Sycamore boys bowling reach state tournament

DeKALB – Jeff Gasso and his Sycamore bowling teammates could not be more thrilled.

The team qualified for the IHSA State Meet when they came in sixth place (6,161) on Saturday at the Sycamore Sectional at Mardi Gras Lanes.

“It’s very important (to qualify) because I’ve never been to State," Gasso said. "I really want to see what it’s like there."

Gasso finished with 1,358, first on the team and was seventh place individually at the Sectional.

“If we go as a team (to State), we bring the family with and that’s the whole team that I call family,” said Gasso.

For the Spartans as a team, it was a roller coaster ride from Game 1 to Game 6.

“We came out average and the second game we dipped down a little and had a monster third game," Sycamore coach Aaron WIlliams said. "We had the same wave pattern in the afternoon."

For other teams like DeKalb, it was heart breaking. The team finished in eleventh place with 5,828. It was not enough to qualify. Their star bowler, Michael Rae came out very strong in the morning. He bowled a 674 and finished with a 1,242 – 68 pins behind an individual qualifying spot.

“In the first half I was on track. I was hitting number 7," Rae said. "In the afternoon, things didn’t go our way."

The senior bowler had a great season this year. He had hoped to qualify for the State meet.

“That was my goal all season. In the middle of the season, I did my first 300 and that was motivation for me," Rae said. "I started bowling better and getting the lift I needed. I found my spot. It’s all about great shots."

Jacob Lindgren rolled a 1,238 and Aaron Olson had a 1,217 for twenty-ninth place.

“Our season has been really good," DeKalb coach Al Collins said. "They worked hard. Our averages increased quite a bit."

Vernon Hills won the Sectional title with 6,450. Second place went to Rockton Hononegah with 6,443. Machesney Park took third with 6,399. St. Charles East came in fourth with 6,337. Belvidere got fifth place with 6,203. DeKalb was 333 pins behind the final qualifying spot.

The top six finishers as a team qualified for State.

“It was a good year. I had probably the best teammates I could ever ask for,” said Rae.