St. Edward’s Galati rolling smoothly
Most bowlers would be happy to add 30 pins to their average in a lifetime.
St. Edward sophomore Dean Galati has done so in one year.
And because of that, Galati will be in the field today and Saturday when the IHSA state final boys bowling tournament is held at St. Clair Lanes in downstate O’Fallon.
“I’ve got great coaching, I’ve got the latest equipment and it’s been a lot of hard work and practice,” Galati said of turning a 160 average last year into a 190 this season.
“I just had to focus and slow down. I was trying to rush everything before and now it’s pretty smooth.”
Galati, an Algonquin resident, qualified for state by rolling a 1,337 series for 6 games at last weekend’s Sycamore sectional. That total gave him second place in the sectional behind the 1,352 rolled by Hall Township’s David McManus. Galati had a 734 in his second series of 3 games.
“I was ecstatic,” Galati said of his reaction when he realized he had qualified for state. “I never thought I’d do that well.”
Galati has been bowling since he was 4 years old and credits his dad, Richard, and St. Edward coaches Kyle Bault and Jason Bault for his improvement over the years.
“My dad helped keep me into it,” Galati said.
Galati uses a 4-step approach and says he’s not really a power bowler.
“I used to be real big on finesse,” he said. “Now since I’ve slowed down it’s more smooth. The ball just rolls off my hand.”
Galati doesn’t have any visions of grandeur this weekend.
“I just want to go out there and do the best I can,” he said. “That’s the best kids in the state. I’m not so much looking to place as to use this as a learning experience. I’ll just take it slow and see what happens.”
The other area bowlers at state this weekend are Bartlett junior Marcus Angus and Streamwood senior Steve Welch. Angus rolled a 1,283 for third place at the Lake Park sectional and Welch a 1,247 for fourth place.
Defending champion Kyle Anderson of Lockport rolled a 1,290 at sectionals to advance again but there were six bowlers who broke 1,400 at sectionals, including Deerfield junior Quinn Thomas, who had a state-best 1,462.
Lake Park is one of the favorites to win its second team title in the last three years. Plainfield South, which edged the Lancers for the team title last year, did not qualify this year. Rockford Guilford, Andrew and Sycamore figure to threaten for the title.