Belvidere’s Lady Bucs decide who wins NIC-10 bowling title

By Bob Balgemann

Reporter

The Lady Bucs were at the top of the NIC-10, or close to it, throughout the 2017-18 bowling season. But they saved the best for last and upset previously undefeated Freeport in the final match of the regular season, to create a tie for the championship between the Lady Pretzels and Harlem.

Belvidere finished in fourth place with a 7-2 record. Guilford also was 7-2 but since the Lady Vikings won the match against the Lady Bucs, they were awarded third.

Still, as head coach Andy Werhane put it, “Overall, this was a very solid year in the conference for the Bucs.”

And now it’s regional week for the girls, with Belvidere having competed over at Freeport along with Belvidere North, Harlem, Marengo, Boylan, Christian Life, Guilford, Rockford Lutheran, Rockford Christian, Hononegah and South Beloit. Qualifiers will move on to this weekend’s DeKalb sectional along with those champions from the Kaneland and Dundee-Crown regionals.

State once again will be at The Cherry Bowl, being held this year on Feb. 16-17. Harlem is the defending state champion.

The Lady Bucs are hoping to qualify for sectionals for the third consecutive year. Largely, the same bowlers made it two in a row in 2017. They are among this year’s group of returning regulars consisting of Holley Steelberg, Hannah Lowery, and Hailey Carter, all seniors, along with juniors Hannah Whidby, Elyce Turnipseed, and Alexis Sherman. Freshman Adriana Anderson is a newcomer to the varsity and bowled in seven games.

Steelberg led the team with a 208 average over 27 conference games. She had a high single game of 247 and high series of 678. Carter was close behind with a 206 in 26 games, a high game of 263 and high series of 754. Her series ranked fourth among all NIC-10 individuals this year.

Both will be competing in the Top 16 conference tournament once the state tournament is over. In addition, both were named

For complete article, pick up the Feb. 7 Belvidere Daily Republican.