Fenwick senior Olivia Cameron saved her best for her final high school bowling tournament. While she did not meet her goal of a top-ten finish, she nevertheless made the most of her third consecutive appearance at the IHSA girls bowling state finals in Rockford, Feb. 21-22. She placed 27th with a two-day total of 2,364 pins. Her average game score was 197.
In an interview with Wednesday Journal, Cameron seemed satisfied with how things went.
“I look at it like this: I believe there are 2,288 girls in IHSA bowling,” she said, “and I placed 27th. It’s not bad; it’s in the top 1.2 percent. Although I didn’t hit my goal, I’m still OK with the results; I’m not upset about it.”
Cameron, who will bowl collegiately at Morgan State University next season, looks back at this season with pride.
“I think it went well,” she said. “My team placed third in the [Girls Catholic Athletic Conference] this year, which is the highest we’ve ever placed, and we advanced to the sectional for the first time as a team. I’m proud of how our season finished and happy with the results we all had. Now I guess it’s on to the next.”
Cameron made the GCAC all-conference team in each of her four years with the Friars. The fact that she qualified for the state finals the past three years is something she still can’t believe happened.
“No, I didn’t have that idea in my mind,” she said. “As a freshman, I was just doing the best I could. Once that time came, I was like state is something I want to do. To go downstate for three straight years was a major achievement.”
Cameron thanked her teammates for making this season enjoyable, and she was grateful to several of them for traveling to Rockford to support her. She feels a strong bond with them, one she deeply appreciates.
“We decided to save our tears for the banquet,” Cameron said. “They’re sad that I’m not going to be returning next season, but I’m sure they’ll keep up the great work.”
Cameron’s athletic career at Fenwick isn’t over just yet. She’ll be on the Friars’ girls track-and-field team this spring, and she’s looking forward to it.
“Last season, I ran the 200 and the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relays,” she said. “I’m not really sure what (head coach Latoya Zubowicz-Hill) will have me do this year. I haven’t had much training with the team because I’ve been in bowling, but as of this week, I guess I’ll find out.”