O’Fallon senior caps four-year career by winning state bowling championship
One year after helping to make history as a member of the O’Fallon girls bowling team which made school history by winning a state title, Panthers senior Mary Orf returned to the top of the victory platform at Cherry Bowl in Rockford.
This time as the individual state champion.
The granddaughter of Professional Bowling Association great Ray Orf, Orf became the Panthers second individual state champion since 2011 when she scored a 167-pin victory last week over Haley Frick of Schaumburg.
Trailing Frick by 26 pins after the first six games of the competition on Friday, Orf took control early in day two, rolling games of 227, 297 and 236 for a 760 series to take the lead for good.
A four-year standout for coach Garrett Spencer’s team, Orf then ended the hopes of Frick and the rest of the field when she opened the final session with a 278 game.
“I just got locked in. My concentration was good and I just bowled very well,’’ Orf said. “What state title means the most to me? Well, they are both pretty special. I’d have to say the one last year because it was the first in school history.
“But this one means a great deal as well.’’
Orf, who averaged 224 during the regular season, was even better at Cherry Bowl. She finished the 12 games with a total of 2,743 pins, an average of 228.6.
Orf joins former Panthers great Natalie Goodman (2011) as O’Fallon bowlers to win the state championship. She also joins a list which includes Frannie Steiner of Collinsville (2010), Brandee Hewlett of Belleville East (2002) and Whitney Cox of Alton (2001).
Orf’s title is even more impressive considering she did it as an individual. A perennial state tournament contender, O’Fallon was denied a chance to defend its championship do to a sub-par performance at the IHSA sectional.
With no team to help, Orf focused on herself and each and every shot for 12 games.
“People don’t realize how difficult this can be. The IHSA puts out a different pattern each year and when the bowlers arrive here on Thursday they get one hour of practice to figure it out,’’ Spencer said. “Then each set of lanes during the competition are a little different. You have to able to adjust and stay totally focused and locked in for 12 games... its a challenge both mentally and physically.
“Mary struggled the second round a little bit, but she came back the second day and just shot lights out. It was over after the 760 series on Saturday (morning). Nobody was going to catch her. The other top bowlers had lost their focus because they were all watching what Mary was doing.’’
A member of one of the top bowling families in the St. Louis area, Orf has been bowling for as long as she cam remember. Her Grandfather Ray Orf, bowled on the PBA national tour, won a national title and six PBA regional titles. Orf threw an 890 series which included 35 straight strikes in 1972.
Ray Orf passed away in 2018.
“I started bowling when I was little. No pressure to compete though. It was just a lot of fun,’’ Mary Orf said. “My brother (Andrew) and I loved listening to my grandfather tell stories. He was very motivational and inspirational. We were very close.’’
In addition, Orf’s father Rich Orf, has won several regional PBA events and her older brother Andrew was a former state tournament medal winner.
Mary Orf will continue her academic and athletic career at McKendree University.
Other state medalists
Also earning a state medal at Cherry Bowl last week was Caitlyn Radliff of Belleville East who placed eighth with a 210.1 average. Led by Radliff, the Lancers placed fourth in the team competition followed by Collinsville (fifth), Mascoutah (sixth) and Highland (ninth)
The Lockport Porters won the state title.
