42 | November 30, 2017 | The Lockport Legend SPORTS lockportlegend.com This Week In... Lockport Township High School Varsity Athletics Wrestling ■Dec. ■ 1 host Bolingbrook, 5 p.m. ■Dec. ■ 2 at Washington Quad, 8 a.m. Boys Basketball ■Dec. ■ 1 at Lincoln-Way West, 6:30 p.m. ■Dec. ■ 5 at Plainfield North, 6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball Wrestling Porters take fourth at Moore/Prettyman Invitational Matt Ramos and Anthony Molton led the way for the Porters as they were crowned champions SOFTBALL From Page 44 Elly started on the sophomore team at the beginning of freshman year, eventually moving to varsity midway through the season. “Both of them are incredible workers,” Chovanec said. Schoolcraft would describe her best friend as a vocal leader, while Elly said she would describe her best friend as reliable. Both of these traits will help them succeed as they play together at USI next fall. “When she’s on the mound and I’m behind the plate, we have instincts,” Schoolcraft said. “We know what each other is thinking. It makes it so much easier because we’ve been playing for so long so we ■Dec. ■ 2 at Minooka, 2:30 p.m. ■Dec. ■ 5 at Lincoln-Way West, 6:30 p.m. Girls Bowling ■Dec. ■ 2 at Palatine Invite, 9 a.m. at Brunswick Zone Deer Park ■Dec. ■ 5 at Sandburg, 4:30 p.m. Boys Bowling ■Nov. ■ 30 host Plainfield South, 4:30 p.m. at Strike & Spare ■Dec. ■ 2 at Oak Forest Bengal Invite, 8:30 a.m. at Oak Forest Bowl high school highlights The rest of the week in high school sports just get each other.” Once college is over, the pair will have played together for 10 years. “I’m excited to see what college has in store for Elly and I,” Schoolcraft said. Elly said she is most excited to be a part of the Eagle family and Schoolcraft said it would be fun to make it far in the postseason, as the Eagles did last season. Head softball coach at USI Sue Kunkle came to watch a tournament the pair were playing in and saw them work together. She later recruited them as pitcher/ catcher combo. “They know each other so well,” Brenda said. “Crafty knows when something’s not working and she helps Elly fix it. They’re really fun to watch.” They both immediately ■Dec. ■ 5 at Lincoln-Way Central, 4:30 p.m. ■Dec. ■ 6 at Yorkville, 4:30 p.m. at Yorkville Bowl Boys Swimming ■Dec. ■ 1 at Lincoln-Way West Warrior Pentathalon, 4:45 p.m. ■Dec. ■ 5 at Lincoln-Way Central, 5 p.m. Cheerleading ■Dec. ■ 3 at Sandburg, 9 a.m. Dance ■Dec. ■ 2 at Minooka Invite, 8 a.m. in the 113- and 120-pound weight classes, respectively. Lockport had a number of wrestlers seeing their first varsity action at the invite. Also helping Lockport to its Top 4 finish in the 28-team tournament were Baylor Fernandes, who took second place at 152; Mikey Kaminsky, who took third place at 106; Zach Reese, who placed fourth at 160; Malik Daghash, who took sixth at 170; and Chris Mc- Murtry, who came in 10th place at 145. fell in love with the campus, coach and teammates when they visited USI. “I’m excited to play with Elly because I know her,” Schoolcraft said. “It calms the nerves I guess knowing someone, going so far away and having someone you can trust and know that’s going to make it easier.” The duo has one season left as Porters that will start at the beginning of March. Last season, Lockport made it to the sectional title game. This year, they hope to make it even further. As for the future of these best friends, their bond will only grow in college as they take on the game that brought them together in the first place. “[My advice is] take every moment in, because it goes fast,” Brenda said. Athlete of the Week 10 Questions with Alec Buchhaas Alec Buchhaas is a senior at Lockport Township and the anchor and elder statesman on the boys bowling team. How do you think the season has gone for the team so far? I think since the beginning, we’ve got a lot better. As a whole, everyone is getting their shot down and figuring it out. We’ve put up some good scores the last couple of weeks. How did you get involved in bowling? When I was in the first grade, my sister, Devan, started bowling at Lockport. She was a freshman and just decided to go out for the team. Then she was a member of the 2009 state championship team. So I followed what she was doing and fell in love with bowling. My brother, David, was on the 2013 state champion team here at Lockport, too. So, I followed him, too, and always thought, ‘One day, I want to be as good as them.’ So do you three get together to all bowl against each other now? We haven’t had a chance to all get together in quite some time. But when we do, it’s quite competitive. Still, until I get a state championship, I can’t put myself on the same level as them. They’re still ahead of me. Have you ever bowled a 300? Yes. Once in a game setting, and I think five times in practice. The game setting one was in the summer of 2015 in a league at Strike and Spare II. I’ve bowled some 299 and 298 scores in high school. What do you tell people who say that bowling isn’t a sport? I also play basketball, obviously not for the school, and just with my friends. Although, I played it at Homer Jr. High. But bowling is harder, especially mentally. You have a team depending on your shot, and [at the tournaments] it’s an all day event. Plus, there’s different oil patterns that you have to adjust to, so there’s a lot of physical things, too. But it’s a lot more mental than people imagine. During a typical tournament, how many bowling balls do you bring? I have a total of nine bowling balls, and I bring six to every tournament. I also bring six to the dual meets. I used to have a spare ball that I used just to pick up spares, but like a lot of other bowlers, I taught myself to use my regular ball to pick up spares. That’s because I could need all six of my balls, depending on the lane conditions. What is your favorite bowling alley? Strike and Spare II. I grew up there and actually used to work there. I love being there. I’m used to bowling there. It’s what I grew up 22nd Century Media File Photo on, so it’s my favorite. What have you learned from Lockport boys bowling coach Ron Davis? I’ve learned a lot in the four years that he’s taught me. I just soak up everything he says. He’s made me from a good bowler to a better bowler than I ever thought was good. He’s just made me so much better the last four years. Do you plan on bowling in college? Maybe. Right now, I’m going back-and-forth between bowling in college or getting a job with the union as a pipefitter. What is the best thing about being an athlete at Lockport? Definitely the people that are around the school. Our principal, Mr. [Dennis] Hicks, found out I was on the bowing team. So, now he always stops me in the hall and asks, “How’s it going?” and “How did we do?” Plus, we have great coaches, like Mr. Davis, and great things for recognition of the athletes of the sports, like our seasonal award banquets. Interview by Freelance Reporter Randy Whalen
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