Girls Bowling: T.F. North's L'Neisha Porter prepares for shot at state bowling meet

T.F. North bowler L'Neisha Porter has some concrete ideas about how 2012 can become her year, and it starts with getting the Meteors and not just herself to the state finals.

"I feel that going to state as a team and as an individual would make it my year," Porter said. "We have a nice chance to go to state as a team and as an individual. I really believe that this can be our year."

The team first senior is looking to lead an underdog but dangerous T.F. North squad at Saturday's Sandburg Sectional at Orland Bowl. The 2011-12 season has seen the Meteors come a long way as a team, and a top two finish in the team standings would be a major step in the right direction for Porter and her teammates.

"This season has been pretty good," Porter said. "We've had our ups and downs but we have been pulling through and bowling our best."

T.F. North girls bowling coach Greg McCune has seen the Meteors make tremendous progress in only one season and go well beyond what he thought the team was capable of.

"We've come a long way in one season," McCune said. "I knew we were going to improve but the improvement they did has far exceeded my expectations. I'm actually very proud of all of them."

Make no mistake, Porter will be the heart and soul of the Meteors chances for moving on to the state finals. Porter is looking to fine tune her game to better prepare her for the ever-changing conditions involved in the sometimes grueling six game bowling day. The three games played in two separate sessions can make for a long day for the bowlers and a long day for the lanes and their condition.

"I'm going to work on a lot of spare shots," Porter said. "And I'm going to try to work on different lane conditions so I can better myself to be able for the tournament because after a few games the lanes can dry up."

Along with the top two teams, the top two individuals from nonqualifying teams will receive a bid to the state finals. The state finals will be held at Cherry Bowl Lanes in Rockford on Feb. 10-11.

As a senior, Porter doesn't feel any added pressure or sense of urgency that a potential end to her high school career might bring other bowlers, and she is confident in herself and her teammates.

"I don't feel pressure," Porter said. "But I do feel that I should be able to do this because I have been bowling for years. I really feel that we can do this and make it to state."