Richae, Hoffman Estates lead the way in regional victory

When asked for a comment about senior Amanda Richae, Hoffman Estates girls bowling coach Dan Pfligler didn't talk about her terrific bowling skills.

Instead, the coach focused on her stellar character and what's she meant over the years to the Hawks team.

"Amanda strives to be perfect," said Pfligler. "She's a great leader and a great role model. She doesn't get down on herself or her teammates - she wants to succeed and be the best she can be."

Add up those attributes, and toss in the fact that Richae is one of the best bowlers in the state, and you've got yourself a regional champion.

On Saturday at Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates, Richae fired a 1,264 series with a top game of 223 to win the Hoffman Estates regional individual medal going away.

The clutch performance led the Hawks to the regional team title and a berth in next week's Fremd sectional at Arlington Lanes.

Richae has already had tremendous success at the state tournament in Rockford - she's posted two top 25 finishes the last two years in leading her team - but the senior says that right now the Hawks are not getting ahead of themselves.

"We want to stay in the present and not look too far into the future," said Richae. "First we want to get out of sectionals, then we can focus on state. It's one step at a time."

Schaumburg and Hersey finished 2-3 in the team race at Poplar Creek, and both teams also qualified for sectionals.

The Saxons were led by sophomore Kylie Frick, who finished third overall individually with a 1,224 (264 game). Hersey was paced by junior Caroline Stiefbold (1,141, 233).

The top 10 bowlers not affiliated with a qualifying team also move on to the Fremd sectional, and leading the way in that category was Prospect senior Arie Upshaw.

Upshaw, who has come on strong late in the season, rolled the day's highest game, a 269.

Klaudia Tatowska from Rolling Meadows will move on after posting an 1,157 series.

Mary Conneely from Maine West and Victoria Odarczenko of Maine South also advanced as individuals.

Neither the Warriors nor the Hawks have a bowling team, but IHSA rules state that the competitors can bowl on their own.

"It was much more difficult this year," said Odarczenko, who also advanced out of regionals last season. "This was a harder house."

Keith Engeriser, an elementary school teacher and Maine South baseball coach, serves as Odarczenko's coach and advisor for the bowling postseason.

"It was a big step up for Victoria last year when she got out of regionals, sectionals and advanced to the state tournament," said Engeriser. "She's got more of a maturity level this year, and she's made a tremendous leap in her preparation. She knows herself and she knows what she needs to do to succeed."

Heather Schmidt of Meadows (1,063) will move on, as will Stephanie Judkins (1,053) and Piper Miles (1,025) of Fremd.

"This means the world to me," said Miles, a junior who boosted her average by over 10 pins from last year. "There's a lot of stress bowling on varsity, and I couldn't have done it without the help and support of my teammates."

Allison Buck of Prospect was on the outside looking in going in to game 6 Saturday, but she bowled well enough in her final game (182) to surpass the rivals in front of her and earn the ninth individual advancement berth.

The announcement of the qualification came as a complete surprise to Buck.

"Her reaction was priceless," said Knights coach Ashley Ruszczak. "We kept her in the dark about her scores so it wouldn't get inside her head."

"I didn't think I had a chance," added Buck, "although I did hear my parents whispering and I heard my dad say that maybe there was a shot. "I said 'no way,' so I was shocked when they called out Prospect and my name. I chalk it up to all the support I received from my teammates - that meant a lot."

Katie Elms of Conant earned the final individual advancement with a 989 series.

For the second-place Saxons, Gina Lenoci helped along the effort with an 1,160 series.

Hersey, in third, received a sterling effort from Mid-Suburban League champion Emma Wrenn, who bowled a 1,119.

For the champion Hawks, who boasted a 5,556 total pinfall, Alexis Orwat finished second overall, with games of 260 and 204 enroute to a 1,227.

Richae added games of 207, 206, and 205, Kelly Paradowski pitched in with a 222 sixth game while Allura Magsino fired a 213.

"The kids had fun today," said Pfligler. "We started slow - we were fourth after the first game - but we came on strong."