Sports

Kadence’s storied bowling career comes to an end

Kadence Bottrall and her dad, coach Eric Bottrall

Kadence Bottrall did her swan song for her hugely successful bowling career at Wayland High School Saturday by bowing out of the state championship match play round.

Rolling in her fourth state appearance, she finally lost in the quarterfinals 364 to 345 to fellow O-K Gold Conference competitor Chloe Fisk of Cedar Springs.

She won 181-161 and 201-163 in her first matchup after making the cut of 16.

Bottrall started the day on fire with games of 269, 226 and 198, capturing first place in the first three rounds. However, she rolled only 188 and 175 in the next two rounds and then rebounded with a 217 to enter match play as the second seed.

Bottrall a year ago lost in the semifinal round to the eventual state champion. Had she won that contest, she would have faced teammate Bella Harnish in the state championship match, indeed a rarity.

Bottrall has left a legacy of bowling excellence that rivals Division 2 state champion Sydney Urban and Harnish, the runner-up in 2022. She owns the school single game record at 299, so whoever breaks it will have to bowl a perfect game. She also was regional tournament champion three times.

With that finish Saturday, she will make first team All-State for this year and this will be her third time in four years.

She is the daughter of Wildcat girls’ head coach Eric Bottrall.  

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