Friendly rivals bring out the best in each other as state tourney begins
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Troy and Butler girls bowling teams have battled all season and that rivalry has translated into success for both programs as Miami Valley League conference co-champions with 17-1 records — with their only losses coming to each other.
Troy eded Butler by four pins to win the Blue & Gold Tournament and, more recently, by three pins to win the Division I Southwest District tournament. Both teams will vie for a championship as the Division I state tournament gets underway Saturday at H.P. Lanes in Columbus.
“We have nothing but respect for Butler,” Troy coach Rob Dever said. “It’s been back and forth between us all season and it’s been a positive for both teams.”
Troy claimed the district title with a 3,827 team total while the
2023 district champion Aviators tallied 3,824.
“These teams bowl their best against each other,” Butler coach Mark Seelbaugh said. “They push each other in a positive way.”
From shared conference titles to close tournament finishes, the MVL rivals have many similarities. Even their top individual bowlers were only a few pins apart at the district tournament with Troy senior Kiandra Smith posting 649 and Butler senior Kaylee Bays finishing with 644.
Both teams now have their sights set on a
D-I state title. The Trojans are perennial state qualifiers as this marks the 15th state trip for the Troy girls who have claimed one championship and two runner-up titles in recent years.
The Aviators— making their third appearance — have another state milestone on their season to-do list.
“If we make the cut, it will be the first time for Butler,” Seelbaugh said. “It will do a lot to advance the program.”
The tournament opens with three team games and three Baker games before the 16-team field is cut to the top eight. Seelbaugh would like nothing more than to see a familiar foe in the championship match.
“We would love to see Troy in the final,” he said. “It would be a win for our kids, our program and our league.”*