![Claire Young - 2025 IHSA Girls' Bowling State Finals]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1741128143/lhs210net/fyabi3lq8b6gzoqrglto/ClaireYoung-2025IHSABowlingStateFinals.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1741128143/lhs210net/fyabi3lq8b6gzoqrglto/ClaireYoung-2025IHSABowlingStateFinals.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1741128143/lhs210net/fyabi3lq8b6gzoqrglto/ClaireYoung-2025IHSABowlingStateFinals.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1741128143/lhs210net/fyabi3lq8b6gzoqrglto/ClaireYoung-2025IHSABowlingStateFinals.jpg","width":1200}])
Making her second straight state finals appearance, Lemont High School senior Claire Young once again reached the second day of competition at the 2025 IHSA Girls’ Bowling State Finals, which were contested at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford on February 21-22.
Young placed 49th among all individuals at the event with a 12-game pinfall of 2,225 (185.4 average). She opened the state finals with a 590 series, her best of the weekend. She followed with a 561 series in the afternoon, which was highlighted by a 244 game, her top score of the weekend. She was 42nd after the first day of competition, and one of 30 bowlers from non-advancing teams to move on to the event’s second day. She added series of 575 and 499 on the final day.
Half of Young’s 12 games at the state finals resulted in scores of 190 or better, and she eclipsed the 200-mark four times.
As a junior, Young tied for 67th individually at the 2024 IHSA Girls’ Bowling State Finals, posting a 12-game pinfall of 2,181 (181.8 average).
Young qualified for the state finals thanks to her performance at the IHSA Plainfield North Sectional, which was contested at Echo Lanes in Morris on February 15. Her six-game total of 1,203 (200.5 average) at the sectional was good for sixth individually, and fourth among bowlers whose teams did not qualify for the IHSA State Finals.
Young advanced to sectional competition after finishing eighth individually at the IHSA Andrew Regional, which was contested at Palos Lanes in Palos Hills on February 7. Her six-game pinfall of 1,176 (196.0 average) was third among bowlers whose teams did not qualify for sectional competition.
Young earned all-conference honors by placing third individually at the 2025 South Suburban Conference-Blue Division meet, helping head coach Mark Hollatz’s team to a third-place finish in the team standings
Kyra Udziela ‘15 is Lemont’s top performer in state finals competition, finishing as the individual champion at the 2015 IHSA Girls’ Bowling State Finals. Udziela totaled 2,748 (229.0 average) over 12 games to win the title in her third state finals berth.
Tammy Jordan ‘94 is the only bowler in school history to make four IHSA State Finals appearances (1991-94), as well as the program’s only two-time state medalist (6th, 1992; 5th, 1994).
Lemont’s state medalists also have included Linda Kacinskas ‘91 (7th, 1990), Nikki Watters ‘04 (7th, 2004), Colleen Weeks ‘85 (15th, 1983) and Doreen Wies ‘82 (7th, 1981).
Lemont has made 13 team appearances at the IHSA State Finals, most recently in 2014. It has finished among the state’s top ten teams five times, with a program-best third-place finish in 2004. Lemont won five district titles (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980), and has won three IHSA Sectional crowns (1989, 1991, 2006).