Antioch likes 'new' home
There's no place like home ... There's no place like home ... It felt like a dream during the first part of the girls bowling season for Antioch's girls bowling team. But the Sequoits finally feel like they are back home.
Antioch's bowling team didn't have to click their bowling shoes returning back to its friendly confines at Antioch Lanes on Tuesday.
#8220;We're just glad to be back at home,#8221; Antioch coach Jeff Childress said. #8220;Making the trip to Waukegan (at Bertrand Lanes) every day was like an away meet every night.#8221;
Antioch also rolled like it had never left, getting past visiting Stevenson 2,653-2,192 in a North Suburban crossover match.
Antioch Lanes reopened Dec. 15 after six months of remodeling that was needed after a summer storm left the structure with water damage. The lanes were also replaced with a synthetic surface as part of the building's upgrade.
#8220;It's new to us and for the teams coming in,#8221; Childress said. #8220;We have a homefield or home-court advantage but it's new to everybody.#8221;
Bowlers from Antioch were able to get a few games in through the holiday break, but only had two official practices.
#8220;This really felt like our real first home meet,#8221; said Kelsey Schreiber, who shot a 552 series and had a team-high 208 in the third game. #8220;We really never thought we'd miss Antioch (Lanes). We're glad to be back.
#8220;The lanes are challenging and we're still trying to figure them out. It's different than last time. But coming off wood lanes at Bertrand's, it's a challenge. You just have to get used to the pattern.#8221;
Katy Bain led Antioch with a team-high 554 and a game-high 203. Stevie Lindberg added a 524, Symantha Rolph rolled a 517 and Allyson Mathias had a 506.
#8220;Seeing the place for the first time was like, oh my gosh, because it's just so different,#8221; said Bain. #8220;The lanes are like plastic. It seems like everything is different, along with the atmosphere.#8221;
Caitlyn Silver-Sullivan led the Patriots with a 495 series with a high game of 173, and Marisa Schwern added a 490 with a high game of 183.
#8220;I thought the lanes were the same,#8221; Stevenson coach Gina Johnson said. #8220;We did well, and we didn't do well. It's a synthetic shot and I didn't think it was all that much of a difference. It's a house advantage, because it's not the shot that we bowl on. Antioch is a good bowling team and they bowled well.#8221;