Nifty finish lifts Grayslake North to regional win

Grayslake North’s girls bowling team had been in pursuit of a nice, round number all season long — reaching 1,000 in a game as a team.

The Knights picked a nice time to attain that goal, bettering the mark by 29 pins in posting 1,029 in their final game on Saturday.

It was more than enough for Grayslake North to take home the Round Lake regional championship with a 6-game total of 5,620 at Lakes Bowl in Round Lake.

Warren earned the runner-up spot (5,556) as Antioch (5,338) and Zion-Benton (5,008) and Grayslake North all advanced to the Zion-Benton sectional, to be held next Saturday at Sunset Bowl in Waukegan.

Sarah Littleton of Grayslake North finished as the top Individual with a 1,266.

“Our team came on in the afternoon,” said Grayslake North coach Laura Bertermann. “We were chipping away and had a big game at the end.

“I’m just proud of my team — they bowled as a team. Each bowler helped out each other. They stayed competitive and positive. They’ve worked hard all season. We just got better and better every game.”

The Knights started out with games of 881, 866 and 946. But over the last three, they rolled games of 928, 970 and 1,029.

Littleton led the Knights with a final high game of 237 after previous efforts of 220 and 224.

“Before every shot, I had a routine going and took a deep breath,” Littleton said. “I shot a big game and the team hit a 1,000 game.”

Other Knights scorers included Jessica Vaughn, runner-up with 1,241, along with Maddie Bertermann (1,080), Kait Christiansen (1,066) and Lindsey Jablonski (967).

Warren had the lead through the first three games — until Grayslake North made its charge over the final three.

the Blue Devils rolled games of 1,042, 846 and 1,029 but struggled in the second half with games of 869 and 819 before finishing with a 981.

“We did get in,” Warren coach Rick Novak said. “We bowled well all day. We just had a bad fifth game and Grayslake North came back and beat us. I thought we a real good start. I know this year’s team is capable of getting over 1,000.”

The Blue Devils were led by Ariel Haith (1,223), Kayla Rossi (1,190), Emily Hughes (1,075), Elizabeth Harrison (1,043) and Jamie Bratzke (1,035).

Antioch finished third as Katarina Brooks led the Sequoits with 1,131. Other contributors were Cassie Giamarusti (1,125), Erin Koch (1,065), Hyacinthe Ingram (1,063), Kelsey Maldonado (640, four games) and Megan Smart (314, two games).

Individuals advancing to the sectional were Emily Bajuski of Grant (1,135), Kim McClaughry of McHenry (1,111), Allison Boelter of Johnsburg (1,098), Taylor Dishinger of Lakes (1,093), Samantha Kunke of Woodstock (1,067), Kristen Lemke of Woodstock (1,066), Angel Boyd of Lakes (1,065), Sarak Polsgrove of Grayslake Central (1,061), Rachel Lohmeyer of Woodstock (1,058) and Sierra Brineger of Round Lake (1,048).

Buffalo Grove regional: Dundee-Crown took top team honors with a pinfall of 5,498 and Stevenson sophomore Kaitlyn Rudy took top individual honors after rolling 1,233 at Arlington Lanes.

Libertyville took second place at 5,475, and joining them in the team competition at the Zion-Benton sectional will be third-place Palatine (5,416) and fourth-place Hersey (5,385).

The top effort from Libertyville came from senior Natalie Zeng (1,198). Also contributing for the Wildcats were junior Kaci Cibrario (1,145), sophomore Taylor Sloan (1,071), sophomore Emma Davellis (1,043) and freshman Ally Doherty (1,018).

Senior Katie Conrad and Abby O’Brien led the way for Palatine, rolling 1,208 and 1,134, respectively. Also contributing to the total were junior Kayla Ure (1,131), sophomore Rachael Taylor (982) and junior Stephanie Berber (961).

Freshman Emma Wrenn led Hersey with a 1,206 and the Huskies also counted efforts from sophomore Zoe Sarbekian (1,135), junior Marissa Allen (1,073), junior Delanie Steinwig (1,033) as well as Emily Butler, Ashley Hoffman and Kati Roscoe.

Individuals earning a sectional appearance were Barrington freshman Sarah Tenyer (1,189), Vernon Hills’ Kelly Kalsch (1,133), Meghan Calderone (1,114) and Svetlana Sadovskaya (1,043), Fremd’s Gina Rowlett (1,097) and Abby Peterson (1,051), Buffalo Grove’s Jessica Soskich (1,057) and Stevenson’s Colleen VanDerMulen (1,050).