The Wayland boys’ varsity bowling team removed the bad taste of a disappointing tie with Middleville earlier in the season by winning convincingly 28-2 Wednesday.

The triumph left the Wildcats with a 6-10-1 overall season record and brought to light some new “go-to guys” with steadily improving talent.

Dylan Roberts led off Baker game one with a strike, and coach Sherry Miklusicak said that was just an indicator of how his night would go. Wayland took the first Baker 163-152.

Roberts then led off Baker game two with a strike again, followed by  two more strikes by Joe Laidler and Christian Courser. Dillon Smith and Michael Foley had strikes in the second Baker. The hot hands of Christian Courser struck three of his four chances in the two Baker games and Roberts marked in all four of his frames.

Wayland was up 10-0 going into individual match play.

Roberts carried the team with a fine 195 game in the first of the matches, followed by Dillon Smith’s 190, Christian Courser’s 173 and Joe Laidler’s 165. The four took their points as well as total. The total score was 866-854.

“Now we found ourselves in an unfamiliar position this year,” Miklusicak quipped. “We had already won and there was one game left to bowl!”

The Wildcats were loose and rolled perhaps their best game of the season.

Roberts led this game again with a 215, Smith had an amazing game of 209, Foley, Wayland’s only senior and captain, had a great 190, and Christian Courser’s 184 game claimed his point as well as the rest. The Wildcats won that game, 946-794.

“I am so proud of these young men,” their coach said. “Pins haven’t always fell our way this year and they haven’t given up. They are continually working to improve their game.

“Last year’s captains and anchor bowlers, Cameron Heintzelman and Austen Beggs, have been a tremendous help this year as well. They have taken time out of their day to come help coach during practice and during the meets. The boys really look up to them and their coach missed them anyway!”