Lincoln‑Way West secured the final qualifying spot at the Joliet West girls bowling sectional with 5,454 pins.
The Warriors finished fourth on Friday, Feb. 14, at Joliet Town and Country Lanes to earn a trip to the state finals.
The Warriors held off Lincoln‑Way East in a tight “battle of the Lincoln‑Ways,” edging their district counterpart by just 29 pins. East finished fifth with 5,425, narrowly missing advancement.
Host Joliet West led the field with 6,104 pins, followed by Minooka at 5,708 and Morton at 5,614. Alton placed sixth with 5,286 as 12 teams competed at Joliet Town and Country Lanes, with only the top four moving on.
Morton’s Ava Elfiser claimed the individual sectional crown with 1,413 pins. Among the five bowlers advancing from non‑qualifying teams, Lincoln‑Way East’s Abby Craig stood out. Craig’s performance earned her a spot at state despite her team’s narrow miss, ensuring both Lincoln‑Way programs will be represented in Rockford. She joins Melissa Heaton (Plainfield South), Jillian Dwiggins (Alton), Addison McGrath (Plainfield Central), and Leah Hopkins (University/Normal) in the individual field.
Other team scores included Taylorville (4,670), Pana (4,645), Abingdon (4,569), Galesburg (4,541), Jersey (4,496), and Streator (4,482).
The state finals are set for Feb. 20‑21 at Cherry Bowl in Rockford, where Lincoln‑Way West and Craig will look to extend their postseason success.
