LocalSportsJournal.com

The area will be well represented this weekend when the MHSAA boys’ bowling state finals are contested at four sites throughout the state.

The boys from Oakridge qualified as a team after winning the Division 3 regional tournament at Northway Lanes in Muskegon. In Division 4, the Ravenna Bulldogs qualified as a team.

Several teams narrowly missed a chance to reach the state finals. Mona Shores finished third and Grand Haven was fourth in Division 1. In Division 2, Fruitport came in third, Spring Lake was fourth and Reeths-Puffer was fifth.

Fremont’s team finished third in Division 3 and Holton came in fourth in Division 4.

The top two teams in each regional advanced. In the singles competition, the top seven bowlers earned a berth in the finals.

DIVISION 1

Mona Shores’ senior Derek Kern put on a show at the regional meet at Sherman Bowling Center. Kern finished with a pinfall of 1,407 for six games and was crowned the regional champion. Kern rolled a high game of 269 on a day in which he was dialed in front start to finish.

Grand Haven’s Alex Gannon, finished sixth and qualified with a 1,304. He rolled a 276 for his high game.

In all, 16 bowlers topped the 1,200 mark (200 average or more) for the six games.

The state finals will be this weekend at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park.

DIVISION 2

Two area bowlers qualified based on their singles results in the regionals at Westgate in Comstock Park.

Reeths-Puffer junior Liam Copenhaver finished with a 1,210 for six games and finished fifth. Fellow Rocket Carter Hekkema came in seventh at 1,182.

The finals will be contested at Century Bowl in Waterford.

DIVISION 3

Fremont senior Gavin Payne led a group of five area bowlers to claim spots in the state finals.

Payne finished second with a pinfall of 1,263. His high game of the six was a 244.

Montague’s Ethan Hite, a senior, finished third at 1,217. His best game was a 268.

Oakridge senior Michael Hruskach came in fourth at 1,184 with a high game of 245.

Montague’s Mason Slaughter, a junior, is going to state after his sixth-place finish. He rolled a high game of 220 and a six-game total of 1,143.

Logan Hunter from Montague finished in seventh place and earned a state finals berth. He finished with a 1,094 with a high game of 222.

The finals are set for this weekend at JAX 60 in Jackson.

DIVISION 4

Ravenna’s team finished a solid second to runaway winner Benzie Central.

In singles, three area bowlers will be vying for a state title.

Holton sophomore Aiden Reilly finished third at 1,039 for six games. His best effort of the six games was a 189.

Fellow Red Devil Marcus Newell came in fifth at 1,004. His best game was a 191.

Rounding out the slate is Ravenna sophomore Austin Millis, who is going to state based on his sixth-place finish. He had a 984 with a top game of 231.

The state finals are set for Friday and Saturday at Northway Lanes in Muskegon.