Several PHS Bowlers receive All-Conference Honors

Four members of the PHS girls bowling team received All-Conference honors in the CAAC Blue Division 2022. They include Jessie Whitford, Valarie Hoppes, Mya Kahn, and Kaelynn Bayless.

Jessie Whitford, a senior, was a four-time State qualifier which is a PHS record. She had the highest girls average on the team and in the CAAC conference Blue Division. She also tallied the most match point wins, placed 7th in an individual tournament held in Kalamazoo, placed 5th in the CAAC singles tournament, and placed 4th at Regionals

Coach Joe Whitford said of Jessie, “Dedication to the sport and a great supporter for the team (mentally) that’s one of the reasons she is the captain of the team. Definitely a Candidate for “Ionia Girl Bowler of The Year” award with all of the school and possible county records!”

Mya Kahn, a junior placed 7th in Huskie Tournament. Coach Whitford said Kahn has, “Great potential as next year she will be a senior.”

Kaelyn Bayless is also a senior. Coach Whitford said that Bayless, “has improved over the years. She started out as a left-handed backup bowler to become the 2nd high average on the team this year.”

Valarie Hoppes is a junior. Coach Whitford said Hoppes is “new to the team but has made great progress.”

The Portland girls bowling team went undefeated in their league play going 10-0. They have won five straight CAAC conference league championships.

The final girls team league standings for 2022 were:

Portland 10-0

Ionia 7-3

DeWitt 6-4

East Lansing 3-7

Lansing Unified 1-9

Grand Ledge 3-7

The complete all conference girls team was:

Name/School/Grade

Ella Clements – Grand Ledge - 12

Chloe Witter – Ionia - 11

Zoey Guernsey – Ionia - 11

Madison Beckner – DeWitt - 11

Nadia Yabs – DeWitt - 12

Jessie Whitford – Portland - 12

Valarie Hoppes – Portland - 11

Mya Kahn – Portland - 11

Kaelynn Bayless – Portland - 12

Kalli Heinze – Grand Ledge - 12

Honorable Mention

Oliveah Miller – Ionia – 12

Karen Mitchell – Grand Ledge – 12

Samantha Bacon – Lansing Unified - 11

Sophia Kashenider – DeWitt - 12

Sophie Bulos – East Lansing - 12

Molly Conlin – East Lansing - 12

On the boys side, two Raiders received All-Conference honors. Junior Cooper Hoskins and freshman Zach McAllister

Receiving honorable mentions from Portland were junior Grady Heckman, freshman Eli Daiken, and freshman Alec McGinnis (9)

The final boys team league standings for 2022 were:

DeWitt 10-0

Lansing Unified 7-3

Portland 3-7

East Lansing 4-6

Grand Ledge 3-7

Ionia 3-7

The complete all conference boys team was:

Name/School/Grade

Jake Bertsch – East Lansing - 12

Evan Gonzalez – Lansing Unified - 10

Matthew Stevenson - Lansing Unified - 11

Brady Smith – Grand Ledge - 12

Brett Petersen – Ionia - 11

Alex Miller – DeWitt - 12

Narciso Garza – DeWitt - 10

Bryson Adams – DeWitt – 11

Cooper Hoskins – Portland - 11

Zack McAllister – Portland – 9

Honorable Mention

Grady Heckman - Portland - 11

Eli Daiken - Portland - 9

Alec McGinnis- Portland - 9

Dayton Zink – DeWitt - 12

Ben Sherwin – East Lansing - 12

Aidan Vandemoere – Grand Ledge - 12

Levi Reeves – Grand Ledge - 12

Nick Usher – Grand Ledge - 12