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The 2017 IHSA Girls Bowling State Finals take center stage at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford on Friday and Saturday, February 17-18.
History will be made on Saturday when Sandburg's Sophia Jablonski and Triad's Chenoa Stokes become the first two student-athletes in IHSA history to compete in the Girls Bowling Athletes With Disabilities Division.
2016 state champion Joliet West won’t be a part of the field at the 2017 IHSA Girls Bowling State Finals, but plenty of talent returns as the other four teams from last year’s Top 5 are back, and will be joined by nine of the Top 12 overall teams from a year ago.
Harlem High School finished fourth a year ago and rolled the best Sectional score in the state last week (6,401). The Huskies, who have won five state titles since 2000, welcome back their top three bowlers from the 2016 State Finals, including senior Mylee McCracken, who placed fourth individually last year with a score of 2,675 and won individual Sectional honors with a score of 1,334.
Freeport and Lockport, the respective runner-up and third-place finishers a year ago, are in similar situations. Both lost their top scorer from a year ago to graduation, but return seasoned state final performers. Freeport is led by junior Kelsey Kruse (1,323 Sectional score), while Sectional champ Lockport tallied the state’s third-best Sectional score behind the efforts of junior Bailey Delrose (1,319).
Oswego East has been one of the state’s most consistent programs of late, having won two trophies and placed in the Top 10 seven times since 2007. Despite graduating its top two state scorers from last year’s seventh-place squad, the Wolves are still in the picture for their first state title, with senior Ashley Smith (1,355) leading the way.
Herrin had the best Sectional team score in the state (6,341) which isn’t a huge surprise considering the Tigers depth. The team placed 10th last season and welcomed back four of its Top 5 bowlers from that squad, including senior Cassidy Ray (1,378), who finished just outside the Top 30 individually (33rd, 2,504) in 2016.
Sectional champion Waubonise Valley isn’t far removed from its back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014, and has its sight on beginning a new title run. The Warriors are led by a senior trio that played a big part in last year’s fifth-place finish, including individual Sectional champ Serenity Quinteros (1,341).
Minooka is only two years removed from a Top 5 finish, and was one of seven teams in the state to eclipse a pinfall of 6,000 at Sectionals last week. Led by senior Carmella Russell (1,375), an individual Sectional winner, the Indians could contend for their third trophy in school history.
Morris has a strong girls’ bowling tradition in the IHSA State Series, but haven’t placed in the Top 10 in the state since 2010. That could change in 2017, as the Redskins and freshman Angel Heck (1,300) enter with the momentum of a Sectional team title (6,007).
Hoffman Estates rounds out the list of 2017 Sectional team champions. The Hawks own a trio of trophy finishes, including the 2006 state title, and sophomore Alexis Orwat (1,214) hopes to lead them back to the Top 10 after a one-year hiatus.
The race for the individual state title starts with defending champion Jessica Soskich of Buffalo Grove (2,749 in 2016). Soskich will try to close her high school career by becoming the third bowler in state history to win two individual state crowns.
Salem senior Lauren Hays was third (2,696) individually a year ago and won the Sectional title last week, while Schaumburg sophomore Kylie Frick returns after a Top 10 finish in 2016 (7th, 2,647). North Mac senior Natalie Koprowitz (1,377) and Resurrection senior Lauren Gawlinski (1,280) round out the 2017 individual Sectional champs. Meanwhile, Yorkville senior Hannah Jaros, the daughter of PBA bowler Steve Jaros, is vying for her second straight Top 30 finish after tallying a 2,513 last year to tie for 29th.
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
45th annual State Series
25th year at Cherry Bowl
SITE
The Cherry Bowl Lanes (Rockford)
Directions
SCHEDULE
Friday, February 17
9:15 AM
Opening Ceremonies
9:45 AM
Start Round One
1:30 PM
Start Round Two
Saturday, February 18
9:00 AM
Introductions
9:30 AM
Start Round Three
1:15 PM
Start Round Four
Awards follow Round Four
QUALIFIERS
Qualifiers & Lane Assignments
RESULTS & LIVE STATS
Live Leaderboard - Mobile
Friday Prelim Results
Saturday Finals Results
TICKETS
Day Pass-$10
OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva
Photos from VIP
Souvenir Program
SOCIAL MEDIA #IHSA
Twitter - @IHSAstate
Instagram - @IHSA_IL
Facebook.com/IHSA.IL
Classic IHSA YouTube Video
STATE SUPPORTERS
Country Financial
Wilson Sporting Goods
Gatorade
MaxPreps
WATCH/LISTEN
No broadcasts are currently scheduled for this event
HISTORY & RECORDS
2017 State Series Results
Record Book & Past Champions
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