Freeport didn’t have the start it wanted Saturday at the IHSA Boys Bowling State Finals in O’Fallon. But the Pretzels are closers, and the finish was as good as they could’ve hoped for.
Freeport claimed its first state trophy since 2008 by jumping up to second place with a strong second half, finishing as the runner-up to Hononegah, which claimed the state championship by 420 pins.
“It was awesome,” Freeport coach John Kreeger said. “We started to make our shots and get into a groove. The kids were just really coming together as a team. It was like they realized that the second half was their time to shine and they did.”
The Pretzels started Day 2 of the tourney in fourth place, but dropped to fifth after the first two games when they rolled a 904 and a 926. Freeport got back into fourth place with a 1,005 in Game 3, and then turned it up another notch after the break.
“We knew where we placed at and we knew what we had to do,” said senior Julian Dyson, who finished fourth overall individually with a 2,666. “All we did was just stay positive and pick each other up. It was a team effort. That’s how you get it done.”
The Pretzels knocked down 1,074 pins in Game 4, and then leapfrogged defending state champ Harlem with a 1,092 to move into third place. Freeport finished with a 1,026 in Game 6 to pass Lincoln-Way Central and place second.
“It’s truly an accomplishment,” Kreeger said. “The competition and the shot that was down here, it was tough. To come out with a second place finish, it was just absolutely awesome.”
Dyson helped propel the Pretzels, averaging 250 after his first two games of the day. The senior has a knack for coming up big in the postseason. He placed 34th overall as an individual during his sophomore season, and finished 15th a year ago when Freeport took sixth as a team.
“I just always keep my mental game strong and hope for the best,” Dyson said.
“He was consistent and solid and he did a heck of a job," Kreeger said. “He didn’t seem like he was pressured. It was really nice to see him step up like he did, and Ty (Collalti) as well. When you’re talking a freshman to come out and do what he did, it’s just unbelievable.”
Ty Collalti placed seventh overall individually with a score of 6,656 for the Pretzels, who have now claimed four state trophies in their 11 appearances.