The boys bowling team traveled to Riverwood Bowling Alley in Mt. Pleasant where the team was pronounced regional champs along with Michael Mitchell, Thailan Raby, and Merrick Bartlett placing top seven and qualifying for the individual state competition.
The boys took first place in the team competition and three of them went fourth, sixth, and seventh place in the individual tournament receiving a place high enough to go to state. Bartlett said, “The competition was very close and competitive. My favorite part of competing is being able to say that I won in the end and the adrenaline. Although I didn’t like the thought of losing. My motivation through both days was the feeling of winning and making a name for ourselves. A lot was going through my head, but just staying in the game and taking one frame at a time, and through the awards and all I was thinking was, ‘dang, we really just did that and it felt good.”
Not only were the boys overcome with joy from the news but so was their coach. Coach Shannan Mitchell said, “I’m ecstatic about the boys making states. I am extremely proud of them in terms of bowling and mental game. Hearing we won the region took me a second to process. I knew we had a good chance at qualifying, but winning wasn’t on my radar.” Mitchell also said, “Everyone improved in both their bowling skills as well as keeping their head in the game. Bowling is 99% a mental game so having the right headspace is important. In terms of the three individuals, I am just so happy for them as a coach. Those three have worked extremely hard to get to where they are right now.”
The boys will be ending their season at Northway Lanes in Muskegon this Saturday, March 1, competing at the MHSAA state tournament.
