Gibson, Jones Qualify For Bowling Sectional

Evanston’s girls were in a prime position to advance midway through the New Trier Regional bowling tournament last Friday.

But the Wildkits couldn’t keep up the pace and failed to advance as a team to the Hoffman Estates, Sectional, settling for individual at-large qualifying berths from senior Jordin Gibson and sophomore Jayla Jones instead.

Second in the team standings after the first three-game set, the young ETHS squad faltered down the stretch and placed fifth overall, missing out on the last team qualifying spot by a mere 31 pins. The Wildkits staggered to a low score of 707 in their final game in a bid to keep the entire squad’s season alive.

Hersey (6,112 pinfall), Fremd (4,818), New Trier (4,693) and Hoffman Estates (4,597) all topped the Evanston total of 4,566 to send full teams to next Saturday’s Hoffman Estates Sectional. Survivors from that meet will move on the Illinois High School Association state finals in Rockford.

Even Gibson, the only real returning regular from last year, was affected by the pressure in the last three games. The senior captain placed 8th overall, with a pinfall of 1,056, but sandwiched two sub-par efforts (168 and 155) around her 200 in Game No. 5.

Jones, a rising sophomore, posted a high game of 205 in her first game on her way to a 15th place overall finish at 972.

“We had whole bunch of nerves in the second half of the tournament,” Gibson acknowledged. “We have such a young team (two seniors, a junior, three sophomores and a freshman saw action at the regional) and the pressure was there. There were a lot of heightened emotions. There was a lot of stress trying to live up to the (program) standard of trying to make it to sectional as a team.

“I think we did extremely well this year for having a brand-new team. We were in second place going into the lunch break, and everyone just put a lot of pressure on themselves to do better.”

Evanston’s scores dropped game by game after an opening round total of 836. The Kits strung together games of 768, 758, 777, 723 and 704 after that.

“This is the first time I’ve made it as an individual (after qualifying with the entire team as a sophomore and junior) and it feels great. This year I’ve just tried to stay in a more positive head space and I’ve tried to surround myself with people who will keep encouraging me and be uplifting.

“It’s been such a blessing, such a great experience for me to be a captain this year. Getting a chance to lead such great people has really made this a great year. But Jayla and I will continue to strive because getting to State is the goal. The job’s not done yet.”

One week prior to the regional, Gibson became only the second female in the program’s history to capture the Central Suburban League tournament crown and sparked the Wildkits to a second place finish in the team standings.

Her first place performance matched what J.B. Burgess accomplished for the Kits in 2024.

“Before the tournament, I made a promise to myself and to my coaches that I’d at least place. And the place I got was first!” Gibson grinned. “That was unexpected, but I had my best series of the year.

“As the years have gone by (she’s a four-year starter in the program), I’ve developed more of a sense of self. That’s pushed me to be better and set an example for my teammates. That was my main goal this year.”