The Troy Trojans wanted to set the tone for the season at the Ohio High School Invitational Kick-Off Tournament.

The defending state champions did just that. The Troy boys bowling team won the Kick-Off Tournament title for the second consecutive year with a 3-1 win over Zane Trace in the championship Baker format match at Columbus Square Bowling Palace on Dec. 3.

“It’s just a fantastic achievement to go back-to-back at the Kick-Off Tournament,” Troy head coach Rob Dever said. “Our run to the state tournament last year began with a Kick-Off Tournament win so we’re hoping this is a sign of good things for the rest of this season.”

The Trojans return a core of experienced bowlers in seniors Jared Sierra, Kyle Neves and Brad Johnson, juniors A.J. Bigelow and Cameron Hughes and sophomore Andrew Spencer, all of whom bowled on the state championship team. But Troy boys team coach Cevin Wagner is focusing on the future, not the past.

“We won state but it’s a memory, something we need to keep on the back burner,” Wagner said. “This is a new season.”

The new season didn’t look promising early as Troy struggled through the qualifying rounds. The Trojans were 12th after qualifying, the top 16 teams advanced to Baker play.

“I thought we’d be looking at 14th or 15th with the score we put up,” Wagner said.

It didn’t get any easier as it took five games for the Trojans to edge out Centerville and Urbana in the first two rounds of the Baker finals. Then came the rematch of the state championship as Troy faced Wapakoneta in the semifinals. The Trojans clinched their finals berth with a 3-1 win.

“We struggled in qualifying but the boys showed up in Baker,” Wagner said.

With a tournament title under their belt, the Trojans’ season is off to a strong start but the challenges have just begun for the team that finished 24-0 last season.

“I believe the GWOC is the toughest conference in the state,” Wagner said. “We have our work cut out for us.”

All-Tournament Team: Several Miami Valley bowlers were recognized on the all-tournament teams. Coldwater’s Charles Fella, Zach Huff and Mitch Kanney, Centerville’s Wayne Apgar, Urbana’s Brendon Miller and Anthony Kennard of Wapakoneta made the boys team. Carroll’s Angel West, Beavercreek’s Coleen Hines, Xenia’s Nicole Seibel and Coldwater’s Jenna Wenning were among the top eight in the girls division.