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Hinsdale South Bowling friends go back to kindergarten
Hinsdale South senior bowler George Krstev
Updated: March 18, 2013 1:18AM
DARIEN — One of the best decisions George Krstev ever made was listening to his friend Liam McGowan.
The Hinsdale South boys bowling teammates have been friends for as along as they can remember, but Krstev will always be indebted to McGowan for helping him discover his favorite sport.
Both McGowan and Krstev attended West Gower Elementary School, and remained close friends although Krstev later transferred to nearby Concord Elementary. McGowan currently lives in Burr Ridge while Krstev hails from Willowbrook.
“I’ve known him since I was 4 years old,” Krstev said. “Even less than that. We were also in kindergarten. We’re almost brothers.”
Since both of McGowan’s parents are close to Krstev’s, it seemed natural that the two would become best friends.
McGowan introduced Krstev to bowling and they have hung out together at Willowbrook Lanes ever since. Those days are dwindling as the Hornets head to Saturday’s Oak Lawn Sectional at 9 a.m. Hinsdale South ended its regular season Jan. 9 with a dual meet against Lemont at Strike & Spare II in Lockport.
“We were buddies and he was in a league when he was younger,” Krstev said of McGowan. “He wanted me to play with him. I was 8 years old when I started bowling.”
Krstev can’t imagine giving it up.
No one from Hinsdale South has knocked down more pins than Krstev has this season. The senior ranks first in total pins (13,893) and games (73). He has the highest six-game score on the season (1,272) and ranks second in average behind Richie Kochanski, 190.5-190.3. Kochanski has bowled in 10 fewer games than Krstev, but also owns the highest single game score on the team of 274. Krstev’s highest game this season is 247, tied for sixth on the team.
When coach Kraig Conyer puts together a sectional lineup, McGowan may not be selected because he averaged 180.6 pins, seventh on the Hornets.
While some players bring as many as four or five balls to a meet, Krstev is a one-ball bowler.
“It’s funny. I watch someone get frustrated after switching to a different ball,” Krstev said. “In my case, I just move around or find a different spot.”
The top two teams and two individuals not on a qualifying team advance to the state meet Jan. 25-26 at St. Clair Bowl in downstate O’Fallon. Catholic League champion Brother Rice is considered the favorite to win the sectional while Richards and Argo are the top challengers.
“We have the sectional coming up,” said Krstev, who hopes to study industrial engineering at Bradley. “Obviously, we do not have a conference meet. We’ll try as hard as possible. The sectional is go-time.”
