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WJU women’s hoop coach embraces Cardinals’ post

WHEELING — Mike Llanas is feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. The Toledo native is now at the helm of the Wheeling Jesuit University women’s basketball program. He doesn’t try to hide the excitement that comes with his new gig. “I am thrilled for this opportunity. I am well aware of the rich basketball tradition at Wheeling Jesuit. I am focused on building on that tradition,” Llanas said in an interview Monday in his office before heading out on a weeklong recruiting junket. “I couldn’t wait to get started here. The Ohio Valley sports landscape is second to none. ...

Fred & Mary Jo Mehlmen tourney held at Belmont Hills

The annual Fred & Mary Jo Mehlman Independence Day Tournament was held on July 4, utilizing a 2 Net Best Ball of Four. The foursome of Bryan Woodford, Jason Lucas, Lisa Simon and Bill Sokolowski prevailed with a score of 112. Finishing second — a stroke back — was the team of Zach Azallion, Kevin Abel, JC Thrash and Michelle Anderson. Finishing third with a score of 116 was the team of Doug Brannon, Phil Pata Jr., Cody Hall and Rob Anderson. The same team that finished second was the “Red Ball” winners with a score of 57. The closest to the pin prizes went to Joe Jeffries, ...

Basketballs are bouncing again at WesBanco

WHEELING - The legend of Sam Andy lives on. Andy is the winningest prep hoops coach in Ohio Valley history. The former Wheeling High and Wheeling Park taskmaster amassed an amazing 611 wins to go with three West Virginia Class AAA state titles. The OVAC Hall of Famer died in July of 2016. A year ago to help perpetuate his lifetime of accomplishments, the Sam Andy Classic was established and staged at WesBanco Arena. The tourney was the brainchild of current Wheeling Park head coach and former Andy player and assistant Michael Jebbia. His efforts were galvanized by WesBanco Arena ...

OFF THE TEE: Kalkreuth takes over former Stoney Hollow this weekend

WHEELING — One of the major golf tournaments on the Ohio Valley calendar is set to tee it off this weekend at Oglebay Park for the 46th consecutive year. For the first time, however, Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal is serving as the sponsor of the event, which will be held Saturday and Sunday with the Palmer and Jones courses at Spiedel hosting a round each day. Though you may be thinking, ‘there’s been a Kalkreuth golf event before.’ Yes, that’s true, but that event was taken over by Bordas & Bordas and held last month at Crispin. Kalkreuth took over the event that ...

SJC grad wrestles his way to world championships

BELLAIRE — He was a state champion in high school. Now more than a quarter of a century later, Tom Donahue is a national champion. Donahue was a four-sport standout at St. John Central, capped by a gold medal his senior year in the 1991 state track meet. He is now head wrestling coach at Bethel-Tate High School in southwestern Ohio. Donahue is doing tremendous things with the Tigers’ mat program. This past season his grapplers achieved many a milestone, such as winning a sectional title with nine district qualifiers. Bethel-Tate also had three wrestlers qualify for the state ...

OFF THE TEE: Oglebay Park Golf Club event settled by scorecard playoff

The Oglebay Park Golf Club teed it up for another event last weekend. The sixth tournament of the season — the Randy Hardman Memorial Tournament, which is sponsored by Miklas Meat Market — featured a field of 100 players at the Crispin Golf Course, playing with stroke play. Bob Potts — by virtue of a scorecard playoff — prevailed with a round of 64. Also posting a 64 was Mike Wetzel. Bob Clark posted a 68 to finish third, while Rick Zandron finished with a 69. The balance of the top eight included: Brooke Garrison (69), Penn Kurtz (70), Rich Humphrey (70) and Joe Doerr ...