Girls Bowling: SPC Out to Prove Itself at State Tourney

BOLINGBROOK–The Southwest Prairie Conference will get its chance to prove once and for all its the toughest conference in Illinois at the girls bowling state tournament Friday and Saturday at Cherry Lanes in Rockford.

The eight-team conference is sending three participants into the fray in sectional champions Minooka and Oswego and Bolingbrook sectional runner-up Plainfield Central.

Andrew of the Southwest Suburban Conference is making its first state appearance since 2007.

“It’s going to be great,” Oswego coach Dan Okoren said. “I feel very confident. We’re going to prepare this week and have some fun along the way.”

Courtney Petosky, Oswego’s top bowler all year and the Bolingbrook individual sectional champion, is making a return trip to Rockford after qualifying as an individual in 2010.

“There’s nothing to lose because we made it to state,” said Petosky, a junior. “You have to bowl the best you can, stay confident and leave everything out there.”

 “Courtney (Petosky) went last year individually, and she really wanted the team around her,” Okoren said. “She’s got that now.”

Plainfield Central, which is making its fifth trip to Rockford, took third in 2006.

“We’re going to have fun in Rockford,” Plainfield Central coach Connie McGrath said. “I want to give these kids the full experience. We’re going to soak up every minute of it. This is our Super Bowl. We are going to enjoy our last tournament together as a team.”

“It’s my senior year and I want to go out with a big bang,” Plainfield Central senior Sam Burchart said. “It’s going to be so exciting.”

Plainfield Central's Tricia Zimmerman (an Ashford University recruit) and Chelsea Oshita (McKendree University signee) will be making their third state appearances. Both are seniors.

“I’ve never really been to state as a player,” Burchart said. “I went with Tricia (Zimmerman) when she went as an individual and it was amazing. I’m thrilled. I love all my teammates, and I think it’s going to be the best experience I’ll ever have, especially since it’s my senior year. You can’t get much more exciting than that.”

Minooka is making its sixth trip to the state tournament, but only has one state trophy to show for it (third in 2005).

“We’re getting hot at the right time of the year,” Minooka coach Frank Yudzentis said. “We feel pretty confident about what we’re doing.”

Also brimming with confidence are junior Courtney Johnston and freshman Emily Koulis, who each won medals last weekend at the Andrew Sectional. Senior Alyssa Poole is making her third trip to the state tourney.

“You don’t want to be at the sectional or state tournament and beat yourself,” Yudzentis said. “That’s our approach. If a team beats us, kudos to them. We are going to make shots, spares and know that the tournament isn’t a one-game affair. It’s 12 games. That’s a long tournament.”

Among the teams expected to challenge for the state title are Rockford Jefferson and Machesney Park Harlem.

Although Andrew is making just its second state appearance, something could be brewing as the Thunderbolts’ state lineup is void of seniors.

Sophomore Nicole Zopf shot a 1,273 at the Andrew Sectional and is primed for a run at an individual medal if the Thunderbolts fail to advance to the second day.

Speaking of individuals, Lincoln-Way North sisters, sophomore Kayla and senior Kelsey O'Brien, are making their state tournament debuts after qualifying out of the Andrew Sectional.

Oswego East senior Kelsey Johnson is hoping her third trip to the state tourney is a charm. She was an individual qualifier out of the Bolingbrook Sectional.

“She’ll do just fine downstate,” Oswego East coach Jeremy Hillman said. “This is her third time downstate, so she has some experience. This is the first time she’ll be there individually so it will be interesting to see how she does.”

“I’m going to work on the things I’ve been working on all year,” Johnson said. “I’m going to focus on what I have to do and not worry about everybody else around me.”