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Bledsoe should get OK to play

WHEELING - The NCAA is a much-maligned agency. The college-controlling organization, based in Indianapolis, is anything but athlete-friendly. The NCAA holds student-athletes to much stricter, and often times unfair, standards than it does its coaches. Coaches have unrestricted career mobility. Athletes, meanwhile, are held hostage by restrictive transfer rules. One non-sensical NCAA policy has placed a former Wheeling Park standout’s college career in limbo. Phil Bledsoe was a two-time all-stater for Coach Michael Jebbia’s Patriots. His prep play prowess earned him a ...

OFF THE TEE: Play it Again Sports event highlights busy week at WPGC

The Wheeling Park Golf Club had another busy week of events as its season rolled along. One of the bigger events of the calendar was the Presidents Cup Play it Again Sports 36 Hole Best Ball Championship. Capturing the title of that event was the team of Jay Davis and Mike Wetzel. They fired a round of 119. Finishing 10 shots back were Roger Kupfer and Art Lightner. Nick Klamut and Ron Heatherly were third with a 136, while Chris Bommer and Gary Mercer were fourth with a 141. Rounding out the top five were Joe Wurtzbacher and Steve Usenick with a 141. The ...

Peckinpaugh leaves WJU for his family

WHEELING — He took over a program under some of the toughest circumstances imaginable. To his credit, his team exhibited exceptional progress as the season played out. And now, John Peckinpaugh is on the move again. Peckinpaugh resigned his post as Wheeling Jesuit University men’s basketball coach last week. The Indiana native is headed back to the Hoosier State, taking the head boys’ hoop job at Noblesville High School. The move, while quite surprising to some, is not linked to Jesuit’s financial plight. Rather, it is a family-oriented move. “I didn’t expect to be ...

OFF THE TEE: Oglebay Park Men’s Golf Club holds Dailer Memorial Tourney

The Oglebay Park Men’s Golf Club teed it up again last week with the Dubie Dailer Memorial Tournament. One hundred players took part in the evne tthat was played in two-man scramble format at Crispin Center Golf Course. Winning in a tiebreaker was the duo of Jim Bittengle and Dave Sims, who shot a 61. Also with a 61 were Jay Davis and George Templin. Checking in with rounds of 63 were Mike Wetzel and Mike Bogers as well as Jim Dailer and Bill Glitch. Zach Hood and Brett Clough posted a 65, which is the same score that Bob Young and Rick Zandron posted. Also with a round of ...

NBA-bound Beilein still remembered by Ohio Valley friends

WHEELING - From a marginal player at Wheeling College to NBA head coach. John Beilein is that man. Beilein didn’t script much of a collegiate playing career with the Cardinals. However, he has authored a brilliant one as a collegiate head coach, including a stint at WVU. So the personable mentor shocked many in basketball circles Monday when he opted to leave the University of Michigan after 12 years, where he has enjoyed great success, to take over the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers. Beilein played at Wheeling College from 1971-75. He served as the team’s captain as a senior ...

OFF THE TEE: Barnesville Community Alumni Band scramble winners named

The Barnesville Community Alumni Band Golf Scramble was held on May 11 at Belmont Hills Country Club with a large field of players taking part. The team of Mark Maguire Jr., Mark Maguire Sr., Nick Wolle and Jim Dailer shot a round of 12-under, 60 to win the title. Finishing second was the squad of Steve Mercer, John Vota, Jack Carpenter and John Jefferies with a 64. The third-place award went to Kelly Hanlon, Ted Hanlon, Jeff Powell and Ryan Powell with a round of 4-under, 68. Closest to the pin went to Brad McGee, while Maguire Jr. had the longest drive. ...