Ex-Wheeling Park all-stater lights it up for Fairmont St.

March 12, 2017

FAIRMONT -- Emily Puskarich ended her brilliant collegiate hoop career in grand fashion last weekend. The former Wheeling Park great came up huge for Fairmont State in the Mountain East Conference Tournament in Charleston. Puskarich helped to carry the upstart Falcons to the championship game, bowing to top-seeded Wheeling Jesuit. The 5-8 guard put on a shooting display of record proportions. In the quarterfinals, the senior sharpshooter established a new MEC Tournament record for three-pointers in a single game, including seven in the opening half against Notre Dame College. ...

Brilliant High School HOF in the works

March 5, 2017

BRILLIANT -- High school athletic halls of fame are in vogue. Wheeling Central, for example, launched its shrine this past fall. But it is a little unusual for a high school no longer in existence to undertake such a venture. That is, however, what is going on with the Brilliant High School Athletics Hall of Fame organizational committee. Kevin Barr is chairman of the group. He attended Brilliant High through his junior year and graduated from Buckeye North, a consolidation of Brilliant and Smithfield high schools that came about in 1972. Barr, who grew up in a house ...

Wheeling Park swimmers grab the gold trophy

February 26, 2017

WHEELING -- Winning the state team championship in prep sports is the ultimate. That is something never achieved by the Wheeling Park girls' swim team. That is until last Friday. The Patriots, packed with relentless resolve, grabbed the brass ring for the initial time in school annals by a razor-thin margin. Coach Pat Durkin's mermaids edged out Fairmont Senior by a mere two points (144-142). "It takes an unbelievable effort to win a state title. The effort the swimmers put out is amazing. I give them most of the credit for the win. But also coach Amy Hensler and coach Katie ...

Wheeling Park swimmers grab the gold trophy

February 25, 2017

WHEELING -- Winning the state team championship in prep sports is the ultimate. That is something never achieved by the Wheeling Park girls' swim team. That is until last Friday. The Patriots, packed with relentless resolve, grabbed the brass ring for the initial time in school annals by a razor-thin margin. Coach Pat Durkin's mermaids edged out Fairmont Senior by a mere two points (144-142). "It takes an unbelievable effort to win a state title. The effort the swimmers put out is amazing. I give them most of the credit for the win. But also coach Amy Hensler and coach Katie ...

Barnesville’s Sawvell relishes new role at Wake Forest

February 19, 2017

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Jay Sawvell is ACC-bound. The 1989 Barnesville High grad has been named defensive coordinator at Wake Forest University, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. His move comes on the heels of a highly successful six-year stint with Minnesota. Sawvell was the Golden Gophers’ defensive coordinator this past winter after serving as defensive backs coach from 2011-15. Under Sawvel’s tutelage, the Minnesota defense led the country in fumble recoveries with 16 and ranked among the nation’s top 25 in scoring defense (22.1 points per game), yards allowed per ...

Jesuit baseball team does its part at OV’s Night to Shine event

February 18, 2017

MOUNDSVILLE — Last Friday night, the Ohio Valley had its ‘Night to Shine.’ And amongst the many volunteers at the annual event, which serves as a prom for people with special needs, were some 30 Wheeling Jesuit University baseball players who took part simply as a way to give back. “This was our first time taking part in the event and when we first got involved, I thought it was more like the Miracle League, which we help with,” Jesuit head coach Terry Edwards said. “This was 10 times bigger, though. We were happy, honored and privileged to take part.” The event, ...