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Hornets’ Hassell keeps her composure at state bowling
Hinsdale South participated at state Friday as a team for the first time since 2004. Team members are (front row, from left) Alexis Davis, Kiaira Hassell, Britni Barrera; (back) Faith Most, Lauren Wolski, Brittany Foldes and Jean Kiwiet. (Photo courtesy of Hinsdale South)
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Updated: April 15, 2013 2:12AM
Hinsdale South junior bowler Kiaira Hassell learned a valuable lesson during the course of the season.
“I didn’t want to get too stressful and mad,” Hassell said. “I was more focused on not getting frustrated with myself when things were going bad. When I have fun I do much better.”
Hassell had a lot of fun Friday when she competed at the state tournament along with her teammates.
The Willowbrook resident contributed a six-game series of 1,076 (179.3 average) to tie senior Lauren Wolski for the team lead. Junior Brittany Foldes wasn’t far behind at 1,045.
“It was kind of fun,” Hassell said. “I got a feeling of what state is like. It gives me a chance to focus more on what I have to in bowling to get back there next year.”
Hinsdale South, which was making its first state appearance as a team since 2004, finished 24th out of 25 teams, but there was no complaining considering the difficult regular season the team endured. Waubonsie Valley captured the state championship.
“The fact that we made it was a surprise, so it was a good experience for us,” Hinsdale South coach Bob Lichter said. They got the chance to be there during the opening ceremonies and be out there with a lot of good teams. They handled it pretty well. They were focused in what they were doing and it was a slightly above average day for us. We’re graduating just two seniors that bowled Friday.”
Hinsdale South (4,978) also received contributions from junior Faith Most (914), senior Alexis Davis (607, four games), sophomore Jean Kiwiet (145 game) and sophomore Britni Barrera (115 game).
Hassell was thrilled to bowl well over her season average. She had the team’s best three-game series, rolling a 594 in Friday’s afternoon round.
“It meant a lot to me,” Hassell said. “I had to bowl my butt off and I didn’t want to let the team down.”
Hassell has been bowling since she was 5.
“My mom got me started,” Hassell said. “(Bowling) runs through our family. It’s an unusual sport because it’s something you can do with your family for fun and something you can do as a sport to get you someplace in life.”
