High school bowling sectional preview

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Updated: February 26, 2012 8:15AM

Duneland

When: Team event at 1 p.m. Saturday; singles at 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Plaza Lanes in Highland

Singles to watch: GIRLS — Griffith: Elizabeth Kras, Maggie Cartwright; Highland: Jessica Dziezak, Kaitlynn Carpenter, Kristi VanderWoude; Hobart: Aradia Shoulders; Morton: Marissa Minks; Calumet: Tiffany Matuszczak; Lake Station: Rachel Waters; BOYS — Hobart: Jerry James, Robert Eberle; Morton: Ricky Gutierrez, Adam Oberc; Wheeler: Zach Gilbert, Andrew Striker, Ryan Svetanoff; Highland: Adam Batliner, Jacob Riffle; Lake Station: Nick Laviolette

Team outlook: The Hobart boys won the conference, but that doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to finish in the top two. They performed well in the NWI Holiday Classic, but Highland, Morton, Wheeler and Lake Station can all challenge the Brickies. The Griffith girls are a favorite to advance with Highland right there with the Panthers as in previous years. Hobart and Morton have an outside shot of spoiling the party.

Next: Top two boys and girls teams; top nine boys and nine girls advance to the regional on Feb. 4 at City Lanes.

Suburban

When: Saturday — team event at 9 a.m.; singles at 1 p.m.

Where: Country Lanes in Lowell

Singles to watch: GIRLS — Boone Grove: Paige Kraushaar, Kayla Yadron; Hebron: Emily O’Leary, Angelique McKeny; Lowell: Rachel Elliott; BOYS — Boone Grove: John Yankauskas, Jeremy Shaffer; Hebron: David Morales, Tim Victor, Cole Ryder; Lowell: Garrett Miller, Dylan Myers; North Newton: Fred Herman; Hanover: Kevin Beemster

Team outlook: The boys side will likely come down to three teams — Lowell, Hanover Central and Hebron. They were neck-and-neck all year for the conference. North Newton is good and could sneak into one of the two spots. The Boone Grove and Hebron girls battled during the regular season, and it should be the same Saturday.

Next: Top two boys and girls teams; top nine boys and seven girls advance to the regional on Feb. 4 at City Lanes.

Westlake

When: Sunday — singles at 1 p.m.; team event at 4:30 p.m.

Where: Stardust II in Hobart

Singles to watch: GIRLS — Lake Central: Kelly Belzeski, Caroline Dienes, Allison Sellers; Merrillville: Carly Larson, Kasey Stewart; Crown Point: Sarah Bond; BOYS — Andrean: Jake McCoy; Munster: Tyler Hansen, Robert Dawson; Merrillville: Tyler Shockey, Alex Swierc; Clark: Jeremy Rusnack; Crown Point: Matt Locher, Jordan Locher, Fred Benich; Lake Central: Nate Maciejewski, Brad Fisher, Ryan Gorman, Colin Young, Andy Schmied, Joey Miller

Team outlook: It would be hard to imagine Lake Central’s girls not earning a trip to the regional, but Merrillville or Crown Point could pull off the monumental upset. The boys should be more competitive between LC and Crown Point, while Munster and Merrillville are sleepers.

Next: Top two boys teams, one girls team; top nine boys and five girls advance to the regional on Feb. 4 at City Lanes.

Porter-LaPorte

When: Saturday — team event at 9 a.m.; singles at 1 p.m.

Where: City Lanes in Michigan City

Singles to watch: GIRLS — Portage: Jackie Rhoda, Nicole Walton, Caitlin Pidgeon; LaPorte: Trinity King, Ashley Arndt; Chesterton: Brooke Vogedes; BOYS — Chesterton: Jake Yankauskas, Johnny Gorches, Tyler McKinney, Nathaniel Sipe; Portage: Jordan Trent, Austin Pavy, Kurtis Vild; Michigan City: Patrick Norred, Tyler Wilson, Christopher Hebb; LaPorte: Nate Nieto, Zach Perschke

Team outlook: Same as the WestLake, it’s possible the Portage girls won’t earn the one regional spot, but not probable. LaPorte, though, is pretty good and would advance if there was another spot. Chesterton is a heavy favorite on the boys side with Portage and Michigan City fighting for second.

Next: Top two boys teams, one girls team and top six boys and five girls advance to the regional on Feb. 4 at City Lanes.

— By Steve T. Gorches