A wild finish at the Jack Pine Team Challenge Tournament left three teams claiming a share of the boys’ bowling league championship.
Beaverton was first in the dual meet standings with a 6-1 record. Gladwin and Harrison tied for second at 5-2, followed by Clare and Farwell at 4-3, Meridian and Roscommon at 2-5 and Houghton Lake at 0-7.
The team challenge was, well, eventful.
Farwell was first with a grand total of 3491 pins; Harrison was second with 3431; Beaverton third with 3403; Gladwin fourth with 3376; Clare fifth with 3270; Meridian sixth with 2954; Roscommon seventh with 2883 and Houghton Lake eighth with 2601.
After all of that, the final overall standings left Beaverton, Harrison and Farwell tied for the championship with Gladwin fourth, followed by Clare, Meridian, Roscommon and Houghton Lake.
“It was up for grabs between all four teams,” said Gladwin coach Kent Crawford. “Farwell bowled really well to win it and Beaverton and Harrison did what they needed to do to get a piece.
“We would have been right there with them, but we had a hard time with spares that day.”
The Flying G’s also had a hard time replacing Aaron Weston, who was the Jack Pine’s top bowler all season with a 210 average, but missed the big event with an ACL injury.
Farwell was led throughout the year by Jacob Gross, who averaged 183 with a high game of 258, and C.J. Fiedler, who averaged 179 with a top effort of 224.
Chase Castro averaged 190 and rolled a 255, while Brandon Cergnul averaged 179 and had a 267 for the Beavers.
Harrison had a dependable trio in Cody Roehrs, who averaged 177 and rolled a 225; Brandon Solosky, 177/237; and Robert McCarver, 174/224.
J.J. Gross averaged 185 and had a 245 to lead Clare.
Keith Lang averaged 194 and had a 248 game, while Austin Castillo averaged 179 and had a 257 for Gladwin.
Meridian’s Cole Ordiway averaged 181 and had a 254 along the way.