Trusky, Antioch takes NSC titles
Two of the best bowlers in Lake County, Kaitlin Trusky of Antioch and Brie Brugioni of Grant, decided the North Suburban Conference girls bowling individual title in the final frame Friday.
Trusky held a 51-pin advantage heading into the final game. Brugioni tossed an impressive 269 with 8 strikes. Trusky strung five strikes in a row before opening the 10th frame for a 221, leaving a 3-pin difference in favor of Trusky at 1,260-1,257 over the six games.
"I had no clue it was that close until I looked over," said Trusky, who was a few pairs of lanes away from Brugioni. "Everyone was excited for her and I was like 'Oh Man.' I really didn't know I won it until I heard some people talking about it."
Antioch (5,270) captured the NSC championship, finishing 204 pins better than Grant (5,066) and a bit more than that ahead of Warren (4,985) at Bertrand Lanes in Waukegan.
Trusky was consistent all day, with five of six games over 200 and her highest game of 226. She had a 629 in the morning and a 631 in the afternoon.
Last year, Trusky finished second by 2 pins behind her teammate Alyssa Alvarez, and she wanted the top spot this time around.
"Ever since last year, I had a goal in mind starting out this year and want to go after first place," Trusky said. "I think it's exciting and I've never done this before."
Brugioni needed a strike in the first shot of the final frame and crossed over leaving a 6-pin. However, Brugioni followed up with the spare and a finishing strike.
"I had a little headache and my stomach was bothering me with all the nerves," said Brugioni of the final game. "I tried to contain it and concentrate on my game. I knew I had to come up with a big game.
"I knew I was trailing (Trusky) the whole time. But I didn't know how much I needed going into the 10th frame. I know this was a big day but next week is a bigger day (sectionals)."
Brugioni had a 556 through the first three games and closed out with games of 220, 212 and 269 for a 701 series.
The Sequoits won the championship for first-year coach Jeff Childress.
Antioch led from start to finish, throwing a 2,681 and 2,589 for the 6 games.
"I thought if we bowl up to our potential, we were the class of the tournament," Childress said. "It was a matter if delivered the goods or not."
Kimberly Childress (1,087) finished fourth individually and the Sequoits got key efforts from Symantha Rolph (1,055), Alyssa Alvarez (1,005), Katlyn Bain (570, 4 games) and Kelsey Schreiber (295, 2 games).
Libertyville's Jackie Funk (1,074) finished fifth, a couple spots behind Zion-Benton's Megan Schnettler (1,100).
"It's the best I've done in my three years of bowling," said Funk, who had a high game of 211. "Sometimes I get inconsistent. I knew I could do it and I was trying to get above 200."