Two ‘Cat bowlers nearly met each other in the finals

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column was written by Wayland High School senior Mark Musgrave III, a boys’ bowling team member, who wrote a personal account of what he saw Saturday at the state championship meet.

by Mark Musgrave III

My Wayland High School bowling teammates, junior Kadence Bottrall and senior Bella Harnish both made their third career appearance at the MHSAA state finals last weekend.

It was a quite suspenseful day at Super Bowl Lanes in Canton, MI, and here is my recap of watching my friends, Kadence Bottrall and Isabella Harnish.

Because they were only two-lane pairs apart, it was easy for the hometown crowd to cheer on both girls, as well as the two checking up on each other every 10 frames.

The girls started near the far left side of the house on lanes 7:8 and 11:12. After the first three games, Kadence had a total of 566 tied in 13th with Rachel Pelideau from Milan, just inside the top 16. Bottrall’s scores were 180,198,188.

Bella was seven places out of the cut in 22nd place. Her game scores were 177,180, and 175. A 532 total 13 pins from the cut. However, Bella stayed calm and content. I have known her for a dozen years and quite frankly have never seen her so humble.

Bang! She came out with a whopping 258 game (started with a five-bagger) and followed that up with a 233. She was now in sixth place with a 1023 total. As soon as the lanes dried up, Bella knew exactly what she was doing.

But let us not forget about Kadence “Krush ‘em” Bottrall. She stayed about where she was before with 180 and 179 games and was just at the cut line in 16th place. After the sixth game, Bella sat with a 200 average and Kadence with a 184. Kadence held steady with a 183 sixth game and 1109 total, enough to keep her above the cut. Bella also came back to earth with a 180 game.

These girls were bringing the thunder! Little did we know that an almost perfect storm was brewing! These two ladies bowled their hearts out on every single roll!

So Bella finished as the fifth seed and Kadence was seeded 15th. The top 16 move on to bracket play in the second round. It was filled mostly by girls from the most difficult region, the east side of the state.

Brackets were assigned and Bella was in one of the branches and Kadence in the other. Nobody said it, but it did cross the coaches’ minds…

What if… What if Bella and Kadence had to… face each other in the finals?

Oh. My. Goodness. Coach Sherry Miklusicak doesn’t cry much, but that would rip her heart right out no doubt.

Kadence took on the number 2 seed, Sara Ritchie of Flint Kearsley (which had won the team title the day before). Kadence had games of 202 and 212 to the opponent’s 157 and 201, downing more total pins to move on while pulling off the major upset! Well, that was one of our ladies moving on to the final eight.

Now on to Bella. She took on Tayler Mohney (Grade 9) of Three Rivers (a.k.a. Triple Ripple). Bella was the winner with scores of 214 and 161 to her opponent’s 193 and 160. Another young lady in the final eight!

Coach Eric Bottrall had them playing right up the lane on a fabulous line. I’ve never seen the girls roll the ball so well.

In the next round, Kadence took on a strong Rebekah Muzyk of Goodrich. Kadence was in a tight spot after game one, as she had 185 to her opponent’s 201. Down 16 pins was no biggie for her and her experience. Kadence is a fighter and she rocked out a 224 game to her opponent’s 145. Her opponent struggled with right side spares and a too powerful shot.

Onto the FINAL FOUR!

Now for Bella, this win was a little easier as she started with a superb 223 game to Sophia Santo of Marysville’s 169. The win was almost guaranteed and the second game was 175 – 161 in favor of Isabella. Santo was still recovering from a broken back, as she claims it to have affected her scores.

Another Wayland Union Wildcat in the final FOUR!

Final Four: Karli Vanduinen of Whitehall, Kadence Bottrall of Wayland, Abby Werden of Tecumseh, and Bella Harnish of Wayland. This was a very proud moment for my coaches, Eric Bottrall and Sherry Miklusicak.

Miss K from the Straubs faced an incredible Karli Vanduinen. Kadence didn’t go down easy here and fought hard every step of the way. Game one went to Karli Vanduinen 213 to 172. If anyone could make up those pins, it would be Kadence. She got her spares but could strike as much as Vanduinen. Unfortunately, Karli had a bigger game of 228 to KB’s 213. This was quality bowling by both girls.

Bella matched up against Abby Werden of Tecumseh and was ahead most of the game and luckily ended up squeaking out a one-pin advantage of 180-179. Well, that fired this young lady up as she found her line with a little help from Coach Bottrall and won 223-141 in game two. Werden had many unfortunate opens as well as splits which caused her fate.

Bella Harnish was onto the MHSAA Division II State Finals Championship Head 2 Head Match! vs. Karli Vanduinen of Whitehall.

Bella had solid games of 191 and 190. Seeing just those two scores would give any girl a very good chance of winning in the regular season. She was up against a highly recruited bowler and Vanuinen would claim the championship with scores of 235 and 225. She is a senior and is going on to bowl at Arizona State University.

Bella plans on bowling for Davenport University next fall. State runner-up for Isabella Harnish!

This was a great tournament for Wayland bowling. We had two amazing young ladies representing our program! What is amazing is how much these two work together as a team. I do mean it when I say they get 1% better every day. They most definitely put in the work and the hours! The two of them were full of smiles the whole day and were always concerned for how their teammate was doing. You don’t find that on a lot of teams!

We hope to have another Wayland Union bowling banner in the gym! On behalf of the boys and girls varsity bowling teams and the Wayland Community, thank you for showing the grit and determination of what it means to be a Wayland varsity bowler. Your accomplishments will never be forgotten.

You girls show what it means to be a Wayland Union Wildcat.

COVER PHOTO: Wayland coach Eric Bottrall and two of the Final Four bowlers, Kadence Bottrall and Bella Harnish.