The Whitehall boys bowling team delivered history Wednesday at the
Division 3 regional tournament at Muskegon's Sherman Lanes, winning the
boys program's first-ever regional championship.
Whitehall edged Kent City for the top spot, 2,907-2,850, by outscoring the Eagles in five of the eight Baker games. Each side scored higher in one of the regular games played. The two teams were comfortably ahead of everyone else in the field; Kent City outpaced third-place Chippewa Hills by over 200 points.
Whitehall edged Kent City for the top spot, 2,907-2,850, by outscoring the Eagles in five of the eight Baker games. Each side scored higher in one of the regular games played. The two teams were comfortably ahead of everyone else in the field; Kent City outpaced third-place Chippewa Hills by over 200 points.
Whitehall coach Matt Houseman said the atmosphere on the lanes was "pretty intense" once it became clear the Vikings and Eagles were dueling for the title.
"Our kids stepped up and got to work and did what they needed to do to win it," Houseman said.
The decisive game of the team regionals was the sixth of the eight Baker games. Whitehall scored 144 points to Kent City's 97, and the 44-point differential between them was the highest of any of the 10 total games played.
The decisive game of the team regionals was the sixth of the eight Baker games. Whitehall scored 144 points to Kent City's 97, and the 44-point differential between them was the highest of any of the 10 total games played.
Houseman said stacking strikes is the key to Baker games, in which a team's five bowlers each handle two frames by a set rotation - one bowler goes first and sixth, another second and seventh, and so on. In the Vikings' case, Ian Hinze, who regularly plays the No. 3 spot in the lineup in regular games, leads off the Baker games, with Whitehall's top two players - Adel Ali-Redha and veteran Mason Slaughter - in the back two positions in the lineup. That enables those three to bowl fourth, fifth and sixth.
"Mason has been our anchor all year long and stepped up in big spots, but Adel has been so good for us and he stepped up on Saturday," Houseman said.
Whitehall kept the good times going in Thursday's individual regional, qualifying two players to the state meet. Adel Ali-Redha took second place overall with a score of 1,147 over six games, putting him just nine points behind Orchard View's Tristan Beerman. The Vikings' Mason Slaughter grabbed the fifth of seven qualifying spots by scoring 1,104. Ian Hinze rounded out the individual top 20,
Ali-Redha's high game in the individual meet was a 233, which he accomplished twice, in the first and fifth of his games. Houseman said Ali-Redha's consistency is what has set him apart in his first season in the Viking lineup.
Whitehall kept the good times going in Thursday's individual regional, qualifying two players to the state meet. Adel Ali-Redha took second place overall with a score of 1,147 over six games, putting him just nine points behind Orchard View's Tristan Beerman. The Vikings' Mason Slaughter grabbed the fifth of seven qualifying spots by scoring 1,104. Ian Hinze rounded out the individual top 20,
Ali-Redha's high game in the individual meet was a 233, which he accomplished twice, in the first and fifth of his games. Houseman said Ali-Redha's consistency is what has set him apart in his first season in the Viking lineup.
"He's really smooth in his approach and his release," Houseman said of Ali-Redha. "He's able to throw up
big numbers, but he's also consistent. He's had his bad days like
everyone does in bowling, but he's been conisstent in his scoring."
Slaughter rolled a 235 in his first
game, which was the third-highest score bowled by anyone in the meet,
and scored highly enough the rest of the way to earn his spot at state.
As the Vikes prepare for the team state meet, Houseman said he's being careful not to overwork the team in practice so they're fresh when the lights come on. The team hopes to play well enough in the preliminary rounds to reach the eight-team bracket play portion of the day, in which anything can happen.
"We were fortunate in the GMAA to beat Reeths-Puffer in match play and went toe to
toe with Mona Shores, who was good all year long," Houseman said. "If we can get into
that top eight and score well, I feel pretty confident we can make a run at it."
Montague also competed at the boys' regionals, finishing ninth of the 13 schools with a team score of 2,507. Matthew Leatherman topped Wildcat individual finishers Thursday, tying for 11th place with a six-game score of 1,046.
Girls' regional results
Freshman Adelie Hoffmeyer will carry the flag for the Whitehall Vikings at the state tournament after qualifying for the individual finals from Thursday's Division 3 regional tournament in Muskegon.
Hoffmeyer finished fifth in the tournament (the top seven qualify for state) with a six-game score of 896.
It was a close regional, with only 65 points separating the seven state qualifiers. Hoffmeyer's best score of the six games was a 170, which she rolled in her first game.
Montague also competed at the boys' regionals, finishing ninth of the 13 schools with a team score of 2,507. Matthew Leatherman topped Wildcat individual finishers Thursday, tying for 11th place with a six-game score of 1,046.
Girls' regional results
Freshman Adelie Hoffmeyer will carry the flag for the Whitehall Vikings at the state tournament after qualifying for the individual finals from Thursday's Division 3 regional tournament in Muskegon.
Hoffmeyer finished fifth in the tournament (the top seven qualify for state) with a six-game score of 896.
It was a close regional, with only 65 points separating the seven state qualifiers. Hoffmeyer's best score of the six games was a 170, which she rolled in her first game.
"You don't see a lot of freshmen qualify to the state meet, and she's going to do big things for Whitehall girls bowling the next four years," Houseman said. "She loves bowling. She's all in. We look forward to what she can do Saturday as an individual."
Delaney Kramer finished 15th for the Vikings with a six-game score of 810. Alanna Hysell placed 16th for Montague with a six-game score of 807. Kramer's high game was a 159, and Hysell's was a 177.
Whitehall finished in fifth place, with Montague in sixth, in the team regional competition Wednesday. The Vikings scored 2,140 points over eight Baker games and two regular games, with Montague totaling 2,086 points.
Delaney Kramer finished 15th for the Vikings with a six-game score of 810. Alanna Hysell placed 16th for Montague with a six-game score of 807. Kramer's high game was a 159, and Hysell's was a 177.
Whitehall finished in fifth place, with Montague in sixth, in the team regional competition Wednesday. The Vikings scored 2,140 points over eight Baker games and two regular games, with Montague totaling 2,086 points.
