Scouting the Fox Valley area's bowling teams
Bartlett Hawks
Coach: Carrie Klein (8th season)
Home house: Espo's Country Lanes (Elgin)
Top bowlers: Seniors: Stephanie Jones, Cassandra Fagan; Freshmen: Jamie Boothe, Kristen Neace
Outlook: According to Klein it's going to be a good season for Bartlett. The Hawks welcome back some excellent leadership and talent in seniors Jones and Fagan. With averages on the rise, Jones opens the season with a 180 average, while Fagan is currently turning in consistent 170s. "It will be a building year for us, but we are looking to be successful and we're going to have a lot of fun," said Klein. Klein expects Waubonsie Valley to pose the biggest threat in Upstate Eight Conference action, but nothing will get in the way of Bartlett's early goals. "I hope to see everybody continue to increase averages more than anything," said Klein. "We'd like to get the basics down-pat and build from there. I expect everyone will become better bowlers overall."
Dundee-Crown Chargers
Coach: David Mensching (1st season)
Home house: Brunswick Zone (Algonquin)
Top bowlers: Juniors: Christine Doran, Katie Boulnois
Outlook: A topic of discussion for the past few years, Dundee-Crown made the girls bowling program a reality this season. While there has been a lot of hustle and bustle to get together a roster and a schedule as well as knocking out the little details, the Chargers anticipate a fun and exciting inaugural year. "It is really hard starting a program," said Mensching. "Still, we have eight girls out and there is a lot of up-and-coming talent here." Certainly one pleasant surprise early has been sharing practice lanes at the Brunswick Zone with Jacobs and coach Lois Emrich. "Lois has been a ton of help to us," said Mensching. "I've gotten a lot of tips from her which has been invaluable." Look for juniors Doran and Boulnois to lead the way for D-C in the early stages. "We'll hit our bumps, especially with the bigger schools, but I think we'll be all right," Mensching said. "Obviously, this is a building year for us, but we are looking to start a solid foundation for this new program and for Dundee-Crown." Depending on experience levels with each individual bowler on the roster, Mensching plans to work on fundamentals, form and perhaps more specifics with some of the more advanced bowlers. "I would like to see our better bowlers increase by 20-plus pins this season," he said. "For our mid to lower level bowlers, I expect to see a 30-plus pin increase. By the end of this season, the girls should be in great shape." Whatever the outcome, D-C athletic firector Dick Storm is pleased to have a new option available to athletes. "I have noticed that a lot of these girls out for bowling have never been involved in any other sports here before which makes it really neat," said Storm. "It is great to be able to offer something new and get more students interested and out there competing on behalf of the school and for themselves. We're very excited."
Elgin Maroons
Coach: Kari Dittman (3rd season)
Home house: Espo's Country Lanes (Elgin)
Top bowlers: Senior: Mandy Collins, Junior: Shannon Forney; Sophomores: Krysta Hanneman, Melanie Debrocke
Outlook: Despite the loss of several key bowlers to graduation, Elgin takes the lanes very optimistic about what will unveil in the upcoming weeks. Returning to the Maroon lineup are Collins and Forney. Collins brings a 165 average with her in addition to varsity experience and Forney has a 160 average. "Our returners are looking really good," said Dittmann. "Already, they are really stepping up as leaders. They are helping our newcomers along and teaching them which is helping us fill the places of those who left." Program numbers remain consistent for Elgin. "I'm looking to see us do well in the Upstate Eight Conference," said Dittmann. "I expect to see our two returning bowlers as all-conference selections down the road."
Larkin Royals
Coach: Rich Heisel (9th season)
Home house: Elgin Lanes
Top bowlers: Seniors: Heather Graff, Kelly Barth; Junior: Kirsten Benson; sophomore: Rose Danielek
Outlook: Heisel expects the 2007-08 campaign to be a fun and exciting season for the Royals. While numbers are down, Larkin does welcome back some bowlers with experience and talent. "I hope to see strength and consistency from our returners," said Heisel. "With them, our focus will be on approach. With our younger girls, we will work on a lot of fundamentals going back to basics." According to Heisel, Waubonsie Valley and Lake Park are among the bigger challenges in Upstate Eight Conference action. Heisel also expects a new threat in East Aurora. "East Aurora really came a long way last year," Heisel said. "I expect them to be quite a challenge for opponents." Whatever the challenge, the Royals are ready to bowl. "The girls are very excited for the season," Heisel said. "Our newer girls don't know what to expect, but they are ready to go. It is going to be a good year for us, a fun year and a productive year."
Streamwood Sabres
Coach: Connie Kott (1st season)
Home house: Bowling and Beyond
Top bowlers: Seniors: Brianna Visvadra, Krystal Christiansen; Junior: Vanessa Herrejon
Outlook: First year coach Kott joins her sister Bonnie (South Elgin in the Upstate Eight bowling season taking over at the helm for Streamwood. While program numbers are down, Kott remains optimistic that this season is as good as any to start rebuilding the girls bowling program. "We are looking to find new success," said Kott. "I'm really excited. The girls that we do have here are very enthusiastic." The Sabres will focus on consistency, technique and fundamentals. "With our new girls, we will focus on creating routines to held build consistency, while our returning bowlers will look to tweak some things in their individual games," said Kott. "We will definitely work on technique to make everybody better bowlers." Kott recently had the sparse Sabre roster meet in front of the trophy case at school, which is home to the 1995 state championship trophy. "We are really hoping to get this program back on a winning track," Kott said. "We will work on the education of bowling, picking up spares, proper form and hope to build things up from there."
Jacobs Golden Eagles
Coach: Lois Emrich (20th season)
Home house: Brunswick Zone (Algonquin)
Top bowlers: Seniors: Julie Escarano, Leah Tryanski; Juniors: Amanda Barau, Brittany Lasak; Sophomore: Brin Schwab; Freshmen: Jenny Rood, Ashley Columbia
Outlook: With averages on the rise right out of the gate, Emrich expects a great season out of this year's bowlers. The Golden Eagles boast four very solid returnees in Barau, Lasak,, Escarano and Tryanski to lead the way. "We've got great potential to have an excellent season," said Emrich. "We will definitely be stronger this year than we were last year. The girls are working awfully hard. They listen and they are doing everything they can to take it to that next level." Emrich anticipates at least 3-4 girls will hit the 160-170 mark consistently. "These girls are perfectly capable of bowling great games," said Emrich. "It's just a matter of focus. Everybody here is definitely looking forward to what's ahead. This is a great group of girls who I expect will each go up at least 20 pins by the end of the regular season."
South Elgin Storm
Coach: Bonnie Kott (3rd season)
Home house: Espo's Country Lanes (Elgin)
Top bowlers: Senior: Danielle Davila; Junior: Amanda Friese; Sophomore: Chimere Schmitz
Outlook: Last year, the South Elgin bowling program picked up the program's first varsity bowling victory. This season, Kott and the Storm will look to continue progress behind rising averages and experience. Back from last year are Friese, Schmitz and Davila. Friese recorded a 150 average last season and comes into the 2007-08 campaign already up a few pins. Schmitz also brings a 150 average to the lanes. Davila's average is dancing in the 130s, but Kott expects it to be up as things get under way. "We will work on consistency, improving skills and technique," said Kott. "I would like to help the girls identify what's working well for them, and go from there." An immediate goal for South Elgin will be to begin climbing the ladder in Upstate Eight Conference play. Beyond that, self improvements will be the focus. "I would like to see our record improve, but more than anything we are looking to see everybody show improvements in their individual games," said Kott.
St. Edward Green Wave
Coach: Natalie Smith (3rd season)
Home house: Elgin Lanes
Top bowlers: Seniors: Micaela TenHoven, Rachel Shulick; Juniors: Amelia Kolaczewski, Saoirse Clarke; Freshman: Frances Manganas
Outlook: While St. Edward might be among the smaller schools in the area, it will be a big representative in the bowling arena coming to the table with 23 girls out for the program. "We lost five seniors to graduation, and a lot of talent," said Smith. "Still, program numbers are great and I expect things will go very well." TenHoven and Manganas currently lead the Green Wave in average both in the 120s. Shulick isn't far behind. "We have some gaps to fill, but if we can tweak some things, work on consistency and work on form, we will definitely be solid," said Smith. Clarke also joins the Green Wave roster and in addition to a rising average, Smith expects Saoirse will be among the more consistent bowlers on the team. "We want to have fun, but stay focused as we are looking to build off of last year's success," Smith said. "We will focus on both individual games and a team effort. We know that we have to make our own strides."
St. Edward Green Wave boys
Coach: Cindy Gaige (2nd season)
Home house: Elgin Lanes
Top bowlers: Jim Fraczek, Anthonly Bauer, John Currie, Joe Melone, Kevin Haggard, Mike Kondrath, Adam Gilles, Ryan Beem, Luke McCullagh
Outlook: The lone area school with a boys bowling team, St. Edward anticipates an excellent season to unveil in the weeks ahead. With four bowlers above the 160 mark in average, expect Fraczek (172), Bauer (165), Currie (164) and Kondrath (160) to lead the way for the Green Wave. St. Edward opened up the season against Suburban Catholic opponent Driscoll and saw a game-high 193 from Fraczek as well as a 192 from Bauer. Overall, the Green Wave have 28 boys out for the team this year.