OPRF bowler rst ever state quali er for boys program

Wernet’s 1,383 series good for 4th overall at sectional meet

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Senior Payton Wer net had a great star t on Jan. 21 toward becoming the first Oak Park and River Forest High School boys bowler to qualify for the state meet. He had no trouble finding motivation to keep it going.

“This was my main year, senior year. That was my main goal, to make it to state,” Wer net said. “That was the one thing I promised my grandmother [Sheila] before she passed away, so this is pretty emotional.”

Wer net’s 1,383 six-g ame series (230.5-pin average) was good for fourth overall at the IHSA Sectional hosted by IC Catholic Prep at Bowlero in Glendale Heights and he eas- ily advanced as the second of seven highest scoring individual qualifiers not from one of the six advancing teams.

Last season, Wer net was part of the Huskies’ first team and among three sectional qualifiers His team-best 1,191 at sectionals was 105 pins from the individual state cut.

His series at Bowlero on Jan. 21 was among his highest ever His personal-best high g ame is 297 at Circle Lanes in Forest Park.

Wer net be g an the sectional meet with his highest g ame (277) and was among the leaders after three g ames with a 745 series (277-235-233).

“Whether it’s the highest or not, this [se- ries] is probably the most meaningful,” Wer net said. “I couldn’t be happier for my parents, my coach [Richard Shor t]. They helped me a lot. My coach really helped me out a lot today.”

Smiling somewhere, too, was Grandma Sheila, a huge fan since Wer net’s basketball days who died two-and-a-half years ago.

“She was like my second mom, so this really means a lot for my entire family,” Wer net said. “She was my No. 1 suppor ter outside of my mom. I wanted to make her proud today and I think I did that.”

Fenwick senior James Dubanowich (1,308, 218 average) finished 13th behind