Not qualifying for the boys' state bowling team competition was disappointing for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, but advancing more bowlers to the state individual tournament offered some consolation.

Jack Mastbergen, Eli Mastbergen and Caleb Aaron were the Top 3 individuals at the state qualifying meet on Feb. 13 at Locomotion Lanes. Those finishes qualified them to advance to the state individual meet.

Jack Mastbergen was H-M-S's only individual state qualifier in 2023. He and Aaron also competed in the state team competition.

"It was like a fire was started in the boys after the team event and they started their individual games in a flurry," Hawk coach Julia Meyer said.

Jack and Eli Mastbergen rolled 200 games to open the three-game series, and Aaron joined them in topping 200 in the second game. Jack Mastbergen and Aaron again bowled over 200 in the final game.

"The three boys had a good bowling rhythm going and they kept at the strikes and spares in the final game," Meyer noted. "It was exciting to see their determination and skill as they finished the final games and came through to be the Top 3 winners."

Individual game scores for H-M-S were: Jack Mastbergen 214-202-236, 652; Eli Mastbergen 237-212-187, 636; Aaron 174-230-218, 622; Graham Lux 175-162-161, 498; Riley Russell 170-156-164, 490; and Dawson Niichel 152-163-140, 455.

Charles City topped the standings at the conclusion of the 15 Baker games that determined the state team qualifier. The Comets compiled a pin count of 2919. Noah White of Charles City was the fourth bowler to also qualify for the state individual meet.

"The boys had some of their best Baker games of the season and their scores were still in the hunt halfway through the event, yet the next games didn't quite prove enough to keep pace to get the top scores we needed to win," Meyer acknowledged.

Forest City was the runner-up team (2864); H-M-S, which won the title in 2023, finished third (2802); and Sergeant Bluff-Luton was fourth (2342). North Iowa (749) and Pocahontas Area (578) only had two bowlers compete.

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Riley Russell bowled a 490 series during the individual competition at the state qualifying meet.

"We are so proud of the boys' efforts and determination. They never gave up and that is what I like to see as in any sport, you don't know when the other teams can fail," Meyer said.

H-M-S's three state individual meet qualifiers competed at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo on Feb. 21. Results will be reported next week.