Troy captures its first bowling championship

It wasn’t quick or easy but the Trojans did what they set out to do – win a state championship.
It took five games for Troy to top Wapakoneta and claim its first title at the boys state bowling championship at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl on Saturday. Troy took the first game, 206-201, and won every other game in the best-of-five final match.
In their first round Troy went five games against Perry Massillon including a roll-off.
Troy got off to a good start Saturday. Sparked by strong individual performances by sophomore A.J. Bigelow and junior Jared Sierra, who were fifth and seventh, respectively, in the individual standings, the Trojans were third after qualifying rounds. Wapakoneta and Fairmont were first and second.
Troy placed fourth in the girls state tourney Friday.
Solo success: His 674 was the second highest series among all of the bowlers in the competitive tournament field but it was little consolation to Fairmont bowler Ryan Wolfe.
“Yea, it’s an accomplishment for me but this is a team sport and I wanted us to do well as a team,” the Firebirds junior said.
Fairmont was second after the Baker qualifying rounds, but quickly bowed out in match play, losing in three straight games to Struthers and placing fifth.
“We beat ourselves,” Ryan said. “We averaged 214 in Baker qualifying and we couldn’t do better than the 170s in match play.”
While the sting of the Firebirds state performance is still fresh, head coach Rex Wolfe thinks it will be a learning experience for the Fairmont team that will lose only one bowler to graduation.
“I tell the boys, ‘Let this one burn and then learn and move on,’ ” Wolfe said.
Air time: SportsTime Ohio will broadcast the OHSAA Bowling Championships on tape delay on Monday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m.