DaytonDailyNews.com

LANCASTER — It came down to whether Coldwater could beat St. Henry one more time.

When it happened Saturday at Tiki Lanes, the undefeated Cavaliers became the first OHSAA-sanctioned boys state bowling champions.

Coldwater outlasted its regional rival three games to one, capping a 13-0 season.

"It's been one-two all year between us and St. Henry," Coldwater coach Rick Hartings said. "But with all the big schools here, for two small Mercer County schools to come in one-two is pretty amazing."

Both teams bowl out of Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater and belong to the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference. All season, Coldwater was better when it counted, narrowly winning the league, sectional and district.

And now you can add state, thanks mainly to Jared Moeder (11th in state), Tyler James (622 series) and junior Justin Franzer, who excelled in the Baker match-play round.

Coldwater beat Youngstown Liberty and Austintown Fitch to set up the match with St. Henry, which had defeated Hamilton and Fairmont behind senior Jason Rutschilling.

"They have a very good team," Hartings said of St. Henry, "but we came out firing in the last game."

Fairmont finished third as Aaron Grubb (212-246-183—641) placed ninth individually and Jared Dittmar (623) 19th.

"We thought we had a good chance of winning it," Fairmont coach Andy Parker said. "It just didn't work out that way."

Fairmont, which shared the Greater Western Ohio Conference title and won the district, was 13-3 this season.

"It's a sad way of ending, but St. Henry did bowl really well to beat us," Parker said. "You can't argue with that."

Stebbins was the only other area school in the top 10. The Indians finished 10th in their first year of varsity bowling, falling two spares from the championship round. Jesse Beal (189-248-225—662) placed third in the state.

"It was really fun. I couldn't be happier considering the youth of our team (three freshmen)," Stebbins coach Don Brown said. "The leadership came through when it counted."