On a cold evening filled with excitement and bittersweet nostalgia, Striker Lanes, home of the Lady Mustangs, came alive as the community gathered to honor the senior members of the J. Sterling girls’ bowling program. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, not only for the heartfelt tribute but also for a conference match against the Hinsdale South Hornets.
This year, five fabulous seniors took the spotlight: Lizabeth Sánchez, known for her incredible sportsmanship and kindness; Jade Garcia, whose humor and perseverance brings smiles to her teammates’ faces; Rachel Morales, a three-year bowler with a warm demeanor; Renata Roman, a passionate competitor who always aims high; and Dolores Skenandore, the team’s captain. Each of these seniors has left a lasting mark on the bowling program, and their contributions will be remembered long after they leave the lanes.
The event kicked off with a warm introduction of the seniors by Malika Manouzi, head coach, and Jeremy Bertosa, assistant coach, who both took a moment to reflect on each player’s growth over the years and their aspirations for the next chapter in their lives.
Lizabeth hopes to study at the University of Illinois of Chicago to become an English teacher.
Dolores also aims to enroll at the University of Illinois of Chicago to earn a degree in Computer Science and Design.
Rachel wishes to attend Lewis University to pursue a nursing degree.
Jade aspires to enroll at Morton College to pursue a degree in psychology.
Renata hopes to study business administration and foreign languages at either Illinois Institute of Technology or Saint Xavier University.
Manouzi reflected on what makes this group of seniors unique compared to previous classes, “Everyone came in with different talent abilities. We have someone who never bowled before. Someone who came in a little bit later. We have someone who has bowling experience, a family with bowling experience. We have another person who’s learned to love the sport and put 110% into it, and whose family learned the sport along the way.”
Bertosa also shared that this senior class has contributed to his growth as a coach, “It’s been a growing experience since you were my first ever coaching class. I’ve grown, you know, grown as a coach figuring out how drills and stuff, what to do and watching you, and Liz, and the others that are here now grow from seventh graders to seniors.”
Manouzi also acknowledged the impact these seniors will have on the team after they leave, “It’s definitely going to affect the team when all five leave, at the JV level; at the varsity level, losing a leader and things like that. So it’s going to hurt, but it’s going to leave a big impression on the team moving forward for other girls to see and want be like those five girls, because each one; somebody can relate to.”
After the introduction, the match began, and each senior was determined to leave a lasting impression in the final home game of the season. The competition was fierce, but the camaraderie among the team was even stronger. Their support for one another was evident, as teammates, parents, and friends cheered from the sidelines, celebrating strikes and comforting each other after missed spares. By the end of the first game, the Varsity Lady Mustangs collectively earned a team series of 1,013, beating the Hinsdale Hornets by 83 pins. Makayla Veals, a sophomore varsity player, and Dolores started the team off strong with scores of 204 and 201, respectively. At the end of the second game, the Lady Mustangs had a series score of 1,148, defeating the Hornets by 227 pins. Varsity players Madyson Veals, Xitlaly Acosta, and Summerlyn Robison each scored 200 games, with Summerlyn delivering an impressive 258. The night concluded with a score of 1,090 in the third game, where Renata excelled with a score of 243. The Lady Mustangs maintained their undefeated conference status, winning by 453 pins.
Renata’s impressive performance on the lanes is matched by her dedication to her studies. She embodies the definition of a what it means to be a student-athlete by prioritizing her education. She shares that her proudest achievement over the past four years has been maintaining a high GPA.
The night concluded with photos and heartfelt hugs, laughter echoing in the air as the team reminisced about old memories.
Lizabeth shared her favorite memory from her time on the team was when they went to state her sophomore year, “We got to spend time together, and we connected a lot more through those couple of days.”
