The Centerville Girls Varsity Bowling team finished third overall at the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Bowling Championship on Friday, held at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl. The Lady Elks had an impressive performance all day, led by sophomore Katie Hatfield, who earned All-State Honorable Mention with a 602 series.

The team qualified 5th overall for the Championship elimination round and faced off against Bellefontaine in the first round. Although they lost the first game, the Lady Elks came back to win the next three games in a row with scores of 181-154, 170-162, and 176-174, respectively. With this 3-1 victory, they advanced to the State Final Four to face the Fairmont Firebirds.

The first two games of the match did not go well for the Lady Elks, as Fairmont won with scores of 144-189 and 161-165. Down 2-0 in the best of five, the Lady Elks showed their resilience and won the next two games with scores of 163-127 and 235-147. The match came down to a decisive fifth game, with the winner advancing to the State Finals. Unfortunately, the Lady Elks fell short with a score of 157-182, and Fairmont moved on to become State Runner-up.

Despite the loss, the Lady Elks can be proud of their fantastic season and incredible improvement throughout the year. Their strong showing at the State Championship is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and team spirit. It's worth noting that the GWOC (Greater Western Ohio Conference) demonstrated its strength once again, with two of the top three teams coming from the league.

Congratulations to the Fairmont Firebirds on their impressive run, and kudos to the Lady Elks for finishing third overall at the OHSAA State Bowling Championship. Coach Rhoads and the entire team deserve recognition for their fantastic performance and for representing Centerville High School with excellence.