One family, two towns, four seniors, four futures
In this complex and pluralistic day and age, community decay and family disconnect seems to pervade American Society.
Hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet have been displaced by double quarter-pounders with cheese, triple chocolate chunk pie, and all-terrain vehicles. Family, school, and sports dismissed by favorite watering holes, the internet, and failed school levies.
However, believe it or not folks, the lost notions of family values and traditions, and the sense of community still exists. One such place is Fort Loramie, Ohio. And one such family is the Frillings.
This “All in the Family” episode isn’t about Archie Bunker. Rather, it’s a tribute to the late Harold and Bernice Frilling, grandparents of four remarkable high school student-athletes: Danielle Monnier, daughter of Paul and Doris; Justin Hoying, son of Bill and Sue; Brad Frilling, son of Randy and Greta; and Mark Frilling, son of Steve and Marlene.
These recent graduates have excelled in the classroom as well as the athletic arena and all have earned Academic/Athletic Scholarships to play their sport at the college level.
No such thing as “Kissing Cousins”. These relatives are so competitive that they would rather fight than hug. Whenever the families convene for holiday parties or most recently graduation, the competitive juices flow.
“We have a lot of family parties, sometimes 40-50 people attend,” Hoying said. “We play 10 on 10 baseball or basketball and everyone is amazed how competitive it gets.”
Danielle Monnier’s mom can attest, “The boys were challenging her at their graduation party, so she pitched to the guys, still in her dress.”
Danielle said, “We always play backyard baseball or basketball. That’s part of our family tradition.”
Monnier (softball) and Hoying (baseball) took center stage this Spring as both were named Shelby County League Player of the Year in their respective sport.
Monnier was phenomenal as a pitcher and hitter for Houston. She guided the Lady Wildcats to a SCL title at 10-2 with an overall record of 22-8. It was the fifth straight SCL championship for Houston.
Monnier pitched a school record 172 innings with 241 strikeouts and a 1.22 ERA, compiling a 20-8 record. Most impressive, however, she threw five no-hitters. That’s as frequent as a person with acid reflux suffering heartburn.
Danielle hit .360 with 33 RBIs and four home runs. She posted nine career home runs, a school record. Her efforts landed the standout on the D-IV Honorable Mention All-Ohio Team.
This three sport athlete – volleyball, basketball, and softball – shined on the hardwood as well where she averaged 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. She shot 51-percent from the field and 79.5-percent from the foul line. In addition, she was named to the SCL Second Team and Honorable Mention All-Southwest District Team.
The highlight of her season was a 30-point performance against Ansonia.
Monnier said, “My mom directed me towards sports when I was about six-years-old. I played T-ball and soccer. I have loved sports ever since.”
In the classroom, Monnier ranked 9th in her class with a 3.79 GPA. She is headed to Wilmington College to play softball and plans to Major in Secondary Education.
Justin Hoying played baseball and basketball for Fort Loramie while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. He capped his baseball career with a D-IV State Championship. The Redskins posted a 30-3 record, the best in school history.
And what a postseason performance for the lanky hurler. He went 4-0 and pitched 30 scoreless innings, before allowing a run in a state semifinal victory over Toledo Ottawa Hills.
In the title game win over Newark Catholic, Hoying went the distance, allowing one hit and zero runs. He faced just 22 batters with a pitch count of 80. Not over-powering, Hoying relied on his slider. A pitch that made the Green Wave batters look sillier than “a hunchback trying to limbo” or “a midget trying to yo-yo” (Comedian Larry the Cable Guy).
After the game, Hoying was asked what this championship meant to him. He replied, “This one was for my dad. He played baseball for Fort Loramie and never made it to Columbus.”
Hoying finished the season with a 14-0 record and an insane 0.70 ERA.
Switching to basketball, the 6- 2 starting guard averaged 10 points and led the team in steals with 50. His most memorable game was defeating Cincinnati Seven Hills by 21 points for a district title.
The articulate 18-year-old said, “I remember when I was in the fourth grade, I watched all the baseball and basketball games. I dreamed about playing for Fort Loramie. I am lucky. I was able to fulfill my dreams. Sports are a big part of our community. This town appreciates it when the teams do well. There is a lot of tradition and pride, even during the down seasons.”
Justin will attend Capital University and play baseball for the Crusaders. His Major is Pre-Med.
Brad Frilling was a three-sport athlete at Fort Loramie, earning seven varsity letters during his career. He excelled in baseball and football and played a reserve role in basketball.
As a DH on the baseball team, Frilling batted .350 with five doubles and 22 RBIs. But it was his dominance on the gridiron that landed him at Wittenberg University, a D-III national power. Built like a bulldozer at 6-2, 210 pounds, Brad will play linebacker for the Tigers, while Majoring in Computer Science.
Last football season, he made 119 tackles with five sacks for the Redskins. His efforts earned him First Team Metro Buckeye Conference. Loramie finished the season 10-3, before losing to Marion Local in the D-VI regional finals.
Frilling’s best time in the 40-yard dash is 4.83, a bit behind his 3.75 GPA in the classroom.
“I knew football was my sport in junior high,” Frilling said. “I had an awesome career. There were 12 of us seniors that played several sports together. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Frilling stressed, “The community supported us all the time. It drives you to perform for the fans. That’s the Fort Loramie way.”
Although Mark Frilling was near perfect in the D-IV regional semifinal basketball game against eventual State Champion Dayton Jefferson, he did maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA and was one of four class valedictorians.
Who will ever forget that performance by Mark against the top ranked Broncos, scoring 21 points, grabbing eight rebounds, with five blocks, three assists, and one monstrous dunk?
Mark Frilling grilled Adreian Payne in that pivotal third quarter with 13 points; scoring over, under, and around the 6-10 Michigan State signee. During a timeout, Loramie coach Karl Ratermann told his players, “Get the ball to Mark. I don’t care how you guys do it. Just get him the ball every possession.”
Both in attendance, Houston coach John Willoughby asked Sidney coach Tom Clark, “Does this mean Findlay (Frilling’s destination) will be better than Michigan State next year?”
Mark Frilling recalled his mindset going into that game, “I played against Payne in AAU Summer Leagues. I wasn’t intimidated. I always thought he was kind of soft and I capitalized on that.”
Mark finished the season averaging 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds. The 6-6 post player finished his career with 981 points, 12th on the all-time Fort Loramie scoring list. He would have surpassed 1,000 points, but a foot injury and a weather cancellation resulted in three fewer games.
Nonetheless, Frilling made First Team SCL and SW District, Special Mention All-Ohio, and Academic All-Ohio. He will play basketball for former NCAA D-II national champion and contender Findlay and Major in Biology/Pre-Med.
Like all his cousins, Frilling talked about expectations, “Growing up, the Fort Loramie basketball team was always expected to advance to the regionals at UD Arena. My grandparents always wanted that. Several of my uncles and brothers grew up playing basketball…it was expected.”
He continued, “Some of that tradition was lost and I wanted to regain it. I remember watching Brad Rethman (1,188 career points). I dreamed about being in his shoes.”
Mark said that Rethman, Jeff Braun and Steve Hoehne all played for Findlay and that it was neat to follow in their footsteps. He also stressed how his parents expected excellence and wanted results. It’s safe to say, Mark Frilling and his cousins have delivered.
Between the four, there is quite a list of athletic achievements. But more important, what a job well-done in the classroom. Like the NCAA commercial, “These student-athletes will turn professional in something other than sports.”
In the final analysis, this is not a story about a group of talented youngsters and their accomplishments, although impressive. It’s a salutary lesson about the by-product of family and the high expectations and demands, the work ethic, values, and traditions. The so-called, “Passing of the Torch” from generation to generation.
That’s what drives Fort Loramie. That’s what drove Harold and Bernice Frilling.
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