Image courtesy of Scott DeCamp
State finals weekend is where seasons are defined. For months, area high school bowlers put in the work grinding through early practices, weekend tournaments and pressure-packed conference matches all for a shot at performing on Michigan’s biggest stage.
This year’s MHSAA state finals delivered everything: dominant championship performances, dramatic near-misses decided by a handful of pins, and breakthrough individual runs that earned all-state honors. From Ravenna’s repeat title to Mona Shores narrowly missing bracket play and several local bowlers advancing to match play, area athletes once again proved they can compete with the best in the state.
Below is a division-by-division look at how teams and individuals performed.
TEAM COMPETITION
Division 4 – Ravenna Captures Second Straight State Title
The Ravenna girls bowling team came as close to perfection as possible this season and finished the job with a second consecutive Division 4 state championship at Skore Lanes.
The Bulldogs swept Hudson in the championship match in the best-of-five Baker format, winning 198-146, 219-155 and 194-162 to secure the program’s second straight state crown.
Ravenna rolled a 3,128 during the qualifying block (eight Baker games and two regular games) and carried that momentum into bracket play. The Bulldogs defeated Portland St. Patrick in the quarterfinals and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in the semifinals before bulldozing Hudson in the finals.
The championship capped an 18-0 season that included conference, city and regional titles. Remarkably, the Bulldogs return their entire lineup next season.
Division 1 – Mona Shores Just Misses Bracket Play
The Mona Shores girls bowling team narrowly missed advancing to bracket play in the Division 1 state finals at Thunderbowl Lanes.
The Sailors finished ninth in qualifying with a total of 2,903 pins. The top eight teams advanced, and Livonia Churchill secured the final spot with 2,908 — just five pins ahead of Shores.
The format included eight Baker games and two regular games. Shores’ top Baker scores were 172 and 169, while the Sailors posted strong regular games of 837 and 891. Macomb Dakota led qualifying at 3,232.
Though they fell just short, the Sailors remained in contention throughout one of the state’s most competitive divisions.
Other Team Results
Several other area teams competed at state finals sites across Michigan:
Division 2
- Reeths-Puffer boys finished ninth with 3,141 pins, 22 pins shy of eighth place. Their top Baker games were 216 and 206, with regular games of 841 and 844.
Division 3
- Whitehall boys finished ninth with 3,054 pins (high Baker 221; regular games 963 and 796).
- Kent City boys were 11th with 3,001 pins.
- Kent City girls finished 12th with 2,974 pins.
Division 4
- Holton boys placed ninth with 3,037 pins, just 44 short of the top eight.
- Holton girls finished 16th with 2,170 pins.
INDIVIDUAL STATE FINALS
Division 1 – Bosch, Graham Advance to Match Play
Mona Shores had two bowlers advance into bracket play in the Division 1 singles finals.
Sophomore Briar Graham rolled a 1,195 during six-game qualifying, highlighted by games of 235 and 211. In the first round of match play, Graham was edged by just one pin, falling 308-307 in a two-game total to Salem’s Katelyn Light.
Senior Skyler Bosch qualified 15th with a 1,260 pinfall. In bracket play, Bosch rolled games of 155 and 225 for a 383 total but fell to Salem’s Andrew Fsadni, who posted a 489 two-game series.
Grand Haven senior Alayna Thompson finished 44th in singles competition with a 1,005 total. Her top game was 189.
Division 2 – Area Bowlers Compete in Deep Field
Spring Lake senior Hudson Case finished 29th with a 1,122 six-game total. His top games were 225 and 212.
Reeths-Puffer senior Carter Hekkema placed 46th at 1,018, with a high game of 225.
Division 3 – Slaughter Earns All-State Honors
Whitehall senior Slaughter made the deepest individual run among area bowlers in Division 3.
He qualified 12th with a 1,256 total and won his first-round match before erupting in the quarterfinals with games of 259 and 263 for a dominant 522 series.
Slaughter advanced to the semifinals, where he fell 515-421 to eventual state champion Noah Wood of Durand. His performance earned him first-team all-state honors.
Other Division 3 finishers included:
- Tristin Beerman (Orchard View), 30th (1,116).
- Adel Ali-Redha (Whitehall), 40th (1,063).
- Lana Campbell (Fremont), 48th (877).
- Jessica Reed (Fremont), 54th (834).
- Karley Eager (Kent City), 51st (864).
- Adelie Hoffmeyer (Whitehall), 55th (804).
Division 4 – Close Calls and Strong Finishes
Holton junior Aiden Reilly narrowly missed the Division 4 bracket, finishing 18th with 1,152 — just 11 pins shy of the cut. His top games were 239 and 215.
Also competing:
- Marcus Newell (Holton), 39th (1,023).
- Tyler Pritzi (Holton), 1,016.
- Colton Rolison (Ravenna), 38th (1,032).
- Emma Edwards (Holton girls), 52nd (786).
From championship celebrations to one-pin heartbreaks, area bowlers delivered memorable performances at the 2026 MHSAA state finals — proving once again that when it comes to postseason bowling, every frame matters.
If you are interested in more of our content, head to our website at catchmarksports.com, our YouTube, or our Facebook page!
