The girls’ bowling state finals were not held last season due to COVID-19, so bowlers from across the state are eager to return to the finals Friday through Saturday, Feb. 18-19 at the Cherry Bowl in Rockford.
A state record of 257 teams field teams this season, surpassing the previous record of 525 in 2020. To put things in perspective, there were only 83 teams in 1989 and dropped to 74 in 1992, before increasing almost every year since.
To qualify for state, teams start at the regiomals and must finish in the top four to advance to the sectionals. The top four teams at sectionals then qualify for the state. The top 10 individuals in regions not on a qualifying team advance to sectionals. The top 5 individuals in sections that are not part of a qualifying team will advance to state.
At the last state meeting in 2020, the Journal area had state qualifiers with Buffalo Grove (11th place), Conant (12th) and Hersey (22nd), along with one person from Leiden and one from the Niles North-Niles West co-op. Rebecca Howard of Buffalo Grove, who graduated in 2020, finished 13th to lead the Journal area in 2020 with a total pinfall of 2,474.
Elk Grove also had two wheelchair bowlers competing, finishing third and fourth out of five bowlers.
Here’s a rundown of where the Journal area bowlers will compete this postseason:
Palatine Hill Regional:
Venue: Beverly Lanes, 8 S. Beverly Ln., Arlington Heights
Date: Saturday 5 February
Competition begins: 9 o’clock
Journal area teams: Hersey, St. Viator (individuals), Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Conant, Stevenson, Prospect, Fremd, Palatine, Rolling Meadows
other teams: Hoffman Estates, Lake Park, Schaumburg, Vernon Hills
New region of Trier:
Venue: Classic Bowl, 8530 Waukegan Rd, Morton Grove
Date: Saturday 5 February
Competition begins: 9 o’clock
Journal area teams: Resurrection, Maine West (individuals), Niles West, Wheeling, Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican
other teams: Fenton, Amundsen (private individuals), Northside, Taft, Von Steuben, Evanston, Glenbrook North, Niles North, New Trier
Buffalo Grove Sectional
Venue: Arlington Lanes, 3435 N Kennicott Ave, Arlington Heights
Date: Saturday 12 February
Competition begins: 9 o’clock
Remark: Includes qualifications from Palatine, New Trier and TBA regions.
Leiden region:
Venue: Stardust Bowl, 37 E Lorraine Ave, Addison
Date: Saturday 5 February
Competition begins: 9 o’clock
Journal area team: Leyden
other teams: DePaul College Prep, Jones, Lake View, Lane, Lincoln Park, Payton, Phoenix Military Academy, Westinghouse College Prep, Whitney Young, York, Walther Christian (individuals), Fenwick, Oak Park-River Forest (individuals), Trinity
Hinsdale South Sectional:
Venue: Bowlero Lanes, 1555 75th St, Woodridge
Date: Saturday 12 February
Competition begins: 9 o’clock
Remark: Includes qualifiers from Leyden, Metea Valley and TBA regions.
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