By placing third at its Division 2 regional, the boys bowling team will now travel to compete in the MHSAA state final.

The Hornets advanced out of their regional Friday, Feb. 23, at Monitor Lanes in Bay City. Cadillac won the regional and Iron Mountain finished second.

Junior Nathan Maxwell is pleased with his team and what the Hornets have achieved this season.

“I am proud of what my team has accomplished,” Maxwell said. “Hopefully, we are able to bring home the state championship.”

In the first team game, senior Seth Varner led the way with a 203. The team ended the first game with a 919 total, moving the Hornets into fifth place.

Kearsley made a comeback with a 940 game, moving them to the third position with a 115-pin lead on Gaylord entering the last game.

In the last game, Gaylord shot a 927 making a move for the third-place spot, pinning Kearsley back.

But in the ninth frame, four of the five Kearsley bowlers threw a strike or spare, keeping the fight strong.

But once senior Justin Todd kept struck out in the 10th frame, it earned the Hornets a ticket to the state final.

After the final regional competition, senior Jake Reid feels accomplished from the team’s effort this season.

“If feels great because we, as a team, have worked hard for this,” Reid said. “We have had our ups and downs throughout the season, but we have now united as a family, and we are ready to accomplish our first goal.”

The Hornets will travel to Canton, Friday, March 2, to compete in their third state final in the last five years.