Quality Warren team, right on schedule

Warren’s girls bowling has been successful on the lanes and in the classroom in recent years.

The Blue Devils have shown consistency since the program began more than 30 years ago.

“We have good feeder programs,” Warren coach Rick Novak said. “It gives us more girls to choose from. You need dedicated bowlers. It’s not necessarily how good they are. They have to be dedicated to the Warren concept and the sport. As coaches, we’ve relied on the dedication to be strong in school and on the lanes.”

Novak enters his eighth year as head coach. He was an assistant for 10 years before that under Bob Tatgenhorst and Jim Voutaritsis.

Warren has competed at state 14 times, including two years ago, and placed sixth in 1994. During that span, the Blue Devils have won the sectional five times.

“Maybe we’ve been lucky,” Novak said. “It’s been good to get good bowlers to come out.”

Warren had an individual state champion in Arlene Hidalgo in 1994. Several Blue Devils have gone on to bowl in college.

Warren returns senior Terra Telow and junior Emily Hughes. Junior Lizzie Harrison is a transfer from Zion-Benton. Other new bowlers include junior Ariel Feltman and sophomores Jamie Bratzke and Ariel Haith.

Novak expects competition in the North Suburban Conference to be similar to past years. Wauconda is the defending champ.

“Over the years, it’s always been Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Antioch, Zion-Benton and us,” Novak said. “It’s all been good fun. We root for everybody.”