Elk Grove roars to title; Schaumburg qualifies

The talented Elk Grove girls bowling team has excelled all season.

But never have the Grens had a day like they did Saturday in the Rolling Meadows sectional at AMF Lanes.

Elk Grove stormed out of the gate from the first frame of the first game, acheiving a total pinfall of 6,030 enroute to an impressive sectional victory.

Schaumburg, behind sectional medalist Jodi Gawlik (1,368), finished second to claim the other state team berth.

Carina Balan of Hersey and Conant's Stephanie Vura qualified to compete downstate as individuals.

The two-day IHSA state meet begins Friday at Cherry Bowl Lanes in Rockford.

"This is amazing," said Sarah Bunta, the only senior on the Grens' youthful squad. "Four years of hard work have paid off. We practiced here (at AMF Rolling Meadows) almost every day this week, working on different drills in pressure situations and that helped us a lot."

Sophomore Ashley Dolce led the Grens with a 1,267 series that included a 266. Junior Caerlina Williams (1,254, 243), sophomore Tedra Tado (1,253, 235) and Bunta (1,201, 227) all made important contributions.

It's the first time the Grens have advanced to the state finals as a team in over 10 years.

"I'm ecstatic," said Grens coach Kim Sander. "The girls came out on fire. They showed up with great teamwork and supported each other all day. They truly deserve this victory."

Gawlik's impressive performance included a 290 in her first game.

"We're so excited" said the junior. "It feels great to go downstate as a team. There are going to be some big fish to fry in Rockford. There'll be a lot of good teams, including Elk Grove."

For Conant senior Vura, whose total of 1,307 was good for second place overall, the state qualification was a culmination of four years of hard work.

"I'm so excited," said Vura, who shot 277 in her fourth game. "This is something I've wanted ever since I've started bowling."

"She was on her mark all day," said Conant coach Jennifer Childress. "She was just bowling strike after strike after strike."

The Cougars finished third in the team standings, 161 pins behind Schaumburg.

"I'm so proud of all the girls, especially my seniors (Vura, Brianna Carroo, Susan DiLillo, and Shannon Hallberg). They worked together and had a positive attitude all day."

Hersey's Balan credited her qualification to hard work in practice and an equipment change midseason.

"I had a good year last year but started slow this year," Balan said. "I was wearing a wrist guard at the beginning of the season but I took it off. It was hindering me more than helping me. This is my first trip to the state tournament so I'm going to have fun and enjoy it, and I hope to do as well or better than I did today."

Palatine senior Ashley Cramer (1,218) just missed qualifying, as did Carroo (1,188), Hoffman Estates' Lisa Papeck (1,186) and Conant's Sam Pincenti (1,179).

Other solid scorers in the sectional included Rolling Meadows' Mary Dahlin (1,166) and Prospect's Whitney Schmidt (1,152).

But the day belonged to the Grenadiers.

"We're so excited," Dolce said. "We can't wait to make the trip to state."

Whitney Young sectionalLeyden freshman Danielle Trevino finished fifth in the individual standings of the Whitney Young sectional at Diversey Lanes with a pinfall of 1,101. Trevino is in the running for an at-large state berth.Whitney Young won the team title with 5,522, followed by Resurrection (5,253) and Leyden (5,192).