Two Wayland varsity bowlers Friday qualified for the MHSAA State Finals. Juniors Kyle VanEss and Haven Baker will represent their school next weekend in their bid for a state title.

The top seven make the cut this year. It used to be the top 10, but the MHSAA scheduled more regionals with fewer schools at each region.  Both Baker and VanEss are juniors and will be back next year for the Wildcats. They both made the cut by finishing seventh.

VanEss rolled 1072 pins.

“Every pin is so important, just ask Kyle,” coach Sherry Miklusicak said. “The eighth place bowler had 1071 pins.”

Jayse Henkel was in the hunt most of the day, making it as high as fourth place with a very good 246 game.

“I am pretty sure that was the second highest game of all 77 boys who bowled,” the coach added,

VanEss rolled games of 214, 172, 173, 175, 188 and 150.

Henkel finished 13th among the 77 rollers in the individual competition at Spectrum Lanes.

Baker recorded scores of 175, 148, 169, 149, 124 and 173 to finish with a combined score of 938.

Izabelle Botwinki rolled a six-game score of 867 to finish 15th.

Zeke Herrema of Grand Rapids Christian led the field with 1360 total pins.

“That means you would have to beat an average of 226 to beat him,” Miklusicak said. “The lefty was just a machine today and so much fun to watch!”