Fishman’s 5th leads HHS back to state bowling
HUNTLEY — A sophomore helped secure the Huntley boys bowling team’s biggest goal.
Matthew Fishman set the pace with a 289 game, just 11 pins shy of perfection, in his second game at the IHSA Rockford Guilford Sectional at Don Carter Lanes. He finished with a fifth place total of 1,334 pins.
The Red Raiders’ 5.877 score secured the fourth of six advancing spots from the sectional to the IHSA State Boys Bowling meet Jan. 27-28 at St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon. Huntley will be returning to the state tournament after qualifying for the first time last season.
“He has phenomenal talent and when he is on he can go really big,” Huntley coach Jacob Wagner said of Fishman. “His 289 game on the 11th shot he threw a great shot and left a 10 pin. He picked up the spin and made the spare and was right back to striking. The next game he was focused and hit his mark.”
Wagner said as a southpaw, that helped Fishman in key times Saturday. “As a left hander, he saw the few players on his side of the lanes who were before him throw an urethane ball which allows more carry down the lanes. He is really seeing the game and communicating greatly as are all the boys.”
“Fishman was spot on,” teammate Caleb Vergona, who contributed the next best score, said.
“I was just trying to do my best and help the team,” Fishman said at practice before the state tournament. “I’m extremely happy we made it. I’ve bowled a 299 before, in practice, but never a 300 score.”
“Fishman was spot on,” teammate senior Calev Vergona said. Rockton Hononegah won the team title followed by Machesney Park Harlem and Belvidere North, all of which topped 6,000 pins. HHS’s 5,877 topped Mundelein by one pin and Lake Zurich gained the final qualifying spot, nine pins behind the Red Raiders.
“They announce them from the bottom up so it was pretty nerve-racking,” senior Joshua Waters said.
“I knew we could do it and the team has the talent,” Vergona said.
The team celebrated with a post-sectional dinner, then returned to the practice (one of 23 teams in Illinois to do so) mode Monday. Fishman’s nickname was “Fishy” on the scoreboard.
Two returning members from the 2022 state qualifiers had solid days.
Vergona was the next score behind Fishman, with a 1,119 and a 223 best game for 47th place. Waters, who competed on last season’s qualifiers, had a 209 best game, en route to a 1,152 score. Austin Tenglin totaLed 1,131 and 238 best game. Sophomore Joey Humphrey rounded out the team’s final total with a 924 day and 211 best game.
“The seniors are ecstatic about going back to state,” Wagner said. “They are excited to show the younger boys an experience that they will never forget.”
Wagner and players said the HHS goal for the IHSA State Tournament is to make the second day, which half of the state’s 24 qualifying teams will earn.
“We are expecting to compete as a top 24 team in the state,” Wagner said. “We are a young team but we belong in this tournament. We have the talent and if we can put it all together we have a great shot to be a top 12 team in the state. I am extremely proud of the boys as they have been working all year toward this.”
