South Elgin boys bowlers excited for state

After bowling a combined 6,190 at the Lake Park sectional last Saturday to advance the IHSA state finals, the South Elgin High School boys bowling program demonstrated that it is more than equipped to roll with the changes.

Change eludes to the fact that for the first time in state history, the Upstate Eight Conference offered a boys bowling program to every school within the UEC.

In its inaugural campaign, South Elgin took full advantage of the opportunity presented to it.

Not only did the boys bowling program earn South Elgin its first bid to state in the designated program, it will also go down in Storm history as the first to compete at the state level in a team sport on the school's behalf.

The initiative itself wasn't confirmed until one week prior to practices, but thanks to a great deal of diligence and commitment from Streamwood athletic director, Steve Gertz, the boys bowling program was born.

Despite its beginnings, the Storm prevailed - and after sweeping through the regular season with great success, they will look to bring the thunder to St. Clair Bowl in O'Fallon this weekend.

How does a team overcome such obstacles as putting together a program in 7 days, conquering the fundamentals and finding a quick way to work as one unit?

They do it as a team.

First-year coach Israel Seiter didn't necessarily have expectations coming into the 2009 campaign. But that changed almost as quickly as the induction of boys bowling in the Upstate Eight occurred.

"A few games in, we got very excited," Seiter said. "Expectations definitely grew quickly."

A recreational bowler himself who's been competing in leagues for 4 years, Seiter heard about the opportunity to coach the South Elgin boys bowling program and immediately liked the sound of it.

"Bowling is my sport of choice," Seiter said. "It was much different than what I expected. I immediately saw that there was much more talent here than I had anticipated."

Backed by assistant coach T.A. Wierschke, the duo was able to lift an already talented roster to its full potential.

Wierschke, a former pro-shop owner, not only donated his time and equipment, but also brought along a 230 average of his own and a bevy of bowling knowledge.

Some bowlers will tell you that bowling is an individual sport. Others will say that it is a team sport.

For six varsity bowlers at South Elgin - Alec Smilko, Charlie Viviano, Brandon Wierschke, Brett Huisman, James Collins and Kyle Johnson - it became a team sport regardless of what anyone will tell you.

"One thing that I have learned here is that you have got to work as a team," said Smilko. "Trying to do it as an individual does not work. I learned responsibility competing with this team."

Smilko has been the Storm's top bowler and currently boasts a 204 average.

"Our team looks up to Alec," said Seiter. "We know we can count on him. Alec is one guy that everybody here can depend on, and we've all seen him pull some amazing stuff out."

Despite an obvious natural talent to bowl, Smilko credits his teammates for his success.

"I have become a better bowler because of the teammates that I have," Smilko said. "For that reason, I am just happy that I could help the team."

While Smilko has been a team leader, he remains one of six who have each made crucial contributions throughout the year.

In Game 3 of the Lake Park sectional, South Elgin bowled its best game to date knocking down a combined 1,175 pins. En route to that tally, the team did not have a single open frame.

"We were going for a complete team effort at sectionals," Seiter explained. "We always have. Nobody here has ever so much as though about individual games."

That sentiment filtered through each individual bowler, and opposite of a developing storm which gets stronger as hot and cold air clash and collide, this Storm derives its power from coming together.

The greater the difference, the stronger the winds simply doesn't apply here.

"Working together as a team and relying on one another is what has got us to this point," according to James Collins, who in his senior season has built up a 202 average.

Collins admits that Day 1 was a bit awkward but teammate Brett Huisman can tell you how quickly that changed.

"After our first practice, we saw a group of great guys that we knew could really excel," said Huisman. "Being part of a team in bowling for the first time, I can tell you what the team aspect meant to me.

"I had five guys around me that were better bowlers and that boosted me. Having a team around you is just a better feeling."

The perimeters of this new-found family far exceed the dimensions of a bowling lane, which might just provide the forecast for the future of boys bowling a South Elgin as well as it may preview the Storm's performance at state.

"If it wasn't for the support we've gotten from our school, our families and our friends, we wouldn't be where we are now," Smilko said.

Where they are now is at the beginning of a journey to the IHSA state competition, and they have become the first team in South Elgin school history to make such a trip.

"It is a tremendous feeling to be part of a team going to state for the school for the first time," said Viviano. "I have always seen the potential in each of us, and we intend to give it all we've got.

"It is a real thrill to be making history at South Elgin."

Seiter will be pleased no matter the outcome.

"The talent is there," said Seiter. "Consistency has become common, these guys are picking up their spares - they've figured it all out."

What they might not realize is that their hard work and dedication has led them to the opportunity of a lifetime.

"I was a coach for 30 years, and I didn't have the chance to coach a team at state," said South Elgin athletic director John O'Brien. "Not everybody gets the opportunity to compete as a team at the state level in high school.

"It doesn't happen very often, and there are people at home wishing it was them."

O'Brien couldn't be happier for the team and for the school.

"For a first year boys bowling team to achieve this on behalf of our school - that makes it that much more special.

"I've seen these guys bowl. I give credit to their coaches. They all pull in the same direction, they all have team goals and to be honest, I'm not surprised at all with where they are or with where they are going. It's not by luck."