Rossi, Warren take lead role
When a team gets on a roll at the end of the season, there's no telling where they might go.
Take, for instance, the Warren girls bowling team.
The Blue Devils have hit their stride of late, with the most recent evidence their Grayslake North regional triumph at Lakes bowl on Saturday in Round Lake.
Warren captured the title by knocking down 5,762 pins over the six games. Grayslake North was second (5,325), Grant followed up in third (5,148) and McHenry took fourth (5,122). All four teams advance to the Belvidere sectional at Forest Hills Lanes in Loves Park next Saturday.
Warren's Kayla Rossi was the sectional individual champion with a 1,298.
"We had a lot of good rolls here today," Warren coach KC Lange said. "That's what we've been focusing on. They've got all the tools they need. They've done real well rolling the ball and they have a good chance of rolling strikes.
" I do think as a group they've prepared mentally and have grown this season like we've hoped. The thing that we were looking forward to is that we can return to form, like we did last year. You have to make your spares. The teams that do well are the ones that make their spares. We just have to have to be consistent."
The Blue Devils came up with a 1,003 before lunch and tossed a 1,109 in game number four.
Rossi led the way with a 724 series with games of 259, 243 and 224.
"The team helped out so much," Rossi said. "We were having so much fun. It was so inspiring. When we're doing so well, nobody can touch us."
Other Blue Devils' bowlers where Victoria Dizon (1,216, with a high game of 265, Hayley Gregerson (1,189), Maggie Faje (1,091), Macayla Powers (335, 2 games), Amanda Yoder (316, 2 games) and Sulmarie McGee (317, 2 games).
Gaby Silva of Grayslake North was the runner-up at 1,254 with high games of 246, 244 and 241.
"The team was at their best and I tried my best," Silva said. "Our team is unique. Especially at the beginning (of the year), we had a rough season. But we kicked butt in practice to get here. We do work hard and love each other like sisters."
The other Knights bowlers were Payton Bertermann (1,136), Taylor Bell (1,078), Emily Mack (839), Melissa Barnett (539, 3 games) and Shaina Lesniewicz (460, 3 games).
Grayslake North extended its streak of consecutive sectional appearances to seven.
"They continue to improve and work on stamina, the mental game and trying to close frames," said Grayslake North coach Laura Bertermann. "That's really what we focus on. We still have a lot of work to do bowling in one of the toughest sectionals."
Grant advanced with a good group effort.
"It's a goal that the girls set out early in the season," Grant coach Beth Ann Miller. "They're excited to go as a team. I expected them to get through, but I thought we might be stronger in the afternoon."
Nautyca Thul led the way for the Bulldogs with 1,098, followed by Marisa Garcia (1,071), Emily Bajurski (1,043), Christina Brondi (974) and Jayme Goodrum (962).
Of the individuals that qualified for next week, Grayslake Central's Colleen Thake was the final one to make the cut with a 1,046.
"I'm just happy that I made it," said Thake, a junior. "I've never placed in anything. It's my first time bowling on the team (this year). I have no words and I'm just so happy."
Her teammate Kelsey Holst made the sectional for a third straight year (1,123). Others to advance were Emily Voight of Lakes (1,247), Antioch's Sam Knab (1,184) and Jayme Bailey (1,112), Emily Owens of Johnsburg (1,046), Libertyville's Katelyn Rubalanza (1,066) and Ally Doherty (1,049) and Samantha Smith of Round Lake (1,052).
"It was really a support of every around me to get (to the sectional)." Smith said. "It was definitely tough competition, but it was great to get there."