The young Reeths-Puffer girls bowling team emerged from the holiday break with some strong performances over the past few days.
It started last Friday, when the Rockets had their best outing of the season so far, taking fourth place at the Orchard View Invitational.
They bowled well enough in preliminary rounds to make the four-team tournament playoff, then lost to Mona Shores in the semifinal round.
Kaila Uhlig had a great day for R-P, finishing fourth in the individual standings and earning the first tournament medal of her high school career. Her high score of the day was a 172.
R-P's Kaila Uhlig
The Rockets also competed in Saturday’s Fruitport Invitational, where they did not place. Uhlig again bowled very well, tossing a team-high game of 168. Destani Villalpondo rolled a 142. As a team, R-P also had its best one-round baker score of the season with a 176.
The team returned to dual match action on Monday against Jenison in an O-K Green conference matchup. The Rockets lost 25-5 after falling behind 10-0 in the baker rounds, but had some strong moments.
Uhlig and Villalpando both won their head-to-head matchups in the first regular game, earning two team points. Uhlig, Villalpando and Sam Cryderman each won their matchups in the second regular game, earning the other three team points.
Cryderman had the Rockets’ best game of the evening with a 151 score.
“The team is starting to come together and lean on each other as they are starting to settle in,” said R-P head coach Karla Buchan. “I continue to be impressed by their spirit and drive.”