Story posted Friday, February 5, 2010
Girls Bowling Sectional Preview
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal Sports
At the Hoffman Estates girls bowling IHSA sectional tomorrow (Saturday), one of the highlights could be the duel between Prospect and Elk Grove.
All season in the Mid Suburban League, Prospect has sat in third place, looking up to Schaumburg in first place and Elk Grove in second.
That's okay for the conference race, but it would be fatal if that's where Prospect finishes at the sectional, in which only the top two teams advance to the state finals. If the Knights step up tomorrow and find their lane grooves, it could be a very exciting sectional.
Since all 12 MSL teams are in this sectional (plus a few others who aren't expected to challenge for sectional honors), tomorrow's meet is in many ways a rerun of the conference meet last week.
Area teams could qualify individual bowlers to state, however. The top two bowlers not on a qualifying team at each of 12 sectionals go to state, plus the six next-highest scoring individuals at all sectionals. The state finals are at Cherry Bowl in Rockford Feb. 12-13.
Hoffman Estates and Conant, who finished 4-5, respectively, in the MSL, also could mount serious challenges at the sectional if their bowlers get hot.
The biggest names at the sectional will be Rachel Oehlert of Prospect; Caerlina Williams, Tedra Tado, and Ashley Dolce of Elk Grove; Jodi Gawlik and Kelly Judge of Schaumburg; Katia Smith of Rolling Meadows; Carina Balan of Hersey; Shannon Hallberg of Conant; Liz Saffold of Hoffman; and Ashley Cramer of Palatine.
Area bowling coaches have recommended changes in the post-season state tournament format (see separate story).
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