Fox Valley area bowlers like their sectional chances

As area girls bowling teams roll into the postseason, expectations run high following a season of climbing averages and closed frames, sometimes in the face of adversity.

Perhaps the biggest area surprise has been the Jacobs squad that bowled its way to a 6-1 Fox Valley Conference finish, knocking down opponents like pins along the way.

The Golden Eagles will soar into Saturday's DeKalb sectional at Mardi Gras Lanes a few bowlers light, but thanks to depth, the Golden Eagles hope to contend for a sectional championship title.

With a 169 average, Amanda Bureau has led the way. As team captain, Bureau will look for continued success as Jacobs meets Dundee-Crown, Larkin, St. Edward, South Elgin, Huntley, East Aurora, Waubonsie Valley, Geneva, Kaneland and several others at Mardi Gras Lanes.

Bureau is joined by veteran bowlers Becca Payne (166 average) and Jen Rood (160 average) as well as a bevy of new talent.

"We've been doing quite well," said first-year Jacobs coach Allison Zorilla. "We are expecting to place Top 2.

"Amanda is a fireball. She is a great bowler and an amazing girl. She picks this team up, and always gets them going."

With the recent loss of the Lasak sisters - Brittany, Robin and Ashley - Jacobs will look for former JV athletes Ashley Rood, Tricia Marquez-DiPaulo and Sarah Siska, to step up and fill the void.

Despite having bowled just a pair of matches at the varsity level, Ashley Rood is already leaving her mark.

Last weekend, she tipped 904 pins in 5 games helping Jacobs finish strong in tournament play.

"Tied with Conant, Ashley got a strike in the tenth frame to get us the win," said Zorilla.

Marquez-DiPaulo has been with the varsity for two-weeks and has already brought her average up 15 pins. Freshman Sarah Siska will also be in attendance having bowled just one match with the varsity.

"Sarah is having a blast," Zorilla said. "Everything is so new and exciting to her, and she's done an amazing job adjusting."

While Zorilla admits that there are some tough teams to get by, she remains optimistic about Jacobs' chances.

"The girls are extremely excited, and they have worked very hard all year," Zorilla said. "We cannot wait.

"Whatever the outcome, we are very happy with the season overall. This has been one of the best season's the program has seen."

In its second season with a team, Dundee-Crown makes the move from the Lake Zurich sectional into the DeKalb field.

Recording no wins in their inaugural campaign, the Chargers turned things around this season to finish 6-4 in dual meets.

Seniors Katie Boulnois and Kimina Jameson have each had a huge impact on the squad.

"Katie and Kimina have been very solid this year," said D-C coach David Mensching. "We will be much more competitive this year because everybody has improved tremendously."

Among those with a rising average is Kayla Weston, who has been bowling extremely well as of late according to Mensching.

"Kayla is a big reason why we've been winning," he said. "All of our averages have gone up huge."

With just three bowlers back from last year, Mensching couldn't hope for more than what he has going into DeKalb.

"I am very happy with the progress of all of our bowlers," Mensching said. "We hope to do the best we can and finish strong."

South Elgin improved its status in the Upstate Eight Conference and hopes to excel in the postseason.

Amanda Friese has steadily posted 160-200 all season and is expected to be the Storm catalyst. Recently competing at Leyden, South Elgin boasted its highest 6-game total to date.

"The girls know it will take a few more marks from each of them to achieve our goal of advancing," said coach Bonnie Kott. "They are looking forward to competing and working hard to earn those marks."

St. Edward will enter tournament play packing a senior-heavy lineup and while the Green Wave struggled to nab wins in the regular season, they will be anxious to show progress. Sarah Michaels, Amelia Kolaczewski and Sarah Schultz should lead the way.

"We've seen a lot of growth, and we're looking to bowl well," said first-year Green Wave coach Dawn Nowosielski. "As for the competition, Jacobs will be dominant."

At Hoffman Estates: Elgin and Streamwood will travel to the Hoffman Estates sectional slated to begin play at 9 a.m. Saturday at AMF Hoffman Lanes. The Maroons will have their work cut out going up against two of last-year's Top 5 teams in Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates.

Also in attendance will be Fremd, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Elk Grove and Conant, among others.

"Hoffman is a pretty tough sectional, but we've been practicing very hard and we're working on a lot of different things," said Elgin coach Kari Dittmann.

"Anything can happen on any given day."

Finishing the regular season just above the .500 mark, Shannon Forney has carried the Maroons with her 167 average. Melanie DeBrocke (157 average) has been another factor.

"The past few weeks, we have been bowling very well," said Dittmann. "That said we are looking to have everybody on the same page at the same time. In tournaments like this, you cannot afford a bad game. I would like to see our entire team advance."

While Schaumburg took second at state last year, and host Hoffman Estates finished fourth, Dittmann still likes the Maroons' chances.

"We can't worry about other teams," she said. "We just have to give our best effort. We've had a great season, and there will be no disappointments regardless of what happens."

While Streamwood has seen its share of highs and lows, the team should be poised to compete at Hoffman Estates.

Look for Vanessa Herrejon and Ashley Gabrys to fill the top Sabre slots with their experience and consistency.

"We showed a lot of progress in the regular season tying St. Charles East and defeating both Bartlett and South Elgin, but there is work to do and we have a long way to go," said Sabres coach Connie Kott. "While we have high hopes for sectionals, it will be difficult with Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates to contend with."

At Fenton: Bartlett will be the lone area representative contending at Wood Dale Bowl in the Fenton sectional. While the Hawks take to the lanes with a very young squad, they hope to give Addison Trail, Fenton, York, Leyden, Lake Park and the others a run for their money.

The leadership of upperclassman Kim Ippolito will be key in leading the freshman-sophomore dominant roster.

"Kim is our team captain and she has helped motivate this team all year," said Bartlett coach Tracy King.

The Hawks should get an additional lift from both Jamie and Erin Boothe as well as Valerie Simek.

"We plan to do our best at sectionals, and we will work as a team to excel," said King.