Girls bowling starts season strong
HUNTLEY — The girls bowling season may just be starting, but Huntley senior Erica DeBello already has a close battle in the books.
Erica DeBello, daughter of head coach Eric DeBello, edged Fremd’s Lana Verseegh, with a 941-937 series score for top honors at the Schaumburg Invitational Nov. 30. The Red Raiders’ 3,956 team pins total was third in the 18-team meet.
In addition to DeBello, senior Pria Waters rolled an 862 series for 12th place and senior Katie Scaletta had an 804 series for 20th.
“Saturday’s invite at Poplar Creek was a great start for us,” coach Eric DeBello said. “We left a lot of pins out there but was still able to to grind it out for a third place finish. Spares were important on Saturday. They are always important but it was hard too carry on Saturday. We just stayed mentally tough.”
“I didn’t know, until my dad mentioned that I needed the last strike,” Erica DeBello said of the close finish.
Erica DeBello has been working hard to ready for her final Red Raiders season. She continues her top quality of enthusiasm.
“I worked hard all summer on spares,” DeBello said. “I just think about the best possible outcome. But I don’t want it (prep bowling) to end.”
Scaletta is another all-conference bowler who is back.
“I’ve been working on the 10-pin, looking down the lane. I think the mental game is just as important as the physical. I’m sad it’ll be over but I think we’ll have a great year,” Scaletta said.
Huntley started the KRC-FVC league battles with a win over McHenry by a 3,066 pins to 2,409 Dec. 2 at Bowl-Hi Lanes.
DeBello recorded the top score with a 609 series. Scaletta was next, 604, with the best game of 247. Ashlyn Tenglin rolled a 525 while Waters contributed a 521, Kaelyn Keegan had a 423 and Jana Boudreau a 384 series.
Huntley also picked up a conference win over Dundee-Crown, 2,893 pins to 2,452 Dec. 3. Scaletta had the high series, 608; Erica DeBello was next, 601 with the top game, 244. Also, Waters rolled a 540; Tenglin a 466; Boudreau had a 356 and Keegan a 322.
Season outlook
Coach Eric DeBello is hopeful the Red Raiders will be able to defend their KRC-FVC league title.
The Red Raiders advanced as a team from regional to the sectional round at Sycamore, where they finished seventh, two spots from state team qualifying.
Contributing to the Red Raiders squad will be newcomers seniors Hannah Asemota, Addyson May, and Isabella Kurash along with juniors McKenzie Miller, and Vennesa Vazquez.
“We have shown much improvement during practice and want to continue the momentum from last season,” coach DeBello, in his second year, said. “We did get an honorable mention at the end of the season but this year we want to be ranked and take the trip to state. With a heavy senior roster this is a big season for Miller, Keegan and Vazquez. They will all need to step up and move up next season. Keegan has been working hard in the off season and has shown great improvement.”
DeBello described the strengths of returning bowlers.
“Tenglin is great at our lead off spot and setting the pace,” he said. “Boudreau has been working hard in the off season as well. Waters, Scaletta and Erica DeBello round out our line up. These three have been solid for our program and I expect great things from these three this season. All three were All KRC-FVC last season. Erica DeBello missed bowler of the year in our conference by four points.”
The mentor is optimistic for the season.
“Overall, I want to see this team make some noise this season,” coach DeBello said. “We finished 1 step short last season and we want to make it right this year. We want to join the powerful teams to the northwest at state this season. We have the talent to go far this season and you better believe we will give it our best shot.”
