Lake Park back in familiar spot

To hear it from the coach, Lake Park's 2014-15 boys bowling season hasn't always been a well-oiled machine.

At regional and sectional competitions the Lancers pulled it together to return to where they've been 12 of the 13 years the Illinois High School Association has held a state series - in the finals.

"We just came out and played our game," said coach Greg Edwards, who led the Lancers to the 2009 state title and 2004 and 2010 runner-up finishes.

Placing fourth last Saturday at the IC Catholic Prep sectional at the Brunswick Zone in Glendale Heights, Lake Park is among 24 teams bowling Friday in the traditional championship host site, St. Clair Bowl in O'Fallon. Twelve teams advance to Saturday.

Sectionals promoted six teams apiece downstate. Glenbard East, also shooting at the IC contest, was a mere 4 pins off that sixth-place spot, though Rams junior Jack Sarocka advanced individually with a 1,324 series to take fourth at sectional.

Lake Park senior co-captains Alec Tau and Zach Niemann joined senior Nick Soto all with sectional totals of between 1,269 and 1,294 pins. Sophomore Jack Bedtke, senior Grant Willy and sophomore Chris Rinchiuso rounded out the Lancers' sectional lineup. Lake Park will also count Mark Smith and Kenny Ireland among its state contingent.

Edwards wasn't completely sure this group would reach O'Fallon.

"Yes and no," he said Tuesday.

The ability and hunger was there but not always the humility Edwards seeks in his team. A regional title at Glenbrook North, knocking down 6,348 pins, put them on the right path.

"At regionals and sectionals they lifted each other up, which is one of the things I've tried to instill in the guys," Edwards said Tuesday.

Harlem and Hononegah, ranked Nos. 1-2 by Illinois Bowling.net, captured the top two spots at the Stevenson sectional and are the state favorites along with Minooka.

Lake Park enters the finals unranked but "in the conversation," according to Illinois Bowling.

For Edwards - whose mottoes include "On any given Sunday ..." - that's exactly what he had hoped for.

"I think we deserve a slice of the pie," he said.

"I'm proud of them, and I'm proud to be the coach of the Lancers. One thing we do believe in, perseverance. You never know what you can do, never give up," Edwards said.

"Half the battle is over with. We made it."

Sky salutes Redwings

On Wednesday Benet joined Glenbard East and five other girls basketball programs thus far who've been named a 2015 high school team of the week by the Chicago Sky women's professional team. Selections are made considering achievements on and off the court.

The Sky was impressed by the Redwings' three tournament victories and its 22-2 overall record, which has them ranked No. 1 among teams covered by the Daily Herald.

As well, the Sky cited players like captain Kathleen Doyle, a highly recruited A student; and Emma Hlavin, Benet's National Honor Society president. As a team, Benet recently packed meals for the charity organization, Feed My Starving Children.

Coach Joe Kilbride's Redwings will receive 15 tickets for a Sky game at Allstate Arena, where they'll be honored at halftime. Benet also is eligible, through online voting in April and May, to be selected the Chicago Sky high school team of the year.

No soph slump

Some writers like the immediacy and excitement of covering a game close to the action.

Others prefer the more three-dimensional quality of a higher viewpoint. It was there, in Waubonsie Valley's upper bleachers for Tuesday's boys basketball game against West Aurora, that Enos Brownridge also watched the game.

After greeting the father of Waubonsie Valley's all-time leader in 3-pointers and No. 2 all-time scorer, he said his son, Jared Brownridge, continues to succeed at Santa Clara University.

The 2013-14 West Coast Conference newcomer of the year, setting three Santa Clara game records and seven freshman program records, Brownridge is the Broncos' second-leading scorer at 13.8 points a game. Starting all 16 games and leading Santa Clara in minutes played, the sophomore leads his team with 45 3s and a 86 percent free-throw shooting (not counting a teammate who's gone 2 of 2). Brownridge is second in steals with 18.

Playing in Peoria

St. Francis' Pep Band, conducted by Bob Mamminga, is among four bands the IHSA has chosen to perform during the boys basketball state finals.

The IHSA selects four bands to play during single sessions for boys and girls state basketball and boys and girls volleyball. The Spartans band will perform in the Peoria Civic Center's Carver Arena during the boys basketball Class 1A and 2A semifinals on March 13. They're the only DuPage County band chosen for the 2014-15 sessions.

The St. Francis Pep Band adds female vocalists and now an electric violinist to the ensemble. Just don't expect to hear anything by the Corrs or Jean-Luc Ponty.

In a stroke of brilliance quickly following an on-court scuffle in last Saturday's Marmion-St. Francis boys basketball game in Wheaton, Mamminga cued up a version of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" that had fans of both teams and all ages clapping and singing along.

Congratulations

Northwestern-bound Wheaton Warrenville South linebacker Tom Vitale has won the annual Red Grange Award presented by the DuPage Heritage Gallery. The Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 7A All-State pick made 136 tackles, 12 for loss, with 6 sacks.

Vitale succeeds 2014 Grange winner and future Wildcats teammate Clayton Thorson. Vitale, with older brother Dan, becomes the second brother duo to win the Grange Award; WW South grads Michael and Mark LaBelle won in 2003 and 2007, respectively.

Tom Vitale, the Tigers' defensive player of the year and team MVP, will receive his award in a ceremony on or near Red Grange's birthday, June 13, at the DuPage County Complex in Wheaton. The DuPage Heritage Gallery presents the Grange Award to a player based on athleticism, scholastics and sportsmanship.

For those keeping score at home, Wheaton Warrenville South has 17 Grange Awards (Jon Beutjer and Jon Schweighardt shared it in 1998), Wheaton North 14 and dearly departed Wheaton Central 6, Wheaton Warrenville 5.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

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