By Scott Taylor
@Taylor_Sports
CHERRY VALLEY – In her first appearance at the state meet Friday at Cherry Bowl, Plainfield South’s Cassie Bucaro came out strong, but in the end it wasn’t enough to make the cut of top 30 individuals after a rough afternoon.
“It was not bad but it wasn’t good,” Bucaro said. “My 148 killed me. The lanes broke down, I had ball problems, I launched it like five feet in the air. It was not good.”
Bucaro opened with games of 201 207 and 242 for a 650 series and looked to be in good shape.
However games of 140, 178 and 187 gave her a grand total of 1,155 to finish in 92nd place.
“The morning I was really happy with,” Bucaro said. “I could have done a lot worse with how the lanes were. In the afternoon, it would work one time and not the next.
Although she hadn’t bowled at state before, Bucaro was used to the environment and was prepared for what the state meet was all about.
“I wasn’t nervous,” Bucaro said. “It is an awesome experience. We have had the best time. I think it helps to have bowled in other big tournaments before.”
Overall, Bucaro was happy with her experience in her first time bowling.
“I’m not really disappointed,” she said. “I did good for my first time here. I will now be prepared for next year.”
SWIMMING
Plainfield finished in seventh place at the Metea Valley Sectional with 100.5 points and sent several athletes to the state meet this weekend at Evanston High School.
Brandon Tran, looking to match Carly Kramer’s state championship in the fall, is off to a good start, having the top sectional time in the state in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing with a time of 57.02.
He is also headed to state in the 100 butterfly, clocking in with a time of 52.59 and is a member of the 200 medley relay, which advanced with a time of 1:35.3, joining Merek Avery, Ryan Netzel and Kyle Potts.
Netzel is also headed to state in the 200 free (1:43.26) and 500 free (4:38.84), while Avery qualified in the 100 backstroke (53.07) and Potts advanced in the 200 IM (1:57.86).
“I thought the boys swam really well this weekend,” coach Geroge Sam said. “We are excited at our chance to have a relay score as well as ryan netzel in the 200 & 500 free at state. Brandon in the 100 breaststroke has a chance to be a state champion. It is great to have Kyle repeat qualifying in the 200 IM as well as Merek qualifying individually in 100 back.”