Kettering Firebirds bowling team wins state title

KETTERING, Ohio — An emotional win for Fairmont High School bowling coach Jeremy Fleck, as the team brought home their first ever state title.

The team returned on Kettering on Monday as state champions from the OHSAA Bowling Championship in Columbus.

“I really don’t know how to describe it. I’ve been crying ever since. It’s euphoric. It’s a pretty awesome feeling,” Fleck said.

Kettering’s Fairmont Firebirds took home the hardware.

Fleck said, “I told the boys this was our year. It’s our nineth time we’ve gone there, and this is the first time we’ve brought that title.”

>> Miami University announces plans to return to in-person learning in the fall

Fleck said the year came with obstacles that the team hadn’t have to deal with in their eight other trips to the state tournament.

“It was insane. You’ve got COVID, we weren’t able to practice sometimes, we weren’t able to field a full team, I only had six bowlers. Normally we have eight. But we have subs. In these times it’s incredible we were able to do that,” Fleck said.

Senior bowler Dylan Potts said not practicing for two weeks due to COVID in December put things into perspective for the team.

“Coach had a talk with us. Everybody be careful from here on out. We really can’t have any more moments like this,” Potts said.

It was that realization that helped them get to the state level in the first place. Placing Potts against one of their biggest local rivals, Centerville, in the first round.

Potts said, “Really I wasn’t thinking about anything when I went up to the line. All I was thinking about was throwing a good shot. Everyone had trust in me, I just had to do my part.”

Fairmont High School Principal Tyler Alexander said, “What an amazing accomplishment with everything we went through in the state of Ohio. To come out on top in the state of Ohio was pretty amazing.”

You have the chance to meet the state champs as they will be holding a fundraiser at Archers Tavern on March 16. They will be serving from 6-8pm and funds from that day, if you mention the team, will help fund next year.

Cox Media Group