Phalen earns trip to bowling state

DeKALB - Mendota Trojan bowler Cody Phalen has qualified for the state bowling tournament after his performance in the DeKalb Boys' Bowling Sectional held at the Mardi Gras Lanes on Jan. 19.

Phalen came in second overall in the individual standings, thus earning a trip to state. The junior rolled a 1357 series with games of 228, 169, 269, 259, 244 and 188. Only Kyle Bonnell of Sycamore had a better series with a 1375. The rest of the top five bowlers included David McManus of Hall (1352), Luke Furman of Rochelle (1292) and Michael Beluzzi of DeKalb (1280).

The top two teams also qualify for state and they were Dixon with a 5935 series and South Elgin with a 5898. The rest of the team scores were as follows: DeKalb 5880, Sycamore 5831, Rochelle 5828, Hall 5733, Oregon 5558, LaSalle-Peru 5480, Elgin Larkin 5472, Mendota 5424, Ottawa 5296, Elgin 5278, Elgin Westminster Christian 5189, St. Bede 5106 and Elgin St. Edward 5068.

Phalen will compete in the state tournament on Friday, Jan. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 26 at the St. Clair Bowl in O'Fallon.

Six other bowlers also competed for Mendota. They were Brody Pohl with a 1031 (148, 201, 153, 178, 192, 159), Michael Rosalez with a 1044 (179, 180, 198, 164, 206, 117), Jon Rosalez with a 668 (190, 180, 152, 146), Eric Masini with a 696 (195, 194, 181, 126), Tyler Schmitt with a 293 (136, 157) and Kevin Schulze with a 335 (181, 154).