The stakes were high.

Senior Chad Stephen was set to defend his individual state title from last year.

However, Stephen saw his bid to repeat fall short in the semifinal.

“There wasn’t too much pressure,” Stephen said. “My game was still good, but when it came up to having to do good, it wasn’t good enough.”

In the MHSAA Division 2 qualifying match, Stephen placed 10th with a 6-game total of 1,224.

In the qualifiers’ bracket, Stephen won his first round match, as well as his quarterfinal. But he eventually lost to Marcus McClain of Melvindale in the semifinal 397-325.

Last year, Stephen won the state title after making it to the quarterfinals in 2014.

Two other Hornets bowled in the individual state final tournament.

Senior Phillip Hawes and junior Bryce McKerchie competed at the Super Bowl in Canton, Saturday, March 5.

Hawes placed 38th in the qualifying match, 116 pins away from qualifying. Only the top 16 qualified for the final rounds.

However, McKerchie secured himself a spot in the final bracket with a ninth place qualifier.

McKerchie won in the first round after qualifying and then lost to Trevor Millard from Plainwell 415-364.

This put McKerchie in the top eight.

McKerchie said he had some nerves going into the quarterfinal, but he is happy with the outcome.

“I feel good (about the match),” McKerchie said. “I was nervous, but I practiced hard.”

McKerchie is going to shoot for an individual state championship next year.

Stephen gave some advice to others about dealing with the pressure of feeling like you have to win.

“When you think pressure’s on,” Stephen said, “just clear your mind, take a deep breath, and go.”

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