Name: Edgar Burgos

School: St. Charles East, freshman

Sport: Bowling

Why he was selected: Burgos won the state championship at last weekend's IHSA state bowling tournament. The freshman rolled two games of 300, and finished with a 2,868 pinfall and 239 average. Burgos beat the runner-up by 39 pins. St. Charles East finished fourth as a team.

Bartelson: You're the first freshman to win the individual state championship in over 10 years. What does that mean to you?

Burgos: It means a lot because I've been practicing so hard. I had a little setback when I came here [to St. Charles]. It means really a lot because I was working really hard so I could be the top individual.

Bartelson: In December, you bowled the second-highest series in IHSA history [of 844] against Lake Park. What was that like?

Burgos: That was pretty much one of the best days because it was just all clicking. I was making great shot after great shot. The lane certainly helped me out a little, so I got the 300 [score] and I kept going...it was a good night.

Bartelson: Bowling has been a part of your life for a while, hasn't it? What was your introduction to the sport?

Burgos: Yes. I'd say [I've been bowling] since I was 4 or 5-years-old. Mostly it was my parents because they were in bowling leagues. I really got into baseball first, but then, since my parents were [spending] every weekend in the bowling alley, I just gave that a shot.

Bartelson: What does bowling bring to your life?

Burgos: It just makes me really happy. Especially when I do all those big games, it makes my parents and all my friends happy. It just means the world to me.