By BUTCH HARMON
It was a season of firsts for the Kearsley girls bowling team, with the ultimate first coming at the end of the season when it hoisted the Division 2 state bowling trophy.
The Hornets enjoyed a big postseason run that began a few weeks before the regional tournament when they won the Flint Metro League championship. Kearsley’s girls followed up on that by winning the first-ever Metro League singles tournament. Kearsley sent a total of four girls into the final, with Jessica Dawes winning the tournament.
“It was after that tournament that I realized we really had something special here, and we had to take advantage of it,” coach Rob Ploof said.
The following week, the Hornets competed at the Best of the Best Tournament and defeated Davison, the No. 1-ranked team and eventual state champion in Division 1.
With plenty of momentum, the Hornets then headed to Bay City for the regional tournament at Monitor Lanes, the home house of both Bangor John Glenn and Bay City Western, Kearsley’s top competition at the regional.
“When we got to the bowling alley, I got all the girls together and started to give them an inspirational speech,” Ploof said. “I had taken ‘The Team, The Team, The Team’ speech from Bo Schembechler and reworded it for bowling. As I started to give the speech, I got caught up in the moment because I knew this could be the last time that these 4 seniors would ever get to bowl together. (One of them my own daughter). Anyway, as I was trying to give this speech I got a little emotional, and before I knew it half of the team was crying, it worked. The girls embraced the speech and lived by it, and they fought to the very last ball and ended up winning that Regional.”
The Hornets also qualified what was believed to be a record five girls for the individual regional the next day.
At the state finals at Century Bowl in Waterford, Kearsley ended qualifying in second place. In the semifinals, the Hornets defeated defending state champion Charlotte, and in the finals the team defeated Tecumseh, the No.-1 ranked team in the state.
Kearsley won both Baker games against Tecumseh and then won the individual game 973 – 890 to win the first bowling state title in school history and the 13th overall state championship for Kearsley.
Kearsley was paced by their senior quartet of Lindsey Ploof, Chyanne Hibbs, Jessica Dawes, and Holli Hollister. At the individual state finals, Ploof, Dawes, and Hibbs all made it to the round of 16, with Ploof finishing third overall as an individual after winning the state singles title last year.
“It was just an incredible season,” coach Ploof said. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of each and every one of them. They stuck together and accomplished all of their goals for the season, and they were a joy to watch. These are some great young ladies, and they have left a lasting legacy at Kearsley.”