Girls Bowling: Lockport deep, talented

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Lockport bowler Briana Zabierek. | File photo

Updated: February 21, 2012 8:31AM

Two years without an appearance in the state bowling tournament can seem like forever for a team with the historic success Lockport has enjoyed. The Porters haven’t returned to the tournament since their 2009 state championship.

But they seem to be in great form as the postseason nears.

“We’ve grown as a team,” the Porters’ Lauren Troha said. “We support each other during matches and help each other. We focus real hard on our spares, and we’ve been really consistent with that.”

The deep Porters have six bowlers with an average of 184 or better, and have won all seven SouthWest Suburban Blue matches since losing the season opener to Andrew.

“We’re capable of turning some big scores,” Lockport coach Art Cwudzinski said.

That was never more obvious than Dec. 14, when the Porters rolled three of the four best scores in school history in a conference dual against Sandburg.

That included a 300 by Troha, last year’s conference champion, at Strike ’N Spare II. Ironically, Troha was with the junior varsity team that day. So the Porters’ 2,086 pinfall total for two games did not include her 300 game and 515 series.

“That day I was just focusing very well,” said Troha, whose previous career best was a 279. “Around the fifth frame I started thinking about it, then tried not to. The whole place was packed, I know everyone around was trying to be quiet. In the eighth frame, I had a Brooklyn and that scared me. Then the last ball, the sixth pin wobbled then fell, and I just started crying.”

Bri Zabierek, who leads the team with a 200 average, also was perfect heading into the final frame that day. She finished with a 288, and Megan Szczepanski had a 278.

“I’m so superstitious,” Cwudzinski said. “I had my left leg anchored on a table. I was anchored to one spot and wouldn’t move.”

The perfect games are great but the Porters know consistency will be the key to postseason success.

“We talk about our spares a lot, that if we don’t get a strike, don’t get angry, refocus, take a breath and focus on the spare,” Troha said.

“We’re getting better every week and that’s our goal,” Cwudzinski said. “Strikes are nice, but spares are what does it for you. We focus on spares in practice twice a week. We tell them that spares are a frame of mind.

“These kids push themselves and want to get strikes, but if you don’t get them, you got to have that mental focus to stay sharp.”