By Randy Whalen
Correspondent
A saying in bowling is that every pin counts.
The bowlers from Richards and Stagg would agree with that statement.
After six games and more than 1,000 frames bowled over six hours at the Oswego East Sectional, the Bulldogs and Chargers were tied at 5202 pins apiece.
In the end, Stagg prevailed, topping Richards by four pins in an intense, two frame roll-off at Parkside Lanes in Aurora on Feb. 10. With the triumph, the Chargers punched their ticket to the state finals, which will be held on Friday and Saturday at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford.
It will be the second straight trip for Stagg, which had never advanced to state before the 2021-22 season.
“That is our season in a nutshell,” Stagg coach Rich Kowalczyk said of the roll-off victory. “We lost three really good bowlers from last year’s team. … But the girls steadily improved and they feel like once they get going, nothing can stop them.”
Nothing was going to stop Arianna Araujo in the final roll-off frame.
Richards’ last roll-off bowler, freshman Ulyssa Garcia, kept the pressure on with a turkey in the final frame. With everything coming down the last couple of throws, the Stagg junior converted a 4-7 split and, needing six pins to win, knocked down nine to send the Chargers back to state.
“A spare and a six, I knew that’s what I needed,” Araujo said. “[Holly Gubernat] set me up really well and I knew I could do this for the team. The pressure was there, but I just had to concentrate and do what I know how to do.
“There was a feeling of relief [when it was over]. All the hard work paid off. We didn’t have the same talent this season, but we had the attitude and the confidence.”
Araujo finished with a 1283 series, which placed her third as an individual, and had a high game of 266.
Richards led Stagg by 47 pins going into the final game, but a 777 in the last game proved to be unlucky for the Bulldogs.
Gubernat, a junior, rolled 1130, including a 244. Seniors Michelle Martinez (1000) and Hannah Radosevic (961) and with junior Leena Ashour (828) rounded out the Chargers’ scores.
The Bulldogs were in the top four of the standings all day until the roll-off.
“I don’t know how many times it’s happened that there was a roll-off to go to state,” said Richards coach Ed Fink. “Every pin counts, we say it all the time.
“Congrats to Stagg, It was still a great season for us. We won the SSC Red and a regional. So what a season.
“Ulyssa Garcia is a freshman, is my anchor and she’s only 14. So for her to come through with those three strikes, in the end, was excellent.”
Garcia led Richards with a 1140, including a high game of 236. Sophomore Natalie Stahulak (1046), junior Mia Montes (1038), sophomore Kylie Schaefer (960), freshman Katie Barr (871 in five games), and Yasmine Maali (147 in one game) rounded out the Bulldogs lineup.
Shepard senior Kahlen Ranson (1145) and Garcia were two of five individuals at the sectional who advanced to the state finals.
“I was shaking, I was so nervous, I was afraid to let my team down,” Garcia said of her turkey in the final frame of the roll-off. “(Going as an individual0 helps a little bit, but I still wish we were going as a team.”
Two-time defending state champion Lockport (6180) won its 10th straight sectional title, surviving a tough challenge from Oswego (6126), and Andrew (5682) also advanced to state. Following the 5202 scored by Stagg and Richards, Lincoln-Way East (5028) was sixth. Oak Forest (4998), Plainfield Central (4985), Oswego East (4956) Plainfield East (4912), Evergreen Park (4789) and Sandburg (4461) rounded out the 12-team field.
At the Hinsdale Central Sectional, which was held at Suburbanite Bowling in Westmont, Morton senior Abigail Garfio advanced to state as an individual with an 1151.
Leyden (5442) won the sectional and Willowbrook (5381), Addison Trail (5206) and York (5087) also advanced to state. Morton (4898), Downers Grove North (4868), Reavis (4650), Argo (4224), Curie (4019), Lindblom (3694), Trinity (3439) and St. Ignatius (2807) completed the field.