Lincoln-Way West boys bowling delivered one of the strongest postseason performances in program history with a record-setting run at the IHSA State Finals.
The IHSA State Finals took place Jan. 30–31, as the Warriors competed against the top programs in Illinois following a dominant postseason stretch.
Lincoln-Way West entered the state series with momentum after winning regionals with a team total of 6,823 pins — one of the top series scores in the state and a program best — before narrowly missing a sectional title by six pins. At state, the Warriors opened the tournament in historic fashion, averaging 1,200 pins over the first two games while recording just three opens across 100 frames. The performance placed Lincoln-Way West in first place after Day 1 for the first time in school history.
The Warriors remained in first place through the first nine games, marking another program milestone. While the final three games proved challenging, Lincoln-Way West continued to compete and closed the tournament with an eighth-place finish, the highest postseason result in school history.
Sophomore Patrick Berlin earned All-State honors, while sophomore Ryan Richter delivered a standout postseason highlighted by an individual regional championship and a 300 game. Lincoln-Way West has now reached the IHSA State Finals in eight of the past nine seasons while competing in one of the state’s toughest sectionals, and with only two seniors on the roster, the Warriors return a strong core positioned to build on a historic postseason run.
