Only days before the state bowling championships, the top girls bowler in Nassau County, Clarke's Stacey Landini, is only thinking about one thing. It is the same thing she always thinks about when she bowls. She doesn't think about any pressure that would come from entering the tournament with a 202 average, good for tops among girls in Nassau County. The junior simply wants to have fun, which is something that comes naturally with bowling. It also helps that the sports run in the family as her parents both used to bowl for Mineola High School and her grandfather, who is president of the Mineola Civic Association, is one of her biggest supporters.

Entering this season, Landini, who hails from Levittown, said she had something to prove. That's because it's her first year at full strength since a reconstructive knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) limited her bowling prowess last year. But this year, Landini is at full strength and is letting the rest of the county know it through her bowling. But not only has she proved what she set out to, she has done so while having fun.

With her 6'2'' frame, Landini has used her athletic skills to the fullest, succeeding in softball, volleyball and bowling. She sees a future as a softball player in college, but bowling is more like a hobby, something to do for fun. "It's more getting together and having fun with your friends than it is having to win all the time," she said.

When asked how she believes the bowling season has gone, the well-spoken Landini simply says it went well, which is an understatement. "It went extremely well," said grandfather Bill Urianek.

Landini ended the season with the county's top average for female bowlers with a 202, earning her a spot in the state tournament and making her All-State bowler. "I'm very excited," she said of bowling in the tournament in East Meadow. "That's where I bowled all season. It's like home field advantage, almost."

In looking at her dream season, Landini doesn't take any moment of it for granted, probably because last year at this time, she was struggling to get back in form after suffering a serious knee injury, playing softball. "When I had my ACL surgery, I gave up my chance to qualify for states so when I didn't make it last year, I had a lot to prove to everybody this year. I was expected to make states last year and I didn't make it," she said.

Landini had an ACL surgery two years ago, causing her to miss out on the state tournament. Then, last year, she didn't bowl well enough to qualify. "I just blew it," she said without making any excuses. But she admits it was tough coming back from ACL surgery and bowling in a knee brace. "There was a lot of fear that I was going to hurt it again because it's the leg that I land on where all my weight is on that leg. It took me a while to get comfortable. It was kind of a wary season."

This season, Landini made sure she was ready and just concentrated on bowling "I worked hard with my dad. Every weekend, we went bowling. We were there for hours."

Not only did Landini prove she could be one of the top girl bowlers if not the top girls bowler in Nassau County, she also displayed her leadership. In helping to assemble a team for Clarke, Landini pulled three of her friends from the volleyball team. "They all kind of looked to me. I had to do well because if I didn't do well, this season would have fallen apart," she said.

While Landini managed to bowl her best, even flirting with a perfect game on one occasion, the main thing was having fun with her friends. "When it comes to bowling, we always have fun," she said. "It's a social sport. We goof around. With bowling, you see the same people three days a week for an extended period of time. You get to know the teams extremely well and you get to know all the people on the teams so you're always bowling with your friends."

While enjoying each game, Landini racked up numbers she never expected from herself. "It was kind of a good surprise," she said of averaging over 200.

With her brother being the Clarke's boys bowling coach, there has always been friendly competition. Bowling is a sport that runs in the family. "It's really like a family event," she said.

But ask Landini what sport she sees herself playing in the future and the answer may come as a surprise. "I'm a softball player who can bowl," she said.

During the summer, Landini plays on a junior Olympic softball team. In the spring, she plays first base and pitches for Clarke, one of the top high school teams in the county.

In college, as she pursues a career in journalism, she plans on playing softball and admits she may not even bowl. "I've put a lot of time and effort into playing softball. I plan on going to college to play softball and the only way I'll bowl is if the college I choose to go to will allow me to do both," she said.

But with college over a year away, Landini will just enjoy high school, bowling with her friends, and having the top average in the county.

"It feels pretty good," she said with a smile.

It's hard to believe she is only a junior and has another season of bowling left. You wonder what's next. "I look forward to bowling season so much because it's something I get to do that I enjoy doing," she said. "I think that's why I do so well. We have so much fun."