Ravenna Girls Rally in Qualifying, Roll Through Match Play to Claim Repeat
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
February 27, 2026
TAYLOR – Ravenna went Nutts, and it culminated in another Finals title for the reigning Division 4 champion.
Only Hudson stood in the way of Ravenna repeating Friday at Skore Lanes. But led by coaches and brothers Jason and Jeff Nutt and boasting their daughters Joslyn, Gabby and Taylor, the Bulldogs dominated the Tigers in the championship match 198-146, 219-155 and 194-162 to seal the repeat.
“It was tough,’’ said Jeff Nutt. “There’s an expectation. Last year we might have snuck up on some people. We weren’t coming over last year with thoughts of winning. This year, after winning it (in 2025), the expectations were high.
“We wanted to be the No. 1 seed. That means you (face) the lowest seed going in (to match play), and that gives you an advantage. We knew coming in Jonesville and Hudson were probably our toughest opponents. That meant those two had to match up (on the other side of the bracket), and we only had to bowl one of them.’’
Freshman Joslyn Nutt, sophomore Gabby Nutt and junior Taylor Nutt comprised three of the team’s five bowlers in the Final. Junior Reese Herremans and sophomore Kenydl Luce filled out the lineup.
In all, Ravenna had four returning bowlers from last season and two freshmen who rounded out the roster.
“I watched it last year, and it’s very nerve-wracking watching,’’ said Joslyn Nutt of the championship tournament. “It’s pretty cool to do it this year when I’m actually bowling.’’
Joslyn and Taylor are sisters; Gabby is their cousin.
“It’s tough watching your kid bowl,’’ said Jason Nutt. “I thought they were composed all day and were consistent. Repeating is tough.’’
Hudson was left open frames and splits during the championship and was plagued by bad shots after advancing as the third seed out of qualifying.
Ravenna qualified first at 3,128 pins followed by Jonesville at 2,965 and Hudson at 2,947.
Ravena eliminated Portland St. Patrick in the best-of-five Baker format (3-1) to begin match play and to advance to the Semifinal against Monroe St. Mary Catholic, which defeated Sandusky (3-0). The Bulldogs made it to the Finals by defeating the Kestrels 3-1.
Second seed Jonesville eliminated Burton Bendle (3-2) to face Hudson in the Semifinal. The Tigers had advanced by winning 3-2 over Byron and made it to the Final by eliminating Jonesville (3-0).
Ravenna Girls Finish Comeback in Deciding Match to Claim 1st Finals Win
By
Nick Cooper
Special for MHSAA.com
February 28, 2025
MUSKEGON – Friday was a storybook ending for Ravenna’s Emma Herremans.
The Bulldogs’ lone senior bowler helped secure the program’s first Finals team championship.
Ravenna went the distance with Bad Axe in the deciding match, even trailing 2-1 before winning the final two games 172-150 and 186-179 to clinch.
“It feels amazing. I have to take a pause to just take everything in,” said Herremans.
Ravenna’s championship capped off an undefeated season and was the first Finals title for the school in any sport other than football.
“We just sat there, and our hearts were racing the entire time,” said Ravenna coach Jason Nutt.
En route to the championship, the top-seeded Bulldogs defeated No. 8 seed Jackson Lumen Christi and No. 5 seed Jonesville.
Bracket play featured multiple seeding upsets with No. 7 Homer sweeping second seed Burton Atherton in three games in a quarterfinal. Fifth seed Jonesville defeated No. 4 seed Allen Park Cabrini during the same round.
Ravenna posted the top score during qualifying, 2,899 pins, to outpace the field by 164.
After reaching the quarterfinals in 2024 and then winning the championship in 2025, Ravenna figures to assert itself as a statewide presence for years to come. Looking to the future, Nutt’s expectation for his program is one of optimism.
“It’s good to get one. We should continue to get strong,” he said.