Wildkit Bowlers Hold On, Earn First Trip To State

It might have been the first “team cry” in the history of the Evanston girls bowling program.

But those were tears of joy --- and relief --- in the ladies restroom Saturday at Arlington Lanes.

The realization of a dream come true --- Evanston’s first trip to the Illinois High School Association state finals for the entire Wildkit team --- capped an emotion-filled day at the Fremd Sectional tournament.

Leading the team standings midway through the competition, the Wildkits faltered badly after the lunch break and were just able to sneak in and grab the final team qualifying spot, finishing fourth with a pinfall of 5,023. That was only 30 pins better than the fifth place finisher, Grant, at 4,993.

The top three finishers were Hersey (5,305), Mundelein (5,177) and Prospect (5,136), and they’ll advance to the state tournament set for Friday and Saturday at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford along with ETHS.

Evanston’s tears came after an hour-long delay that added to Saturday’s drama. First, there was a lengthy tiebreaker competition, which is rare in the sport, for the final singles qualifying berth.

Then, an ambulance had to be summoned when a player from Fremd passed out immediately after the tiebreaker concluded.

ETHS head coach Ray “Sugar” Austin had to endure an excruciating wait to find out if his squad had kept their season alive.

“They were crying in the bathroom because they knew before I did,” said Austin. “One of the parents had figured it out and told them. But I was waiting for the official numbers. It was worth the wait.

“After those first three games I told them it was all up to us, it’s in our hands, just do what we do out there. But when we changed lanes (to the south side of the house) we knew that everyone on that side had struggled to score in the morning, and we struggled in the next two games, too. We didn’t exactly kill it in the sixth game, but we did just enough to hang on.”

Following games of 914, 914 and 948, the Kits fell off dramatically in the afternoon session with efforts of 765, 741 and 741. Those were some of their lowest team scores of the year for a squad that hasn’t faced much adversity this winter, including an undefeated regular season.

A 190 by sophomore Jordin Gibson helped steady the ship in Game 6 and kept the Kits from sinking out of contention. She rose to the occasion with six strikes in that decisive game and finished 18th in the overall individual standings with a pinfall of 1,078.

The Wildkits also counted a 1,013 from junior Neva Whitcomb, a 974 from junior Bridgette Bueltmann, and a 1,046 from senior Lily Pavelec, while also getting support from senior Kaleigh Burgess (642), junior Nina Fischer (291) and junior E.J. Bock (140 in the final game).

“It was really a team effort, just like it has been all season,” Austin declared. “They put the work in and they deserved this.

“I was very concerned after Game 5 because we missed too many spares. I started to look at the numbers then and I thought another 740 (team score) won’t get you in. We just had to get to the pocket and pick up some spares in that last game.”

Pavelec, who rolled a 221, a 172 and a 233 in her first three games, was still emotional in the aftermath of a history-making performance.

“I’ve put every bit of energy and emotion and work into this team this year, and I’m just so happy that these are the people I’m going to State with,” she sobbed. “I wouldn’t change anything about this year!

“We do tend to sink after lunch (in previous tournament appearances this year) and we were getting a little anxious. But everyone on the team is so supportive --- and they’ve all got grit. And all of this is thanks to Sugar (Austin). He should take the credit because every single one of us is better because of him.”

For Whitcomb, Saturday’s outcome was an affirmation that she made a correct choice to remain with the squad for postseason play. She passed up an opportunity to visit Italy --- “that’s my dream, to go there” --- and other places in Europe due to a connection with a Latin class at ETHS. The trip is taking place over last week and the upcoming week, but Whitcomb said she had no regrets about her choice.

“I’m so happy we’re the first team to make it to State,” Whjtcomb said. “It was a really difficult choice for me to make, at first, but it ended up being obvious what I really wanted to do.

“We are so lucky to be a part of the Evanston community. We get so much support and funding for a girls team at the school and we’re really well taken care of.”