By Randy Whalen

A team can't rest on its success, especially in girls bowling in this area.

The Joliet West girl's bowling team knows that. Coming off a state championship last season, the Tigers have a young lineup this season, but they also have a lot of experience.

Ultimately, they plan to be back in the mix to be on top.

"We just have to keep working on it as a team," Joliet West junior Mia Antomez said. "At the end of the year, we want to be bowling our way."

That's what the Tigers were doing last year. They toppled fellow local teams Minooka (11,983) and Lockport Township (11,732) and won their second state title (2016 was the other) in eight seasons with a pinfall total of 12,223.

Three seniors from that team, including the top bowler Ella Steinke, who placed fourth in the state with a total of 2,586, graduated. But Antomez, who was fifth individually at state last February with a score of 2,578, leads a charge of returners that look to continue to do great things.

"I have zero seniors this year," Joliet West coach John Lizzio said. "I've got three freshmen in the program. I've got to teach them and I love that. They're in the right mindset. I want to build the program from the ground up and I'm so passionate about it."

Lizzio, in his second season as head coach, has his passion shine through to the team. That's shown again this season as the Tigers have captured first in their three tournaments so far. That includes the Plainfield Central Wildcat Invite on Friday, November 29 at Town & Country Lanes in Joliet. There Antomez was first with a 1,276 score for six games, a 213 average.

The next day brought a trip to the Schaumburg Bowling Tournament at Poplar Creek Bowl in Hoffman Estates where Joliet West won again. 

The defending Southwest Prairie Conference champions are also off to a good start in the league dual meets this season. But the big test will come on Tuesday, January 14 at Town & Country against Minooka.

In the meantime, there was a big dual meet already this season. That was on Monday, December 3 with a trip to Strike N Spare ll in Lockport to face the host Porters. Behind clutch bowling from sophomore Alyvia Matiasak, Lockport rallied to win 1917-1906. 

Between Joliet West and Lockport, the two teams have combined to win six of the last nine played state series (there was no official state champion in 2021). The Porters won in 2015, 2020, 2022 and 2023. 

"It's honestly insane to always compete with the great teams in this area," Antomez said following the Lockport match. "But winning the first tournaments was a great way to start the season. We have lost people from last season but still have really great bowling and are looking for another outstanding season."

The lineup against Lockport included Antomez, along with fellow juniors Malorie Berry, Samantha French, Emily Michon, and sophomore  Gianna Mendoza. Michon (411) and French (408) led in the two-game series. Berry had the high game for the Tigers with a 220 in the opener.

"In our first tournament we stayed together as a team and did well in our spare shooting," French said following the Lockport match. "It's good to face teams like (Lockport). It's good competition and motivates us to bowl our best."

At the end of last week, Joliet West hosted its own tournament. This one was a baker game format. That's where the scoring system has players take turns bowling frames in a set order to complete a single game. So there aren't individual bowling stats.

There the Tigers won their third tourney of the season as they rallied to defeat Minooka. 

In a best-of-five final match, Minooka won the first two games 199-189 and 211-184. Then the Tigers rallied to win by scores of 258-190, 196-193, and an excellent last game of 268-181. 

"Even if we have a rough game, we bounce back," Lizzio said. "I told the girls it's OK if we get second. We want to learn every day and learn from our mistakes. The girls are awesome and they have a great mindset."