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Eagles take turns directing their ship
Erika Pimentel, with Leyden, high-fives team mates, Friday, during the afternoon round of the girls bowling state finals in Rockford. | Dave Shields~For Sun-Times Media.
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Updated: March 15, 2013 12:11PM
ROCKFORD — Competing in the 2013 girls bowling state meet Friday and Saturday at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Leyden nearly duplicated its effort from a year prior, placing seventh overall after nabbing sixth place in ’12.
Leyden finished with 11,543 pins for a team average of 196.4.
Seven Eagles contributed to the cause, led by junior Reba Hall, who finished ninth in the huge field with 2,571 pins. Sophomore Ashley Kriston was next for Leyden, placing 32nd with 2,434, followed by junior Erika Pimentel, who ended up 52nd with 2,336.
Though Hall was the team’s No. 1 performer at state, and consistently has been the Eagles’ top scorer this season, Leyden coach Chris Aylward and Co. insist that any success is the result of an all-for-one/one-for-all mentality.
“We’re a pretty unique team that way,” Aylward said on Friday. “Throughout the year, if one person was down, the others step up. No one person has to feel the burden. With seven legitimate varsity bowlers, we have depth.”
For example, senior Danielle Trevino and junior Nicole Lasin each bowled just one game during Friday’s three-game morning session, respectively rolling a 147 and a 159. Both bounced back after the lunch break, with Trevino totaling 538 in three games and Lasin counting 517. Sophomore Nicole Pitsenbarger knocked down 491 pins in the morning, and senior Jeanette Treto delivered a 159 in Game 1.
“We know we can depend on each other, and we support each other that way,” Hall said. “If people on a team don’t get along, you won’t get anywhere. So everyone has to be together. If you get mad, everyone gets down, including yourself. We’ve had some little issues this year, but we try to support each other, and that really helps out.”
Added Trevino: “We have no captains — we’re one whole team. No matter what, if someone misses a spare, we all say we have to pick it up … shake it off and go to the next frame. As long as we succeed as a team, it’s OK.”
QUINLAN GOES IT ALONE
As the lone team member to represent Trinity at the state meet, junior Tara Quinlan held her own quite nicely, finishing 29th overall with 2,465 pins.
“The key was staying positive,” Quinlan said after Friday’s first two rounds at The Cherry Bowl. “I didn’t have a team to back me up, so I was a little stressed. But I’ve been bowling really well lately, and I stayed aggressive throughout the day.”
Quinlan, a three-year varsity veteran, stood in 14th place with 1,275 pins after six games. She totaled 1,190 in Saturday’s finals, counting 659 pins in the morning session — with a high game of 235 — and knocking down 531 in the final three games.
