Kolberg caps record-setting Sycamore career with bowler of year award

DeKALB – Already the owner of most school records, Megan Kolberg filled in one of the very few missing pieces to her high school career in her last time representing the Sycamore girls bowling team.

Kolberg ended up ninth at the state tournament, earning a medal for the first time after breaking her own school record for season average. She was also named the Daily Chronicle Girls Bowler of the Year for the third straight time.

"It was kind of like a last go-around, you know," Kolberg said of the final day at the state tournament. "It was my last six games so I just decided to have fun. I've met a lot of fun, awesome people I bowled with all day and they were great. I just did what I do."

Kolberg finished with a 2,510 over the 12 rounds and finished with a 223.8 season average, more than two pins ahead of when she set the school record – boys or girls – for season average.

Throughout her career, coach Andy Hampton has called her a once-in-a-lifetime talent. He said he was glad to see her achieve what she did.

"In my opinion, her shoes – certainly in my lifetime, won't be filled," Hampton said. "Her numbers alone are going to be the one people are going to think are some kind of video game. She averaged a 224 to break a school record she broke last year. ... Just the numbers alone are off the charts."

Hampton said it wasn't just a numbers game with Kolberg. Her leadership helped the Spartans reach the state tournament as a team.

"She continued to grow in the role of leader. We weren't really surprised by that," Hampton said. "We knew she would be. We asked her to be a leader her very first year and she's taking each and every challenge (well). She'd just take the team on her back and take us where we need to go."

The goal for the Spartans was to qualify as a team for the second day of the state tournament, needing a top 12 finish. They finished in 13th, one pin behind meeting that goal.

"There's always the what if we did this, what if we did that," Kolberg said. "As you look back on it though you can't do that what if we did this, what if we did that. You have to look back and say I did my best, I threw the best shots I could and at the end of the day if you give it everything you got that's all anyone can ever ask for."

Kolberg finished Day 1 in11th place, moving up a couple spots over the final six games.

Hampton said that final weekend was a testament to Kolberg.

"Everyone is going to talk about that last weekend, and the last weekend didn't go the way we thought it was going to go," Hampton said. "But sometimes that happens and that didn't distract her from what she wanted to achieve."

Kolberg will continue her bowling career at Mt. Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"I am so excited. I've been so excited since I signed," Kolberg said. "The coaches, the team, the atmosphere it's just going to be so amazing."