Evanston’s girls bowling team finished the season one day earlier than hoped for.
But that didn’t take away from the best year in program history.
The senior-dominated Wildkit squad didn’t go out with a bang, but did secure the best team finish ever at the Illinois High School Association state tournament held Friday and Saturday in Rockford.
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Evanston was eliminated with a score of 5,219 that was good for 18th place during Friday’s preliminary competition. That was a higher pinfall than the Kits mustered at either the sectional (4,990) or regional (5,115), but it fell short of advancing to Saturday’s finals.
Seniors Nina Fischer (1,073) and Neva Whitcomb (1,066) missed out on advancing as individuals by approximately 25 or 30 pins as well. Fischer’s total included a high game of 219 In her six-game set and Whitcomb topped the 200 mark with games of 202 and 203.
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The Wildkits also counted strong efforts from junior Jordin Gibson (220-1.058) and seniors E.J. Bock (1,041) and Bridget Bueltmann (981).
It marked the second year in a row that the Kits had reached State and the third year in a row they won the Central Suburban League tournament. Both achievements were unprecedented in the program until the current group of seniors started competing.
“After we scored a 978 (as a team) in the second game, we were in the mix. But we couldn’t keep it up,” said Evanston coach Ray Austin. “But they gave such a great effort and that’s all any coach could ask. It’s our best finish ever at State, and they performed really well. And we had great fans who traveled all that way and cheered, and made us feel like rock stars.
“We didn’t have the depth to give any of them a break that day. Emotionally, when you’re competing in any kind of tournament it can be draining. You just have to go as hard as you can for as long as you can. There were no breaks, but there was no slowing down for them. These seniors especially went out firing everything they had.
“It’s the best season we’ve ever had and now the bridge is built (to state finals success). And we’ll keep crossing it.”
