52 entries took to the lanes at Old Mountain Lanes in Wakefield, RI, for the 2025 NEBA Tournament of Champions on November 16, 2025. Presented by Storm, Roto Grip, 900 Global, Robert Toth, and hosted by Old Mountain Lanes, this prestigious TOC featured past champions battling on the Cheetah pattern (35’, 26.145 mL, 1.85:1).
High qualifier Jamyson Mathieu led the field with a 1345 block, but it was Tom Coco Jr., already a three-time NEBA champion prior to the event, who powered through the bracket and claimed career title number four in the 2-game total pinfall championship match.
Match Play Breakdown
16 bowlers advanced to match play, with all matches determined by 2-game total pinfall.
Tom Coco Jr.’s championship path:
• Round 1 – 500 over Tyler Hurne (485)
• Round 2 – 447 over Colby Hagemoser (404)
• Semifinals – 450 over Michael Martell (425)
• Championship Match – 491 over Dennis Bissonnette (471)
Other notable performances:
• Dennis P. Bissonnette surged through the bracket with victories of 498, 492, and 456 before falling in the final.
• Robert N. Greene Jr. made a deep semifinal run, including a 408–381 win over Justin Warhol.
• Michael Martell also made a run to the semi-finals beating out Jalen Scott-Jones and Joey Transue.
Championship Match Recap – Coco Jr. vs. Bissonnette
The final pairing pitted two NEBA veterans with multiple titles and years of big moments under their belts.
The match began with our left-handed competitors both leaving pocket single pins followed by a flurry of strikes, demonstrating how the players dominated the bracket to reach the finals. Coco was the first to blink leaving a spilt and open frame in the fifth. Dennis responded with a single-pin spare and a strike to create the matches first leader. Tom showed his open would not define his first game with a pair of strikes thrown toward Bissonnette. The strikes appeared to be enough to shake Dennis’s concentration, resulting in a missed single-pin and giving Coco the lead. Tom would show no signs of slowing, connecting for a four-bagger heading into the final frames of game one. With the pressure building, Dennis would go on to put a double together with a clean tenth to close out his 216 in this 2-game, total pinball match. Tom, recognizing every pin matters, stepped up to add on another strike and filled frame, giving him a 244 and a 28-pin lead heading into the second game.
With the Tournament of Champions title on the line, Bissonnette knew he would need the strike shoes on for round 2 and he followed suit to start the game with the first three strikes. Tom, seeming undisturbed, began with a double of his own before a single-pin cooled down the streak. On the other side of the aisle, Dennis proceeded to mount pressure on Coco, connecting for a five-bagger. While Tom’s lead narrowed, his focus only increased to toss a double back at Bissonnette. Our competitors would head into the back half of the match locked in and determined to make it a battle til the end. Dennis would see his string come to a close with a single pin spare, only to follow it another pin-punishing hit for all ten. Tom’s consistent execution led him to an additional strike with a stubborn 8-pin in the seventh. Bissonnette, pacing 270 and needing every pin found a pocket hit to leave another single-pin but would respond by striking in the ninth. However, this would not prove to be enough as the day belonged to Tom Coco. Tom packed a flush hit in the ninth frame followed by crushing the rack in the tenth to seal his victory and earn him the title of champion once again.
Final Total Pinfall:
Tom Coco Jr.: 491
Dennis P. Bissonnette: 471
With the win, Coco adds his fourth NEBA title, strengthening his place among NEBA greats and adding another milestone to a standout career.
Champions Message:
“First off, I’d like to thank Robert Toth and the staff at Old Mountain lanes for hosting the very first NEBA event, as well as their continued support for the organization. It was a memorable event!
Secondly, to the staff of NEBA for once again doing a superb job of running such a great event full of talented bowlers the Northeast could ask for!
Thirdly, to Chris, Jesse, and the rest of the Buddies staff, thank you for everything you have done for me over the years thus far!
I also want to thank Storm Products for allowing me to represent their company and putting them on the map with another NEBA victory (all four titles with their equipment)
Lastly, to all my family and friends that were watching the live stream at home cheering me on, I can’t thank you all enough for making me a better bowler than I am today! The hard work and dedication has been paying off!!
It feels so surreal to win one of the most prestigious events NEBA runs yearly. Congrats and great bowling to all the qualifiers that advanced to a star-studded finals field.
It’s an honor and a privilege to add myself to an elite field of bowlers that have won NEBA’s Tournament of Champions!”
Top Payouts
1st – Tom Coco Jr.: $1,500 + $125 TOC Entry
2nd – Dennis P. Bissonnette: $850
T-3rd – Robert N. Greene Jr. & Michael Martell: $575 each
High Scores & Notables
• High Qualifier: Jamyson Mathieu – 1345
• High Senior/Super Senior Out of the Money: Chris Forry & Mike Lichtenstein – $25 each
• Storm / Roto Grip / 900 Global Ball Winners: Jay Johnson (1090) & Jonathan Sellers (1080)
• Hall of Fame bowlers in match play: Bill Webb and Joey Transue
Thanking Our Partners
A huge thank-you to Robert Toth, Storm, Roto Grip, 900 Global, and Old Mountain Lanes for supporting this championship event. Special appreciation goes out to the Old Mountain Lanes staff for hosting NEBA and delivering a first-class tournament environment for all competitors.
On Deck: Cambridge Credit Invitational
AMF Chicopee
December 21st, 2025
$4,000 added by Cambridge Credit + $1.00 for every 2025 entry (approx. $6,500 added)
Eligibility: All bowlers must have bowled at least 3 events in 2025.
The top 16 in points leading into the CCI will earn automatic spots in the finals (still required to bowl qualifying).
The top 16 Bowler of the Year standings leading into CCI are being tabulated now and will be posted soon.
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Stats & Records: bowlneba.com/stats�
Hall of Fame: bowlneba.com/hall-of-fame
Champions History: bowlneba.com/history/champions
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