The bowling season got underway as the varsity teams traveled down to Novi to compete in a tournament Dec. 5.
Slow starts in the baker round doomed both teams for top finishes, but their resolve propelled them to solid top ten finishes. The girls finished fifth, while the boys were in seventh.
A top score of 135 in the baker matches left the girls in last place heading into the team portion of the event. Senior Alyssa Hurtado rolled a 187 in game one and junior Colleen Walters had a 169 for Oxford.
After firing a team score of 713 in game one, the girls responded with a tournament high game of 886. Leading the way in game two was junior Heather Lafnear, who bowled a school record 267.
She began her game with a spare in frame one before reeling off eight strikes in a row. She finished with a spare and strike in the 10th frame.
The girls would finish with a 775 in game three, placing them fifth.
‘The girls could have folded and give up after the poor Baker bowling, but never quit trying,? JR. Lafnear said. ‘They were starting to relax and have some fun and it really showed in their bowling.?
Lafnear would be the high bowler of the tournament, finishing with games of 197, 267 and 170 for a combined series of 634.
The boys got off to a solid start after the first two baker games, bowling a 171 and 232.
However, they couldn’t capitalize off of the momentum generated from their game two score and finished with bakers games of 133, 177, 161 and 159.
According to JR Lafnear, the boys couldn’t get going in the team portion and finished seventh.
‘We did well for as young as we are,? he said.
Freshman Brandon Hurlbert was the team’s top scorer with games of 198, 211 and 204, giving him a 613 series.
The Wildcats open up Oakland Activities Association play against Hazel Park on Monday, Dec. 13.