Consistent performance guides Minooka to title at Lincoln-Way East

Steady, was the theme for the Minooka boys bowling team on Saturday. The Indians didn’t have a top five finisher at the Lincoln-Way East invite, but they had four bowlers in the top 20 and went on to cruise past Oswego by 215 pins to capture the title at Orland Bowl.

Minooka rolled at least 1,020 in every game, including a 1,182 in Game 2, and finished with 6,606 pins. Oswego, which placed a pair of individuals in the top five, including runner-up Kameron Rockwell, finished with 6,391. Andrew finished third at 6,266, followed by Romeoville (6,243), Plainfield North (6,223) and Bolingbrook, which was paced by individual champion Gio Montecinos, was sixth at 6,188.

Richards (6,137), Lincoln-Way West (6,074), Joliet West (6,038), Lincoln-Way North (6,030), Sandburg (5,951) and defending state champion Lockport (5,944) rounded out the top 12 in the 24-team tournament.

“That’s what I’ve been waiting for,” Minooka coach Derrick Rapsky said of his teams performance. “We are capable of that. The key is we picked up our spares.

“We’re a talented team. If we keep in it mentally, the sky is the limit.”

Juniors Jackie Russell (1,360) and Alex Guglielmucci (1,337) paced the Indians.

“I think this was the first tournament that we were all able to feed off each other,” Russell said. “It was fun. That’s how you know you’re doing well, when you have fun.”

The fun came with the execution.

“We just carried a lot of spares today,” Guglielmucci said. “We just want to take the momentum and go with it.”

Seniors Zach Seggato (11th place, 1,330 pins) and John Kauffman (20th, 1,288 pins) rounded out the Indians who bowled all six games.

For Montecinos, a senior, it was the first high school tournament title. He fired a 1,426 total, including a 276 in game one. That edged Rockwell, who also shot a 276 in the opening game, by 19 pins.

“In our previous tournament [the Oak Forest Invite on Dec. 7], we took first as a team and I was third individually,” Montecinos said. “I think I only missed two easy spares [at the Lincoln-Way Tournament] and to win felt good.

“I’m just looking to go to state. That’s been the goal all four years.”

Ryan Baumann, from Oswego East, was third at 1,373. Steven Grant (1,370) from Richards, Dom Glatz (1,369) from Oswego, and Dakota Vostry (1,361) from Romeoville rounded out the top six individuals.

Ryan Kirby, from Oak Lawn, was eighth at 1,352. Cody Surges (1,340) from Romeoville was ninth, and Brandon Torres (1,330) from Sandburg placed 12th.