Siska, Walsh on a roll at Palatine Invitational
The tendency for most bowlers in a six-game tourney is to do their best in the first 3 games, then fade a bit at the end as fatigue sets in.
Sarah Siska and Allison Walsh, to the contrary, seem to get even stronger.
Siska, a senior from Jacobs, rolled 3 games over 200 in the afternoon session to score a 1,271 series and edge Prospect’s Walsh (1,268) — who was outstanding with final games of 275 and 235 — for the individual championship at Saturday’s Palatine Invitational held at AMF Lanes in Rolling Meadows.
“I owe it all to my coach today,” said senior Siska, who participated in the state tournament in Rockford two years ago while only a sophomore. “He (Jim Rood) helped me find my target, and moved me where I needed to move when I needed to move.”
The late-day rally was no surprise for Walsh, an outstanding all-around athlete who won this year’s Class 2A individual golf crown at Hickory Point in Decatur.
“It definitely helps that I play sports year round,” said Walsh of her endurance, “but bowling, like golf, is more about the mental game. I never give up and neither does our team.”
Walsh said the quick turnaround for this year’s championship golf season (Prospect also won the team title) to the bowling season was a bit tough, but nothing she couldn’t handle.
“Tryouts for bowling were about three weeks after golf ended, so for those three weeks I tried to do absolutely nothing. But once bowling started I got into it quick — I love the game, and I love my teammates.”
The senior’s outstanding day led Prospect to a second-place team finish with a score of 5,486. Lockport (5,818) took home the team trophy while Warren, led by senior Casey Brown (1,239, sixth individually), finished third.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Warren coach Rick Novak. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a team that has the talent to shoot this well at a tournament.”
Novak also had nothing but praise for Brown.
“She’s been solid this year, and actually she’s been solid for all four years she’s been here,” said Novak. “You couldn’t ask for a nicer kid or a better bowler. She’s very team oriented.”
Nikki Pochey of Fenton (1,249) finished fourth overall and had the tourney’s top 3-game series, a 685.
Ashley Zobrist of Zion-Benton (1,221) was seventh, Kelly Morse (1,167) of Warren and Shannon Maiers (1,160) enjoyed solid invites, while Conant senior Sammi Van De Linde’s stellar season continued.
Van De Linde rolled the day’s high game, a 279, and actually held the tournament led after the morning session with a 673.
“She’s a great kid and a great all-around athlete,” said Cougars coach Jennifer Mikrut of the senior. “She’s so dedicated and very coachable, and with her hard work and competitiveness she’s only going to continue to improve.”
Van De Linde said that it came as a surprise to her that she was the invitational leader at the break.
“They kept it a secret from me,” said the senior, a soccer standout who was on her way after the tourney to a college visit at Detroit Mercy University.
Van De Linde, who’s been excelling despite having a cast and wrap on her left arm after sustaining a sprain earlier this year (playing soccer), said she was able to maintain her concentration despite bowling on the next lane to tourney champs Lockport.
“Their cheering is rather intense,” said Van De Linde, “and sometimes in can get in your head, but I was able to shake it off and keep my concentration. I actually felt I should have done better today (she finished just outside the top 15), but I got a little tired in game six.”