Alter builds its community from all over Miami Valley

Private school has ‘a different kind of bond among the kids.’

This banner in the hall of Alter High School encourages the football team to conclude a perfect season with another state football championship. The team plays for the Division IV title Saturday, Dec. 5.

Staff photo by Ron Alvey This banner in the hall of Alter High School encourages the football team to conclude a perfect season with another state football championship. The team plays for the Division IV title Saturday, Dec. 5.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer 11:00 PM Thursday, December 3, 2009

KETTERING — If the Alter High School football team wins its second consecutive Division IV state football championship, there’s no town Main Street to hold the parade. There’s also no village shop windows to display signs of support.

As a private Catholic school, Alter draws students and athletes from multiple areas, which makes its efforts to create a community different from other D-IV counterparts.

“There’s a different kind of bond among the kids,” said Alter coach Ed Domsitz. “They come from a lot of areas, but they still know each other because they’ve come up through our feeder schools.”

In weeks like these, with a major event happening, the Knights also have to spread the word differently. Because residents can’t go to a centralized location for team chat or information, Athletic Director Chris Hart sends out updates and reports through the program’s football association and the school’s development office.

“It certainly feels like we have our community,” Hart said. “Plus, the City of Kettering certainly does things to make us feel at home here.”

The city, for instance, will provide a police escort as the football team departs at 2 p.m. today, Dec. 4, for Canton in preparation for Saturday’s 11 a.m. title game against Chagrin Falls (14-0). The Knights (14-0) are the state’s top-ranked team and defending state champions.

Those buses will carry players from Kettering, Centerville, Miamisburg, Miami Twp., Oakwood, Springboro, Waynesville and Dayton, among other places. The girls basketball team, which Hart coaches, is similarly varied, with players at times from as far away as Tipp City.

“One of the great things about coaching in a town is people in the town identify themselves with the team,” Domsitz said. “When I coached at Northmont, the homecoming parade went through town. But at a place like Alter, it’s different than that.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Alter’s plan

The Knights are planning to hold an afternoon practice today, Dec. 4, and depart in charter buses from the school at 2 p.m. to travel to Canton. Alter (14-0) will then awaken at 7 a.m. Saturday to face Chagrin Falls (14-0) in the 11 a.m. Division IV title game at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium.

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