Massillon football community honors MF native Vrotsos

April 30, 2017

MASSILLON — This northeastern Ohio city is often thought of as the mecca of prep football in the Buckeye State. The Massillon Washington High Tigers have won 22 state grid titles and nine mythical national crowns. Massillon boasts the third winningest program in the nation. Such legendary coaches as Paul Brown and Earl Bruce have guided the Tigers. Need more? Every newborn baby boy in the city is presented a miniature football at birth. The school has produced 23 NFL players, including Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman. A Martins Ferry High athletic great is also ...

Off The Tee: Belmont Hills Match Play vs. Par winners crowned

April 30, 2017

The Match Play vs. Par event was held on April 22. There was a tie for first place between the teams of Jack Carpenter and Zach Azallion and Dave Diosi and Rob Anderson at six over par. Third place went to Kevin Abel and Brian Delloma at 2-over par. In the individual scoring, Diosi prevailed with a plus seven and Carpenter was second at 5-over. The closest to the pins were won by Ernie Wilson and Carpenter. OGLEBAY PARK GOLF CLUB The Ye Olde Alpha Speidel event was held on April 23 with a field of 102 players taking part in the event that included medal and handicap ...

Murray excited about return to alma mater

April 23, 2017

WHEELING -- Donnie Murray is coming home. The current Bishop Donahue athletic director and teacher was named as athletic director at Wheeling Central last week. Longtime Maroon Knights' athletic director Mike Young has been elevated to a new post at the school -- director of Alumni Relations and Special Programs -- while continuing on as head football coach. Murray is not leaving Bishop Donahue, but rather Bishop Donahue is leaving him, as well as an entire community. A bishop's decision this past winter to close the McMechen-based school at year's end sent shock waves through ...

Warwood woman poised to tackle Boston Marathon

April 16, 2017

WHEELING -- Marathons are the ultimate running challenge. They also serve as bucket list items for some. One such person is Karen John. Come Monday, the Warwood resident will have one less entry on her list. John has qualified to run in the Boston Marathon. It is the gold standard of marathons, first run in 1897 and now staged annually on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. The 51-year-old mother of two ran track and cross country in high school at Wheeling Central. She didn't get seriously involved into long distance running until after the birth of her son, Joey, ...

Former Linsly swimming star excels as coach

April 9, 2017

TAMPA -- Linsly School has an OVAC swimming tradition second to none. The Cadets have pocketed more than 70 conference team titles in the pool. Some sixty of those championship banners were courtesy of the Cadet boys' squads. That said, the Wheeling-based school has been graced by countless standout mermen over the years. Kevin Rosepapa is one of the best of the best. The Bellaire native was graduated from Linsly in 1990. He played an integral role in the Cadets capturing four successive OVAC championships for OVAC Hall of Fame Coach Bill Brubaker. Moreover, Rosepapa ...

Off the Tee: Oglebay Park Golf Club holds first 2017 event

April 9, 2017

The first Oglebay Park Golf Club tournament of the 2017 season was held last weekend. The Allen Kage Memorial Snowbird attracted a field of 120 players to Oglebay Park’s Crispin Course. Bryan Myers fired a round of 70 to win the medal division by three shots over George Templin. Joe Doerr and Mike Wetzel checked in with rounds of 71, while Paul Kurtz and Jonathan Kreiter both signed for a 73 to round out the top five. Jay Davis, Bob Potts, Bill Glitch and Mike Wilson all posted a round of 74. In the handicap scoring division, Jay Salva prevailed with a 62. Mark Maguire Sr. also ...