ASHLAND — A group of proud parents and fans showered support, in Monday’s thick heat, on their high school’s varsity bowling team — which recently earned a national title.
The young squad of two juniors and five sophomores ended the season in March at a respectable third place in the Division I OHSAA Bowling Tournament.
But earlier this month, the team became the best in the nation.
The Arrows competed June 8 to 10 at the High School Bowling National Championship in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
To celebrate, Ashland police and fire personnel ushered the squad on a two-mile route from the high school to Luray Lanes for a victory lap. Some residents and fans lined the streets, despite heat that tipped past 90 degrees.
At the end of the parade, everyone stuffed inside the air-conditioned bowling alley to celebrate with speeches, awards, music and — obviously — bowling.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller and State Rep. Melanie Miller offered congratulations to the team. Melanie Miller invited the squad to the Statehouse next week to be recognized for the feat.
“This is definitely something we want to highlight,” she said.
A comeback story
Jim Brown, the team’s coach, said the boys qualified for the tournament by placing fifth out of 48 high schools from around the country. It was a long road to victory, he said.
“In the final four, we beat back-to-back state champions for Illinois. And then, Centerville, they were past state and national champs. We’ve gone back and forth with them for a long time, so I knew it would be a tough match,” Brown said.
The Arrows held a three-pin lead after the first match against Centerville. The teams switched lanes for the second game and Ashland fell behind by 33 pins. But it didn’t take long to figure out the lane.
The Arrows finished the third match 231-171, putting the total at 603-577.
“We made a pretty big comeback,” said Luke Rhine, a sophomore on the Arrows roster. “It felt pretty good.”
Rhine, coming back as a junior next season, said securing the national title gives him and his teammates confidence heading to next year’s state championship.
“(This win) gives us even more motivation going into next season. That’s the only thing we haven’t done, win state. If we do that, that’s the perfect thing for the team,” he said.
They’ve come close to the big win. In 2018, the squad’s first year as a varsity sport at Ashland High School, it earned state runner-up honors. The Arrows did it again in 2021.
Athletic director Jason Goings said on Monday the squad delivered on its promise.
“When we first sat down and talked about starting bowling at Ashland, one thing that was promised me … Ashland bowling was going to do great things for Ashland, Ohio,” he said. “You guys delivered, man. You guys delivered big-time.”
Ashland Supt. Steve Paramore congratulated the team and offered a sobering reminder.
“This is something that nobody ever, ever has done and will ever take away from you,” he said. “What I hope it does do is motivate you. You guys have a lot of unfinished business.”
‘Just get out there and bowl’
Brown knows it can be done.
“I believe this team can win state,” he said.
In bowling, he said, there’s no defense. So a lot of the game is mental.
“So we don’t watch the other team,” he said. “You get thrown off your game.
“So in (the national championship) game, I told them to just get out there and bowl and don’t stop.”