Jacobs' Rood, Payne qualify for state
Jacobs just missed qualifying for state as a team, but that doesn't mean the Golden Eagles won't be well-represented at Rockford's Cherry Bowl next weekend.
Jen Rood and Becca Payne grabbed the 2 individual qualifying slots from the DeKalb sectional at Mardi Gras Bowl Saturday. Rood's 1,183 pin total was fourth best overall, while Payne finished right behind at 1,132.
Rood and Payne came up big in the clutch, bowling a 207 and 206, respectively in the day's final game.
"I was thinking 'Just make the next shot,' " said Rood of that final game. "I wasn't thinking too much about what could happen if I do really well. I just took one shot at a time."
Rood and Payne bowl together frequently outside of competition.
"When Jen got her first place, I was so happy for her," said Payne. "Then they came and told me that I had gotten second, and its just awesome because Jen's really good friends with me. She's my bowling buddy."
Jacobs finished fourth overall with a 5,218-pin total. Sycamore dominated the team competition. The Spartans' 6,020 total was nearly 600 more than second-place Waubonsie Valley.
Rood's individual run inspired her teammates when Jacobs slumped in the first game after the lunch break.
"They knew that they were way down, and they came together as a team," said Eagles' coach Allison Zorilla. "They knew one of our girls was in the running, so everybody picked everybody else up."
The Warriors, led by third-place individual finisher Rachel Rymer, will return downstate after last year's third-place finish.
"In that last game we got a little tight," said Waubonsie coach Amy Rymer. "I think they knew it was within reach and got a little nervous. But they pulled through and that's all that matters."
The Warriors were solid from top to bottom, with Sarah O'Brien (fifth), Molly Rienle (14th) and Devon Hudson (18th) all finishing in the top 20.
Among other area teams, Larkin finished eighth, narrowly beating out Upstate Eight Conference rival South Elgin. Kaneland finished 10th, while Dundee-Crown, St. Edward, and Huntley finished 13th through 15th.
"We were a little bit inconsistent, but overall everybody bowled pretty well," said Dundee-Crown coach Dave Mensching.
South Elgin's Amanda Friese finished 19th overall with 1,023 pins and a high game of 208. Meagan Edgren had a high of 210 while finishing 25th for the Storm, which overcame a rough start to finish in the top 10.
"We had some very good games," said South Elgin coach Bonnie Knott. "Unfortunately, we had some very rough games first thing out in the morning and that kind of tempered the girls for the rest of the day."
Larkin's duo of Rose Danielek and Samantha King both finished in the top 25.
"We were second among teams in our conference," said Larkin coach Rich Heisel. "There were some good teams here."
Katie Boulnois was tops for Dundee-Crown with 1,016 pins, good for 22nd place overall.
Amanda Burau (1,027) and Ashley Rood (961) also scored high for Jacobs.
Amelia Kolaczewski topped St. Edward with 941 pins.