Operational success: Buffalo Grove's Soskich a state champion

Earlier in the year, Buffalo Grove bowler Jessica Soskich suffered a devastating injury which could have curtailed her season.

Instead, the junior overcame it to win a state championship.

Soskich posted a 2-day pinfall of 2,749 to win the individual state title by 13 pins over runner-up Gracie Plese of Joliet West on Saturday at the Cherry Bowl in Rockford.

Joliet West won the team trophy.

"This is amazing," Soskich said. "I'm on cloud nine right now."

At the Wauconda tourney this year, Soskich ruptured the tendon on one of the fingers on her bowling hand.

She saw an orthopedic surgeon for the wound, and after treatment the doctor gave Soskich some good news.

"He said, 'I know you love to bowl,' " Soskich said. "So if it feels better, you can bowl.' "

So the junior, despite missing some league action, was able to excel in regionals and sectionals - with her fingers taped up - to advance to the state finals along with her team.

Then on day one of the state meet Friday, Soskich posted a 1,347 to place seventh midway through.

"I just had a feeling," said longtime BG coach Jean Tripam. "We were practicing here Thursday and after Jessica rolled her first three balls, she turned to me with a smile and said, 'I think I'm going to like it here.' "

Soskich started out Saturday with a 696 in the morning session to lurk just behind leader Kylie Frick of Schaumburg.

Then after the intermission the junior fired a 286 game 4 - her best ever score to take control of the tourney.

After a solid 227 in her fifth game, Soskich finished with a 193 final game, which was enough to hold off Plese and give BG its first bowling champ.

Soskich said she had to change her approach on the lanes following the injury.

"It was all about the mental game," said the junior. "Mentally, I had to adjust, and I knew the physical part would come."

"I have to give a lot of the credit to my friends who were here, my coach (Tripam) and my fans and teammates. Their support made all the difference. They kept me pumped up."

Soskich also gave props to Stevenson senior Kaitlyn Rudy, who medaled with a 12th-place finish.

"I'm so grateful that I was able to bowl with Kaitlyn today," Soskich said. "She's an amazing person and she helped me stay relaxed."

Schaumburg posted a ninth-place team finish at the meet led by Frick, a freshman who held the individual lead for much of the tournament.

Frick finished with a 2,647 to earn the seventh-place individual medal.

"I was a little nervous today," the freshman said. "There's a lot of pressure to come out and do good for yourself, your fans and your teammates."

"I came out and tried to relax, and not take anything for granted. Our goal coming in was to make it to the second day, and we did that. We exceeded expectations all year and this season won't soon be forgotten."

Conant senior Victoria Domanski continued her stellar play, firing games of 256, 208 and 204 Saturday to finish in 32nd position overall.

"I had a positive attitude," said Domanski. "I got through the hard part on Friday, and like I said before, I just tried to take it game by game and frame by frame. I try not to get upset when I miss."

"There are a lot of talented players out here," the senior added. "And I use that as motivation. I don't want to be the one looking at them throwing strike after strike and saying, 'that's cool'. I want to be them and be the person who's stringing strikes together."

Amanda Richae of Hoffman Estates rolled five games over 200 Saturday, including a 47, to finish 15th.

Emma Wrenn of Hersey finished out her season with a strong showing with games of 221 and 220 while junior Victoria Odarczenko from Maine South shot a 205 and two games of 200 Saturday.

For the Saxons, Sarah Schwind closed out her career with a 2,647 final pinfall, including a 243 game right out of the gate Saturday.

After the meet came to a close Schwind, a senior, was able to reflect back on her four years of prep bowling, which included a trip to Cherry Bowl with her team each year.

"My freshman year here, I didn't know much, so it was kind of slow," Schwind said. "My sophomore year we didn't think we were going to make it but we did, then last year I was able to qualify for the second day as an individual."

"This year - my senior year - we had a goal to advance to the second day as a team, and we did so it was a good feeling."

Schwind added that being the only senior starter on the Saxons elite team this year came with some challenges.

"I felt like I was the team leader," said Schwind. "I wanted to keep up the positive energy and try to keep everyone comfortable, especially our two freshmen (Frick and Gina Lenoci)."

Despite the extra responsibilities, Schwind was able to excel in 2016 - along with her teammates.

"It actually helped," said Schwind of her leadership role. "We all worked together to focus on what we needed to do on the lanes. The coaches can't do it all for you - sometimes you've got to figure out how to do it on your own."