The Hopkins boys’ bowling team has qualified for the state Division 3 tournament at Airport Lanes in Jackson next weekend. The Vikings took third in the regionals Friday at Eastland Bowl in Kalamazoo.
Furthermore, freshman Brenden Gossman qualified for the individual portion of the tournament by placing third on Saturday to become one of 10 to earn a spot in the individual competition.
Joining Gossman in vying for the state team title will be seniors Michael Heppe, Jesse Oosterhouse and David Mohr, and junior Terry Thomas and Zack Mohr.
The Vikings finished with a team total of 3,624 pins. Battle Creek Pennfield won it with 3,842 and Coloma was runner-up with 3,635, just 11 more than Hopkins.
The Vikings rolled an 838 in the first game, 828 in the second and 878 in the third. They rolled Baker games of 225, 183, 151, 197, 176 and 148.
A total of 16 teams competed in the Division 3 regional.
Gossman, in his six individual games, rolled 182, 144, 189, 245, 220 and 222 for a total of of 1,202 pins, just 16 behind runner-up Luke Ford of Otsego and 40 behind regional champion Bailey Neal of Battle Creek Pennfield.
Though they weren’t among the top 10 individual qualifiers, Heppe finished a creditable 22nd and Mohr was 27th.
PHOTO: Brenden Gossman