Wheeling soars on power of positive thinking

The power of positive thinking is keeping the Wheeling girls bowling team in the upper echelon of the Mid-Suburban League standings this season.

The Wildcats didn't make the state finals last season, but they have their sights set on that prize this year.

"We know we can do it," said Wheeling junior Jenny Schmitt, who rolled a 536 series to lead the Wildcats to a 5-4 win over Hersey on Monday night. "It's all mental - you've got to stay positive."

In other matches, Schaumburg swept Hoffman Estates to stay undefeated in the MSL as senior Marilyn Gawlik bowled the first 700 series (714) of the conference season.

Prospect (50-4) remained in second place, beating Buffalo Grove 7-2, Elk Grove (45-9) swept into third with a 469-pin victory over Barrington, Palatine scored a big win over Conant and Rolling Meadows (38-16, fourth place) won over Fremd.

"Last year we fell just short at sectionals," said Schmitt, who along with senior teammate Ashley Lemke has been consistently among the top 20 bowlers in the MSL. "That's been pushing us this year."

Sunnite Phillips (646 series, 232 high game), Kathryn Schild (618, 226), Jodi Gawlik (570, 206) and Sara Kuczmarski (548, 188) helped keep the Saxons flying high.

"I was a nervous about this season," said Jodi Gawlik, a sophomore, "because we lost our leadoff bowler and our anchor bowler (to graduation)."

"But Sunnite and Sara have been bowling great, and my sister (Marilyn, last year's state champion) has been filling in extremely well at anchor."

Jodi got a taste of the excitement of the state finals last season as Schaumburg finished second as a team and says the experience has given her confidence this year.

"It was nerve-racking," said the sophomore, "especially since I was one of the few freshman there (at the state tournament). It felt good to finish second, but I wish it could have been first."

Prospect senior Hannah Wrenn rolled the second-highest series - 665 - to lead the Knights, while Elk Grove's Caerlina Williams excelled with a 266 in Game 1 of the Grens' win.

Palatine's Amanda Heath lead the Pirates with a 612 series, while senior Brittney Mari's 227 game helped Conant (41-13) stay in the hunt despite the loss to the Pirates.

"She's a great role model," said first-year Conant coach Jennifer Childress of Mari, who came into Monday's matches with a 194.53 league average, third behind only Marilyn Gawlik and Wrenn.

"Brittney's our captain, and she's a great kid and an outstanding individual. Her bowling is consistently excellent, and she's got great spirit. She keeps her teammates pumped up."

Rolling Meadows was led by Katie Smith (580 series), while Fremd's Ashley Landowski continued her stellar season with a 585 (221 high game.)

Liz Saffold (229 game 3) was best for Hoffman Estates, Mariah McVay (212 and 211) led Buffalo Grove, while Caralyn Trom had a 220 game for Hersey.

Barrington stayed winless in its inaugural MSL season, but senior Andrea Grzeslo still owns the season's high game.

Grzeslo, a lifelong bowler who "jumped up and down for about five minutes" when she learned the Fillies would field a team in 2008, bowled a 279 against Schaumburg on December 8.

"I was crying at the end," Grzeslo said. "After I gave about 50 high-fives, I went over and hugged my mom and dad."

"Our team has been improving all year. We've just got to keep practicing and keep getting the fundamentals down."