Wayne Magazine Spring 2020 | Page 15

xxxxxxx “BOWLING IS MY PASSION, AND IT AMAZES ME HOW IT MADE ME THE PERSON I AM TODAY.” 4 HER RECRUITMENT TO NEBRASKA IS A RARITY The university’s women’s bowling program dates to the 1998-99 school year and has won a record five national titles. According to huskers.com, the only other New Jersey native to take the lanes in Lincoln was South Brunswick graduate Jaclyn Sutton, who spent two seasons there (2010-12). Cosentini caught the Cornhuskers’ eyes when competing at the Junior Gold Championships in Detroit in July 2019. She placed 41st in an Under-17 field of 446 girls. “After that, they emailed us,” she says, acknowledging the support of her parents, Joe and Georgette, in the recruiting process. “We eventually made an official visit together last November. I liked how the Nebraska girls bonded as a team… I also loved the campus and the coaches.” 5 SHE LOVES A CHALLENGE, BOTH ON AND OFF THE LANES Competing in numerous tournaments has helped Cosentini learn how to adjust to vari- ous oil patterns. (Every lane is coated with a thin layer of oil, which can be applied in different patterns to alter the degree of dif- ficulty for bowlers.) She has also learned to embrace opportu- nities to address detractors who say bowling “isn’t a sport.” “I try to educate them on the sport and realize that they might not know how much time and work it takes to become a strong bowler,” she says. “Bowling is my passion, and it amazes me how it made me the person I am today.” ■ Submit your ideas for neighbors to [email protected] WAYNE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 13