Girls bowling: Big changes at BG, Barrington as MSL bowling gets rolling

Local competitors are striding to the lanes for the upcoming girls bowling season, and in the Mid-Suburban East, Buffalo Grove has lost two-time defending state champion Jessica Soskich to graduation.

Bison coach Jean Tripam says that the team is in a "rebuild year on all levels." The top returning player for BG is senior Riley Donahue, and they have an up-and-coming bowler in sophomore Rebecca Howard.

Elk Grove coach Robert Ray says that we "hope to continue off our sectional qualifying season last year." Top bowlers this year for the Grenadiers will be Jamie Knutsen, Ashley Szull, and Rachel Gore. "We're in a position to compete," said Ray. Hersey will begin competition with a lineup that will include Annie Durva, Morgan Ludvigsen, Susan Ferris, Sarah Lippsteuer, and Caroline Stiefbold.

Prospect counts on seniors Elise Henize and Allison Buck. "Both girls are four year veterans and have already shown great leadership, along with seniors Amanda Bieszk and Nicole Bryzs," said Knights coach Ashley Ruszczak. "We're a young tem still learning a lot about the basics, what we are working at this year is building off that foundation and increasing our consistency. Another main focus will be converting our spares."

Rolling Meadows will have a good squad with Jenna Sasson, Shay Thompson, Jackie Contreras, Esmerelda Bahena and Brooke Edwards.

Wheeling's top group will include Karsyn Burgess, Cindy Dange, Jammie Estrada, Vanessa Figueroa, Diana Roman, Michelle Vazquez, Nicole Wittman, and Elen Falkiner. "We would love to compete and finish in the top half of the always strong MSL," says Wildcats coach Beth Anderson. "We look to get out of regionals as a team and hopefully have an individual or two qualify for the state meet. We may not have a ton of experience, but we're working hard, learning fast and having fun."

• For MSL West bowling, Barrington may be headed to its best-ever season. "The girls are working hard in practice," said first-year Fillies coach Dan Giesey. "They've set out an aggressive plan with our goal this year to raise their skill level and knowledge of the game, and improve every week to be competitive. The roster will include Jenica Baron, Alyssa Loomis, Grace Hauk, April Adler and Brianna Salcedo. "We've set up our tournaments on our schedule as milestones this season," added Giesey, "with an end goal of making some noise in the IHSA playoffs."

Conant was young last season but now has a little bit more experience in the current campaign. The Cougars will be paced by seniors Katie Elms (a sectional qualifier) and Krupa Patel, along with sophomore Lyz White. "We just need develop more consistency," said Conant coach ,Jennifer Mikrut. "I am really looking forward to working with this team. They are a great group of girls who I think are going to work very well together." Rounding out the roster will be Jessica Meister, Cassie Hyland and Jemma Skweres.

Fremd will have three returning leaders in seniors Piper Miles and Hannah Evenson and junior Isaly Schaffner. "Last season we came up short as a team," said Vikings coach Ruben Hinojosa, "but we are looking to rebound and make it to sectionals. We want to compete in the tough MSL and are looking forward to playing the top teams in the state this year." Hinojosa will also count on junior Sahar Samadi, and sophomore Jenni Kang.

Hoffman Estates was stellar in 2016/2017, winning the Mid-Suburban League title and finishing fifth in state. "We had a very successful season," said Hawks coach Dan Pfligler. "Now this season we're (again) looking to be competitive as we only graduated one bowler last year. Some of the top competitors for Hoffman will include Allura Magsino, Alexis Orwat, Kelly Paradowski, Darcy Lange, and Emilie St. Clair while Palatine will look to excel behind Amanda Southerland, Gabby Paneral, Maya Migacz, Natalia Jezak and Evelyn Torres.

Schaumburg was undefeated in the regular Mid-Suburban season last year, and the Saxons will be a young but veteran squad this season. "We have the opportunity to be a good team as long as the girls continue to want to learn and improve week to week," said coach Mark Kelly. The top two bowlers for Schaumburg will be juniors Gina Lenoci and Kylie Frick. "Our goal is to improve on what we accomplished last year - win the MSL conference championship, and qualify to bowl on the second day of the state tournament," Kelly said. Other roster members will include Evelina Kozyra, Lilly Meck, Hailey Frick, Cassidy Leno, Sarah Bambus and Taylor Davis.

• In the West Suburban Conference, Leyden coach Christopher Aylward said that he "has a few returning bowlers, but a ton of new girls who are going to be the core of the team for the next four years." The returnees include Caroline Escobedo, Norma Bravo, Roxanna Brozek and Sara Carrillo. "I'm really looking forward to seeing the progress that the new girls are going to make this season," added Aylward. "It is truly rewarding to see, and we are hoping for competitive season that establishes a foundation."