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Off The Tee: BHCC Member-Guest champions crowned

As it pertains to the Belmont Hills Country Club Member-Guest Tournament, Steve Mercer and Ryan Tomolonis have been on the doorstep of the coveted green jacket many times. Actually, the duo, which has been playing together for 12 years in the event, had claimed its flight championship in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. One trend continued for the pair. They didn’t win their flight in an odd year, but because of a format change and an at-large bid to the championship round, Mercer and Tomolonis’ score of 24.5 was good enough to earn a spot. They didn’t waste their ...

Wheeling Central will celebrate its first WVSSAC title

WHEELING - The year was 1979. Jimmy Carter was in the White House. The Pittsburgh Steelers were Super Bowl champions and the Pittsburgh Pirates were World Series kingpins. The price of gasoline was 88 cents a gallon. It also was the year that Wheeling Central won its first WVSSAC state football championship. The Maroon Knights turned the trick by defeating Buffalo-Wayne, 39-21, at Charleston’s Laidley Field in the Class AA finale. It capped a 12-1 season for Coach Jim Thomas’s Maroon charges. Central defeated Big Creek, 31-0, in the semifinals after ousting Poca, 28-25, in the ...

24th annual BMAC Golf Classic is Thursday

MOUNDSVILLE — Golfers from throughout the area will converge on Moundsville Country Club this Thursday for the 24th annual BMAC (Belmont-Mountaineer Athletic Club) Golf Classic. The event, which tees off with a 10 a.m. shotgun start, is one of the largest fundraisers for the organization, which supports West Virginia University athletics with its BMAC scholarship. “Things are coming together vey well,” said John S. Marshall, longtime head of BMAC. “The sponosrships are going very well. The door prizes are going vey well. We just hope the weather holds up and we’ll ...

MF’s Bob Bruney was a teacher for era of coaches

MARTINS FERRY — Three things come to mind when you think of Bob Bruney: Martins Ferry, football and toughness. You had to be tough to play football for Woody Hayes. The Purple Rider Hall of Famer died this past week at the age of 77. He leaves behind a legacy of success as a player, coach, administrator and family man. The 1960 Ferry grad starred in football, wrestling and track for the Purple Riders. He compiled a sparkling 22-1 record as a senior grappler, winning an OVAC championship and placing third in the state tournament. It was football, however, where he gained his ...

Another July, another new WJU basketball coach

WHEELING — It is becoming a rite of summer. It being Wheeling Jesuit University hiring a head men’s basketball coach in July. Jesuit named Will Ryan as its new head coach Monday. He is the 10th to serve in that capacity in school history. Ryan replaces John Peckinpaugh who returned back home to Indiana this past spring after leading the Cardinals for just one season. Peckinpaugh was hired last July 9 by Jesuit and did a remarkable job of finding some nice talent late in the recruiting game. He also deftly righted the Redbird ship after a 2-17 start. WJU finished the season ...

Rataiczak’s impact goes far beyond sports and championships

Tom Rataiczak’s title with the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference was executive secretary and treasurer. To say he did so much more than that wouldn’t be coming anywhere close to doing him justice. During the course of the last 20 years, Rataiczak — through his vision and dedication — has led the OVAC to unmatched heights. Rataiczak was more to the OVAC than its leader. He was — and still remains — its biggest fan and supporter. And that will not change. While Rataiczak is handing off the reins to Dirk Decoy, effective Monday, his impact will be felt forever. Not ...