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Natalie Cortese thrives under national spotlight

There won't be any surprise with the outcome.

There is no way Natalie Cortese can be kept in the dark.

She already knows what happened in the Denny's All-American High School Championships.

It won't keep Cortese from watching the tape-delayed broadcast at noon Sunday on ESPN of the bowling equivalent of the McDonald's All-American basketball game or U.S. Army All-American Bowl in football.

"I think it's going to be weird," Cortese said Monday night. "What the commentary is going to be like -- I'm curious about that, too."

It should be pretty favorable since the Hoffman Estates senior won the girls title last weekend in New Brunswick, N.J.

"It was just awesome," said Cortese, one of 16 girls chosen from across the country for the second running of the event. "It's the biggest thing I've ever won.

"The whole experience, meeting all the people … if the people (running it) weren't as good as they were it would have been a completely different experience."

Cortese doesn't figure to have any nerves watching her 239-193 victory over Samantha Santoro of Pennsylvania.

After all, Cortese had different emotions about the weekend that also had 16 of the country's top boys high school bowlers.

"I just get really anxious," said Cortese, a three-time, top-12 state medalist who helped Hoffman win the 2006 state title. "Not so much nervous but anxious waiting for the day to come. On the plane ride out there, I just wanted to bowl."

Bowling in the event was one of Cortese's goals. Competitors were chosen from states that recognize bowling as a varsity sport.

Academics were also a big factor and Cortese has a3.7 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and a 25 ACT.

But what about Cortese's talented twin sister Amanda since only one person from Illinois would be selected?

"She didn't apply," Natalie said. "She wanted me to get the chance to do it. She was like, 'You want to do it.' "

Cortese received word of her selection about a month ago. She left with her parents on Friday morning and practiced in the afternoon.

The event, which was held Sunday after the finals of the 65th annual U.S. Open, treated the competitors just like the pros.

There was a banquet. All meals and transportation were taken care of by the tourney organizers.

"They treated everyone unbelievably," Cortese said.

Cortese knew a lot of the bowlers she was up against. But the powerful field didn't diminish her confidence.

"I keep track of stuff in the bowling world," Cortese said. "I knew some of the girls going into it. Everyone knows who Brittni Hamilton (from New York) is.

"If I went out there and bowled my game I knew I'd be fine. You have to be confident in your own game and know you're there for a reason and they chose you for a reason."

Cortese made it through the first 8 games Saturday morning, which is usually her weakest part, as the field was cut to eight for match play. Then she got rolling, edging Hamilton to reach Sunday's main event with Santoro.

Bowling on national television didn't faze Cortese.

"Sitting through the pro telecast was awesome but you start thinking, 'OK, I've got to do it next,' " Cortese said. "I didn't really think about it (being on TV).

"Afterward I thought this will be cool. Before I didn't really think about it. All I had to do was win one match and I just focused on that."

Cortese took control early with 5 of her 7 strikes in succession. She also earned a $3,000 scholarship, which will help as she goes with her sister to NCAA bowling power Central Missouri.

Cortese will major in art education. But bowling professionally is a consideration.

"If the opportunity is out there in the future, sure," Cortese said. "If it's a possibility, why not?"

And it's possible Cortese could end up bowling before TV audiences again.

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