Add still another accomplishment to Anthony Swanson’s resume in bowling.
The Evanston sophomore checked off another box, becoming the first Wildkit ever to reach the finals on the second day of competition at the Illinois High School Association state tournament for two years in a row.
But Swanson would be the first to tell you he didn’t put his best foot forward this year, settling for a 41st place finish overall after earning 13th last year as a freshman.
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He easily made the individual qualifying cut at the St. Claire Bowl in downstate O’Fallon with a pinfall of 1,266 on Friday, but mustered just a score of 1,184 on Saturday in his last six games of the season.
“I struggled a little bit on Friday, but I tried to stay mentally strong,” said Swanson. “And by around the fourth or fifth game I knew I’d made the cut to Day 2. I knew I had to bowl really well on Saturday, but the pieces just didn’t fit. I didn’t throw bad --- but I didn’t throw great.
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“I knew by the lunch break on Saturday (after games of 235, 181 and 190) that I’d have to bowl better than I ever have in my life to have a chance for a medal. So I just tried to give it my best and have as much fun as I could. I’m fairly frustrated, though, because I didn’t get the outcome I expected.
“When I was talking to some of my friends down there they were talking about a bunch of people who didn’t even make it to Day 2, when they thought they would. That made me feel better and it gave me the idea that I was fairly successful. It was still a pretty good outcome.”
Swanson’s first six games on Friday included games of 208, 237 and 239 but he faced an uphill climb to a medal, 37th overall entering the last day of competition.
“I didn’t feel a lot of pressure like last year. Last year I was all tensed up, and by the last game my head was going in a hundred different directions, I was so overwhelmed,” he admitted. “This year I was able to stay pretty even keel.
“I know having this added experience will help me (in the future). I’m going to work on seeing where the top guys are standing and how they’re throwing the ball, and try to mimic my game off of theirs. I still have a lot to learn.”
David Lutchka, a senior from Carterville, captured the individual singles state title with a two-day pinfall of 2,777. Harrisburg won the team crown with a score of 13,177 to 12,488 for runnerup Machesney Park Harlem.
