Two Jacobs Bowlers Competing at State Today

Last season, the Jacobs’ girls bowling team earned the opportunity to participate in the IHSA State Meet at Cherry Bowl in Rockford.

This year, two of last year’s members—Becca Payne and Gianna Scarpelli—are getting a chance to improve on last year’s showing.

The team had a less than stellar performance at state last year, finishing 17th on day one and not advancing to day two. Payne, however, advanced as an individual to Saturday’s play, finishing 67th overall.

For Payne and Scarpelli, it was two completely different roads to this year’s tournament. Payne advanced straight out of the regional meet, while Scarpelli had to endure a long weekend of waiting to see if her 1308 score would be enough to make it to this year’s tournament. Scarpelli said it was nerve-wrecking having to wait.

“I was really nervous, shaking and I did cry a little on Sunday,” Scarpelli said. “I just kept going back on the website to see if there were any results.”

Scarpelli found out Monday she made the tournament with just three pins behind the last automatic qualifier, which ended up being Payne. Scarpelli added it will be a great time for her during her second state appearance.

“I’m really, really excited. I mean, beyond excited to be bowling here and to have Becca going with me,” Scarpelli said.

For Payne, this will be her third state appearance, after finishing outside the top 100 two years ago. The senior moved up to 67th last season and had a simple goal for this year’s tournament but is very excited to go back again.

“I just want to make it higher than 67th,” Payne said. “This is very exciting for me. I just think it’s awesome I got to go for a third time.”

Payne added that their teammates have been very positive for her and Scarpelli even though the whole team won’t get the chance to bowl this year together as state.

“Our teammates were all real supportive, they were all happy for us and excited that we made it,” Payne said. “I knew the day of sectionals that I was going to state. It was upsetting that the whole team wasn’t going, but they were happy for us.”