Davison Extends Run, Roosevelt Starts 1
March 4, 2016
By Scott Keyes
Special for Second Half
STERLING HEIGHTS – Davison's Kailee Tubbs wanted to end her senior season on top.
That's exactly what she did Friday afternoon at Art Sterling Lanes in Sterling Heights, helping the Cardinals win their fourth MHSAA Division 1 girls bowling championship in seven seasons.
Tubbs was a member of three of the championship teams, but also part of Davison’s loss in the Final a year ago to Macomb Dakota.
That loss gave Tubbs and the Cardinals drive to get back to the Finals this season.
"I think you always think about that loss in the back of your mind, but I really think it was a building block to this season," Tubbs said after the Cardinals defeated Farmington Hills 1,206-1,139 in the championship match this time.
"To be a part of three of these championships, especially winning one during your senior season, is pretty special. What a great way to end your high school career."
Kailee's dad Robert Tubbs with the help of many coaches, assistants and educators has helped build the Davison boys program into a state power since taking over the Cardinals 12 years ago.
He was choked up after watching his daughter throw her final shot as a high school bowler. However watching Kailee end her season with an MHSAA title was just icing on the cake.
“Her freshman year at the state finals, after two frames the coach said, ‘Get in there,’ and she hasn’t left the lineup,” said Tubbs, who watched his daughter shoot 184 in the regular game portion of the final.
The Wisconsin Whitewater-bound bowler finished her career with four Regional titles, three MHSAA titles and a runner-up finish. Kalee Johnson shot 192 in the Final, Bailey Gipson shot 188, Taylor Davis 175 and Olivia Stephenson 116 rounded out Davison's scoring in the Final.
With Kailee Tubbs the lone senior on the Cardinals squad, don't be surprised if Davison isn't back a year from now seeking to add to the run.
"It really comes down to our feeder programs," said Robert Tubbs. "We do such a great job developing our younger bowlers, and when they get to the high school level they know what to expect."
Davis’ 275 during qualifying helped her team secure the top seed in match play with a total of 3,406, nearly 150 pins better than second-seeded Farmington (3,258).
Davison advanced to the semifinal by beating Zeeland, 1,254-1,134, while St. Clair Shores Lakeview eliminated Howell, 1,235-1,213. Harrison moved on to the semifinals with a 1,308-1,114 win over Sterling Heights Stevenson and then defeated Brownstown-Woodhaven 1,178-1,172 to advance to the championship match.
While Davison’s girls have been dominant, Wyandotte Roosevelt’s boys captured their first MHSAA title under first-year coach Charlie Cassise with a 1,342-1,211 victory over Macomb L’Anse Creuse North. The winners built a 411-305 lead in the Baker portion and were led by Cory Coffey’s 214 in the regular game.
"The kids came into today knowing what to expect. They had a game plan and executed it," Cassise said. "I've been around this sport 50 years, and I can honestly say nothing feels better than watching these kids win a state championship."
Brent Calhoun added a 191 in the Final for the champions, while Jacob Schultz had 183, Gabe Cassise 179 and Devin Challfour 164.
Jacob Mackowiak led L’Anse Creuse North with 204 and was followed by Kevin Rhoney with 199.
Grand Haven’s Logan Batka had one of the highlights for the day on the boys side, rolling a 289 during qualifying to lead his team to a score of 1,131 pins – which bumped the Buccaneers up to sixth heading into match play. They ended up reaching the quarterfinals.
Click for full boys results and full girls results.
PHOTOS: (Top) Davison’s girls bowling team. (Middle) Wyandotte Roosevelt’s boys bowling team. (Photos by Scott Keyes.)
Grass Lake Boys, Birch Run Girls Enjoy Title Time Again
March 26, 2021
JACKSON – Grass Lake got to experience a Finals championship in Division 4 last season. And that was something they didn’t want to miss this weekend – regardless of a switch into Division 3 for this winter.
The Warriors may have faced larger opponents this time at Jax 60, but the result indeed was the same as they clinched their second-straight championship and third overall defeating Boyne City 1,357-1,179.
Meanwhile, Birch Run’s girls claimed their first championship since 2017 after finishing runner-up two seasons ago, out-rolling Armada 1,200-1,152.
“We’ve had that feeling right from the beginning of the year,” Grass Lake coach Jeff Wyers said. “These boys wanted it bad. It’s been in their system since last year.”
A year ago the Warriors entered match play as the top seed and defeated Farwell in the final by 153 pins.
Grass Lake entered match play as the second seed this time and immediately got a challenge from Portland before prevailing by 21 pins. Then came a 282-pin win over Napoleon in the semifinal before the Warriors swept both the Baker (366-329) and regular game (991-850) portions of the final.
Junior Jack Marshall led three Grass Lake bowlers over 200 in the regular game with a 238, followed by junior Brenton Cochrane with a 228 and senior Sean Wyers with a 208. Senior Michael Deming rolled a 185 to lead Boyne.
Sean Wyers is his team’s only senior.
“We wouldn’t have made it here if everybody hadn’t pitched a little bit in,” he said. “It wasn’t just one of us, it was all of us. Everybody had their time to shine.”
Marjorrie Marlett and her teammates had been waiting to enjoy their own championship as Birch Run last won when these seniors were in eighth grade in 2017.
“I’ve been waiting four years for this, and I finally got it with my team,” said Marlett, who joined the varsity as a freshman. “We were just coming in to have fun and experience states just for states – having fun and enjoying ourselves and putting up a fight and never just getting down.”
Armada took the Bakers 365-343. But Birch Run followed junior Jillian Inman’s 215 and junior Cheyenne Brown’s 180 to claim the regular games 857-787.
“It is just so fulfilling. I’m so proud of the girls,” Birch Run coach Jane Severs said. “They worked so hard and put everything into it. I’m just overwhelmed for them. Their teamwork, and they motivate each other beyond words. They had fun, and they just went out there and screamed and yelled and had a good time.”
Birch Run, the second seed, downed Hudsonville Unity Christian and Jonesville on the way to the championship match. Armada entered match play the eighth seed but eliminated Caro and then Hillsdale to advance.
Senior Samantha Dulz led Armada with a 202 regular game in the final. The runner-up finish was the highest in program history.