“I keep saying, ‘If this team ever finally realizes how good they really are, they’ll be very dangerous.’ Well, guess who finally the figured out how good they are?”

These more than satisfied words gushed Saturday afternoon from Wayland girls’ varsity bowling coach Bill Holbrook after his team captured first place and broke school records at the Cedar Springs Invitational.

“They won in convincing fashion and dominated most of the day against a large, deep and talented field,” Holbrook said. “Still feeling the effects of bowling four straight days and the effects of the flu making its way through the team; they came out of the gate on fire setting a new school record for team individual game with an 896.

“The record was short lived though as they improved their second game with a 933.”

Sophomore Marissa Bruinsslot finished sixth individually in the field of 90-plus lady bowlers with a 196-190=386. Sophomore Sydney Urben bested Marissa by a single pin each game to clinch fifth place on the all-tournament team with a 197-191=388.

Yet not a single lady could come close to junior Alicia Sweeney, who was the Ladies All-Tournament Team Champion with a red hot 231-254=485. She strung 13 strikes in-a-row, finishing game one with seven in-a-row and starting game two with six consecutively.

“In fact, she beat all but one of the boys bowling today, too!” Holbrook beamed.

The Lady Wildcats continued their torrid pace in the final qualifying block of six Baker games firing 215-174-159-168-182-149 to qualify first for bracket play with a total pin fall of 2876. Senior Lizzy Cobb was solid in individuals and proved to be clutch again in the lead-off position. Junior Erin Porteous and senior Aubree Hodges provide much needed depth and solid performances in the Baker format

The Lady Wildcats opened bracket play against Jenison and weathered their opponents’ fast start of four strikes in a row to take the two-game total 173-194=364 to 194-118=312.  Round two brought on Sparta, who had dispatched the Lady Wildcats in the opening round of the Wyoming Invite earlier this season. The ladies had their revenge by besting Sparta 157-171=328 to 129-149=278.

This landed the Lady Wildcats in the championship against perennial powerhouse Rockford.

“What ensued was a very exciting, close, hard fought match,” Holbrook said.

The Lady Wildcats proved to be unbeatable, besting the Lady Rams 213-149=362 to 193-144=337.

“I have said that if they improve their spare shooting, they will challenge everywhere they go,” the coach said. “There are very few girls’ teams out there that can throw as many strikes throughout their lineup like these girls can. Today, as a team, they averaged an astonishing 179!

“What an amazing day!  What a great way to wrap up a long hectic week. I do love me some early Christmas presents!”

PHOTOS: Sophomore Sydney Urben and junior Alicia Sweeney were medalists, with Sweeney taking top individual honors.

The Wildcats and their Cedar Springs trophy: (from left) sophomore Makayla Konecny, sophomore Jessica Henderson, junior Alicia Sweeney, sophomore Marissa Bruinsslot, senior Aubree Hodges, coach Bill Holbrook, senior Lizzy Cobb, junior Erin Porteous and sophomore Sydney Urben. (Photos submitted)