Girls bowling: Hersey pins down first MSL title since '81

Kayla Knauss felt like it was time to lighten the mood.

The Hersey JV bowler, at Arlington Lanes Saturday to support her varsity teammates at the Mid-Suburban League girls bowling championship meet, watched as the Huskies struggled to hold on to first place in the final game.

So Knauss and Jess Schmiederer came out dressed as, respectively, a bowling pin and a bowling ball.

"We were kind of expecting that," said Huskies senior Delanie Steinweg, who said that she had already seen the Knauss-and-Schmiederer routine at practice. "But it did put a smile on our faces."

Those smiles were nothing compared to the jubilation that ensued when Hersey was announced as the MSL champions.

The Huskies rode a 1,020 series in the third game to a 5,584 total pinfall and an MSL crown.

Hersey's point total of 167 - 84 of which came during the conference season and the other 83 from Saturday's meet - saw them outpoint Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg, who tied for second place 10 points behind. Conant took fourth in the ream race with 145.

Barrington sophomore Sarah Tenyer made history for the Fillies.

Tenyer took the conference individual title with an overall average of 202.28, the only plus-200 mark in the league.

"I'm very excited for her," said Barrington coach Sam Raia. "She set a goal of becoming conference champion this year and she achieved that goal.

"Nobody deserves this more than Sarah. She's an extremely hard worker and she's probably the best bowler in the state from the seventh frame on. She finishes stronger than any kid I've ever seen and she can turn a low game into a great score."

For the Huskies, it was a celebration of perseverance for three talented seniors - Marissa Allen, Kait Roscoe and Steinweg - who have been there since they were freshmen.

"It's a little surreal," said Allen of Hersey's first league title in 34 years, "but this is a team that trusts one another. If anyone has a bad game, their teammates are there to pick her up.

"All year we've had the mindset that we're not playing for ourselves, we're playing for our team. That's difficult to say when you're struggling, but everyone has been there to support each other."

Sophomore Emma Wrenn, as she has done all season, led Hersey Saturday with a 261 high game and a 1,294 series.

Wrenn finished second individually with a 199.72 average while Sarah Schwind of Schaumburg (198.64) was third, just ahead of teammate Jessica Halas (193.85). Jordyn Fera of Hoffman finished fifth with an overall mark of 193.33

Joanne Savage of Buffalo Grove and Karsyn Burgess from Wheeling were honored at Arlington for their 300 games bowled earlier in the year, while Tenyer had the best three-game series of the season, a 707. Places 6 through 10 went to Angela Anzalone of Conant, Jacklyn Peters of Elk Grove, Amanda Richae of Hoffman, BG's Jessica Soskich and Savage.

Allen's top game of 235 at the championship meet, along with the 1,134 series from Roscoe, helped propel the Huskies to their first title since the 1980-81 season.

Roscoe said even after the final ball was rolled, she and her teammates weren't sure that the effort had put them over the top.

"It was close," said the senior. "I'm glad we were able to pull through."

Then came the results ceremony and the celebration was on.

"I'm so proud of these girls," said Hersey coach Julie Arias. "They've come so far.

"I chalk this up to effort, focus, and teamwork. From the beginning, each and every player has been there to give support to their teammates, from the regulars to the substitutes. They were together."

And the final word on the championship came from Knauss, who couldn't have been more excited for her varsity teammates.

"It's been a great year for the entire program," said Knauss, whose junior varsity team also excelled this season. "We've all bonded and it's been an incredible experience."