Schwind, Schaumburg exceeding expectations

Sarah Schwind said she had a feeling that her Schaumburg team would be good this year.

She just didn't know how good.

"We knew we had two great freshmen coming in because we've been bowling with them for a while," said Schwind, a senior. "We thought we'd be better than last year, we just weren't sure how much better we would be."

Turns out the Saxons are having a spectacular season.

Schaumburg already has dominated the Mid-Suburban League this year, holding a commanding first-place lead while dropping only two games all season.

Saturday at the Prospect Invitational at Brunswick Zone in Mount Prospect, the Saxons proved that they could translate that conference success to tournament play.

Led by Schwind and the two aforementioned freshmen - Kylie Frick and Gina Lenoci - Schaumburg placed third at the invite amongst some of the state's top teams.

Waubonsie Valley (state champs in 2013 and 2014) won the tournament with a pinfall of 6,383, while Lockport (last year's titleists) was 2nd with 6,049.

The Saxons finished just behind at 5,892, with Schwind - who is considering attending either Purdue or Wichita State this fall - posting the sixth-best individual series at 1,261 for 6 games.

"I look at every tournament as the opportunity to improve," said the senior. "My dad has been keeping stats on every tournament for me for all four years, so I try to get better at every tourney I play in."

"When I'm bowling, though, I try not to pay attention to my score - as a matter of fact, I don't look at my scores at all because I'm worried it will get in my head. I pay more attention to how the team is doing."

Violet Kirk of Waubonsie was individual medalist at 1,373, Kaitlyn Keith from Lake Park (1331) finished second and junior Jessica Soskich of Buffalo Grove took third at 1,272.

Soskich, who has excelled all season, says a change in the way she delivers the ball has led to her success this year.

"I've slowed down my speed and shortened my backswing," said the junior. "I used to to throw the ball about 19 miles an hour, but now I've slowed it down to about 15, 16 miles an hour. I have more reaction that way and get a better pin carry.

"I love these Saturday tournaments. It's a lot of fun to watch all the great teams that are here and I try to learn from them. I have a lot of friends here, I cheer them on and they cheer me on. Our team was upbeat all day and we had the motivation going."

Lake Park finished fourth in the 36-team field, while West Aurora took fifth, Minooka was sixth and Buffalo Grove placed seventh.

Hoffman Estates finished eighth and was led by the strong efforts of Azaria Waits (1,210) and Jordyn Fera (1,207).

"I had a rough morning," said Fera, a senior, "but I picked it up in the afternoon session.

"It's kind of sad that it's my last season. I was thinking that after this year my high school bowling career will be done and I kind of had a panic attack."

"I thought, 'What if I come out here and do bad today?' Then I just told myself to just enjoy every moment of it. There's great competition here - teams like Schaumburg, Waubonsie Valley and Lockport are always at the state tournmanet - so if you want to get out of regionals, sectionals and advance to state, you've got to learn how to handle the pressure at tourneys like this."

Libertyville senior Taylor Sloan had the day's top game, a 287, while Elise London of Schaumburg posted a 1,226 series mark, which saw her finish 10th individually.

Angela Anzalone (1,157) earned the top score for Conant, while Ashley Hoffman (1,150) led Hersey's effort and Joanne Savage (1,150) excelled for the Bison.

And those two Schaumburg freshmen made quite an impact on the Saxon's third-place finish.

Both Frick (1,205) and Lenoci (1,204) placed in the top 20 amongst 180 bowlers.

"I've been in some little tournaments," said Leonic, "but nothing as big as this before."

Still, the frosh said she didn't let the big stage get to her in the least.

"With all the people out her watching you," said Lenoci, "you just try to do your best. I liked this. Everyone was cheering you on and it was super loud.

"I started out in the first game with a 194, and my second game was a little worse. Then I really picked it up the rest of the day."