The Oxford varsity bowlers fared well in the opening week of the bowling season.
On Saturday, Dec 4, the Wildcats traveled to Romeo to compete in the Romeo singles, which included both a varsity and JV tournament.
The only member of the varsity squad to make it into the top 16 was senior Heather Lafnear, who averaged 191.8 for four games.
Meanwhile, the JV team sent freshmen Drew Pappas and Brady Wynkoop on the boys squad and freshmen Stefanie-Ann Chizmadia, Allysa Hurlburt and Elisa Atyeo for the girls.
Chizmadia would defeat Atyeo in round two before losing in the semi-finals, while Hurlburt would win the championship.
Both boys lost in the next round.
Two JV record were established during the tournament – Pappas shot a record 290 game, while Atyeo set the series record with a 610.
‘This was about the young bowlers,? varsity head coach JR Lafnear said. ‘We wanted to see how they did away from home and under some pressure. I was thrilled with their performances. The new records didn’t surprise me.?
On Monday, Collier Lanes in Oxford hosted the inaugural Oakland Activities Association Singles Championship.
When the qualifying rounds were complete, sophomore Brandon Hurlburt was seeded first, bowling a varsity record 705 series.
Hurlburt would lose in the first elimination round.
For the girls, senior Colleen Walters would be seeded fourth and Lafnear would be seeded sixth. Lafnear would lose in the semi-finals and come home with a third place finish, while Walters would lose in the finals.
‘This was a great showing by our team,? JR Lafnear said. ‘We had a lot of girls in the top 20 and really competed well.?
The Wildcats traveled down to Drakeshire Lanes in Farmington on Saturday to compete in a regional tournament.
Oxford’s girls would finish third, while the boys finished fourth. Both Lafnear and Sean Mckinney made the all-tournament teams.
‘Both our teams finished well in the standings, but I think they can bowl better,? JR Lafnear said. ‘We missed a lot of spares and didn’t bowl what we are capable of. We’ll work on a few things in practice this week and we’ll be better next time.?
Up next for the bowlers is a tournament in Bay City on Sunday, Dec. 18 before bowling Troy on Monday, Dec. 19.