Jodi Gawlik 6th, Schaumburg sits in 8th
The Schaumburg girls bowling team has some ground to make up in its quest for a state championship.
The Saxons finished the first day of competition at Rockford's Cherry Lanes in eighth position, 362 pins behind leader Lockport.
Leading the Saxons - who won state in 2004 and finished third and second, respectively, the last two seasons - was sophomore Jodi Gawlik.
Gawlik fired a 268 in her sixth and final game of the day to score a total pinfall of 1,318, good for sixth place individually.
Mollie Sloyan of Lockport and Sarah O'Brien of Waubonsie Valley share the individual lead with 1,342 pins.
Plainfield South is second in the team race, trailing Lockport by 159 pins. Collinsville and Plainfield North are tied for third.
Hoffman Estates finished the day 20th with a pinfall of 5,257. Sophomore Liz Saffold had the Hawks' high game, a 225.
The Saxons' Marilyn Gawlik, last year's individual state champion, shot a 256 in her second game. The senior's total of 1,233 pins finds her in 23rd position.
Senior Kathryn Schild rolled a 234 for the Saxons.
Two local individual qualifiers had up-and-down days.
Senior Hannah Wrenn of Prospect, in her second state finals appearance, fired a 235 in Game 1 en route to 32nd place.
Sophomore Barbie Gutwein of Palatine rolled a 221 game in her first trip to Rockford.
Rockford Jefferson junior Tia Walls fired a 300 game.
The final day of competition begins today at 9 a.m., with the awards ceremony scheduled for approximately 3 p.m.