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Troy bowling coach earns big state award

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By Debbie Juniewicz, Contributing Writer Updated 7:39 PM Saturday, January 21, 2012

Cevin Wagner wasn’t looking for personal accolades. In fact, he didn’t know this most recent recognition even existed.

The Troy High School bowling coach was recently named the State of Ohio Boys Bowling Coach of the Year (2011) by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

He didn’t even open the email for several days, thinking it was a virus or spam.

“I was shocked when I finally saw it,” Wagner said. “It’s a great honor.”

The Trojans did their part to make their coach look good. The Troy boys were 24-0 overall in the 2010-11 regular season. The Trojans started the season with a win at the Kick-Off Tournament and wrapped up the year as state champions.

Wagner, in his seventh season at Troy, earned Greater Western Ohio Conference North Coach of the Year honors, but had put that season behind him and was focusing on the 2011-12 season when he was asked to fill out some paperwork for the NFHS.

While Wagner has coached three state-qualifying teams, he is first and foremost a bowler. Now 46, the Piqua native took to the lanes when he was 6 years old. He has rolled 23 perfect games, including back-to-back 300s in 2008, which helped him post his career-high series — 849.

He has 13 800 series to his credit and spent several seasons bowling on the Regional PBA Tour (1987-90).

“I just love the sport of bowling,” he said. “Hopefully, when these kids get older and are bowling in a tournament or in league, they can look back and think, 'What would coach tell me to do?’ or even 'Coach was right.’

“Hopefully, I taught them something, even if it’s not about bowling, that they can take with them into their life.”

If Wagner taught the Trojans anything last season, it was not to quit. After falling behind in the final game of the state championship match against Wapakoneta, with two open frames in their first four attempts, Wagner knew it was time to regroup.

“We huddled up and said we didn’t come here to lose, now let’s go out there and string some strikes,” he said.

His team responded with strikes in the next five frames. Moments later, Troy won its first state bowling title.

The Trojans are currently 18-2 on the season and hoping to make another run for a state title. And while Wagner appreciates the state recognition, the rewards of coaching are far greater than any title he could earn.

“I’m always trying to teach them the right way to do things, but the truth is that I learn from them as well — all the time.”

Title for Creek

The Beavercreek girls team picked up its second tournament title of the season with a first-place finish in the Baker Bash on Monday.

The Beavers beat Centerville for the championship. Beavercreek won the Team USA Experience High School Tournament in December.

In the boys Baker Bash final, Centerville beat out Zane Trace.

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