Wayland High School boys’ bowling coach Sherry Miklusicak called it “a fabulous day for the Wildcat men in the annual Catholic Central Christmas Baker Tournament today.” 

Meanwhile, the girls’ team members had their ups and downs today, but qualified second overall, but didn’t make it past East Kentwood ladies team in the semifinal round.

Wayland was lodged in first place throughout the day until the final round, when the boys settled for second place.

“I’m not sure if a Wayland boys’ team has ever done that before (maybe when it was a bowling club years ago),” Miklusicak said. ”We qualified first place after 15 Baker games and then entered into the bracket finals. We faced fourth place Cedar Springs and defeated them in a two Baker game total. We took game one by enough pins to hold off a Cedar comeback in game 2.”

The Wildcats then faced second place qualifier East Kentwood and led them by 151 pins in the qualifying rounds, but ran out of steam just a little and EK picked it up a lot in Baker game one. Wayland won the second Baker game, but not by enough to overcome the first Baker.

The coach said she was proud of the entire crew on the lanes — Raynie Arendsen, Dominik Baker, Carter Decker, Wil Dewing, Louis Harnish, Jayse Henkel, Warren Smith and Kyle VanEss.

She noted that VanEss, as anchor bowler, filled 87% of his frames and freshman Louis Harnish filled 80% of his.

Girls’ coach Eric Bottrall said, “I’m so proud of this group as they are learning how to compete together and seeing that they are all improving each time they get out on the lanes. Everyone made good contributions today and I look forward to seeing our girls back in tournament action this Friday at Spectrum Lanes.”