After a stunning first season, Dayton Christian freshman Aiden Wiggins is headed to the 2022 OHSAA Boys Division II State Bowling Tournament on March 4.
As one of only four individual state qualifiers in the Division II Southwest District (and the only freshman), his score of 690 (212-223-255) also earned him a spot on the all-district tournament team.
Wiggins initial year in the sport is the stuff that Cinderella sports stories are made of.
Had you asked him just a year ago if he thought he’s be heading to the state bowling tournament this week, it would not have been on his radar or anyone else’s.
Frankly, who could have foreseen the meteoric rise of a first-year bowler from a school that had launched its bowling program only the previous year?
Prior to this season, Wiggins had only bowled occasionally with friends or family. He had no training. He’d never played on a team before.
In fact, he had been taking a break from sports altogether after previously playing basketball and football.
However, Wiggins was looking to try something new.
“DC had a new bowling team and my grandmother suggested I try it,” Wiggins said. “Before the season started, I went to a training session. But I was still experimenting with styles, so I am not sure how much it helped.”
He credits owning and practicing with his with his own ball and learning the two-handed style for his success.
“Early on in the season, I wasn’t really that good,” Wiggins said. “But once I got my own ball and I figured out the two-handed style, I got better.”
And he kept on getting better – good enough, in fact, to be Columbus bound where he will play against a field of mostly upperclassmen bowlers with more experience.
Wiggins is unfazed by the prospect.
“I am used to it by now,” Wiggins said. “In past tournaments this season, my main competition has been older athletes.”
Humble and quiet, Wiggins avoids suggestions of future state competitions or college scholarships that seem to swirl about him now.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” he said. “I just want to continue to improve.”
“It feels really good to be going to State now,” Wiggins said. “I feel really blessed. I thank God for giving me this talent and this opportunity. “
