COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Five Branch County bowling teams are heading to the MHSAA State Finals next weekend.
Both of the Coldwater bowling teams qualified for the MHSAA Division Two State Finals on Friday at Continental Lanes in Kalamazoo as the Cardinal girls were first in the regional tournament while the boys team finished third.
The Coldwater girls had a team score of 3,799 which was 156 pins better than Sturgis. Battle Creek Pennfield finished third. Coldwater’s Alysaa VanWormer won the girls singles regional title with a six game total of 1,197 which was 51 pins ahead of Sydney Urben of Wayland. Freshman Noella Keplinger also qualified for the Division Two State Finals in singles with a sixth place finish as she had a score of 1,077.
The Coldwater boys edged Three Rivers by 24 pins for the final transfer spot to the State Finals as the Cardinals had a score of 3,936 pins. Sturgis finished first followed by Pennfield. Coldwater’s Alec Keplinger and Kaleb Champion qualified for the state finals on Saturday in singles. Keplinger was fourth with a total of 1,276 while Champion was fifth with a 1,241 score. Brandon Rifenburgh finished 11th and missed qualifying for the State Finals in singles by two pins.
The Bronson boys team is heading to the M.H.S.A.A. Division Four State Finals thanks a second place finish on Friday at the regional tournament at Airport Lanes in Jackson. Vandercook Lake finished first with 4,071 pins followed by the Vikings with 3,741 and Niles Brandywine with 3,594. Bronson’s Brandon Hyska won the regional singles title on Saturday by four pins over Evan Howell of Homer 1,338 to 1,334. Ryan Wisman of Bronson also qualified for the Division Four State Finals by one pin as he finished 10th with a score of 1,155.
The Bronson girls also qualified for the M.H.S.A.A. Division Four State Finals with a second place finish at the regionals. Avery Rees finished with a score of 984 followed by Dakota Smith with a 973.
The Quincy girls qualified for the M.H.S.A.A. Division Three State Finals thanks to a second place finish on Friday at the Regional Tournament at M-66 Bowl in Battle Creek. Quincy had a team score of 3,286. Kezia Wilson and Cassie White qualified for the State Finals in singles on Saturday as Wilson was seventh and White was ninth.
The Quincy boys tied for 11th on Friday. None of the Orioles finished in the top ten in the singles competition on Saturday in order to qualify for the State Finals. Cody Smith was the top finisher for the Orioles as he was 19th.
