Belvidere North working for return to state bowling finals

By Bob Balgemann

Reporter

BOONE COUNTY – Belvidere North’s girls bowling team is riding the crest of a seventh-place finish in the 2014-2015 state tournament.

After tying Harlem for second in the NIC-10, with a 37-8 record, the Lady Blue Thunder went on to win regional and sectional tournaments, before their stellar state performance at the nearby Cherry Bowl.

Returning regulars for North are senior Ashley Platt and sophomore Kylie Johnson, who each bowled in all 27 conference games last year.

Platt averaged 187 with a high single game of 257 and high series of 617. Johnson carried a 184 average with high individual marks of 265 (game) and 653 (series).

Another senior, Anissa Hintt, averaged 167 in 21 varsity games. She had a high 256 single game and 583 series.

Sophomore Brynn Lambrecht competed in six games at the varsity level, averaging 178 with a high 229 single game and 613 series. She bowled in 21 junior varsity games, averaging 175 with a high game of 276 and a 625 series.

James Paddock, back for his fourth year as head coach, sees Johnson and Lambrecht as perhaps the two best sophomores in the NIC-10.

Senior Kaitlyn Trimble is expected to make a contribution for the varsity. She averaged 130 in 21 junior varsity games last season.

Others listed on the varsity roster this season are Alexis Bendorf and Emily Nakashima.

Nakashima bowled in 21 junior varsity games last season, averaging 127 with a high 168 single game and a 389 series.

JV team members are Marian Anderson, Megan Misak, Jenna Rider, Sidney Baird, Giovannina Castaldo, Angela Garcia, Jayda Jinks, Nicole Reagan, Raquele Decker, Cailyn Kottman, Lauren Schaefer and Camile Spencer.

Misiak, Baird, Rider and Anderson competed on the JV team in 2014-2015. Anderson led the group with a 194 average over eight games. She had a high game of 277 and high 649 series.

They all will be tested as replacements for three standout bowlers who graduated in May. They are Haley Solberg, who averaged 219 for the Thunder; Emily Ashens, who carried a 215 average; and Tiffany Wagner, who averaged 196. Ashens bowled a perfect 300 game at state, while Solberg led the team with a season high 277 single game and 736 series.

North’s 2014-2015 team set a high standard in what coach Paddock said was “the best year ever at BNHS for girls bowling. They defeated Harlem by 17 pins to win the regional, then took the sectional by an amazing 470 pins.

Belvidere North opened its doors in August 2007.

“This year we look to compete at a high level and will finish in the top half of our conference and hope to make a run come state,” the coach said.

Stacy Lambrecht is the team’s assistant coach for the second year.

Boya are experienced

The Belvidere North boy’s team has four returning regulars from a squad that finished fourth in the NIC-10 last season with a 26-19 record.

Head coach Will Landingham Jr. returns for a second year in that position and is optimistic about the year ahead.

Back in the fold are seniors Peyton Lutzow (206 average) and Jordan Paulson (204) and juniors Garrett Nelson (209) and Josh Pawlowski (208).

Lutzow bowled a 300 last winter with a high three-game series of 698. Nelson recorded a high 258 game and 684 series; Pawlowski a 245 and 648; and Paulson a 277 and 696. The 277 came within two pins of ranking in the NIC-10 Top 5 for high game.

Coach Landingham sees contributions being made by senior David Rayphole and juniors Logan Blankenship and Javier Martinez.

Rayphole has plenty of varsity experience having bowled in 21 games at that level in 2014-15. He averaged 194 with a high game of 225 and a 660 series. Blankenship competed in nine varsity games with a 190 average, 225 high game and 612 series. He also bowled 15 junior varsity games with a 205 average, 234 high game and 654 series.

Martinez bowled 24 games for the JVs, averaging 193 with a 256 high game and 616 high series.

This year’s JV team consists of freshmen Justin Bragg, Chase Hughart, Mason Johnson, Garrett Marchini, Jon Powell and Anthony Taylor; sophomores Jacob Campbell and Kasey Wachowski; juniors Jose Gonzalez, Max Rukhaberlen and Andrew Schauer; and senior Daniel Schauer.

Daniel and Andrew Schauer, Campbell, Rukhaberlen and Gonzalez all competed on the JV team last year Rukhaberlen led the group with a 175 average over 27 games. Gonzlez had a high 246 single game; and 653 series.

All will be working to help fill the void left by Tyler Atkinson, a four-year regular who graduated in May. In his final year he averaged 202 with a high 267 single game and 715 series.

Among highlights from 2014-15 were defeating Belvidere and Guilford in conference matches, while finishing third in the regional. This year coach Landingham said the primary goal is qualifying for state.

North has a new home alley this year, at The Cherry Bowl in nearby Cherry Valley.