By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
GRAND RAPIDS—It was a good day for the Allegan boys bowling team at the Comstock Park Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 15.
Not only did the Tigers upend Cedar Springs by a 339-279 score in the championship match to claim the top prize, but three members of the team also posted top-10 finishes in the individual standings.
Trenton Nagelkirk placed third, while Andrew Snyder was fifth and Shane Wesche was ninth.
The Allegan girls placed third, with Savannah Beilfuss (eighth), Leah Snyder (10th) and Harleigh Wesche (10th) earning top-10 showings individually.
There were a total of 12 teams in the boys competition, with 11 teams for the girls.
“These kids did a great job today,” Allegan co-coach Don Lamb said. “They gave their all on a tough pattern against stiff competition.”
In their championship match, the Allegan boys took the first game against Cedar Springs 156-130 before claiming game two 183-149.
In the semifinals, the Tigers bested Jenison 355-337 after winning game one 194-153 and tying game two 180-180.
In order to qualify for the championship bracket, teams had to be seeded in the top four after the qualifying round, which included three team games and four baker games.
Allegan recorded scores of 782 and 789 in the first game team games, led by respective scores from Nagelkirk of 187 and 181. That had the Tigers in fifth place.
Game three saw Allegan jump to second place thanks to a 918 that included scores of 221 from Andrew Snyder, 202 for Nagelkirk and 188 from Wesche.
In the baker games, Allegan put together scores of 194, 153, 125 and 201 to retain the second seed.
“The boys were determined to get into the top four,” Lamb said.
The Allegan girls, meanwhile, also entered the championship bracket seeded second and squared off with third-seeded Sparta in the semifinals.
After dropping game one 134-112, the Tigers regrouped to take game two 170-165. But it wasn’t enough, as Allegan dropped the 299-282 decision and moved to the consolation bracket against Cedar Springs.
The Tigers won game one 169-124 and game two 158-126 to win the match 327-250, securing third place in the process.
“The girls headed to the consolation match with a renewed fighting spirit and their chins raised,” Lamb said.
In qualifying, Allegan’s team scores were as follows: 703 in game one (Harleigh Wesche had a 155 and Beilfuss had a 153); 731 in game two (Leah Snyder had a 160 and Aubrey Brink had a 157); and 748 in game three (Beilfuss had a 164 and Harleigh Wesche had a 153).
In the baker games, the Tigers posted scores of 139, 116, 145 and 148.