The Highland Varsity Bowling Team opened their season Saturday at the Suburban League Preseason Tournament held at Kent Lanes. The Hornets placed 11th with a 2513 series (863-738-912) and 831 in their Baker games (187-171-166-150-157), for a total of 3344. Juniors Gracie Dunne (209-182-196) and Lucas Less (190-206-191) led Highland, both chalking up a 587 series. Dunne placed 2nd among the Girls and tied with Less for 10th among the Boys, with Less knocking down 3 Turkeys. Senior Andrew Talpas had 2 Turkeys in his 502 series (175-113-214). He bowled the team's high game, a new official personal best, as well as a new 3-game series high. Junior Davis Slatkovsky followed with a 430 (148-136-146). Junior Ryan Potak pitched in with a 306 (141-165). Junior Ryan Paulus also contributed, making his Varsity debut. In the Baker games, Less led with 8 strikes; Talpas, Dunne & Slats each had 4 and Paulus & Potak each had 1 strike. Freshman Logan DeVoe also made his Varsity debut in the Baker games. The Hornets face Stow at Kent Lanes on Tuesday for their first regular match of the season.

The Highland Varsity Bowling Team fell to Stow 2317-2436 Tuesday night at Kent Lanes, in their first regular match of the season. The Hornets bowled a two-game series of 1783 (887-896) to the Bulldog’s 1919 (929-990) and 534 in their Baker games (159-213-162) to Stow's 517 (165-187-165). Highland was led by Junior Davis Slatkovsky with a personal best two-game series of 438 (224-214) and the team's high game of the night. He had a 4-bagger and a Turkey in the 10th frame of Game 1 and led off Game 2 with another 4-bagger. Junior Lucas Less bowled a 381 (167-214) with a Turkey, followed by Juniors Gracie Dunne 344 (157-187) & Ryan Potak 318 (171-147) and Senior Andrew Talpas 302 (168-134). In the Bakers, Less led with a perfect 4 strikes as the anchor in Game 2. Potak and Slats both cleared 2 strikes each in their two Baker frames in Game 3. The Hornets are 0-1 in conference play as they head to Spins Bowl Kent on Sunday for the Ravenna Boys Varsity Invitational.

The Highland Boys Varsity Bowling Team placed 14th among 31 teams on Sunday at the Ravenna Boys Invitational at Spins Bowl Kent. The Hornets bowled a 2725 series (925-905-895) and 980 in their Baker games (159-168-182-147-144-180), for a total pinfall of 3705. Junior Lucas Less led the team with a 610 series, placing 19th overall among 175 bowlers. He had a personal best 244 game (244-171-195), Highland's high for the day, and knocked down 4 Turkeys. Less was also the top Medina County bowler at the tournament. Junior Davis Slats rolled a 597 (180-211-206), good for 25th overall, with a 4-bagger and 2 Turkeys. Junior Gracie Dunne (43rd) bowled a 576 (184-201-191) with a 5-bagger and Turkey. Senior Andrew Talpas (49th) tallied 551 (208-179-164) with a 4-bagger, his new 3-game series high. Junior Ryan Paulus added a 282 (143-139), a new personal best 2-game series and high game. Junior Ryan Potak also contributed. In the Baker games, each team member contributed a least one strike or spare, including Freshman Logan DeVoe. The Hornets head to Charger Lanes on November 30th for the Norton Panther Varsity Challenge.

The Highland Varsity Bowling Team placed 7th among 22 teams on Sunday at the Norton Panther Challenge held at Charger Lanes. The Hornets bowled a 2814 series (928-899-987) and 1047 in their Baker games (166-160-195-176-181-169), for a total pinfall of 3861. Junior Lucas Less led the team with a 641 series (189-231-221), knocking down a Hambone and 3 Turkeys. He had Highland's high game and made the All-Tournament 2nd Team, placing 7th overall. Less was also the top Medina County bowler at the tournament. Junior Gracie Dunne bowled a 623 series (204-192-227) and had a Yahtzee. Senior Andrew Talpas had a 545 (190-179-176) with a Turkey. Junior Davis Slatkovsky tallied a 530 series (188-150-192). Junior Ryan Potak had a 328 (157-171). Junior Ryan Paulus bowled 147, a new personal best official high game. In the Bakers, Dunne had 11 strikes and 5 spares and anchored 5 games. Slats had 7 strikes/3 spares, Less 5 strikes/5 spares (anchored 1 game), Talpas 3 strikes/3 spares, Potak 1 strike/3 spares and Paulus 1 spare. The Hornets head to AMF Riviera Lanes Monday, December 1st, to face Copley in Suburban League play.

On Monday, December 1st, the Highland Varsity Bowling team defeated Copley 2161-1449 at AMF Riviera Lanes. The Hornets bowled a two-game series of 1653 (849-804) to the Indians' 1165 (607-558). In Baker games, Highland overpowered Copley 508 (208-139-161) to 284 (83-102-99). The team was led by Junior Gracie Dunne 423 (192-231), converting 82% of her spare opportunities. She had the Hornets' high game of the evening with a 7-bagger! Junior Davis Slatkovsky bowled 339 (224-115), rolling a 4-bagger (aka Hambone). Junior Lucas Less followed with a 338 (170-168), also converting a Hambone. Senior Andrew Talpas had a two-game series of 307 (151-156). Juniors Ryan Paulus 134 and Ryan Potak 112 rounded out the scoring for the victorious Hornets. In Bakers, Paulus contributed a clean first game. Wrapping up the successful evening, Dunne had a clean third game with a Turkey as the anchor. The team is 1-1 in conference play as they head to Yorktown Lanes on Tuesday to face North Royalton.

On Tuesday, December 2nd, the Highland Varsity Bowling team lost a close, see-saw battle to North Royalton 2300 - 2291. The Hornets led after the two game individual series 1787 (868-919) to the Bears' 1736 (915-821). Royalton pulled ahead in the first Baker game and hung on to win, shooting 564 (204-178-182) to Highland's 504 (149-165-190). The Hornets were paced by a scorching hot Lucas Less and his 472 (232-240), a personal best two-game series. The Junior had a Turkey and a 6-bagger. Junior Davis Slats scored a 388 (170-218), knocking down a Turkey and a Hambone (4-bagger). Senior Andrew Talpas converted a respectable 79% of his spare opportunities on his way to a 353 (171-182). Junior Gracie Dunne followed with a 309 (174-135). Junior Ryan Potak bowled 265 (121-144). Slats led the way in Bakers with a clean back-to-back first two games. The team notched a Hambone in Baker game 3 with Talpas, Less, Slats, and Potak all striking in a row to their Baker high game of 190. The Hornets are 1-2 in the Suburban League and host the Solon Comets on December 8th at AMF Riviera Lanes.

The Varsity Bowling team's comeback fell short Monday evening at AMF Riviera, losing to Solon 2412-2377. The Comets jumped out to a 128 pin lead after individual games of 1906 (978-928) to the Hornets' 1778 (919-859). Highland came storming back in Bakers, outscoring Solon 599 (192-204-203) to 506 (152-184-170), but the effort was to no avail. Junior Lucas Less continued his torrid pace from last week by scoring another personal two-game series high of 479 (267-212). His 267 was a personal official single game high as well. He converted 83% of his spares and had a turkey, hambone and 8-bagger. Junior Gracie Dunne added a 370 (175-195), notching a turkey on the way. Senior Andrew Talpas followed with a 324 (153-171). Junior Davis Slatkovsky bowled 317 (173-144), logging a turkey. Juniors Ryan Potak (151) and Ryan Paulus (137) also contributed. Less struck his way through Highland's Baker game comeback with a near perfect 3 games, only coming up a single ten-pin short on his 12th and final shot, rolling 11 consecutive strikes. Slats bowled two perfect Baker games and added a spare. Talpas had a perfect Baker and 2 additional strikes. Dunne knocked down 2 strikes and 2 spares. Potak contributed a strike and Paulus added 2 spares. A true team effort! The Varsity Hornets face the Twinsburg Tigers on Wednesday at Roseland Lanes.

On Wednesday night, the Varsity Bowling team fell to Twinsburg 2326 to 2411 at Roseland Lanes. The Hornets grabbed the lead after the two individual games, 1881 (840-1041) to the Tigers' 1835 (934-901). Twinsburg came storming back in the Baker games 576 (167-248-161) against Highland's 445 (148-141-156), to overcome the deficit and claim the win. The Hornets were led by Junior Gracie Dunne's 439 (161-278), notching personal scholastic records in both her two-game series and high game, rolling a 9-bagger! Junior Lucas Less was close behind with a 429 (175-254) knocking down a 6-bagger. Junior Davis Slats bowled 382 (210-172) with two Turkeys. Senior Andrew Talpas followed with a 338 series (169-169). Junior Ryan Paulus logged a 168 and Junior Ryan Potak contributed a 125. Paulus scored a hambone (4-bagger) in his new official high game! Dunne led the way in the Baker games, scoring strikes on both of her throws in games 1 and 3. Potak, Paulus, Talpas, and Less also contributed a strike in the Baker games. The Hornets host the defending Suburban League Champion Wadsworth Grizzlies on December 16th at AMF Riviera Lanes.

On Tuesday evening, the Varsity Bowling team fought hard against the reigning Suburban League champion Wadsworth Grizzlies at AMF Riviera Lanes, but fell short 2464-2564. The Hornets found themselves down 1914 (947-967) to 1985 (1010-975) after the individual games. Highland briefly cut into the lead after the first Baker game, but was ultimately outscored 550 (179-162-209) to 579 (161-204-214) in that round. Junior Lucas Less led the team with a 440 series (201-239) and had the Hornets' high game for the night, which included a 5-bagger, aka Yahtzee. Junior Davis Slats followed close behind with a 437 (220-217), knocking down a Turkey and Hambone. Junior Gracie Dunne was next for Highland with a 377 series (187-190). Senior Andrew Talpas 371 (231-140) tallied career highs with both his two-game series and 231 game, notching a Turkey and Yahtzee along the way. Junior Ryan Paulus logged another new official high game of 181, besting his previous record in the prior match at Twinsburg last week. Junior Ryan Potak contributed with a 108. Slats led the Baker attack with a near perfect 3 games of Bakers, logging 9 strikes in a row and coming up only one pin shy for 10. In the third Baker game, the Hornets bowled a collective Yahtzee, with Talpas, Dunne, Less, Slats and Paulus all striking in a row. Highland will return to play after the holiday break on January 6th at Station 300 for their matchup with the Tallmadge Blue Devils.

The Highland Varsity Bowling Team got back into the win column with a wire-to-wire victory over the Tallmadge Blue Devils 2392-2258. The Hornets jumped out to a 113 pin lead after the first set of individual games and never looked back. The Hornest led the Blue Devils 1832 (896-936) to 1683 (783-900) after the two sets of individual games. Highland closed out the contest with a solid Baker total of 560 (223-151-186) to Tallmadge's 575 (204-195-176). Junior Gracie Dunne led the way with a new scholastic two-game high of 464 (225-239). Dunne had a Yatzhee (5-bagger) in her first game, and followed with both a hambone (4-bagger) and turkey (3-bagger) in game 2. Junior Lucas Less also topped 400 for the 5th straight match with a 420 series (197-223). Less ended his second game with a 6-bagger, while chalking up a turkey in game 1. Junior Davis Slats had a solid 364 (164-200) while logging a hambone. Junior Andrew Talpas logged a 2-game series of 315 (165-150). Juniors Ryan Potak (145) and Ryan Paulus (124) also contributed to the Hornets' victory. A team hambone in game 1 highlighted the Baker games. Individually, Dunne logged 5 total strikes in Bakers, including a collective Yahtzee through the three games. Less racked up 5 strikes, while Talpas was right behind with 4. Slats was able to contribute 3 Baker strikes while both Potak and Paulus logged a spare in their Baker games. The 2-4 Hornets next travel to Yorktown Lanes Saturday for the Padua Bruin Classic Bowling Tournament.