The Austin bowling team clinched a trip to the state tournament when it beat Rochester Mayo, Hayfield and Red Wing in Red Wing Saturday.

The match against Red Wing came down to the fifth game with a trip to state on the line and the Packers put up strikes in the first six frames on their way to a 240-175 victory in the deciding game.

Kody Phillips went 14-for-14 on fills against Red Wing and Lauren Schabert and Elijah Rahmen went 9-for-10.

Austin almost didn’t make it to the title game as it dropped the first two games to Hayfield in the second round and the Packers had to win three in a row to advance.

“We found ourselves staring possible elimination in the face and we had one of our great comebacks of the season,” Austin head coach Jim Juenger said.

Austin won the last three games by scores of 242-174, 202-168 and 204-144.

Collin Bailey went 10-for-10 and Schabert was 9-for-10 in the win.

Phillips, a sophomore, was selected to the All-Conference team for the fourth time in his career and Collin Bailey was also one of the eight All-Conference selections.

Schabert and Cole Kroneman were named All-Conference honorable mention and were selected to the All Honors team, which honors players for their leadership, sportsmanship and dedication to the game throughout the season.

Rahmen was also selected All-Conference honorable mention.

The state tournament will take place Dec. 3 at Garden Center Lanes in Alexandria and Austin’s JV will compete in its state tournament Dec. 4 at Southpark Lanes in Owatonna.

It is the third straight trip to state for the JV team and the first time Austin has had both teams in the state tournament.

Tournament totals: Collin Bailey, 22-for-24; Jacob Conner, 0-for-2; Daniel Gerlach, 1-for-2

Cole Kroneman – 17-for-26; Kody Phillips, 31-for-36; Elijah Rayman, 21-for-26; Lauren Schabert, 22-for-24