Belleville East ready for another go at IHSA Boys State Bowling Tournament
Prior to competing at the Collinsville Bowling Sectional last week at Camelot Bowl, the Belleville East Lancers had qualified for the IHSA state tournament four straight years.
Coach Marcus Barriger’s Lancers would make it a fifth straight time, but not without overcoming some adversity along the way.
In the thick of the race for the title, the Lancers were forced to move midway through the competition to a pair of lanes which had not been used all day when a substance formed on lanes 31 and 32 at the Collinsville-based bowling center.
“We had gotten off to kind of a slow start but were gaining momentum as the competition wore on. When we got to lanes 31 and 32 at Camelot Bowl a couple of our bowlers were sticking on the approach. It seems there was a substance which formed on that pair and it couldn’t be removed,’’ Barriger said. “So we had to bowl our next game on a pair which hadn’t been used all day.
“We had to adjust to that and then the next game we went to a pair of lanes which had been broken down all day. I was super proud of the kids and how they adjusted and how they reacted to the adversity. To finish second behind Herrin and qualify for state, I was thrilled with that.’’
On Friday, Belleville East along with Mascoutah and Collinsville will represent the Southern Illinois High School Bowling Conference the the 2020 Boys State Bowling Tournament at St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights.
Tournament action begins with the first two rounds of competition. Rounds three and four are set for Saturday. The action begins at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days. Tickets are priced at $10 per session and may be purchased at the door or at GoFan.
Perennial state title contenders Machesney Park-Harlem along with Rockton Hononegah headline the field which includes southern Illinois powers Herrin, Anna-Jonesboro and Harrisburg
Sectional champions Vernon Hills, Minooka and Glenbard East should also be in the race for the title won a year ago by Machesney Park Harlem. Rockton Hononegah and Harlem have combined to win four of the last five state championships.
Several local individuals are also in the field. Sectional champion William Nordmann of Lebanon headlines that list which includes Jordan Peacock of O’Fallon, Zachary Benavidez of Belleville West and Austin Davis of Highland
“Machesney Park and Hononegah are always strong and always in the hunt coming in to the last round. I’ve also heard good things about St. Charles East I I believe it is,’’ Barriger said. “I was super impressed with the teams from southern Illinois last weekend at sectional. I didn’t know much about them, but Herrin, Anna-Jonesboro and Harrisburg, all bowled very well.
“Our goal is what it is every year we get here and that’s to win the state championship. Our key is picking up spares. If we pick up spares, I think we have a chance of doing very well here this weekend.’’
