Girls bowling: Seniors Fera, Anzalone lead the way in MSL

The Mid-Suburban League has long been known for featuring some of the top bowling talent in the state on a yearly basis, particularly from its competitors in the senior class.

This season should be no different, especially with Jordyn Fera and Angela Anzalone leading the way.

Anzalone, from Conant and Fera, of Hoffman Estates, have been varsity standouts since their freshman years, and are both poised to take on their most successful campaigns yet.

Their list of accomplishments is already impressive, with both seniors having advanced all the way to the state finals in Rockford two of their first three years.

Anzalone was an individual sectional champion in 2013 and helped lead her Cougars to a team sectional title, won an individual regional championship in 2014 and finished in the top 10 of the MSL in 2014-15 with a 192 average.

Fera has also excelled, having propelled the Hawks to a conference championship and a trophy-winning third-place state finish in her career. She led her team to a perfect conference record two years ago and has finished in the top 13 in conference two consecutive years.

"Jordyn has been a two-year team captain," said Hoffman Estates coach Daniel Pfligler, "and she is a pleasure to have on the team and to coach. She is very determined in everything she does at the bowling alley and in the classroom. She's dedicated to doing her best in everything she does and tries to reach perfection and never settles for average."

Conant coach Jennifer Mikrut was just as effusive in her praise for Anzalone.

"It's been a privilege and a pleasure working with Angela," said Mikrut, "as well as watching her grow up and mature through the years. She's shown me her passion and excitement for bowling and is one of the hardest-working athletes I have ever worked with. She is a go-getter with a whatever-it-takes attitude."

Both players are very experienced at their sport, each having competed in bowling for at least 10 years, and having also played together in the same league at one point.

Anzalone. who at one time participated in track and field and basketball but had to give up those sports due to a knee injury, knew she was good enough to step right in to a starting spot on varsity in her freshman year, and was committed to proving the doubters wrong.

"As a frosh coming in, I was really nervous," said Anzalone. "I had a feeling that people were looking down on me, thinking that I wasn't good enough, but I knew that I was and knew that I'd be able to achieve my goals.

"I've been in bowling programs all my life, but it was when I got into high school that I got more serious about it and started to realize just how good I could be.

"Some people don't understand just how difficult bowling is, and I push myself as hard as I can to get better."

Fera agrees with that assessment, stating that just by being around all the great bowlers in the MSL, and also the ones she's competed against in tournaments and in the playoffs.

"I most definitely agree that I'm my own toughest critic," said Fera. "I have very high standards, and even sometimes when I throw a strike, I tell myself that it wasn't the way I wanted to hit the pocket and come up with a way of changing the way I throw the ball."

Both bowlers say they were surprised by the wild and frenetic atmosphere they encountered early on at meets and tourneys early in their careers.

"It was so crazy," said Fera. "I started as a leadoff bowler, and seeing all the fans there, and the parents climbing ladders to watch you play, and cheering with you was quite and experience."

"I was the anchor bowler last year, and going from leadoff to anchor is tough. Leadoff you just go up and bowl, anchor you have to wait for everybody else."

Each of the two seniors have made a name for themselves at the state finals at the Cherry Bowl in Rockford, and both Anzalone and Fera consider the trips they've made the year-end tournament some of the best times they've had on the lanes.

Fera rolled a 205.1 average in last year's meet while Anzalone was just behind her friend and rival with a 204.9. As a sophomore, Fera finished in 21st position overall with a 211.6, including a high game of 267. Anzalone started off with a bang as a frosh, posting games of 258 and 248 in the pressure-packed arena.

"Being at state was such a cool experience," said Anzalone. "It's such a different environment. I think what I remember most about it is just travelling there and being there with people who I know really care about me, my family and my team, which is basically like another family to me."

"There are just so many good teams there," added Fera, "and so many good bowlers everywhere you turn. I enjoy it, though - my coach sometimes makes fun of me because I'm not the 100-percent best bowler in practice, but I'm a completely different person when the lights come on and it gets competitive. That's where I thrive."

Fera and Anzalone are both looking forward to and planning for their next step after high school, but will be proceeding on different

paths.

Anzalone, with her music and arts background, is considering attending the Art Institute of Chicago next fall, but also has to weigh that against continuing her bowling career at schools such as McKendree or Jackson State.

Fera, meanwhile, has already signed to play softball at DePauw University, where she'll continue her stellar career as a third baseman.

But for now they're both focused on their senior year studies and the bowling season, in which each has a goal of getting back to Rockford at season's end along with their teammates.

"Hoffman Estates always has a strong team," said Fera, "and this year I'm anticipating my role to be the same as it was last year, except that now I'm a little older and know the ropes. I'm going to try to use my experience to help the younger kids and tell them exactly what I've gone through."

"I'm definitely going to have the role of a leader," agreed Anzalone. "If the coaches are busy, I know that my teammates can come to me if they have any questions because I know what to do, and it means a lot to me that they trust me like that."

As far as what their most proud of enroute to their success on the lanes, Fera says that "it's all about helping the younger kids coming in and doing your best to help them succeed", while Anzalone adds that "I'd say finding myself and finding something I'm really good at, and pushing myself to do the best that I can."

And the final word comes from their long time coaches.

"The leadership abilities of Angela," said Mikrut, "motivate our team to improve their skills every day. She has given so much thus far and I can't wait to she what she accomplishes during her senior year."

Same goes for Pfligler about Fera.

"Jordyn wants to excel at every challenge she tries," said Pfligler. "She never complains and she is extremely motivated to succeed at high levels and encourage her teammates to do the same."