Bowling: Sectional preview
January 19, 2013 11:14PM
Updated: February 21, 2013 6:57AM
Duneland sectional
When: Team event, 4 p.m. Wednesday; Singles, 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Plaza Lanes
Singles bowlers to watch: BOYS — Griffith: Mitch Burk; Morton: Ricky Gutierrez; Hobart: Jerry James, Bobby Kammer, Bobby Eberle, Mike Blue; Wheeler: Zach Gilbert, Jordan Gilbert; Highland: Adam Batliner, Tyler Trombetta, Tayler Peters; Lake Station: Matt Laviolette, Mike Luellman; GIRLS — Griffith: Samie Johnson; Highland: Jessica Dziezak, Catie Bales; Lake Station: Tristen Majka; Hobart: Anna Canchola, Arcadia Shoulders
Outlook: Highland will be looking for repeat trips to the regional, and the girls look to be in the best shape after an undefeated regular season. The boys finished second to a talented Hobart squad that looks to advance after falling short last season. The second advancing spot for the girls should come down to Griffith and Lake Station.
Next: Top two boys and girls teams and eight boys and girls singles advance to Michigan City Regional on Feb. 2 at City Lanes
Suburban sectional
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: Hebron Lanes
Singles bowlers to watch: BOYS — Boone Grove: Kyle Taylor; Hebron: Tim Victor; Lowell: Dylan Myers, Caleb Elliott, Nick Marlett; North Newton: Chad Klomp; Rensselaer: Michael Effinger; Hanover: Kevin Beemster, Austin Moran, Alex Beemster, Jon Metcalfe; KV: Ryan Postma; GIRLS — Boone Grove: Paige Kraushaar, Angelique McKeny, Madeline Smith, Kayla Yadron; Hebron: Anna Wilson; Lowell: Lerin Manis; Hanover: Paige Perez
Outlook: The Boone Grove girls may be the best team in Northwest Indiana. There are much bigger schools that might argue that, but the Wolves have beaten those big schools in various tourneys this season, and there’s no reason to think Boone will not roll in the sectional. The second girls spot could be up for grabs between Hebron, Lowell and Hanover. Both advancing spots are up for grabs for the boys as Hanover and Lowell fought all season for first place, while Hebron and KV have been competitive.
Next: Top two boys and girls teams and nine boys and seven girls singles advance to Michigan City Regional on Feb. 2 at City Lanes
Westlake sectional
When: 9 a.m. Jan. 27
Where: Hobart Lanes
Singles bowlers to watch: BOYS — Lake Central: Nate Maciejewski, Ryan Gorman, Andy Schmied; Merrillville: Alex Swierc; Crown Point: Matt Locher, Cory Locher, Justin Melvin; Andrean: Jake McCoy; Munster: Tyler Hansen, Robert Dawson; GIRLS — Lake Central: Allison Sellers, Samantha Watson, Kierstyn Rush, Caroline Dienes, Jamie Zega; Merrillville: Carly Larson; Crown Point: Sarah Bond
Outlook: This could be the sectional with the biggest surprises. LC boys look like a probable advancer after going undefeated in the regular season. But after that, it’s anyone’s guess. Crown Point, Merrillville, Andrean and Munster will fight for the second boys spot, while LC and Merrillville will duke it out for the lone girls regional spot. Some LC girls still have the memory of the Pirates upsetting them in the sectional two years ago.
Next: Top two boys teams, one girls team, eight boys and five girls singles advance to Michigan City Regional on Feb. 2 at City Lanes
Porter-LaPorte
sectional
When: Singles at 1 p.m. Sunday; Team at 1 p.m. Jan. 27
Where: Casey’s Lanes in LaPorte
Singles bowlers to watch: BOYS — Chesterton: Nate Sipe, Jake Yankauskas, Johnny Gorches, Matt Ozimek; Michigan City: Aaron Skibinski, Sam Welch Jr., Patrick Norred; LaPorte: David Lehman, Kyle Ruminski, Nate Nieto; Portage: Jordan Trent, Jake Sturgill; Valparaiso: Jason Wright; GIRLS — Portage: Jackie Rhoda, Nicole Walton, Caitlin Pidgeon, Haley Keller; LaPorte: Jessica Sizemore; Chesterton: Heidi Tucker; Candice Tovo
Outlook: Chesterton won the boys regular season title, but that doesn’t mean it can rest on its laurels in the sectional. LaPorte and Michigan City have enough talent to get hot in a given event and spoil the party for the Trojans. On the girls side, it would be a shocker if undefeated Portage doesn’t get one of the two advancing spots, let alone run away with first place. LaPorte has big edge for the second spot over Chesterton.
Next: Top two boys and girls teams and seven boys and six girls singles advance to Michigan City Regional on Feb. 2 at City Lanes
— By Steve T. Gorches
