The right frame of mind

Not too many high-school athletes get the opportunity to play for a championship, but South Philadelphia bowler Mark Rubbo has competed for three.

Unfortunately, all of his tries with St. Joseph’s Prep ended in defeat, including a Catholic League title match Saturday against Father Judge. St. Joe’s fell 3,030-2,764 in its third consecutive trip to the big game.

Rubbo, a First Team All-Catholic bowler with a 204 average, could have been consumed by frustration, but by Monday morning, he seemed fully recovered.

"I wish we could’ve won one, but a lot of teams never play in a championship," said the 17-year-old senior, who has set bowling records at St. Joe’s. "All the people and the fans standing in the background made it such a great experience."

The squad might not have made national headlines like the Prep football team or won a Catholic League championship like the basketball team, but the bowlers still drew plenty of support from the student body.

Rubbo, who also enjoys playing pickup basketball games, closed out his high-school career by striking out in the final frame.

Unlike in baseball, "it’s a nice way to end," the bowler said.

But the team captain felt he could have bowled better overall, as his 586 series was below average. Rubbo finished with a 213 high game, but on Saturday, Northern Division champ Father Judge proved too hot to handle.

During his sophomore year, Rubbo and his teammates came the closest to a championship, falling a mere three pins short to St. John Neumann.

"That was definitely the most exciting [match] and the most pressure I’ve ever been in," he said.

Junior year wasn’t quite as dramatic, as the Neumann Pirates won again, this time with a convincing 3,184-2,824 victory.

The Neumann-Prep rivalry begins during the regular season, as the squads jostle for a first-place finish in the Catholic League Southern Division. St. Joe’s took both regular-season games over the Pirates this year, and finished with a 38-12 record, which includes the postseason.

Since Neumann didn’t make it to the championship this time, the crowd at Northeast Philly’s Boulevard Lanes didn’t contain the usual South Philly contingent, Rubbo noted.

And South Philly has produced its share of All-Catholic bowlers over the years as a result of youth programs at St. Monica Lanes, 16th and Ritner streets, and the former Oregon Lanes.

Rubbo got his start at age 5, playing in the Oregon Lanes peewee leagues. That’s where he met good friend and former First Team All-Catholic teammate Nick Longo, who served as a mentor.

"Nicky kind of took me under his wing and helped me with the mechanics of my game," Rubbo said.

The bowler made a name for himself with a Second Team All-Catholic nod sophomore year and as a First Team All-Catholic selection last season. His 196 average junior year ranked number-one in the Southern Division. This season, it was his turn to take over the leadership role.

"I was definitely the main heart of the team," said Rubbo, a National Honor Society member who hopes to study for a career in computer engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

The bowler showed just how much his game had developed during Prep’s regular-season finale against Kennedy-Kenrick. Rubbo set a school record with a high game of 258 and high series of 733.

Now that his high-school bowling career is over, Rubbo plans to join a league to stay involved in the sport he loves. Without Sunday-morning practice in Southwest Philly, he will have more time to devote to his new job at Pat’s Steaks. (He prefers his steak "wit.")

"I guess now that the season is over, I don’t have anything to look forward to on Sundays," he said. "Now I can sleep in."