2024-25 Fort Recovery bowling preview

Fast facts

•Gerlach plans to utilize several JV players at the varsity level throughout the season including Clint Pottkotter, A.J. Siefring, Troy Post, Leland Wilson and Riley Stammen.

•The girls team made it to the state tournament for the first time in program history following Abigail Lauber, sister of Emily Lauber, who made it as an individual.

•Both coach Corey Gerlach and Alison Rosegrant are entering their ninth seasons as the coach of the Indians.

•The boys team loses MAC Player of the year Lucas Acheson, while the girls lose 1st-teamer Brooklyn Wyerick.

Boys projected lineup

Gabe Acheson

Drew Backs

Garrett Diller

Riley Grieshop

Reece LeFevre

Eli Lennartz

Anthony Roessner

Key returners

Riley Grieshop

197.2 average pinfall

Gabe Acheson

172.5 average pinfall

Key departures

Lucas Acheson

215.8 average pinfall

Austin Steinbrunner

192.3 average pinfall

Owen Knapke

180.2 average pinfall

Nate Jutte

180.2 average pinfall

Boys 2023-24 season

The Indians got off to a hot start last season, claiming five of six matches through the first month and a half. They faltered in early January, leading to an 8-4 record, 4-3 in the MAC to place fourth. Fort Recovery made up for it in the MAC tournament, dominating the field with a score of 2,629, beating runner-up New Bremen by 169 pins. FRHS placed third in the sectional meet with 3,740 to claim one of four district berths. The Tribe fell 65 pins short of a trip to state despite knocking down a total of 4,029. Senior Lucas Acheson won MAC Player of the Year, but came up short of an individual  berth by 39.

Coach Corey Gerlach says:

“We’ve got a young group of kids. It’s going to initially be, maybe a bit of a rebuild, but what I’d really like to see is us somewhere on the top part of the MAC leaderboard again this year like we have the past couple of years. I think that’s a possibility, it’s just going to take some dedication.”

    Pictured is the 2024-25 Fort Recovery girls bowling team. Front row from left are Jordyn Aisenbrey, Kayla Heitkamp, Emily Lauber, Ella Schoen and Saidy DeRoo. Back row are assistant coach Steve Westgerdes, Deanna Brown, Maddie Weigel, Jadyn Wyerick, Lilah Thien and coach Alison Rosegrant.
  

Girls projected lineup

Jordyn Aisenbrey

Deanna Brown

Saidy DeRoo

Kayla Heitkamp

Emily Lauber

Ella Schoen

Lilah Thien

Maddie Weigel

Jadyn Wyerick

Key returners

Ella Schoen

171.3 average pinfall

Emily Lauber

168.9 average pinfall

Kayla Heitkamp

156.9 average pinfall

Deanna Brown

151.1 average pinfall

Key departures

Brooklyn Wyerick

172.3 average pinfall

Girls 2023-24 season

The Indians had their best season in program history last year, finishing 6-0 in the Midwest Athletic Conference to claim the title and remain undefeated in non-conference matches as well. Fort Recovery rolled into the postseason by taking the MAC tournament championship by 22 pins over Coldwater. FRHS fell 91 pins short of the sectional championship, but still moved on to the district meet, where it also finished as the runner-up to clinch a state berth. The Tribe ultimately fell 13 pins short of a top-eight finish in the first round.

Coach Alison Rosegrant says:

“We’re really excited this year because we have four of our starters from last year’s team that went to state. So, we’re coming in with a very strong varsity base. We have three new girls that we picked up this year, all of which bowled in the youth program, so they’re coming in with already some years of experience under their belts. So we’re looking to have a very strong start to the season and hopefully that carries through all the way and we can make it to state again this year.”

2024-25 Schedule

Date    Opponent    Location        Time

Saturday, Nov. 16    Memorial***    Plaza Lanes         9:15 a.m.

Saturday, Nov. 23    Mississinewa Valley*    Miracle Lanes        9 a.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 27    Richmond*    Richmond 40 Bowl    5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 30    St. Henry (non-con)*    Pla-Mor Lanes           9:15 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7    Elks Invitational**    Poelking Lanes        9 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14    Marion Local***    Miracle Lanes        9:15 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21    Parkway***    Speedway Lanes          9:15 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 28    St. Henry*    Community Lanes      9:15 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29    Richmond*    Miracle Lanes        1 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 30    BHS Classic**    T-P Lanes        9 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4    Versailles***    Speedway Lanes          9:15 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 10    Fort Loramie***    Miracle Lanes        4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 11    New Bremen***    Plaza Lanes           9:15 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 17    Ansonia***    Miracle Lanes        4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 18    Coldwater***    McBo’s Lanes           9:15 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25    Minster***    Pla-Mor Lanes          9:15 a.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 4    MAC Tournament**    Community Lanes        4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 8     MAC Tournament*    Community Lanes      9:15 a.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 11    Sectional**    Rollhouse Dayton        9 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 13    Sectional*    Rollhouse Dayton        9 a.m.

Tuesday Feb. 18    District*    Beaver-Vu Lanes          9:45 a.m.

Wednesday Feb. 19    District**    Beaver-Vu Lanes          9 a.m.

Friday Feb. 28    State**    H.P. Lanes          TBA

Saturday March 1    State*    H.P. Lanes          TBA

Home matches in bold

*Boys only matches, **Girls only matches, ***Both boys and girls compete

During MAC matches, girls will start at approximately 1 p.m.