Buffalo Grove's Soskich in super shape at state again

Jessica Soskich finished Day 1 of the girls bowling state finals in the same position she ended up in last year.

At the top of the leaderboard.

Soskich, a senior from Buffalo Grove, claimed the individual championship last season with a 2-day pinfall of 2,749, a 229.1 average.

Friday, she made a big push to repeat.

Soskich rolled a 6-game total of 1,399 to lead Bailey Delrose of Lockport by 12 pins heading into the second and final day of the tourney Saturday.

"Jessica missed the pocket only four times today," said BG coach Jean Tripam. "They (the lanes) were dryer today, and she has the power and the ability to stay behind the ball."

Machesney Park Harlem leads the team race at the turn with a pinfall of 6,293, with Lockport in second and O'Fallon in third.

Hoffman Estates stands in eighth place, good enough to compete in the second day of the tournament as the top 12 teams advanced.

The Mid-Suburban League champion Hawks were paced by senior Amanda Richae. She had a high game of 263 enroute to a 1,350 total, and she's only 49 pins behind Soskich, in eighth position.

Emma Wrenn of Hersey fired games of 256 and 248 to end the day in 14th place individually.

Arie Upshaw of Prospect had a high game of 235 as she finished 16th; Sarah Tenyer from Barrington shot a 268 in her final game to stay in contention; while Kylie Frick of Schaumburg had a 275.

Now all eyes will be on Soskich. The senior excelled on the first day with an ultra-consistent 708 series in the morning Friday, one that included a 258 game, then earned a line of 219-238-234 in the afternoon to overtake Delrose and Mirica Yancey of Waubonsie Valley, who is third, just 27 pins back of Soskich.

The field is bunched with 11 bowlers sitting within 84 pins of the BG senior, setting the stage for a competitive Saturday.

"Jessica's going to stay positive," said Tripam, "and just come out here tomorrow and do what she knows how to do."