last weekend. Yeah, sophia Parker awesome toasty. Sophia Iglesias-Toste she's going to be a senior next year. I remember having that conversation with you and, yeah, she's been great picking up her game and we got my senior this year was Olivia Hlasko. She had a great year. And then I have Izzy Coteri. She did great. She's a junior too, so she's going to be in that crew that's going to be leaving next year.

Coach Rondeau: 33:18

Yeah, and then you know, like I said, miley Wyatt was absolutely killed this year. She set the bar high. She had her own goals. She told me that she had a goal for her average for the season. When she had missed it by a tenth of a point, she goes oh no, I want it to be higher. So she ended up averaging 216 for the season and her goal was5 and I'm like that was a great goal. Um, however, I think you crush it because I'm trying to find, you know, scores in the past years of um, what was the highest averages in tvl, and because I feel like that's really high for women's bowling and so, yeah, this was a great season and yeah, finishing sixth, you know it was respectable. They did well. Like I said, we just didn't get that game that we needed, but they all, you know, had fun and did what they needed to do, you know.

Rocky: 34:33

Yeah, and I think for Miley I think I saw some of the stats, I think in the state tournament I think she averaged like 229 and change and I think she rolled 230 or better, with a game high, I think, of 265. Talk to us about how special she was. I know you said she's a junior. You've got Sophia Toste coming back, who's a junior. You mentioned some of those other girls, but talk to us a little bit about Miley and what makes her special.

Coach Rondeau: 35:00

Like I said, you know she had set goals at the beginning of the season and you know she was really focused each week, um, and you know she was really focused, uh, each week and uh, at the end of the season when she hit her goal well, which I thought was her goal. Um, you know I was. I was super excited for her. Um, she seemed slightly disappointed but for that to be, you know, um, an even higher goal that she did well, I thought she had set the lower one, but you know, an even higher goal that she did Well, I thought she had set the lower one but you know she still crushed it.

Coach Rondeau: 35:37

And, yeah, I mean she's determined. She has fun. Sometimes she gets into it a little bit more and lets her emotions get in the way, but you know you try to settle her down and she gets back focused and gets with the team and does what she needs to do. She absolutely was amazing at state. I was actually coaching the second Section 3 team so I didn't get to actually coach her, but they were around the parish next to us so I got to watch her. She just seemed like she was enjoying herself and actually having fun and you know. That's the biggest thing that I've noticed is you know you get your emotions in the way and it affects your game and it affects your teammates around you and when you're all having fun both, you know you throw the ball better. You know the outcome is better, um, and you know you're all there for one reason and obviously win, but you know you're there to bowl and you know enjoy your teammates and have fun and enjoy the um, the opportunity that you're actually made it to the state finals.

Rocky: 36:51

So coach your enrollment again. I'm not familiar with it on the bowling side, but is there lower levels? Do we have modified? Is there JV varsity? Is it one team?

Coach Rondeau: 37:02

No, it's just one team. Years back there used to be a JV squad, but yeah, there's nothing. We're just a JV squad, but yeah, there's nothing, just the varsity squad. Like I said, you know we kind of grab a lot of the bowlers from the junior program on Saturday mornings at Kingpin. Yeah, I wish there was some lower levels, but you know that's the sport that we're in. You know, I don't want to say the sport's dying, but you know the participation is kind of down all across the board.

Rocky: 37:43

So, yeah, well, I think the 105-2, I think that's what you said is impressive, and I'm always happy to have you on here. I always say that I think there's a lot of teams in this area that don't get enough publicity, and I think you guys are one of them. So I appreciate you again coming out with me this morning and this year, and I know we'll do it again next year, but I appreciate it, coach, great season.

Coach Rondeau: 38:06

Absolutely. Thanks so much and hopefully we'll talk to you next season.

Rocky: 38:11

Absolutely, Coach. Thanks so much and hopefully we'll talk to you next season.

Coach Rondeau: 38:13

Absolutely, coach. Thanks and have a good rest of the weekend. Yes, you too.

Rocky: 38:16

Thanks so much. So 105 and two, um, that's the record for uh, for for the bowling team, which I think is unbelievable. And now, coaches, come on with me, came out on me last year, um, you know, talk about the team, and again I don't, I didn't know there's on me. Last year, um, you know, talk about the team, and again I don't, I didn't know, there's no lower levels and you know all that type of stuff. But, um, you had a great team and uh sounds like they'll be good again next year, some young, young kids coming up which will, which will help the program out as well. So, uh, congratulations to uh the coach, and congratulations to uh, to miley, on winning a state championship. There was a lot of state finishers that finished in the top 10, so congratulations to all Rome bowlers.

Rocky: 38:58

All right, well, listen, I'm out of time here this morning. I want to thank Coach Fuller for coming on this morning and talking MVCC boys basketball fresh off a national championship. Thanks to Coach Brian Rondu for coming on to talk about the RFA girls sectional title and Miley Wyatt for winning the state title. I'll let you know on the next show next week if we're going to do a March Madness show or not, we'll definitely look to do one over the next couple weeks. More good things coming on the Rock Pile and the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch, so make sure to stay on Facebook and follow me at wwwtherockpileromecom for all episodes. So, on behalf of the entire crew here at the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch Coach Paggs, coach Medesis and the Stat man I appreciate everybody tuning in this morning. Everybody have a good rest of the weekend. Watch a lot of college hoops. Today I'm out. I'll see you next week, right.