ALL-CATHOLIC CHAMPIONS! (again!)

CHS Bowling earned its fourth All-Catholic Championship in the last five years with a dominating performance Saturday at Mallwitz's Island Lanes on Grand Island. 

The Crusaders amassed a score of 4,811 to win by nearly 300 as Canisius followed its regular season title with the postseason crown. 

Over the last five years, CHS has won eight of the 10 available championships, winning its fourth straight regular season crown this year with a 42-3 record and winning the postseason again this year after a three-year run from 2022-2024.

The championship team for coach Michael Kwiatkowski '99;

Noah Trzaska '26 of Grand Island

Charlie Benzin '27 of East Aurora

Carson Kwiatkowski '27 of Grand Island

Cole Skowron '27 of Buffalo

Lucas Luder '28 of North Tonawanda

Brett Sauer '28 of Lake View 

Grant Rokitka '29 of Elma

"It's what we preach, believe in each other, believe in the family," said coach Kwiatkowski, who took over the program following the passing of his father, CHS Hall of Fame coach and 11-time champion Patrick Kwiatkowski '72. 

"They won by a landslide today, enjoyed, supported and coached each other. It's what I hoped for this group from Day One.

"To win eight championships in five years is unreal. This program has been in the Kwiatkowski name for 30 years. Dad won 11, and this one is my eighth for 19 total for the family. 

"I couldn't be happier, couldn't be more thankful to the bowlers, our families and the school."

Canisius jumped to a lead of 300 after the first two of five games and finished comfortably from there; St. Francis was second with 4,515. 

Advancing to the individual stepladder finals were: Rokitka (third place), Skowron (fourth) and Kwiatkowski (fifth).

Those three and Trzaska will compete in the state Catholic championships here in Western New York in early March.