November 12, 2024
Shaw Local
NewsSubscribePrep SportsObituariesFriday Night DriveeNewspaperLocal EventsShaw Local RadioStarved Rock Country

La Salle-Peru girls bowling places sixth at state finals

By Jeff DeGraw

La Salle-Peru's Makenzie Hamilton bowls during the La Salle-Peru Sectional at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl on Saturday Feb. 12, 2022 in Peru. Hamilton led the Cavaliers at the state tournament, placing 34th with a 2,325. L-P placed sixth as a team. (Scott Anderson)

ROCKFORD – Making its first team appearance since 1975, the La Salle-Peru girls bowling team finished sixth at the IHSA State Finals on Saturday at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford.

The Cavaliers bowled a two-day, 12-game total of 11,198.

Lockport won the team title with an 11,743, followed by Machesney Park Harlem (11,536), Oswego (11,321), Hononegah (11,219) and York (11,203). The Cavaliers finished only five pins behind fifth-place York.

“This is fantastic, and such a great group of girls to work with,” La Salle-Peru coach Jim McCabe said. “We have worked with the core of these girls since they were in eighth grade, and it all paid off this weekend. There is absolutely nothing to hang your head for. This is a one-class state championship and everyone bowls against everyone else, and we finished as the sixth best team in the state.

“It’s been a long time since our team has even been here, and that team in the 70s didn’t place.

“This team gelled so well together, and that has been a key all season long. We dug ourselves into a little hole on Friday, but this team really fought, and we worked our way back. I’m so proud of this team.”

The team was led by the 34th overall score of sophomore MaKenzie Hamilton (2,325). She was followed by senior Isabella Weber in 44th place, sophomore Olivia Weber in 50th and senior Maria Pawlak in 52nd.

“This was quite the experience, and this was all about our team,” Hamilton said. “This shows that anything is possible, especially with all the support we had from everyone. It has been an amazing year, and it has been so long since a team has even made it to state. This has been a great bonding experience, and now we know what it’s like and we want to come back. Our team has really been a true team with everyone playing a part, picking each other up and supporting each other. It’s been really special.”