Kearsley Boys Finish Memorable Repeat Story with 3 Must-Win Victories
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2024
WATERFORD — This wasn’t the plan of attack for Flint Kearsley in its effort to repeat as Division 2 boys bowling champion.
The Hornets had seen a lot go their way for most of the MHSAA Team Final at Century Bowl on Friday. But upon advancing to the championship match against Grand Rapids Northview, Kearsley saw things go astray and lost the first two Baker games in the new format, where teams have to win three of five Bakers to clinch.
“We had only one more to lose,” Kearsley head coach Bart Rutledge said. “I told the guys that it was a better story coming back from 2-0.”
That story for Kearsley did indeed have a happy ending, as the Hornets rallied to win the final three Baker games and prevail over Northview, 3-2.
Kearsley became the first boys team in Division 2 to repeat since the Hornets pulled off the feat in 2015, in the process denying 2022 champion Northview its second title in three years in what was a terrific final match between the last two champions.
Northview earned a 185-173 win in the first game and a 186-169 triumph in the second before Kearsley conducted its rally.
The Hornets prevailed 189-171 in the third game, 204-174 in the fourth game and 173-150 in the deciding fifth game.
There’s an adage in sports that it’s usually harder to repeat than it is to win the second time, and Rutledge said that was the case for his team throughout the year.
“We actually struggled throughout the year,” he said. “Last year, it seemed like we won everything all year long. This year, we won a couple of tournaments, but we had problems finishing. We did at the right time. I got up this morning and had that feeling just like last year that we were going to win. It looked like it was going that way, It ended up that way, but not in the way I expected.”
Kearsley had little trouble all day long until the Final, first finishing in the top spot out of the qualifying block. The Hornets then recorded three-game sweeps over Auburn Hills Avondale in the Quarterfinals and Tecumseh in the Semifinals.
Northview finished second out of the qualifying block and recorded four-game wins over Bay City Western in the Quarterfinals and Carleton Airport in the Semifinals.
“We just didn’t get any breaks the last three games,” Northview head coach Jason Pranger said. “There were a couple of shots we got nine on and a couple of shots they threw good and they got all 10 on. They doubled a few times, where we would go strike and spare. When you are going strike and spare, you don’t build scores as teams that are throwing double (strikes). It’s tough. I think nerves got a little of us right at the end with some spare shooting. Other than that, it’s bowling.”
Wayne Boys, Holt Girls Rally from Early Deficits to Clinch 2nd Finals Titles
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
March 3, 2023
ALLEN PARK – Wayne Memorial bowling coach Christine Day will be celebrating her 34th birthday Saturday with a state championship.
Led by Jeremiah Hodge’s 212 game, Wayne rallied from a 59-pin deficit to defeat Brownstown Woodhaven 1,331-1,244 to win the Division 1 championship Friday at Thunderbowl Lanes.
“I have an entire group of seniors – seven,’’ said Day. “This was present enough. I’m so proud of these guys. They kept fighting and coming back.’’
Down 59, senior anchor Donovan Uselman called a team huddle in the third frame, and his teammates eventually responded.
“He just said to keep our focus and keep executing our shots,’’ said Hodge. “It was a long day. We were down every game. We shot 1,100 today. We shot 1,000. I just tried to control the pocket.’’
Wayne Memorial advanced to the boys championship by defeating Livonia Churchill, 1,385-1,315, while Brownstown Woodhaven topped Jenison 1,382-1,268. The title was the second for Wayne, which previously won Division 1 in 2015.
Holt captured the girls title, also its second, behind a 214 game from Lola Knox, 1,197-1,078.
“It was hard getting here, but I was just happy I could pull it out for my team,’’ said Knox. “I’m very proud of my senior class.’’
Coach Sandra Teague said she knew early in the season this group was special.
“We won a title in 2010,’’ said Teague. “With this group I said there was no way I was going to mess this up.’’
Wayne Memorial opened the boys championship match with a 224-202 win in the first game of the Baker match. Both teams struggled in the second Baker game as Woodhaven shot 170 to open up that big lead.
Woodhaven then went ahead 101 pins, but Wayne made a comeback to get the deficit back to 51.
The effort was sidetracked with four opens in the seventh frame, giving Woodhaven a chance to reassume control.
“It was a matter of making good shots,’’ said Hodge.
In the girls Final, Traverse City West led by 18 pins after the first Baker game, but Holt shot 157 to open up an 10-pin lead going into singles play.
Traverse City West had advanced to the championship match by easing past Grandville 1,265-1,111, while Holt edged Westland John Glenn 1,167-1,155.
Zeeland was the top girls qualifier at 3,271 pins, followed by Sterling Heights Stevenson at 3,174 and Grandville at 3,159. The hard-luck school was South Lyon, which missed the last qualifying spot by one pin.
Zeeland’s run for the girls title was short-lived, though.
With a raucous crowd behind them shouting “Rocket Power,” Westland John Glenn’s bowlers knocked off the top seed in a heart breaker, 1,089-1,088, to advance to the semifinals.
Stevenson, the No. 2 seed, also had a tough afternoon and fell to Traverse City West, 1,149-1,132. That set up the Titans’ showdown with Grandville, which had eliminated Grand Blanc 1,198-1,122.
It was a tough day for annual powerhouse Macomb Area Conference teams, girls and boys, as they were all eliminated in the quarterfinals. Holt defeated reigning Division 1 champion Dakota in the girls division 1,245-1,195.
On the boys side, Davison jumped from ninth after the first singles games of qualifying to first with a 1,113 score in the second set of singles for a total qualifying score of 3,598. The Cardinals had lost five of six starters from a year ago, which made the run to the top even more impressive.
Jenison was second in qualifying at 3,594, Utica Eisenhower third at 3,538 and Wayne Memorial fourth at 3.496. Macomb Dakota was the other Macomb Area Conference team to make the top eight with a score of 3,474.
Davison’s run abruptly came to an end, however, when eighth-seed Livonia Churchill prevailed, 1,177-1,162 to start bracket play. Churchill moved on to face Wayne Memorial, which had eliminated Dakota 1,179-1,162.
Brownstown Woodhaven bested Eisenhower, 1,308-1,251, and moved on to face Jenison, which was six pins better than seventh-seed Byron Center, 1,258-1,252.