Prospect's Dawson is getting it done

Kendall Dawson is one of those rare high school athletes who excels at three sports.

The Prospect senior plays varsity tennis and is a standout as well on the badminton team, where she placed in the top 32 in doubles at last spring's state tournament.

She's also proving this season that she can be outstanding on the lanes for Prospect's girls bowling team.

Dawson led the way for the Knights with a 636 series as Prospect outrolled Wheeling 2,760 pins to 2,272 for a 9-0 win at Arlington Lanes in Wednesday's Mid-Suburban League bowling meet.

"This was Kendall's best day of the year," said Knights coach Greg Troyer. "She's been very consistent all season but never put three games together like she did tonight."

The senior tallied a 215, a 188 and a 233 first game where she rolled 8 consecutive strikes.

"The amazing thing about that (233 game) is that she started off with three opens," said Troyer. "Then came the 8-bagger."

The long-time Knights coach added that Dawson has made a solid improvement this campaign.

"Kendall started off strong last year but struggled a little down the stretch. Now that it's her senior year she's more focused. She's always been a good spare shooter but now she's stringing the strikes together."

Dawson said that it does get to be "a bit hectic" juggling sports year-round in addition to her studies, but it obviously doesn't hurt her in the grades department as she's on the A honor roll.

"I think playing sports (in each season) actually has helped me manage my time better," said the senior. "It's just kind of hard to believe that I'm in my final semester and it'll soon be coming to an end."

Dawson has narrowed her college choices down to possibly Nebraska, Vanderbilt or Illinois State, but knows next fall will be completely different.

"In a way I'm ready to go," said Dawson, referring to her upcoming graduation, "but in another way I want to stay. My best friend lives right down the block and we're starting to realize that pretty soon we'll be gone."

Hersey's season kept rolling right along at Arlington as the Huskies defeated Rolling Meadows behind a 603 series from Emma Wrenn and an opening 212 from junior Zoe Sarbekian.

"Hard work and dedication," said Sarbekian when asked the reason for Hersey's success this year. "We've been putting our hearts into it and all of the hard work is paying off."

Sarbekian said the Huskies goal this year is to make it to the state tournament in Rockford, although she and her teammates try not to focus on that.

"We kind of throw it out there," she said, "but really we try to take it one day at a time and take care of the business at hand."

Buffalo Grove's Jessica Soskich fired games of 236 and 193 as the Bison won over Barrington.

"I was energized and excited at the beginning of tonight's match," said the sophomore. "Then I struggled a little as the lanes started to break down and got frustrated. It was an OK day but I could have pushed myself a little harder.

"That's what my teammates and I do - we cheer each other on when we have a bad game and that helps us push through. We play as a team and not as individuals."

Schaumburg, behind Jessica Halas (678) defeated Hoffman Estates despite an outstanding effort from Amanda Richae of the Hawks, who rolled games of 237, 237 and 225.

Conant won over Fremd behind Angela Anzalone (633), while Arie Upshaw (204 game) helped contribute to Prospect's big victory.

The Knights are now focused on the remainder of the MSL season as well as the upcoming playoffs.

"Our team is mostly seniors," said Dawson, "so the ultimate goal is to go to state. First thought we've got to focus on our goal of winning regionals, getting to sectionals and then we'll see what happens there."