Play For Pete: Fenwick volleyball wins state championship for coach diagnosed with ALS in 2019

That’s exactly what the Falcons did as Fenwick made quick work of Olentangy, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16, to win the Division II Ohio High School Boys Volleyball Association state title at Pickerington Central High School on Sunday. It was the second boys state volleyball title for the program that last won in 2013.

“It’s amazing,” Ehrlich said. “We’ve all experienced adversity in different ways so, to have this happen, made us all feel good.”

Ehrlich has been dealing with adversity for more than two years as he was diagnosed with ALS in April of 2019. The foundation of faith Ehrlich built has been evident as #PlayForPete became the rallying cry for the Falcons this season.

“Pete has been establishing this culture from the first day and the boys bought in really early,” assistant coach Dave Reed said. “We have built a family, a culture and a sense of identity.”

That family quickly rallied after the Falcons lost a hard-fought opening set against Badin in the semifinals Saturday.

“I think there was a little bit of nerves, but we just weren’t playing our style,” Ehrlich said. “There was a lot of tipping, not swinging away.”

Fenwick rattled off the next three sets (22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-14) to advance to the state final against an Olentangy team that blanked Walsh Jesuit, 25-13, 25-18, 25-19, in the semifinals.

The 3-0 championship win was a team effort with senior outside hitter Will Richards leading the charge. Richards posted a team-leading 14 kills, 11 digs and nine aces in the title match. The class valedictorian also added a pair of blocks.

Senior setter John Luers – the OHSBVA DII Player of the Year – tallied 26 assists, six kills and a block while senior middle hitter Carter Burnap posted four blocks and three kills. The seniors weren’t the only ones contributing as freshman Derek Morris added six kills and had only a single hitting error.

The state title was about more than this single team or season.

“This win is as much for those guys who lost their season last year as it is for these guys,” Reed said.

And the win was important for another reason.

“My wife and I had already ordered state championship hats,” Ehrlich said with a smile. “Now we don’t have to rip out the stitching.”