FRUITPORT – Coach Tim McKeeby definitely expected his Fruitport girls bowling team to start winning a lot and competing for championship trophies.

Just not quite yet.

The Trojan girls were expected to keep gaining experience and showing progress this winter, then make their big move in the 2026-27 season.

Their odds of having success any sooner seemed long, because they started from way behind. None of them had bowled very much – recreationally or competitively – for very long at all, and that inexperience showed last season, when they struggled to a 3-10 overall record.

On the hopeful side, all five starters returned this year, and all are expected back next season, so the two-year plan made total sense.

But the Trojans have stunned everyone with a dramatic improvement this season that has put them in championship contention.

It started with a 22-8 victory over Zeeland East in the season opener. Then came a 17-13 win over Godwin Heights, followed by victories over Hopkins (22-8), Spring Lake (18-12), Comstock Park (19-11) and Kelloggsville (24-6).

They way they won several of those matches was particularly impressive. They had to rally to beat both Godwin Heights and Comstock Park after falling behind 10-0. They also pulled together and hung on to win after losing a big early lead against Spring Lake.

Suddenly the Trojans found themselves with a 6-0 overall record, 4-0 in conference play and tied for first place in the O-K Silver conference standings. They had the same record as the Fruitport boys team, which is loaded with experienced bowlers and was expected to be really good this year.

“Our goal switched after we beat Hopkins,” McKeeby said. “They were slated to be the best team, and they beat us pretty handily last year. After we beat them, we switched from improving and having fun to trying to win a title.”

The girls’ hot start has been tempered a bit lately with two straight defeats, including a 21-9 loss to NorthPointe Christian in their most recent match last week. They will try to get back to their winning ways on Wednesday against Godwin Heights.

The Trojans’ championship dream is still very much in play, however. Hopkins is in first place in the O-K Silver with a 5-1 record, Belding is a half-game behind at 4-1-1 and Fruitport is 4-2.

Fruitport has six conference matches remaining and plenty of opportunities to battle for the trophy.

“I thought that next year might be the year,” McKeeby said. “This year has been hard, but they have been finding ways to win. They have gained a lot of confidence, and that’s something they needed.”

The Trojans’ sudden improvement is reflected in their statistics. All five returners from last year have dramatically improved their numbers,  led by Kyleigh O’Connell, who averaged 102 per game last year, and is averaging 129 this year, a startling 27-point increase.

Gen Franklin has jumped from 99 to 121 (a 22-point increase), Maddie Smith has gone from 95 to 109 (a 14-point jump), Harper Simila has gone from 111 to 123 (a 12-point increase) and Mya Herrygers has gone from 91 to 99 (an eight-point jump).

Ava Bradshaw, the new girl on the team this year, is averaging 110 per game.

Smith, a sophomore, has had a unique opportunity to view the team in one bad season and one good one, and thinks the sudden improvement has everything to do with chemistry.

“I think the confidence just came with getting along better and talking to each other,” she said. “We didn’t talk as much last year, but now we’ve gotten to know each other a lot better. We are trusting each other and helping each other grow, as bowlers and people.”

Smith said all the players are definitely excited, and are not alarmed by the two recent losses.

“We surprised ourselves a lot with such a big streak at the beginning, and now the confidence is still there,” she said. “We are still working on improving ourselves and helping each other.”

While McKeeby admits he did not see the dramatic improvement coming, he said there are noticeable reasons for it.

“They accept coaching and constructive criticism a lot better this season,” the coach said. “They ask for help and ask specific questions. They know bowling a lot better. Last year, they were like, ‘I don’t know what to do,’ and this year they say ‘I want to try this’ or ‘Should I try this?’

“I have an intro to bowling package that I quiz them on and give them homework. And the boys team has been really open about helping. Sometimes we strategically put a boy and girl together in practice. Sometimes they compete against each other in practice. The boys have a great attitude about it.”

More than anything, McKeeby says the girls are having success because they are focused on positives.

“This year there is no drama at all, for either team,” the coach said. “They are leaving everything else at the door and focusing on b0wling. In the past two seasons, both teams had a lot of internal issues, just teenage drama, but not this year. They just love showing up for practices and matches and are happy to be there.”