New Faces, Same Spirit for York Bowlers

York senior girls bowler Allison Marselle enjoyed a career-best 224 game during last year's Leyden Invitational behind a streak of seven consecutive strikes.

"It's crazy, but those were like the only marks I had. There was pressure (on me)," Marselle said.

This season comes with different challenges for Marselle. She is the only four-year bowler in the program and the only regular senior in the varsity lineup for a young team that also has a new coach, Kelly Cassidy.

"We're sort of struggling a little bit because we have a new coach, so it takes some adjusting. (But) I think we are doing well as a team overall," Marselle said. "We have a lot of people moving up that haven't been on varsity before, so it's defintely an adjustment." 

Marselle and junior Morgan Pruitt are the lone varsity returnees from last year's senior-dominated team that tied for sixth in the West Suburban Conference standings with a 2-6 record and was fourth at the Whitney Young Sectional, two spots from a state team berth. The graduates include 2010 individual state qualifier Christy Chiappetta.

Varsity newcomers in the Dukes' first three outings have included senior Liann Nicholson and juniors Cate Baker, Cate Lawrence, Genie Rizzo, Kim Smaga and Marisa Stallmann. Junior Emily Davelis and sophomore Linnea Wethekam also could become full-time contributors to the varsity lineup.

"I would definitely say they have a great team rapport," Cassidy said. "It's really special with this team, the way they help each other out and their camaraderie. It seems like they're really having a great time. That's really important. (Another goal is) to feel good about their successes, big or small, to see individual improvement of their averages and their own goals and we have some team goals."

A York graduate, Cassidy bowled for the Dukes as a freshman and sophomore and has been an assistant girls track coach the past three seasons. She takes over for Dave Williams, who coached the past six seasons.

This year's program has 23 girls, with five seniors and five freshmen. Seniors Nicholson and Samantha Deane are co-captains. 

"I had bowled at York and remembered it being great. I had expressed interest, back when, to (former York athletic director) Rob Wagner. So when the opportunity presented itself, I was really excited," Cassidy said. 

"I'd say some coaching fundamentals from track are very transferrable, but changing to head coach and not having anyone (as an assistant) to take direction or help is just an undertaking. I'm still learning some of the specifics of the game and technqiue from other coaches. These girls are very, very expert. I'm learning from them as much as them from me."

On Tuesday, the Dukes opened West Suburban Conference action with a tough eight-pin 1,669 to 1,657 loss to host Hinsdale Central at Suburbanite Bowl. 

Because several Hinsdale Central bowlers had to leave early for college night, the teams agreed to a two-game series rather than the customary three. York (1-3) outscored the Red Devils 847-795 in the second game but couldn't overcome a 64-pin deficit.

Stallmann had a team-high 196 game and 348 two-game series, followed by Marselle (308, 155 high game), Lawrence (291), Pruitt (263), Smaga (239) and Rizzo (208).

On Saturday, Dec. 4, the Dukes finished fifth at the Rich East Invitational with 4,458 pins over six games. Marselle was 17th with a six-game 957 series (159.5 average), including a 190 first game, and Stallmann was 22nd (935, 170 high game). Lawrence (879) also bowled all six games.

On the junior varsity level, York took third (3,674) with Wethekam taking fifth (871, 180 high game).

"I would like to keep (my average) going up," said Marselle, who averaged 148.50 pins in last year's WSC varsity duals. "I personally would love to average a 170 for this season and as a team I would love to see us come in the top four at sectionals. We definitely have the potential."

Against three other WSC foes at the season-opening Willowbrook Quad Nov. 23, the Dukes' 2,435 for three games defeated Addison Trail (2,327) while finishing behind Morton (2,648) and Willowbrook (2,440).

Pruit (438 series, 178 high game), Marselle (416), Lawrence (399) and Rizzo (397) bowled all three games. Stallmann (290), Smaga (287, 173 high game) and Davelis (208) each bowled two. 

Now the varsity's veteran, Marselle hopes to continue one tradition from last season—constant words of encouragement, often very loud, during meets.

"I try to encourage who I'm bowling with and get us to be a team and work hard and work together," Marselle said.

"We had a lot of spirit last year that (the seniors) wanted us to carry on. Morgan and I are definitely trying to bring that back to this team to make it more of our own team."