Ohio High School Football Preview: Kettering Alter

Alter High School is located in Kettering, Ohio. It is a Roman Catholic school run by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The school was built in 1962, four years after Dayton-area Catholics raised almost 5 million dollars to cover the costs of erecting Catholic-based high schools in the area. The school's first incoming class consisted of 250 freshmen. The school began with only this freshman class and added other classes until these original freshmen had become seniors. Thus by 1965 the school was offering classes to students in 9-12 grades. Today the school has about 750 students who are offered over 130 courses by more than 60 faculty members. The school's mascot is the Knight. Alter High School is named after Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter. The school's building is a mirror image of Archbishop Carroll High School, which was built one year before Alter High.

Alter High Football

Alter High's biggest football game of the year is against their rival, Fairmont High School. The game is always held on the Friday after Alter High's first week of classes have finished. The Knights also have another significant rivalry with Chaminafe-Julienne. Since Alter High does not have its own football field, home games are usually played on fields owned by other local high schools.

Ed Domsitz is Archbishop Alter's head football coach for the varsity team. He joined the staff in 1981 after five years as head coach at Trotwood Madison. During the 1981-1987 seasons, the team had a 57-19 record under his leadership. Domsitz left Alter to work at Northmont in 1988, but he returned to Alter in 1999. Since his return, Domsitz has 56-27 record, making his all-time record at Alter 113-46. Coach Domsitz took the team to the regional championships in 2001 and 2002, four consecutive GCL North championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, and eight playoffs in 1983, 1984, 1987, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Football Alumni

Alter High has produced two football players that later went on to play in the NFL. Jeff Graham is a former Alter High School football player. Graham went on from Alter to play with Ohio State University. He was drafted by the NFL in 1991 and has since played with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Diego Chargers.

Nick Mangold is the other former Knight who went on to play professional football. Mangold was drafted in 2006. According to Mike Maycock, an NFL draft expert, Mangold was the best prospect at center in 15 years. During his rookie year with the Jets his stellar performance had many people discussing the possibility that he might be selected for a rookie of the year award, an honor not usually bestowed on centers. While attending Archbishop Alter High, not only was he a three-year starter on both defense and offense, but he also participated in wrestling and track and field events.