Newcomer Grant to join Antioch at state
The Antioch girls bowling team will make its second trip to the state tournament in four years.
For Grant, going to state is a little less common. The Bulldogs broke a 46-year drought by earning their first-ever spot in next weekend's state tourament at Cherry Bowl Lanes in Rockford.
The North Suburban Conference champion Sequoits captured the Warren sectional title over Grant 5,292-5,256 on Saturday at Bertrand Lanes in Waukegan.
The Bulldogs' Brie Brugioni won top honors individually with a 1,156 over 6 games.
Vernon Hills' Nicole Sanhamel (1,146) and Grayslake North's Darby Shaw (1,066) also advanced to state as individuals.
Antioch found itself trailing Grant by 76 pins going into the final game. The Sequoits threw a 912 to 800 for the Bulldogs and Antioch to win by 36 pins.
"We walked in last week and this week being the team to beat," said Antioch coach Jeff Childress, whose team led through the first four games. "We wanted to go out early and establish the lead. It gave us the opportunity to struggle a little bit before we pulled through."
The Sequoits made a lineup switch in the final game inserting freshman Stevie Lindberg, and she responded with a game-high 209.
"A little pressure, we all felt the pressure," Childress said. "We brought Stevie Lindberg off the bench.and she was a spark for us. Everybody rallied around her."
Lindberg made her first appearance of the year and helped the team winning the sectional.
"I just gave it my all," said Lindberg, who averages 186 on the JV. "I just had to figure things out and give the team a spark. I had to move a couple of times before finding the shot."
Antioch was consistent all day, led by Samantha Rolph (1,097), Alyssa Alvarez (1,087), Kimberly Childress (1,056), Kaitlyn Trusky (1.047) and Kaitlyn Bain (796) 5 games. The Sequoits had a 2,802 in the morning and a 2,490 for the afternoon.
Grant tossed the sectional's highest game 1,012 in game five and put together a 2,688 over the last three games after throwing 2,568 for the first three.
"I don't think the girls have realized what we've accomplished yet," said Grant coach Beth Miller, noting that the program, which started in 1962, had never advanced past sectional. "It's a hard-working group that's bowled together for the last couple of years. They jell together with their personalities and push each other on the lanes."
Brugioni missed winning the NSC meet last week but recovered, taking first by 7 pins Saturday and leading the Bulldogs with 1,153. Brugioni converted a 1-2-10 washout in the tenth frame of the final game.
"I was more focused than last week and I had to work harder for it," Brugioni said. "There was more pressure because there's more at stake. I had to buckle down and be focused.
"I knew I was in first in the final game. I needed a good game and I didn't know I needed that spare to clinch first."
Other key Bulldogs contributor were Caitlin Loving (1,106), Beth Bengston (1049), Serina Stow (1,009) and Lydia Wells (939).
Sanhamel had the highest game, rolling a 247 between games of 160 and 201 for a 608 series after a 538 morning series. Sanhamel was sick all week and wasn't sure how well she was going to do through the six games.
"I really didn't think I was going to make it,":Sanhamel said. "I had the 'whatever' attitude and it took a lot of pressure off of me."
Shaw becomes the first Grayslake North bowler to reach state. She got the second qualifying spot with a 566 and 500 series.
"I thought I had a chance to get through," said Shaw, who missed qualifying the last two years with Grayslake Central. "My coach (Laura Berternann) helped me a lot, and I got a new bowling ball last week. I just got the ball to work for me."