Marilyn Gawlik takes bowling crown
ROCKFORD -- To paraphrase a bygone television commercial, "you've come a long way, Marilyn."
That would be Schaumburg junior standout Marilyn Gawlik, who capped an impressive season by bringing home the individual state girls bowling championship Saturday.
Gawlik averaged 220 over the two-day, 12-game event at Cherry Bowl, racking up 2,645 pins to capture the crown in a photo finish.
Gawlik won by 3 pins over Rockford Jefferson's Megan Buja (2,642), who rolled a 248 in her last game.
In the final team standings, Schaumburg (12,027) set a state record for pinfall, but still was runner-up to Rockford Jefferson (12,096), which also broke the mark.
Hoffman Estates took fourth (11,776), and Leyden (11,067) was 12th.
"I finally accomplished everything I wanted to do," said Gawlik who averaged 180 as a freshman. "I was looking here and there at the standings but not looking directly at them. I was paying more attention where we were as a team.
"I just wanted to shoot my best and pick up all my spares. Whatever happens, will happen. It is really amazing and I never thought I could do it. It was a big goal of mine."
Gawlik rolled a 628 in the morning and a 654 in the afternoon with a high game of 241.
The Saxons led throughout Saturday's action and held a 66-pin advantage until the final game, when they shot 911. Jefferson fired a 1,046 to take the title.
"All season long we bowled our butts off and we had one more game to do it," said Schaumburg coach Mark Kelly, whose team was third last year. "Jefferson bowled their butts off and we struggled. It's frustrating that it comes down to one game."
Other Saxons scores included senior Samantha Kelly (2,433); senior Hailey Schneider (2,406); freshman Jodi Gawlik 2,346, junior Kathryn Schild (1,711, nine games); and senior Dana DeMaria (486, three games).
Schaumburg threw a 2,995 during Saturday's morning round and 2,991 in the afternoon finale. The Saxons rolled four of its six games over 1,000.
Hoffman Estates was consistent, but the Hawks couldn't put together a big game until their final one when they knocked down 1,041 pins and moved from eighth to fourth place.
"I thought we bowled well," said Hawks coach Dan Pfligler. "We just couldn't move up. It's credit to the other teams here bowling high scores. The girls bowled as a team and we finished out with a bang."
The Hawks' Cortese sisters closed out their brilliant high school careers in 16th and 17th place. Amanda Cortese finished 2 pins better than Natalie -- 2,466 to 2,464.
Others Hawks scores included junior Mandy Hoglund (2,379); sophomore Lisa Papeck (2,250); and senior Heather Knobloch (2,217).
Scorers for Leyden included junior Samantha Downs (2,358); junior Ashley Henk (2,356); junior Kaity White (2,235); junior Danyel Travis (1,961); sophomore Jenny Schauenburg (519); senior Silanid Dones (153) and sophomore Rebecca Radek (150).