“We led from wire to wire, we never trailed,” Butler coach Steve Sacks said. “We’ve been very consistent this year, didn’t have the crazy swings teams can have.”
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The Aviators were no strangers to the state tournament – making their third consecutive appearance – but this was a different Butler squad.
“I think we had a lot looser attitude, we were able to stay in the moment a lot better,” Sack said. “We could focus on what we needed to do and not worry about anyone else.”
While a state team title was the ultimate goal, the Aviators did one better as senior Drew Sacks also won the individual state title with a 246-247-259 – 752. It marked the second consecutive individual state title for the 17-year-old – a feat that had never been accomplished.
“It’s crazy, never in my wildest dreams would I have expected it,” Drew said. “When they announced my name, I was really in total disbelief.”
While his solo accomplishment was a definite point of pride for the Butler senior, it was the team title that he was focused on. In their two previous state appearances, the Aviators bowed out in the first round of match play – until Saturday when Butler topped Midpark in the opening match, 3-1.
“Once we won our first match, I really thought we could win this,” Drew said.
The Aviators went on to beat Mentor and Ashland by identical 3-1 marks to take the crown. There were some mixed emotions for the Lindenwood University-bound bowler.
“It was kind of sad that my high school career came to an end, but we did what we set out to do,” Drew said. “This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Centerville win girls title: Close, but not close enough, the Elks had qualified to the state tournament for the past six seasons, but had fallen short of their goal each time – until now.
“Two years ago, we were fifth and last year, third, so I told them, mathematically, there was nowhere to finish but first,” Centerville coach Eric Edmondson said with a smile.
Edmonson was right. Centerville topped Seton and Stow-Munroe Falls to set up a showdown against Greater Western Ohio Conference rival Beavercreek in the title match. The Elks and Beavers battled through five games with Centerville squeaking out a nine-pin advantage, 159-150, for the title. The Elks last claimed a state bowling championship more than a decade ago, in 2008, before there were separate tournaments for D-1 and D-2 teams.
“I would love to come back and do it all over again next year,” Edmondson said.
The girls’ individual state title went to Jillian Martin, of Stow-Munroe Falls, with 668, but several local bowlers finished in the top 10. Wayne junior Keirsten Schooler was the top Dayton-area placer in third with 613. Her Warriors teammate Ericka Reed, a freshman, was eighth with 591. Xenia junior Caity Moody and Beavercreek sophomore Megan McHone finished sixth and 10th, respectively.
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