The White River High bowling team came agonizingly close to earning a spot in the state tournament, falling just six pins shy of qualifying.

That doesn’t mean the Hornets will be absent from the big event, however. Both Dakota Farrer and Morgan Smith advanced as individual participants.

State qualifying took place during the Jan. 25 district tourney at Pacific Lanes in Tacoma. The White River group had gone to the district tournament as the No. 2 team from the South Puget Sound League.

Farrer, a senior and the Hornets’ top performer, is making a return trip to state. She’s being joined by Smith, a freshman.

They will bowl six games Saturday as part of the three-day state tournament at Narrows Plaza Bowl in Tacoma.