Scouting Lake County girls bowling
Antioch
Coach: Jeff Childress (sixth year)
Lanes: Bertrand, Waukegan
Top bowlers lost: Alyssa Alvarez (Valparaiso), Rachel Gebauer, Sarah Highman, Kaitlyn Trusky
Top returning bowlers: Katie Bain (Sr.), Samantha Dvorak (Sr.), Allyson Matias (Sr.), Samantha Rolph (Sr.), Stevie Lindberg (Jr.), Kelsey Schreiber (Jr.)
Outlook: A veteran and talented roster means the Sequoits are poised for a big season. “We're keeping our expectations in control,” coach Jeff Childress said. “Our toughest challenge will be dealing with the loss of our home venue (Antioch
Lanes). It makes practice like an away meet every day.” Antioch Lanes had roof damage from a storm earlier this year.
Grant
Coach: Beth Miller (fourth year)
Lanes: Lakes Bowl, Round Lake
Top bowlers lost: Brie Brugioni, Catherine Nicpon, Lydia Wells
Top returning bowlers: Jessica Catinella (Jr.), Jenelle Nikolai (So), Sami Jo Zak (So)
Outlook: The Bulldogs will have to go through some growing pains. “Since over half of our team is freshmen and sophomores, this will be a growing year for us,” coach Beth Miller said. “So far, the girls have been working hard and building strong team bonds. We are excited to get the season started and renew some friendly rivalries on the lanes.”
Grayslake Central
Coach: Diana Soenksen (second year)
Lanes: Fair Haven, Mundelein
Top bowlers lost: Rebecca Devereaux, Chelsea Rakowski, Megan Ross, Kelsey Thompson
Top returning bowlers: Mary Stetz (Sr.), Miranda Merritt (Sr.), Casie Henrikson (Sr.), Ashley Newman (Jr.), Katie Adkins (So.)
Newcomers: Zoe Caliendo (Sr.)
Outlook: The Rams had a rough season last winter and are looking for more consistency. “We'll make a lot of improvements from last year,” said coach Diana Soenksen, who was a three-year varsity bowler for Vernon Hills, graduating in 2005. “We'll be doing a lot of perfecting our skills from last year. We should see their averages going up and see higher scores.”
Grayslake North
Coach: Laura Bertermann (third year)
Lanes: Lakes Bowl, Round Lake
Top bowlers lost: Darby Shaw (Central Missouri), Amanda Chavez, Ashley King, Hannah Quigley, Liz Brakenbury
Top returning bowlers: Megan Cassidy (Sr.), Sarah Martinez (Sr.), Lisa Seedoff (Sr.), Lauren Corda (Jr.), Melanie Martinez (Jr.), Alex Argoudelis (So). Catherine Kowalski (So.), Brittany Spychalski (So.)
Newcomers: Madi Bertermann (Fr.), Codie Ford (Fr.), Lindsey Jablonski (Fr.)
Outlook: The program is growing quickly, but it might not be the Knights' time just yet. “We're rebuilding this year,” coach Laura Bertermann said. “However, we continue improve week to week and are hopeful for a strong showing in the Fox Valley Conference.”
Lake Zurich
Coach: Mel Fox (fifth year)
Lanes: Brunswick Deer Park
Top bowlers lost: Amie Fischer, Colleen O'Donovan (Western Illinois), Sara Watkins, Brianna Welbourn
Top bowlers returning: Larissa Howard (Sr.), Abby Turk (Sr), Stephanie Klein (So.), Erin Kyrk (So.), Caitlin O'Donovan (So)
Newcomers: Amanda Peterson (Sr., transfer from Round Lake), Nicole Bianchi (So.), Erin Morales (Fr.), Melanie Ross (Fr.)
Outlook: The Bears have some competition among themselves with seven girls competing for five spots. “We should have a really good varsity season,” coach Mel Fox said. “The team already is working together and encouraging each other at practices.”
Lakes
Coach: Melissa Cross (sixth year)
Lanes: Bertrand, Waukegan
Top bowlers lost: Devin Ksioszk, Stephanie Nimmer, Courtney Adlam, Jenna Raven, Alison Potochnik, Maddie Nelson, Lauren Cherpinski, Melanie Schenieder
Top returning bowlers: Sami Detterbeck (Sr.), Nicole Gumino (Sr.), Sarah Ende (Jr.)
Newcomers: Missy Beitzel (So.), Samantha Potter (So.)
Outlook: A rebuilding year is likely in store for a young Eagles squad. “A majority of the (girls) are first-year bowlers,” coach Melissa Cross said. “It's a solid group of new bowlers serving as a foundation for a strong team in years to come.”
Libertyville
Coach: Lindsey Siegel (first year)
Lanes: Lakeside, Mundelein
Top bowlers lost: Jackie Funk, Kate Kretschmar, Barbra Williams
Top returning bowlers: Laura Polakowski (Sr.), Ashley Babetch (Jr.), Kayla Gibbs (Jr.), Samantha Voelker (Jr.)
Newcomers: Natalie Zeng (Fr.)
Outlook: Former Libertyville bowler Lindsey Siegel takes over as coach and has a program that's on the rise. Siegel started the season with 17 bowlers. “A number of these girls have a strong knowledge and can improve their game,” Siegel said. “We're just looking for consistency and a lot of improvement. I believe we can take things up a notch this season.”
Round Lake
Coach: Rebecca Hoffman (third year)
Lanes: Lakes Bowl, Round Lake
Top bowlers lost: Samantha Hughes, Erin Steele, Amanda Peterson (transferred to Lake Zurich)
Top returning bowlers: Nycole Archibald (Sr.), Dena Husk (Jr.), Felicia Klask (So.)
Newcomers: Megan Brown (Sr.), Cortney Hartlieb (So.), Sara Milianti (Fr.)
Outlook: Expectations are raised. “We should move up in the conference standings this season,” coach Rebecca Hoffman said. “Every year we try to improve and this year shouldn't be an exception.”
Stevenson
Coach: Gina Johnson
Lanes: eSkape, Buffalo Grove
Top bowlers lost: Shana Taz
Top bowlers returning: Caitlin Collins (Sr.), Marissa Schwartz (Sr.), Chailey Salazar (Sr.), Erin Kolbler (So), Stephanie Miller (So.), Caitlin Silver-Sullivan (So.), Ashley Wittert (So.)
Newcomers: Alex Hummel (Jr.), Jordan Hummel (So.), Allie Reed (Fr.), Courtney Sac (Fr.)
Outlook: The Patriots figured to be improved over last season. “The good news is, we're older than last year,” coach Gina Johnson said. “We've been able to improve on our bowling fundamentals from last year. We should finish in the top half of the conference.”
Vernon Hills
Coach: Andra Hjelm (fifth year)
Lanes: Brunswick Hawthorn, Vernon Hills
Top bowlers lost: Tiff Eclevia, Michelle Lenzini, Alyssa Nugent, Kelly Nyman, Nicole Sanhamel (Valparaiso)
Top returning bowlers: Karolina Jaskowska (Sr.), Randi Stone (Sr.), Taylor Rigwood (Jr.), Stephanie Wilson (Jr.), Briana Wolf (Jr.)
Outlook: The Cougars have to replace a number of experienced seniors, including 2009 state champ Nicole Sanhamel. They'll do so, in part, with half a dozen ninth-graders. “It's fantastic to be adding six freshmen to our team,” coach Andra Hjelm said. “We also have three varsity bowlers returning, so we have a good foundation.”
Warren
Coach: Rick Novak
Lanes: Bertrand Lanes, Waukegan
Top bowlers lost: Briana Eustage, Sarah Griffif, Megan Kile
Top bowlers returning: Maria Strauss (Sr.), Casey Brown (Jr.), Kelly Morse (Jr.)
Newcomers: Sara Johnson (Sr.), Kelsie Banks (Jr.) Alexis Haith (Jr.)
Outlook: The Blue Devils are using a conditioning program and hope to get strong in more ways that one as the season progresses. ”If things work the way I'd like to see it, we can compete with Antioch and make a run at conference and the sectionals,” coach Rich Novak said. “The girls have worked with a fitness program. It's compared to yoga. No weights. It's added conditioning. It should help us in the later games of tournaments.”
Wauconda
Coach: Mindy Lorence (fourth year)
Lanes: 3D Bowl, Island Lake
Top returning bowlers: Taylor Pryde (Sr.), Jessica Teuber (Sr.), Shannon Franklin (Jr.), Rebecca Ledenbach (Jr.), Kristine Micheletti (Jr.), Dorina Davino-Berger (So.)
Newcomers: Christina Haberichter (Sr.)
Outlook: The Bulldogs boast plenty of experience. “We've got a lot of returning girls this season,” coach Mindy Lorence said. “We want to be better than last year's scores. If they all bowl as well as they can, then we should do pretty well. Our girls went to camps over the summer and bowled on summer leagues, helping their games.”