The Wayland girls’ varsity bowling team Wednesday afternoon absorbed its third dual match loss this season, 17-13 at the hands of Middleville Thornapple Kellogg.
The boys’ team also lost to league-leading TK, but coach Sherry Rybiski Milklusicak said she was pleased with the efforts and performances of her charges.
Girls’ coach Eric Bottrall reported Middleville came out strong, winning both Baker games as well as match one. Game one was lost by only 18 pins. Wayland came back taking game two by 177 pins, but it was just too late. Wayland took every point in the last match.
Wayland depends a lot on the one-two punch of anchor bowlers Bella Harnish, who rolled a 190 tonight and freshmen Kadence Bottrall with smashing games of 242 and 243.
“I am pretty sure other teams know her name and if they don’t, they soon will! She leads the league in average,” said Kadence’s father and coach. “Tonight’s match will put her well over 200 and she is just a freshman! Her two-game series of 485 takes over the lead in our conference.
“I wish I had access to other conference bowlers stats as she may just be the hottest bowler around. It isn’t just a hot streak either. ‘She is that good and works so hard!”
The coach said the Lady Wildcats have a young team and soon the other members will continue to improve to be strong at all positions.
Miklusicak explained, “We got off to a rocky start in Baker games which is unusual for us, as that has been our strength. Our first Baker was only 128 and that just doesn’t cut it. The second Baker was a little better with 154 pins. There wasn’t really enough to brag about yet.”
Match one was one of the Wildcat boys’ better first games in a long time, shooting an 810 as a team with Max Oosterhouse 137, Chandler Caruso 165 (“he has been working very hard and we will see good things from him in the future. He has a nice release and with continued work, we will be an important part of the team”), Mark Musgrave 137, Jordan Fitzgerald 154 and Alan Beggs 217. Chandler took the lone point.
“The interesting part of this game is that in the eighth frame we were only trailing by about 20 or 30 pins.,” Miklusicak said. “TK poured it on strong in the ninth and 10th frames to pull away with the game.
“We haven’t been fighting very hard in the second match, but there was a special fire in their eyes tonight,” the coach commented. “They were having fun and just enjoying bowling. Max Oosterhouse rolled a 147 and took his point along with Chandler Caruso 145, Mark Musgrave III 181, and Jordan Fitzgerald 180. What was exciting about this is that the Wayland men poured it on in the 10th frame to pull ahead with their points! We had a respectable 796 total.”