Femrite, Wille set winning example for Hoffman
Hoffman Estates bowlers Ashley Femrite and Sarah Wille have a couple of things in common.
The teammates are both in their first year playing on the varsity level, and both are bowling great as evidenced by their scores at Monday night's Mid-Suburban League girls bowling meet.
Femrite led the Hawks with a 639 series while Wille, fourth in conference in average coming in (197.17), gave a big assist with a 228 game as Hoffman defeated Wheeling 9-0 to move into a third-place tie with Schaumburg.
And although the girls share those similarities, in other ways they couldn't be more different because Femrite is an experienced senior, while Wille is a freshman who didn't even expect to make varsity this year until the coaches became aware of her stellar skills.
As a matter of fact, Wille is in Femrite's group in what's called the “freshman tour” at Hoffman, where seniors assist the frosh in getting acclimated to high school life.
“I'm so proud of her,” said Femrite of Wille. “It's exciting to see her out here and doing so well.”
“This is an exciting year,” added the senior, who is coming into her own this season and led Monday's meet with a 255 high game. “Our goal is to get to state and I think we have the potential do do that. We're all friends and we have classes together, and we're really meshing together as a team.”
For her part, Willie doesn't seem fazed by being the only frosh on a team with four outstanding seniors.
“My teammates help me out so much,” said Willie. “They help bring me up when I get down.”
In other action, Prospect and Elk Grove stayed tied for 1st with 34-2 marks. Prospect swept Hersey 9-0 behind Emily Victor's 622 series, while Ashley Dolce's 662 series (games of 227, 231 and 204) helped the Grens beat Fremd by the same score.
It was a great season last year for Dolce and her Elk Grove team. The junior rolled a 300 game at the Fenton Invite, and the Grenadiers advanced to the state tournament in Rockford.
“That was a great experience,” said Dolce. “It really helped us grow as bowlers, and I think we've got a great chance to get back this year.”
Schaumburg senior Jodi Gawlik was superb with a 704 series (including two games of 246), the best in the MSL this year, as the Saxons bested Rolling Meadows 7-2. Taryn Hampton rolled a 243 game for the Mustangs.
Palatine beat Barrington 9-0 as Barbie Gutwein, a former state qualifier, rolled a 557, and Conant, behind Sam Pincenti (570) defeated Buffalo Grove by the same count.
Kailey Schlosser (609, 223) gave a big boost to Hoffman's win, and according to Wille, the best is yet to come.
“I was a little shy at first,” said the freshman, “but after I met all the (Hawks) girls at summer camp, I felt like I belonged. We're a family.”