Swanson Scores Return Trip To IHSA Bowling Finals

Anthony Swanson earned a return trip to the Illinois High School Association state bowling tournament Saturday at the Mundelein Sectional.

But close didn’t count for the rest of his Evanston teammates.

The Wildkits fell into the near-miss category as a team for the second year in a row and once again had to accept the bitter with the sweet.

Swanson posted the fourth best sectional score with a 1,319 series for six games, including a high game of 258, and became the first Wildkit bowler to qualify as an individual for three years in a row. But he couldn’t carry the Kits to a State berth as they faltered in the final game with a 907 team score, their worst of the day.

Evanston settled for 6th place overall with a score of 5,896. Only the top four teams advance to the state finals Friday and Saturday at St. Clair Bowl in downstate O’Fallon and the Wildkits fell just 79 pins short of reaching that goal.

Advancing teams included Taft (6,324), Glenbrook North (6,155), Lane Tech (6,101) and Grant (5,975). Vernon Hills passed ETHS at the end to place 5th at 5,969.

“We were in a good position (fourth place) going into that last game,” said Evanston coach Harold Bailey. “All we had to do was close it out. We were right there until some open frames cost us in the end. Even with a slim lead, we should have been fine. We just had to keep it steady, but we fell short.”

Not many bowlers state-wide have qualified as an individual for three straight years since the IHSA first implemented a state series back in 2003. Swanson found his groove after an ordinary effort of 1,214 the previous week at the Lane Tech Regional and the junior standout was able to string together games of 248, 200, 203, 175, 258 and 235 to nail down another state trip as one of the top five individual finishers who weren’t members of qualifying teams.

ETH sophomore Shane Asbra, with a pinfall of 1,259, missed out as an individual qualifier by just 24 pins.

Also contributing Saturday for the Wildkits were senior Michael Conroy (1,161), senior Miles Gieraltowski (1,068), Zack Fogel (938 for five games) and junior Milo Harper (151 in his only game).

Evanston advanced the entire squad from the regional to the sectional with a runner-up finish to host Lane, posting a team score of 5,719.

“We came together at the Central Suburban League tournament (third place) and turned a lot of heads there. And we were right there at the regional with Lane Tech, so that was another momentum builder for us,” Bailey pointed out. “From our subs to our starters to our coaches, I thought this was another outstanding year for the program.

“Anthony (Swanson) put us in position so we could have a chance as a team Saturday. I didn’t want it all on his back, but once he started striking (in the afternoon round) I knew we had a chance.”

Swanson reached the finals in both of his previous trips to State --- only the top 30 individual scorers advance out of Friday’s preliminary rounds --- earning 13th as a freshman and 30th as a sophomore.

“I think having that experience helps a lot, because it’s a different environment at State,” Bailey said. “The rhythm is totally different for a singles player and there’s a lot of waiting around. But he’s been more consistent this year and he’s able to rebound better now from a low mark in an individual game. He can bring it back together after the lanes are unforgiving with splits and 8s when they should be strikes.”