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WVU athletic director excited about the future

WHEELING — These are good times with West Virginia University athletics. WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons, however, is not one to stand pat. The affable AD was in Wheeling Monday as part of the university’s well-attended Coaching Caravan at River City. Lyons likes the current state of Mountaineer athletics, as well he should. The current sports landscape in Morgantown is one steeped in success. Lyons is raising the bar, however. He announced to the Blue & Gold-adorned crowd that between $75-$100 million in football facilities and Coliseum complex upgrades are in the ...

Davis was ‘friend’ of everyone that he encountered

BARNESVILLE — Darrell Davis wore a lot of hats during his 68 years of life. And it didn’t matter if it was father, grandfather, teacher or coach. Davis was highly successful and revered in all departments. But, in talking to a few people about Davis after he passed away suddenly Monday afternoon, the word that was continually repeated was that of friend. Basically, all who came in contact with Davis called him a friend. Whether it was his students at Barnesville High School or the athletes he coached during his tenure, which includes stints in football, wrestling and track, ...

OHSAA membership voting on revised transfer bylaw

COLUMBUS — It’s May. In the Ohio high sports world, that means tournaments in all four spring sports, leading to what area teams hope is a berth in the OHSAA State Tournament. On the administrative side, however, it also means voting on OHSAA referendums. Many years, the bulk of these are simply cleaning up language, minor revisions and/or simply solidifying something already in place. This year, however, principals, who vote on these measures, would be well advised to do plenty of homework before returning their ballot to the OHSAA office because one of the issues, ...

Balog gains head prep grid position in Pa.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- He was mentored by some of the true legends in the coaching business. Now Ron Balog is poised to take that learning and put it to the test. Balog is a 1987 St. Clairsville High grad. He was coached by two of the OVAC’s most successful coaches -- George Strager and Mike Young. The former Red Devil quarterback was recently named head coach at Quaker Valley High in Leetsdale, Pa., in Allegheny County. The Quakers captured their first state championship last fall, defeating the Middletown Blue Raiders 41-24 to claim the PIAA Class 3A crown in Hershey. Balog has ...

OFF THE TEE: Niekro Classic Golf Scramble turns 20 this June

One of the staples of the Ohio Valley’s summer golf schedule is turning 20. The annual Niekro Classic Golf Scramble, which benefits Bridgeport schools, is slated for Friday, June 22 at Belmont Hills Country Club. A shotgun start is slated for 8:30 a.m. and the cost to enter is $100 per player for a four-man team. There will once again be an open division and an Bridgeport division. Sponsorships for the event are also available. The defending champions are the team of Lou Caliguiri, Michael Dillmore, Mike Anthony and Jade Waligura. OGLEBAY PARK GOLF CLUB The club held its ...

Hannahs attains coaching milestone at Indiana State

Winner, humble, classy and two-time Hall of Famer. Mitch Hannahs is all of the above. The Skyvue High legend has been successful in every athletic endeavor he has ever undertaken. From his prep roots in Monroe County to now coaching Division I baseball, Hannahs epitomizes winning and doing so in the highest manner of sportsmanship. The soft-spoken star authored a prep career of epic proportions. He helped lead the tiny school to the state tournament in both basketball and baseball. Hannahs, now age 50, went on to script a Hall of Fame baseball career at Indiana State. Now he is ...