The Varsity Bowlers rang in the New Year with a solid performance at the 4th annual Holiday Mixed Doubles Tournament on Jan. 2 in Davison.
Junior Kevin Rein and sophomore Heather Lafnear gave a Wildcats a top four-finish at the tournament, losing in the semifinals by eight pins to Drew Kingler and Mackenzie Walz of Holly.
Rein and Lafnear had to survive two rounds of cuts in order to make it to the round of 16.
Out of the 88 teams, represented by one boy and one girl, the Wildcats entered nine teams comprised of both JV and Varsity bowlers into the field.
Five Wildcat pairs survived the first round of cuts, and three pairs moved on after that.
The teams of seniors Michael Magyar and Kelly Cartner and seniors Corey Young and Sarah Decker would lose in the opening round, leaving the Wildcats hopes on Rein and Lafnear.
It looked like the Wildcats day would end early, but Rein and Lafnear bowled six strikes in seven frames to upset the number three seed from Davison.
Reid bowled three strikes in the 10th frame to help pull off the upset, and they used that momentum to defeat a solid team from Kearsley.
‘Kevin and Heather did a great job and represented the school and team well, as did all our bowlers,? said Head Coach JR Lafnear.
‘It was a great learning opportunity for our younger kids and our older bowlers did what we expected them to do. Kevin and Heather showed great courage and determination to go as far as they did. I’m very proud and happy for them.?
As a result of the success, Cartner, Decker, Lafnear and Magyar were named to their respective all tournament teams.
The teams will bowl against Swartz Creek on Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Colonial Lanes in Swartz Creek.