(Photo courtesy of localsportsjournal.com)
A talented group of area bowlers took to the lanes on Saturday for the MHSAA state finals in singles.
Mona Shores’ Derek Kern and Ravenna sophomore Taylor Nutt had the most success in their respective divisions. Kern bowled a 300 during the six-game qualifying round and Nutt advanced to the semifinals in the bracket play in Division 4.
DIVISION 1
Kern rolled his second 300 game in three weeks and the third of his career during the qualifying round in which he finished ninth among the 56 bowlers. He finished the round with a pinfall of 1,320.
In bracket play, Kern faced off against No. 8-seeded Andrew Fsadni of Salem and lost 401-385. Kern had games of 194 and 191.
In the qualifying round, a total of 29 bowlers surpassed the 1,200-pin mark for an average of 200 or more.
On the girls’ side, three Grand Haven bowlers competed at state.
Jenna McKinzie finished 15th at 1,125 and moved into bracket competition. Her best games were 203 and 202. In bracket play, she faced No. 2-seeded Tiara Henderson from Westland John Glenn. Henderson won the match 414-396 for the two games. McKinzie had games of 224 and 172.
Grand Haven’s Adrianna Ippen rolled a 1,047 in qualifying and finished 25th. Alayna Thompson came in 29th at 1,033.
DIVISION 2
A pair of Reeths-Puffer bowlers took part in the state meet on Saturday.
Junior Liam Copenhaver finished 25th with a pinfall of 1,146 and a high game of 210. Carter Hekkema came in 34th at 1,091. His best game was 214.
DIVISION 3
Fremont Packer Gavin Payne qualified in the 16th and final spot in the boys’ meet. Payne shot a first game of 269 and had 1,212 for the six games. In bracket play, Payne faced No. 1 Joshua Gunderson from Croswell-Lexington and dropped a 491-405 decision. Gunderson had games of 249 and 242. Payne shot 232-173.
Whitehall’s Mason Slaughter came in 38th at 1,102. Montague’s Logan Hunter was 44th with a 1,049. Oakridge’s Michael Hruskach was 48th at 1,013 and Ethan Hite from Montague came in 54th with a 972.
Three area girls also went to state. Oakridge junior Breanna Twining came in 30th with a 1,023. She started the day with a solid 203 game. Kent City’s Lylah Larson came in 48th at 898 and Whitehall bowler Felicity Dingham was 53rd with an 886.
DIVISION 4
A day after capturing the team state title, three Ravenna girls were in action in singles and all three made it to the bracket round.
Taylor Nutt finished fifth with an 1,108, Emma Herremans was ninth at 1,068 and Gabby Nutt cme in 12th at 1,025.
In the bracket round of 16, Taylor Nutt was paired up head-to-head against her teammate, and cousin, Gabby Nutt. Taylor rolled a 279 and a 155 to Gabby’s 166 and 146. That put Taylor in the quarterfinals against Jasmyn Ranquist from Bad Axe, the same team the Bulldogs defeated for the team state title on Friday.
Taylor Nutt defeated Ranquist 386-356.
Next up for Taylor Nutt was the top-seed from the qualifying round, Morgan McConn from Bronson. McConn rolled a 205 in the first game to take a commanding lead and went on for a 385-337 victory. McConn went on to win the state title.
“I kind of got tired and didn’t bowl the way I wanted to,” said Taylor Nutt, a sophomore. “
“I think some fatigue set in when you bowl that much in two days,” said Taylor father, and coach, Jason Nutt. “We went the full distance (Friday). She (McConn) is probably the best bowler I’ve seen here. She didn’t bowl yesterday so she came in fresh without having to deal with their thumbs and fingers tearing up and stuff. I’m not making excuses but there’s fatigue and endurance and that you have to get through it. It’s a grind getting through that many games.”
Herremans qualified ninth with a 1,068 and was eliminated in the round of 16 of bracket play.
Holton’s Kenidie Shank was sixth during qualifying with an 1,106. She defeated Mackenzie Morgan from Manchester in the first round then was eliminated by Reagen Baker from Burton Atherton in the quarterfinals. Baker won the match 416-336.
Emma Lee Fox, another Holton bowler, finished 23rd in qualifying at 953.
On the boys’ side, Holton’s Aiden Reilly came in 31st with a 1,054, Ravenna’s Austin Mills shot a 1,019 and came in tied for 39th and Holton’s Marcus Newell was 48th at 979.
