Slowinski places in top 40 in two tournaments.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The IC Catholic Prep boys bowling team has participated in a pair of large tournaments thus far in the 2017-2018 season.
At the recent Plainfield North Invitational, the Knights took fourth place in the Copper division with a score of 4,579. CJ Slowinski led the way with a 1,219 series, which included high games of 258, 230, 220 and 200. He finished 39th overall. Ian Rickert had a 972 series with a high game of 200 to close out the day. Vince Cerasuolo had a 913 series with a high game of 168. Marc Shuflit rolled a high game of 176.
The Knights also competed in the Glenbrook North Eliminator and took third in the Bronze division with a score of 3,707. In the Bronze division playoffs, New Trier downed IC Catholic Prep 257-222. Slowinski was 33rd in the tournament overall with an 882 score. He had a high game of 171. Cerasuolo was 50th with a 790, which included a high game of 182. Rickert took 60th with a 711. Lance Pollitz was 80th overall.
IC Catholic Prep also dropped a dual match to Chicago Christian.
Seniors Slowinski, Cerasuolo and sophomore Rickert all return from last year’s team. Slowinski advanced to the sectional as an individual and had a 165 average.
“CJ reached sectionals last year and is bowling even better this year,” said IC Catholic Prep coach Sarah Palandri. “Ian is in his second year with the team and is performing more consistently than last year. He’s already averaging higher than he did at the end of last season. Vince has what it takes to make it to sectionals as an individual, but he needs to be consistent.”
Pollitz, a junior, sophomore Jack O’Brien and sophomore Shuflit also return and will see more varsity action this season. Senior Jake DeWitte is new to the team this season.
“We have a variety of players this year who are at all different levels of bowling knowledge,” said Palandri. “The veteran players are crucial in helping build the newcomers’ fundamentals.”
Palandri knows exactly what her team needs to do in order to have success the rest of the way. “We really need to work on staying consistent,” she said. “In the first few tournaments and matches this year, we’ve had games with good total pinfall to a game where no one can mark and our pinfall is extremely poor. When a player is consistent and can pick up their spares, they will see their score and average go up.”
Palandri added team chemistry will go a long way for the Knights this season. “As with the last few years, we are a team that likes to have fun,” she said. “If we lose the first game in a match, the players really can look at the positives and laugh at little mistakes they may have made.”
IC Catholic Prep competed in a dual match at Lisle Lanes against Naperville Central earlier in the week and returns to action Monday, Dec. 4 at home at Brunswick Zone in Glendale Heights against Hinsdale Central. The team host their Knight Invite on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Brunswick Zone.
