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.”
Flint Kearsley, New Boston Huron Rule D2
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2019
WATERFORD – There couldn’t have been a more appropriate showdown for the Division 2 girls bowling team championship Friday.
Flint Kearsley and Tecumseh entered No. 1 and No. 2 in number of Division 2 titles won, and happened to be seeded No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, out of the qualifying block.
Both won their quarterfinals and semifinals to set up a rematch of last year’s Final. But from there, Kearsley went out and took sole possession of the spotlight.
Kearsley won its sixth straight Division 2 title with a 1,352-1,239 win over Tecumseh, although it took a rally late in the regular game.
“I’ve got seven of the best girls I think I’ve ever had,” Kearsley head coach Rob Ploof said. “This is one heck of a team.”
After leading by two pins following the two Baker games, Kearsley struggled in the first few frames and saw Tecumseh take a sizable lead.
But Kearsley showed its championship mettle, rallying to win the regular game going away, 997-886.
“I just got them together and said, ‘You’ve got to want it. You’ve got to want it more than they do,’” Ploof said. “They had to find a way to win the game, and they did.”
Kearsley knocked off Coldwater in a quarterfinal, 1,315-1,135, before beating Charlotte in one semifinal, 1,332-1,264.
Tecumseh beat Mason in the quarterfinals, 1,309-1,204, before topping Carleton Airport in the other semi by just six pins, 1,151-1,145.
Tecumseh was seeking its first Finals title since it won three straight from 2008-10.
“Rob is an amazing coach, and it seems like when he huddles them up, they come out striking,” Tecumseh head coach Ken Richard said. “We couldn’t hang with them. But they blew us out of the water last year, and we hung with them longer this time. I’m real proud of the girls.”
As for the boys competition, the Final matchup was the opposite scenario featuring two teams that advanced to the championship match for the first time.
New Boston Huron and Tecumseh both made it farther than they ever had, but it was New Boston Huron that took home the championship trophy, knocking off Tecumseh by a score of 1,403-1,352.
“It’s been a special year,” New Boston Huron head coach Larry Collins said. “It’s a team of destiny. They worked hard and probably were the best group of kids I’ve had.”
New Boston Huron was the top seed out of the qualifying block, while Tecumseh was the seventh seed.
Continuing its dominance throughout the day, New Boston Huron took a 436-321 lead after the two Baker games.
Tecumseh made it interesting in the regular game and beat New Boston Huron 1,031-967, but that margin wasn’t enough to overcome the Baker deficit.
New Boston Huron beat Jackson Northwest in the quarterfinals, 1,296-1,231, and then beat Owosso in one semifinal, 1,323-1,166.
Tecumseh beat Coldwater in a quarterfinal, 1,320-1,187, and then dispatched Cadillac in the semifinals, 1,422-1,325.
Tecumseh junior bowler Hunter Rapaich, the second bowler in the lineup, rolled a 300 during the regular game.
Click for full girls results and full boys results.
New Boston Huron photo courtesy of New Boston Huron athletic department.