The Austin High School junior varsity bowling team completed their 2010 season with a third-place finish in the 24-team Minnesota State Junior Varsity Tournament in Ham Lake on Sunday.

Austin was without its standout anchor (fifth position in the lineup) bowler, Elijah Rayman. Standing in for Rayman, however, was Collin Bailey, who proved more than capable for the assignment.

At the end of the qualifying rounds, Austin ranked fourth in the standings. The junior Packers finished the qualifying rounds with a total team score of 1751.

Austin won its first three matches before losing the last two to claim third place. The Packers’ two losses were to Owatonna and Superior, Wis., the teams that competed in the championship round.

Austin faced Superior twice, winning the first match in round two of match play. Superior rebounded in the “second chance” bracket to face Austin, again, in round five, defeating the Packers in a match that took three games to decide.

The Austin junior varsity team lineup includes two seventh graders, two eighth graders, a freshman and three sophomores. Of the eight Packer bowlers, four are new to the team this year. The four returning members were on the 2009 team that finished seventh in last year’s state junior varsity tournament. Third-place plaques were presented to the team and individual players.

AUSTIN RESULTS

Tournament fill percentage: Collin Bailey, 53-for-58 (91.3%); Ian Bearden, 0-for-4 (0%); Tyler Bundy, 4-for-6 (66.7%); Jacob Conner, 29-for-44 (65.9%); Daniel Gerlach, 22-for-38 (57.9%); Logan Hegna, 28-for-40 (70%); Lucas Hegna, 39-for-44 (88.6%)