The Wayland boys’ varsity bowling team rolled well Wednesday in the clutch at the Rock ‘N Bowl Lanes, besting O-K Gold Conference rival Forest Hills Eastern 19-11.
The girls had a much easier time of it, pasting the Hawks 30-0, mostly because the visitors could field only three bowlers.
Boys’ coach Sherry Miklusicak pointed out that her guys currently are second in the conference with Baker game wins.
“It is what we focus on, as it can put you up 10-0 quickly,” she explained. “We were on our way as we took the first Baker game 175-150. Twenty-five pins is a good amount to be up by in order to take the total as well. We rolled another nice 170 game, but came up 13 pins short.”
Anchor Stephen Harnish went 4 for 4, marking in all his four frames.
Wayland took total so was up 6-4, but would rather it had been 10-0.
Match one was a back and forth battle right down to the last bowler. Lead-off Mark Musgrave rolled well and had a 193, taking his point. Third bowler Kyle VanEss took his point as well with a 168. Anchor Stephen Harnish had a 201 and even though he was high bowler for the Wildcats, it wasn’t quite enough to get his point.
“Now if we took total pins, we would be in command of the night,” the coach added. “Wayland rolled a combined 834, which is a good score and we lost by ONE PIN! We found ourselves trailing 11-8.
“I told them we needed to sweep to make sure we would take total pins. Well get out your brooms!”
It was close until about the ninth frame when some Wildcats exhorted their comrades to roll a 900. They did end up with 880 pins to Forest Hills Eastern’s 702.
Mark Musgrave III had a great night with the 193 his first game and this game he rolled 189, taking another precious point. Then Carter Decker took his point with a 148 in game two.
“This kid rolls a nice ball and we just need to get him to slow down a bit,” Miklusicak said. “But he nailed another precious point.”
Kyle VanEss, has been hot, as he took another point for the night with a 180 game (pretty good for a freshman against a mostly senior team). Chandler Caruso, who has a very strong ball, took another precious point with a 151.
Finishing out the match was junior Stephen Harnish with a 212, after a 201 in his first game.
The Lady Wildcats took shameless advantage of Forest Hills Eastern only having three bowlers. Wayland Baker game one was 158 and Baker game two was 154, so the ladies were up 10-0.
Izzy Botwinski started the afternoon with a powerful 175, taking her point, followed by Breanna Hyde with a significant 200. Kadence Bottrall rocked it with a 221, and Haven Baker and Bella Isabella Harnish both took their points.
“Sometimes it’s a challenge to keep up the level of enthusiasm when you know you have already won,” coach Eric Bottrall said.
However, the Lady Wildcats proceeded to demolish Forest Hills Eastern with scores from Breanna Hyde 157, Kadence Bottrall 194 and Bella 218.
The Wayland girls have lost only two dual matches for the season and once in the O-K Gold, to Middleville Thornapple Kellogg.
