Boys State Bowling: Lockport’s Shane Matejcek leads through Day 1
By Josh Krockey For Sun-Times Media January 25, 2013 8:22PM
Updated: January 26, 2013 12:17AM
Friday marked the first time Shane Matejcek had ever competed in the Boys State Bowling Tournament.
His performance was nothing short of impressive as the Lockport senior finished the opening two rounds atop the leaderboard at St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon.
“I looked at it like it was just another tournament for me,” Matejcek said. “I just wanted to bowl my game and do the best I could while I came down here.”
Minooka held first place in the team standings with a six-game pinfall total of 6,488. O’Fallon (6,438) was second and Lockport (6,422) third.
The top 12 teams and 30 leading individuals from non-qualifying squads advanced to the final two rounds Saturday.
Matejcek finished with a 1,498 series that included a 286 game. O’Fallon’s Billy Goodman (1,461) was second and Minooka’s Dylan Pickett (1,430) third.
“I just made sure to stay within my game,” Matejcek said. “I picked up my spares, and when I struggled, the other guys on the team picked me up.”
David Wysocki (1,296), Brian Hodolitz (1,279) and Alex Wilmsen (1,218) were the other standouts for Lockport. The Porters also received a lift from reserve Larry Novak, who had a 442 series while competing in just the last two games.
“He gave us a big boost,” Lockport coach Jeff Wyatt said. “He was striking and that got everybody else striking, too.
“It’s like a cold: When one of them gets it, all of them get it. It’s contagious.”
Minooka was able to keep the top spot despite posting a 962 series in the final game, the team’s worst of the day.
“The lanes were really dry and the kids had to make a lot of adjustments,” Indians coach Derrick Rapsky said. “It took kind of a mental toll on them. We were lucky at the end that we were able to salvage some strikes.”
Zach Segatto (1,323), John Kauffman (1,310) and Justin Shepard (1,287) also starred for Minooka, which is seeking its first state trophy ever in the sport. The squad’s best finish was fifth in 2008.
“Our goal is really to bring something home,” Rapsky said. “We’ve never been in this situation before. We’ve just got to go out there and get it.”
