Girls bowlers achieve spot at IHSA Sectional

HUNTLEY – Huntley’s girls bowling team is moving on to the IHSA Sectional round.

The Red Raiders gained the third of four qualifying spots at the IHSA Oswego Regional Feb. 3 with a score of 5,032 pins at Parkside Lanes in Aurora. Huntley’s IHSA Sectional is Feb. 10 at Mardis Gras Lanes in Sycamore.

Sophomore Katie Scaletta led the Red Raiders at regional with a score of 1,096 pins. Junior Prianca Waters was next with a score of 1,016 and freshman Ashlyn Tenglin finished with 1,003 pins. Junior Erica DeBello rolled an 841, while sophomore Mackenzie Miller contributed a 618 and junior Jana Boudreau a 458.

Huntley coach Eric DeBello commented on the regional meet and is hopeful the squad can gain a qualifying finish at sectional for the IHSA state tournament, which is Feb. 16-17 at Cherry Bowl in Rockford.

“It was a great productive team day,” coach Eric DeBello said. “They held each other up. When it came down to it at the end we made the spares when we had to. Not a lot of strikes but we had great spare shooting. I feel we still haven’t bowled our best. Looking at the teams in our sectional we will need our best. Next week will be “our” state as we will need to go through some great teams and in my opinion one of the hardest routes to the state tournament. If we bowl the way we can I know we can shock a few teams. We have improved and now is the time to show it.”

The regional meet success came after the squad won the Kishwaukee River Conference-Fox Valley Conference tournament. Scaletta had the best score at KRC-FVC’s meet as she totaled 1,194 pins.

Team members are optimistic for Saturday’s sectional.

“I feel I’m excited and confident,” Erica DeBello said.

“I think we have a chance. The competition is difficult, but you have to have a good mindset,” Scaletta said.

Scaletta, who bowled on the varsity last year as a freshman, said the team definitely supports each other.

“The team’s atmosphere has been amazing. We support each other, if someone is having a tough day, we help to make it right,” Scaletta said.

“We have so much energy, we can go from zero to 100 quickly,” Erica DeBello said.

“Our goal is to get to state, and that would be very exciting,” Waters said.

The Red Raiders dominated dual matches with a 15-1 record and won the Kishwaukee River Conference-Fox Valley Conference team title and tournament, held Jan. 26.

The first KRC-FVC all league team was announced and DeBello, Waters, Scaletta and Tenglin made the team. The coach commented on the all-league team members.

“Erica DeBello was good down the stretch as she anchored the line-up and got the maximum points in the last three weeks,” coach DeBello said.

“Waters was good for us all year. She works hard on the lanes and her scores show it. She has also a great attitude and a solid mental game,” DeBello said.

“Tenglin was a solid new addition as a freshman. Her attitude and excitement is contagious. She has been setting the pace as our lead-off bowler all year and I know it will continue,” DeBello said.

“Scaletta has been great for us in our ‘three-hole’. Scaletta is a strong bowler and will be going forward,” DeBello said.