By Randy Whalen

Last season the Joliet Central boys bowling team had five dual meet wins. 

The Steelmen have four dual meet victories this season in the first week and a half.

Yes, the Steelmen have turned it around and hope not to slow down until the final day of the State Tournament on February 1st.

"I think the team will do really well this year," junior Garrett Johnson said. "We have most everyone back and a good freshman on the team."

Johnson knows what it's like to be a freshman on the varsity as that's where he was two years ago. Now a veteran team leader, he's been working to improve his game and has seen the team do the same.

"Mainly, I've just practiced and bowled as many leagues and tournaments as I can," he said. "When we all step up, we have a strong team this season. I believe we can make state, we just all have to work together."

Joliet Central opened the season on Saturday, November 9, with a 13th-place finish in the Naperville Central Baker Invite at Lisle Lanes. That was right in the middle of the pack as there were 27 teams there. While the Steelmen were third in the tourney last year, this is a different format than will be used throughout the rest of the season.

A better indication of the talent on this season's squad came in the opening week of the dual team season. There the Steelmen kicked off Southwest Prairie Conference play with a 2,716-2,601 victory over visiting Oswego in a 3-game series, on Tuesday, November 12 at Strike and Spare II in Lockport. 

The SPC uses a points system and Joliet Central ended up with eight of the 10. Johnson had a 269 game, which included the front eight and 644 series. Senior Santiago Martinez had a 214 game and freshman AJ Kantor had a couple of games in the low 200s.

"It's kind of nerve-wracking being the new guy on the team," Kantor admitted. "But I've done well and in my first two (200 games) I picked up my spares and after that, I felt better. My goal is just to improve and be an asset to the team."

Wednesday, November 13 brought another SWC match, this one at Town & Country Lanes in Joliet. That was a 2,951-2,306 victory over Plainfield South and all 10 points. Highlights were a 255 game for Martinez, a 228 for Johnson, a 226 for Kantor, and a 174 for senior Ethen Van Ness. 

A third match in three days happened on Thursday, November 14 as the Steelmen hosted SouthWest Suburban Conference power Sanburg in a nonconference match at Strike & Spare. There, Joliet Central won the 2-game series, 1,951-1878. Johnson (444 series), Kantor (420 series), and Martinez (222 game) led the way as the team improved to 3-0 on the season.

"I expect good things and I think we can go a long way," Martinez said. "We have a lot of returning guys, a new guy like AJ who can help us, and a lot of good chemistry."

The Steelmen Express did hit a road bump, however. That happened on Monday, November 18 in a 2901-2396 loss to Minooka in an SPC match at Strike & Spare. But two days later, on Wednesday, November 20. they rebounded for a 2647-2345 SPC victory over Plainfield East at Bowlero in Romeoville. 

Kantor led the way with a 610 series and Johnson had the high game of 214 as Joliet Central improved to 4-1 on the year, 3-1 in conference play. A big test for the team will be the Plainfield North Strike Fest on Saturday, November 23 at Town & Country Lanes.

"We're getting used to new roles and a new system," Joliet Central boys bowling coach Justin McNally said. "We're getting our senior adjusted to being senior leaders. We lost two starters from last year but AJ is starting strong and Garrett is a rock in the lineup."