Buffalo Grove wins sectional; Warren also makes state

Buffalo Grove's girls bowling team set a goal at the beginning of the season of qualifying for state.

Saturday, the Bison achieved that goal, earning their first state berth in five years.

Buffalo Grove was one of four teams that advanced to Cherry Bowl in Rockford for the state tournament, which starts Friday. Belvidere North, Harlem and Warren also qualified at Lakes Bowl in Round Lake. Belvidere North captured the Round Lake sectional with 5,794 pins, followed by Harlem (5,777), Buffalo Grove (5,581) and Warren (5,512) in the 12-team field.

"They worked really hard in the off-season," Buffalo Grove coach Jean Tripam said of her bowlers. "They've been together for three years. They've worked for it."

Leading the Bison was Jessica Soskich, who rolled 1,269 over the 6 games and finished fifth. She threw four games over 200, including a high game of 232. She's been bowling with a sore ring finger for the last month.

"I ruptured a tendon on my ring finger," Soskich said. "I just ice it a lot and have tape on it to relieve some of the pain. It's more mind over matter. I just try to think of things other than the pain."

Buffalo Grove's state-qualifying effort also included Caitlin Howard (1,156), Joanne Savage (1,144), Rebecca Herrera (1,111), Jennifer Sauer (460, 3 games) and Emilee Gonzalez (441, 3 games).

Warren held off Rockford East (5,419) and Grayslake North (5,402).

"It's what we've been preaching all year - teamwork," Warren coach KC Lange said. "We had seven of the bowlers bowl. They did it when they had too. They made the shots. (The lanes) were drier than most people had expected."

The Blue Devils were led by Kayla Ross, who finished seventh with a 1,261 and a high game of 241. The other contributors included Macayla Powers (1,117), Megan Martin (1,059), Hayley Gregerson (763, 4 games), Victoria Dizon (724, 4 games), Maggie Faje (297, 2 games) and Sulmarie McGee (291, 2 games).

Stevenson's Kaitlyn Rudy rolled 1,301 to finish as the runner-up to Machesney Park Harlem's Skylar Russo-Perrry (1,325). Rudy rolled five games over 200, with her last two being 243 and 233.

"I had a rough first game after lunch and it really got to me," said Rudy, who won the Vernon Hills regional last week. "I just wanted to make up for it. The final game, I took a deep breath, focused in and shot a 230 game like I wanted it."

Libertyville had a pair of bowlers make the state cut. Taylor Sloan had a 1,262 series, which included a pair of 247 games. Emma Davellis shot a 1,252 that included games of 258 and 248.

"It's very exciting to make it and do it my senior year," said Sloan, who bowled at state with the Wildcats as a sophomore. "It was really tough with all the competitive bowlers. It was nerve-wracking but very exciting too. Getting the big scores helped my confidence a lot."

Lake Zurich's Amanda Tarlos earned her first state berth with a 1,243. She rolled an impressive 267 in her second game. She nearly made it to state the last two years.

"It's tough to make it," Tarlos said. "This was a very tough (sectional). I know a number of the Rockford girls are very, very good. I knew coming in we had to work very hard. I'm still sorry that we didn't make it as a team, but I get to represent Lake Zurich."