DaytonDailyNews.com

Legitimacy came in different ways for the participants in the inaugural OHSAA State Bowling championships last weekend in Lancaster.

"Dr. Daniel Ross stopped me and complimented our team on how much of a class act we were," said Coldwater boys bowling coach Rick Hartings, referring to the OHSAA commissioner. "That was my personal highlight."

"Our team state trophy is the same size as our football ones," said Coldwater senior Jared Moeder, anchor of the Cavaliers state title team. "We've been on TV, radio and covered in the newspapers. That's so cool. People are starting to find out high school bowling is a serious thing."

Then, the reigning queen of high school bowling, Amber Fulton of Fairborn, said: "Being the first girl individual winner in the record book carries a lot of meaning. I made history and that's a great feeling. I was just in a zone the whole weekend."

Fulton rolled 215-225-235 — 675 to outdistance Emily Figer of Beavercreek by 17 pins. The Skyhawks finished second in the team race to rival Beavercreek. Fairborn and Beavercreek each had two bowlers finish in the top 15 individuals — Amber's sister Brandi finished seventh and Beavercreek's Kathryn Cox finished 12th.

"Determination really was the difference in the team race," Figer said. "I knew Amber was going to be tough to beat individually because she had her shot down on those lanes." Southwest Ohio proved to be a bowling stronghold with Beavercreek, Fairborn and Centerville (third) and Troy (sixth) all finishing in the top six spots.

Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater is the home of both Coldwater and state runner-up St. Henry in the boys state tournament. Fairmont took third.

"It's as intense on the lanes as the football field," Moeder said of the storied Midwest Athletic Conference rivalry.

Crowds of 549 Friday and 631 Saturday welcomed the bowlers at Tiki Lanes in Lancaster.

"There's a lot of diversity in this new high school sport," said Roxanne Price of the OHSAA, who has bowling as one of her responsibilities. "We have more student-athletes who want to be a part of the high school experience. They want their locker room decorated, and they want a varsity jacket, and they want to be in the yearbook and have banquets. There are great incentives. I anticipate growth and splitting the divisions into two soon."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2478 or rjackson@DaytonDailyNews.com