The Wayland boys’ varsity bowling team finished sixth in the Jenison Tournament Saturday.

“Wayland started out as cold as the weather is going to get, but sensed a storm was coming and stormed to a brilliant finish,” coach Sherry Mikluisicak observed.

The first two Baker games of the invitational doomed the Wildcats. The ‘Cats found themselves in seventh place out of 12 teams with 359 pins separating them from 1st place.  The bright spot of individual games was the anchor bowler, Cameron Heintzelman, who shot games of 235 and 211, earning trd place honors out of all bowlers for singles.

Putting a bad start behind them, the boys mounted a comeback and eventually just missed the step ladder finals.

“If Wayland had bowled in a Baker only tournament today, they would have found themselves second only to the tournament champion, Hudsonville.,” Miklusicak said. “Averaging 190 in the Baker games proved Wayland had a statement to make — they can compete with the best of teams.”

She said another bright spot in the Baker games was Austen Beggs, who was due for a big game. Using his fourth and ninth frame Baker game shots, he rolled an impressive 289 game with the first 10 of his balls being strikes.

“This was our first tournament we didn’t place in this year, but the Baker games made the coach incredibly happy with their performance,” Miklusicak said. “If we can combine that with improved individual games, we can give South Christian a run for their money on Tuesday afternoon at Airport Lanes.”

PHOTO: Cameron Heintzelman