November 12, 2024
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Interstate Eight Boys Bowling Meet: La Salle-Peru holds off late charge from Sycamore for title

Cavaliers juniors Ethan Picco and Chance Hank finish 1-2; Sycamore’s Tommy Reboletti places third

By Brian Hoxsey
The La Salle-Peru boys bowling team captured the championship of the 2022 Interstate Eight Conference meet at Illinois Valley Super Bowl on Tuesday.

The La Salle-Peru boys bowling team captured the championship of the 2022 Interstate Eight Conference meet at Illinois Valley Super Bowl on Tuesday.

PERU - After the fifth game at Tuesday’s Interstate Eight Conference Boys Bowling Meet, La Salle-Peru saw its overall lead over Sycamore cut from 224 pins to just 66.

However, the Cavaliers were able to regroup after their worst game of the day to post a solid sixth-game score and a final pin total of 6,994, enough for the 2021-22 title over the Spartans, who finished at 6,861.

Ottawa (5,846) placed third, Kaneland (5,248) fourth, and Rochelle (5,209) fifth at Illinois Valley Super Bowl.

La Salle-Peru used solid days from individual champion junior Ethan Picco, who posted a 1,312 (245 high game), and runner-up classmate Chance Hank, who registered a 1,248 (238), to walk away with the well-earned championship.

La Salle-Peru junior Ethan Picco (right) earned the individual championship at Tuesday's Interstate Eight Conference Boys Bowling meet at Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru, while classmate Chance Hank finished runner-up. The two led the Cavaliers to the team title over second-place Sycamore.

La Salle-Peru junior Ethan Picco (right) earned the individual championship at Tuesday's Interstate Eight Conference Boys Bowling meet at Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru, while classmate Chance Hank finished runner-up. The two led the Cavaliers to the team title over second-place Sycamore.

“It was really a relief,” Picco said of hearing his name called as champion. “My last couple of games weren’t as good as my first couple. My first three games today (215, 234, 222) were pretty good, and my fourth (245) not bad, but the last two games were a grind for me. It was pretty exciting to hear my name called as champion, and it made it so much better that we won today as a team.

“The sixth game today was mainly a mental game, at least for me. It was a situation where you can’t get too down on yourself if you have a bad frame, just keep staying positive in your ability. Each guy was able to do that, and we were able to win the championship.”

Hank, who opened the day with a 214 and 225, said he felt a combination of focus and cheering helped his club in the final game.

“I think I, as well as the team, got off to a really good start,” Hank said. “We carried that momentum through the next three games, but the fifth game we all really struggled. We knew Sycamore was right there and we would need a strong sixth game. I think we all just did a very good job of staying focused in the final game and were able to close it out.

“Maybe we were all starting to get tired, I don’t know, but I do know we all really wanted to win here today. You could feel Sycamore had a lot of momentum going into the final game, so we all knew we’d have to match their energy. I feel we did that.

“We really got loud in that sixth game and were really cheering each other on. When we are doing that, I feel we are tough to beat.”

Also helping L-P to the title were fellow medalist Peyton Baker (seventh, 1,166), Jake Quick (1,128), Aaron Siebert (1,082) and Colin Wren (1,058).

Sycamore senior Tommy Reboletti finished third and helped lead the Spartans to a second-place team finish at Tuesday's Interstate Eight Conference Boys Bowling meet held at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru.

Sycamore senior Tommy Reboletti finished third and helped lead the Spartans to a second-place team finish at Tuesday's Interstate Eight Conference Boys Bowling meet held at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru.

Sycamore was paced by Tommy Reboletti’s third-place finish, the senior firing a 1,229 six-game mark. He was followed by medalists Graham Hilligoss (fourth, 1,209) and Jaxon Lang (sixth, 1,197), as well as Evan Borowicz (1,162, 247 high game), Rylan Voyles (1,068, 229 high-game) and Adam Zeller (996).

“I felt like I had a very consistent day, not too many highs or lows, and really shot right around my average this season,” Reboletti said. “It’s certainly always a little nerve-racking at the beginning of events like this, but I really felt like after my first few shots today I was already settled in. I’ve bowled here now a few times in my career, so I felt pretty confident.

“We all had such a great fifth game, and we knew we had closed the gap a little bit. We gave them a run for their money, but they just didn’t give us any opening in that sixth game.

“That final game was everything you could ask for as a bowler. We all knew we had a chance, and everyone got a little more vocal. It was a fun day to be a part of.

“It sucks not to win, but it was a great result for us, and hopefully one that we can take with us into the regional.”

The Pirates were led by Collin Sheridan’s 1,098, followed by Sean Miller (1,088, 232 high-game), Nelson Brandt (1,079), Evan Spencer (935), Robbie Burke (853) and Dustin Gende (793).

The Knights’ Corbin Vines earned a medal after placing fifth with a 1,202, followed by Dylan Conklin (1,051, 247 high-game), Lucas Johnson (887), Nick Casey (755), Landon Trull (724) and Nate Rusev (629).

The Hubs were paced by a 1,064 from Sergio Guevara.

The IHSA boys bowling postseason opens Saturday.