Hononegah Sits Fifth After Day 1 at State; Scharre, Dirkx Shine in Individual Standings

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — Hononegah’s opening day at the 2026 IHSA Boys Bowling State Finals was defined by consistency, composure and the unmistakable feeling that the Indians are nowhere near finished.

Competing at St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Hononegah closed Friday’s six‑game block in fifth place overall, stacking a 210.3 team average that kept them firmly in the hunt heading into Saturday’s championship round. The Indians sit 150 pins behind first‑day leader Lincoln‑Way West, a margin that is significant but far from insurmountable in a tournament where momentum can swing on a single hot game.

For a program that has built its identity on depth and steady scoring, Friday’s performance reflected exactly that. Senior anchor Lucas Wheeler, juniors Jacob Dirkx, Tyson Williams, Gauge Hunter, sophomore Jaxon Greenlee, and freshman standout Ian Scharre combined to keep Hononegah inside the top five throughout the day, never drifting far from the lead pack.

Lincoln‑Way West set the early pace with a 215.3 average, but Hononegah’s 210.3 mark — just five pins back — underscores how tight the field remains. With six more games to be rolled Saturday, the Indians are positioned to make a legitimate push at the program’s first state trophy since the 2019 season.

The story of the day, however, stretched beyond the team standings. Hononegah placed two bowlers inside the top twenty individually, a rare and impressive feat on the state’s biggest stage.

Junior Jacob Dirkx, who has been one of the NIC‑10’s most reliable high‑end scorers all season, delivered a 1,305 series, averaging 217.5 across the six games. That effort places him 120 pins behind first‑day leader Weston Sadler of Morton, who set the tournament’s early benchmark with a blistering 1,430 (238.3 average). Dirkx’s day included multiple games of clean, controlled approaches that kept Hononegah’s team block stable during stretches when other contenders wavered.

But the biggest headline for the Indians — and arguably the entire tournament — belongs to freshman Ian Scharre, who continued his rapid rise into statewide relevance with a stunning 1,425 series. His 237.5 average places him second overall, just 84 pins behind Sadler, and firmly in contention for a state title.

For a freshman to sit second at state after Day 1 is uncommon. For a freshman to do it with the poise Scharre showed Friday borders on remarkable.

Scharre never dipped far below that pace of the more experienced bowlers. His ball reaction stayed sharp throughout the day, and his ability to adjust to shifting lane conditions — a challenge that often derails even veteran bowlers — kept him locked in while others struggled to maintain rhythm.

Scharre’s body language never wavered, and his ability to string strikes in key moments helped the Indians avoid the mid‑block drop that affected several top‑10 teams.

Dirkx and Scharre weren’t the only contributors. Wheeler, the team’s lone senior, provided the steady presence Hononegah has leaned on all season. Williams and Hunter added timely strings that kept Hononegah’s scoring pace competitive, while Greenlee delivered several clean games that prevented the Indians from giving away pins in a tightly packed leaderboard.

The team standings reflect just how narrow the margins are. Lincoln‑Way West leads the field, but the next several teams — including Lockport, Morton, and Chicago Lane — are clustered within striking distance. Hononegah’s fifth‑place position is less a setback and more a setup: the Indians are close enough that a single explosive game could vault them into the top three by mid‑morning Saturday.

The Indians have been here before. Hononegah’s bowling program has a long history of producing high‑level state performances, and Friday’s showing fits that tradition. The combination of veteran steadiness and youthful firepower gives this year’s squad a dynamic that could prove dangerous in the final six games.

Saturday’s format mirrors Friday’s: six games, total pinfall determining the state champion. With Scharre and Dirkx both inside the top twenty individually, Hononegah enters Day 2 with legitimate chances at both a team trophy and an individual podium finish — something the program has not achieved simultaneously in several years.

The key will be maintaining the same level of consistency that carried them through Day 1. If Wheeler continues to anchor cleanly, if Dirkx keeps his strong ball reaction, and if Scharre remains as locked‑in as he appeared Friday, Hononegah will have every opportunity to climb.

The Indians trail, but they are not chasing blindly. They are positioned, prepared and very much alive in the hunt.

Day 2 begins Saturday morning at St. Clair Bowl, where Hononegah will look to turn a strong opening day into a championship finish. Follow all the action on the live Leaderboard HERE.