Boys Bowling

Boys Bowling: Saints take another step towards goal with win over Geneva

WEST CHICAGO – A bowling season is not defined by wins and losses in the regular or conference season.

Just ask St. Charles East boys bowling coach Steve Dessauer. Even after his Saints beat Geneva, 3,833-3,390, Thursday afternoon at Bowling Green Sports Center, he simply used the word “No” when asked if he knew what the team’s record was after the Upstate Eight Conference River Division victory.

It wasn’t because he doesn’t keep track. He could have easily looked up the record in little time, but it was because it doesn’t matter to him. Dessauer’s top priority with his team is to make sure it continues to take strides toward its ultimate goal.

“Each time out here is a building block toward that beginning of the season goal to make it to state,” Dessauer said. “I don’t really care about the record to be honest. We’re doing well. We’re getting better every single match, week, practice, Saturday tournament and that’s what is most important.”

Senior Cole Cartee continued his strong form, finishing with a match-high series of 694, with a high game of 244, while Andrew Culbertson’s 679 and Dean Mudlong’s (648) paced the Saints to victory.

While those scores helped lead the Saints to another win, Mudlong, a captain of the group this year, said taking each match throw by throw is really important for the long-term mission for the Saints.

“You want to look at your score, but it’s not really about that for us,” Mudlong said. “It’s just taking it one throw at a time and making sure to focus on what you’re doing. Each of these matches is preparation for the future for us for that end goal of going to state. It’s been working out well so far.”

After losing the second game of the day, Mudlong and the Saints turned to their motto to “fight back” and did so in a clean sweep of the third game.

“That’s been our motto, our saying all season,” Mudlong said. “I think it’s important to have matches like that to force you to fight back and persevere.”

Geneva was led by senior John Zupke’s 650 series, with help from Mario Gelfuso (647) and Jordan Soto (601). But coach Jordan Zimberoff would like to see more consistency from his group, which is shaped as a general theme among coaches building towards the postseason.

While Zimberoff did say it was “a nice consolation” to take the second game from the Saints, the mental mistakes are where the problems begin for his Vikings.

“I just think we don’t trust ourselves when we get out here,” Zimberoff said. “We execute these shots in practice, no problem, but then when we get out here we make physical mistakes that I think come from not trusting ourselves. Our goal is to make sure we’re bowling our best come postseason.”

It was clear the Saints built off the energy they bring with them to the bowling alley. It could have been the support of the East girls water polo team, or the constant shouting of “Si” after strikes, or “Must be the money” after three-in-a-row, but nonetheless, it helped calm any nerves after dropping the second game.

“It’s pretty cool. I even had some of the Geneva guys come up to me and say ‘This is crazy’,” Cartee said of the atmosphere. “It’s hard to get down on yourself when you constantly are giving high fives, even after bad shots. It helps you gain that confidence, which we need, because come sectionals and state, your season really gets defined by a couple of Saturdays.”

Early season and conference wins are nice, but the Saints and Vikings have something to take away after Thursday toward much bigger goals ahead.