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Men’s soccer, Olivier good fits at West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY — “If you are not getting better, you are getting worse.” Those words were spoken by West Liberty co-athletic director and highly successful women’s basketball coach Lynn Ullom. It is a statement I am in full agreement with. Ullom’s remark came on the heels of WLU President Stephen Greiner’s announcement during a Wednesday press conference that the Route 88 institution was adding men’s soccer as its 18th varsity sport. He subsequently announced that Marshall University assistant Thomas Olivier has been chosen to get the program off the ground as head ...

Wrestling philosophy: Ohio vs. Pennsylvania

Ohio and Pennsylvania are viewed by aficionados as two of the best scholastic wrestling states in America. However, Keystone State wrestlers have consistently out-performed Buckeye State grapplers on the mats of the annual NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships for years. Both states initiated their respective high school state championships the same year – 1938. Both states have outstanding, knowledgeable coaches. And both states have well-qualified officials. I know what you are thinking: “Welker’s from PA; no wonder he’s boasting that his native state has more ...

Friends going to bat for former baseball standout at JM

GLEN DALE — John Marshall boasts one of the OVAC’s most successful baseball programs. Bob Montgomery has guided the Monarchs for nearly half a century, earning legendary status. He has coached countless great players during that time. Todd Hayes was one of his best. Hayes helped lead John Marshall to its only state baseball championship in 1985. He also captained the all-state team his senior year. Hayes tragically lost his battle to brain cancer in 2013. His death spawned an outpouring of support for the 1985 JM grad in the form of the establishment of the Friends of Todd ...

TL Super Bowl Poll: Expect the Pats to hoist the Lombardi

The numbers are in! If the Ohio Valley knows football like we think it does, you can just focus on the commercials and the half-time show, featuring Lady Gaga because the game is going to go in favor of New England. The annual Times Leader Super Bowl Poll, which was orginally the brainchild of the late former T-L Sports Writer Rich Gibson, expects the Patriots to win in resounding fashion this evening in Super Bowl LI. The poll is comprised of area high school coaches and media personalities. Also included are picks from Ohio Valley natives who are involved in all levels of ...

Honors keep coming for Suzie Dailer

WHEELING — Some two decades after completing her brilliant collegiate career, the accolades continue to roll in for Suzie Dailer. The Wheeling Central athletic legend enjoyed great hoop success at St. Bonaventure. So much so, she was inducted into the university’s hall of fame in 2006, just one season removed from her senior season. Her induction into the St. Bonaventure shrine was a no brainer. The multi-talented guard was a three-time first-team Atlantic 10 honoree. Dailer’s Bonnies’ hoop numbers were staggering: Fifth all-time leading scorer (1,422 points), fifth in ...

Switzerland of Ohio BOE deserves kudos for eliminating pay to participate fee

WOODSFIELD — Let’s be honest. The Switzlerland of Ohio Local Schools Board of Education has been heavily scrutinized over the years because of some of the decisions it’s made — or tried to make. However, in the effort of being fair, the BOE deserves major kudos at this point. Last week, the BOE formally approved the removal of pay to participate fees for the 2017-18 school year. Those fees, which measured $200 per high school sport and $100 per junior high sport, had been in place since 2014. Quite simply, the board appears to have come to grips with the fact that the ...