Nothing “Middle Road” about Halas' performance
Saturday's prestigious Prospect girls bowling invitational was played on what is called a “Kegel Middle Road” lane pattern — which is a more challenging lane set-up than a normal house pattern.
Schaumburg senior Cheryl Halas didn't seem to mind in the least.
Halas recorded a four-game pinfall of 869 — including a 244 high game — as the Mid-Suburban League competitor captured the second-place individual medal at the tournament held at the Brunswick Zone in Mount Prospect.
Katie Keck of West Aurora was the individual winner with a total of 891 pins, while Plainfield Central took home the team championship — winning by 91 pins over runner-up Waubonsie Valley in the 36-team field.
“On a normal house lane set-up “you have a 3- or 4-board width when you can get to the pocket, and you can do it with a harder or softer shot,” said Schaumburg coach Mark Kelly. “With the Kegel it goes down to 2 boards, and you really have to time your speed and release.”
Halas tamed the vexing set-up — which is in the experimentation stage with a possible goal using it at the state tournament — with what Kelly called “her most complete performance of the year.”
“She's had a good season,” said Kelly, “but at her (other) tourneys she'd bowl a few great games but then have one fuddy-duddy game that would hold her back. Today she put it all together. She was solid the whole tournament.”
“It was a long trek today,” Halas said. “I was focused and it was my best performance of the year so far.”
The senior agreed that the middle road pattern was more difficult.
“It's more challenging to strike on this (set-up),” said Halas, “so making your spares is even more a big deal than usual. You have to play much tighter than you usually do.”
Halas, who is in her second season on varsity, participated with her teammates at the state tournament in Rockford last year.
“That was the best experience,” Halas said. “The energy their was amazing. You don't get that feeling at any other meet.”
Jodi Gawlik (770, tie for 17th place) contributed to the Saxons' fourth-place showing in the state-tourney-rated field. Sophomore teammate Cheyenne Pfeiffer had a 733, good for a top-30 finish.
Elk Grove junior Ashley Dolce knocked down 821 pins to claim the 10th-place medal, while classmate Tedra Tado rolled an 810, good for 13th place as the Grens placed fifth in the team standings.
Palatine senior Barbie Gutwein, a former state qualifier, finished 12th, and Hoffman Estates freshman Sarah Wille was 15th.
“I think we're going to surprise a lot of people this year,” Halas said. “I know we're a little down right now in conference (the Saxons are fourth behind Elk Grove, Prospect and Hoffman), but I think we're going to pull it out.”