Morgan LiCausi doesn’t get cross with Rubicon as Lockport wins 3rd straight girls bowling state title. ‘It worked.’

ROCKFORD — Who knew Morgan LiCausi’s secret weapon for Lockport was going to be a bowling ball the senior left-hander is not always comfortable with?

But LiCausi broke out her Rubicon UC3 urethane-surfaced ball Saturday and started to put up some eye-popping scores in the girls bowling state finals.

“I’m not a huge fan of urethane and I never felt super comfortable throwing it,” she said. “But that ball always worked for me when I needed it. I threw it, and it worked out.”

LiCausi took second at The Cherry Bowl, using the Rubicon to roll a 718 series in the morning and a 705 in the afternoon. It helped the Porters win their third straight team state title.

After finishing 11th in Friday’s opening sessions, LiCausi finished the two-day, 12-game event with 2,691. That was second to St. Charles East’s Lida Burgos, who had 2,763.

Lockport, which was fifth after Friday’s pair of rounds, roared back Saturday to finish with an 11,975 — 33 pins ahead of Joliet West.

“Last year, we had to make a comeback, and during the break, our food didn’t arrive,” LiCausi said. “At least we had food this time, so that was very helpful.”

Abby Miller, a senior, had 2,490 for Lockport to finish 12th and earn all-state honors. Junior Paige Matiasek was 15th with 2,457. Senior Madelyn Lave followed with 2,311.

Cassie Kontos, a senior, had 1,313 in eight games. Lauren Lane, a junior, contributed 713 in four games.

It’s the seventh state title in program history for the Porters, including three in a row counting 2020, 2022 and this season.

The Illinois High School Association canceled the 2021 postseason because of the pandemic. Machesney Park Harlem also had a three-peat from 2000-2002.

LiCausi’s introduction to bowling, meanwhile, came when she was young.

“I wanted to go to birthday parties that had bowling,” she said. “I really liked it. So in middle school, when there was an opportunity to try bowling, I tried it.”

Her high school career got off to a wild start. As a sophomore, she and several of her Porter teammates won the U.S. High School Bowling National Championship.

Before the start of that tournament in Dayton, Ohio, there was a tornado. The bowlers had to take cover in their hotel.

“That was so scary,” LiCausi said. “I don’t like tornadoes. I don’t even like storms. I was freaking out.”

But the team stayed safe and thrived on the lanes.

Last season, her state finals didn’t go as well. She sat out four games, averaging 186 in eight games.

“I think she was nervous, didn’t find the right ball and had the deer-in-the-headlights look,” Lockport coach Linda Siezaga said of LiCausi.

LiCausi, who had played travel softball since she was 5, gave up that sport after her junior year to concentrate on bowling. She committed to Stephen F. Austin before turning in a terrific senior season.

Also making all-state from the area was Shepard’s Kahlen Ranson, who finished a program-best fifth with 2,562.

Andrew made it to the second day of competition for the first time since winning the state title in 2012. Junior Jana Mihalovich led with 2,431 as the Thunderbolts finished fourth with 11,736.

And the Porters, no pushover, started a tradition this season of throwing out Twinkies to their fans when they won tournaments. They enjoyed throwing them one last time Saturday.

“This was really exciting,” LiCausi said. “This being my senior year, it was definitely a lot more impactful. Having to fight like this is something we can thrive upon.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.