Gawlik rolls for big finish

Schaumburg's Marilyn Gawlik set a goal for herself as a freshman bowler for the Saxons.

Win the state championship.

That benchmark was acheived for the senior last season when Gawlik won the individual state title in a squeaker.

Gawlik bested runnerup Megan Buja of Rockford Jefferson by a mere 3 pins, but the euphoria of the individual crown was tempered slightly for the team-first player when Schaumburg fell just short of the team championship.

The Saxons were leading heading into the final moments but wound up finishing second to Jefferson.

And though they were runners-up in the scorebook, her Saxons' mates took first place in her heart.

"I don't see how anyone could win the individual championship without having her teammates there with her," said Gawlik. "We were backing each other up and giving each other energy."

Gawlik, who started here bowling career as a fourth-grader in Streamwood, got some well-deserved encouragement last year from a trio of seniors.

Samantha Kelly, Haily Schneider and Dana DeMaria were the leaders in 2007, and now Gawlik will share that assignment with three other seniors.

"I see my role (along with the other seniors) as being a motivator, keeping up the team spirit, and always staying positive," she said.

Schaumburg coach Mark Kelly agrees.

"I'm looking forward to Marilyn giving the team a solid effort at all events this season," said Kelly. "I'm counting on her to lead by example, focus and concentration, dealing with adversity as well as dealing with success.

"She has a new role as anchor of the team, and we're expecting her to make those quality crucial shots at crunch time when the team needs it."

Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates, led by sterling bowlers Amanda and Natalie Cortese, battled back and forth all last season as the top two teams in the Mid-Suburban League.

The Saxons fell just short of the MSL title, finishing just behind the Hawks, but excelled by winning the Hoffman Estates sectional title with a total of 5,547 pins.

Then came the state tournament, and Gawlik knew she had a shot going into the final game.

"I was confident," said Gawlik. "I knew that if I beat her (Buja) in the last game, I was pretty sure I would win."

At first, with her thoughts focused on the team race, Gawlik didn't realize she had claimed the individual title.

Then came the announcement that she had triumphed, wining 2,645 pins to 2,642 for Buja.

"At first, I was upset," said Gawlik, "because our team didn't win.

"I was proud and excited (with the individual title), especially competing against so many great bowlers and teams at state."

Now a senior, Gawlik looks forward to another exciting season with coach Kelly, and with teammates that include her sister Jodi, a sophomore.

"It's very helpful," said the senior of playing alongside Jodi. "We both bowl the same - we were taught the same way by our parents.

"If I can't find a shot, I just ask my sister - and she does the same with me."

Gawlik recently made a college visit to Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she hopes to enroll in the elementary education program and bowl on the Warhawks highly rated team.

But first there is some unfinished business in Illinois.

"We're moving up," said Gawlik of her team. "Two years ago we finished third in state, and last year we were second.

"This year, we're shooting for first."