Saxons hope to complete state tourney progression

Two years ago the Schaumburg girls bowling team finished third in state.

Last season, the Saxons placed second, just 69 pins behind champion Rockford Jefferson.

Will this be the year Schaumburg moves to the top of the class?

The journey begins Saturday at the Hoffman Estates sectional at AMF Hoffman Lanes.

The top two teams at Hoffman will advance to the state tourney at Rockford and the Saxons, led by Marilyn Gawlik, are the favorites to move on.

Gawlik was last year's individual state champion, and the senior just missed winning the Mid Suburban League individual championship this season.

Schaumburg as a team was victorious in the MSL, but the Saxons will face tough competition at sectionals.

Ten of their MSL rivals will battle for the top 2 spots at Hoffman, with only Buffalo Grove assigned to a different sectional.

The Bison will battle against Antioch and Stevenson, among others, at the Warren sectional Saturday at Bertrand Lanes in Waukegan.

At Hoffman, Elk Grove may be Schaumburg's top competition.

The surprising Grenadiers battled all season and finished second in the Mid-Suburban League, led by sophomore Caerlina Williams (201.77 average).

Also in the mix will be Prospect, led by senior Hannah Wrenn (206.79); Conant and MSL titleist Brittney Mari (208.95); and Hoffman Estates.

Hersey, Barrington, Elgin, Fremd, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Streamwood, Wheeling, Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican and New Trier will complete the field.

In addition to the sectionals hosted by Warren and Hoffman there will be 10 additional sectionals statewide, sending two teams apiece to next weekend's state finals, to be held at Rockford's Cherry Bowl Lanes.

And as usual, the top two individual bowlers at each sectional who are not part of advancing teams will also make the trip to state, along with some at-large individuals who will be chosen after scores from all the sectionals are tallied.