Three MSL teams thrive on game five in RM sectional

After 4 games were in the books at Saturday's Rolling Meadows girls bowling sectional, no team had broken the 1,000-pin plateau for a single game.

Then came game number 5, and everything just exploded for three Mid-Suburban League teams.

Schaumburg (1,123), Hersey (1,055) and Hoffman Estates (1,026) all cracked 1,000 in the fifth of six games, and the effort was enough to propel each team to next weekend's state finals in Rockford.

Chicago Resurrection earned the fourth team state qualification, while Victoria Odarczenko of Maine South won the individual medal going away, firing a 1,365 to best second-place Olivia Canova of Resurrection by a whopping 102 pins.

Odarczenko averaged 227.50 at the meet, which was held at Brunswick Zone in Mount Prospect.

"I'm so happy to go to state," said Odarczenko, a junior, "and I'm thankful to Maine South for allowing me to bowl."

The Hawks don't have a girls bowling team, but by rule Odarczenko is allowed to compete in the state tourney as an individual.

"I was thinking about today all night," said the junior, who admitted she was "a little tired" to start the day. "I just wanted to come out here and do everything right."

The fatigue didn't seem to affect Odarczenko in the least, however, as she rolled a 258 in game 5 and a 259 in game 6.

"I tried to stay positive and fight through it," said Odarczenko. "Everything added up today to be what I wanted it to be."

The Saxons won the tourney with a 5,885 pinfall, and junior Sunny Bobnick said that everything just fell in to place for her team in the pivotal fifth game.

"No one wanted to ruin the streak," said Bobnick. "We were all striking and we were all picking up our spares. Half of the girls don't pay attention to the scores but the half that do - me included - knew we were headed for a great game."

Each Schaumburg bowler scored at least 200 in game 5, including Kylie Frick (278), Gina Lenoci (231), Bobnick (212), Elise London (202) and Sarah Schwind (200).

"Everyone was picking each other up," said London. "We were on an energy high."

London admitted that she was among the Saxons who don't follow the score as the meet is progessing.

"I don't pay attention to the numbers," said London, a junior. "I just try to take care of the things I know I can take care of."

Monsie Plata led the Hersey effort with a 1,200, a mark that included games of 237 and 229.

"There was a little bit of nerves in the morning," said Plata, "but after a while we got comfortable. We all came together today - we were working together and we had a positive attitude."

Victoria Domanski of Conant rolled a 222 in game 3, and 216's in games 5 and 6 to earn a 1,244 and qualify for the state tourney in Rockford as an individual, winning the third-place medal at Brunswick.

"This is awesome," said Domanski. "I just had a feeling in my gut all day that I was going to be able to do it."

"It's all mental," said Domanski of her approach to the sectional. "You can't look back - every shot is a new shot and every game is a new game. You've just got to relax and bowl."

The other individual qualifiers Saturday were Zaria Syfu of Niles North, Samantha Sztym from Lake Park, and Robyn Konrad of Rolling Meadows.

Konrad rallied in the final two games, rolling a 235 and 228 to just outpin Fremd's Becca Rutkowski.

Konrad finished at 1,194 on the day while Rutkowski also excelled with a 1,192.

"I don't even know how I'm feeling at this moment," said Konrad, a senior who is in her first year at Meadows after transferring in from Wisconsin. "I'm not a cryer, but I have tears in my eyes right now."

"I'm ecstatic," added the senior. "I've worked really hard for this all season."

Jordyn Fera led Hoffman's effort with a 1,213 (224 high game), good for fifth place overall, while teammate Alexis Orwat finished at 1,184 (225).

Emma Wrenn fired a 1,170 to help Hersey's cause, while Frick of Schaumburg finished at 1,210.

Schwind (1,206), Bobnick (1,188), Lenoci (1,145), and London (1,136) counted the other scores for the champion Saxons, who now look forward to the trip to the "Cherry Bowl" in Rockford for the finals.

"We're really excited," said London. "We'll use this week to practice and strengthen up, and work on the things we struggled with today. Believe it or not, we did struggle with some things today."

Odarczenko also said that it will be an exciting week for her leading up to her first state finals.

"I'm going to stay hydrated," said Odarczenko, "eat healthy, and practice - but not too much practice. You don't want to hurt your hands."