WJU rugby building on success

November 27, 2016

WHEELING — Tommy Duffy yearned to come home...and that he did. It proved a fruitful decision. The 1985 Wheeling Central graduate walked away from a nice situation at The Citadel to become head rugby coach at Wheeling Jesuit University this fall. It is a move he doesn’t regret. Far from it, as his maiden voyage as the Cardinals’ head rugby coach was a successful journey. Jesuit posted an 8-3 mark this fall with some landmark wins. Duffy’s charges routed WVU, 72-12, and bested nationally ranked Kutztown State, 33-20. Two of the Cardinals’ losses came at the hands ...

Furbee calls match against Snyder a learning experience

November 24, 2016

KENT — Michael Furbee was an all-Ohioan and OVAC champion during his high school career at St. Clairsville. He’s now the starting 285 pounder for Cleveland State University as a true freshman. He’s endured some growing pains already in the young season, but he received his biggest lesson to date on Tuesday evening during a triangular against Kent State and Ohio State. Furbee found himself up against Ohio State junior and Olympic Gold Medalist Kyle Snyder during the final match of the evening. “I wasn’t really nervous or anything like that,” Furbee said during a ...

Wheeling Park QB Wilkinson will play in prestigious U.S. Army Combine

November 21, 2016

WHEELING — Cross Wilkinson is a hot commodity. The Wheeling Park junior quarterback has already received two Division I scholarship offers. He has drawn major interest from countless others. His gridiron stock continues to rise. The 6-2, 220-pounder, who was named MVP at West Virginia’s football camp last summer, has been selected to attend the prestigious U.S. Army All-American High School Combine. It will be staged in San Antonio, Texas, from Jan. 5-7, in the Alamodome. The annual combine brings together a collection of the nation’s top high school football ...

WLU grad key to Auburn grid success

November 20, 2016

WHEELING — Auburn University is in the midst of another successful football season. The Tigers will take an 8-3 record into this week’s Iron Bowl showdown with Alabama. A West Liberty University graduate is one of the integral reasons for the Tigers’ gridiron success. Ryan Russell, a former standout wideout for the Hilltoppers, is the strength and conditioning coach for the Auburn football team. Russell played wide receiver for West Liberty from 2000-02. He earned WVC honors all three seasons. He received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from West Liberty in ...

Lewicki off to icy hot start at Adrian

November 13, 2016

MOUNDSVILLE — John Marshall High product Kristin Lewicki is off to a blazing start this season with the Adrian College hockey team. The talented senior has been named Offensive Player of the Week in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Lewicki scored three goals on just five shots in leading the Michigan-based Bulldogs to a pair of wins. She added three assists for a six-point week. This marks the second time Lewicki has gained such honors in her Adrian career. “I thought both of our games went very well for us. We started off strong and battled through to show ...

Madonna grad primed for a new challenge at Albany

October 30, 2016

WHEELING — Joanna Bernabei-McNamee is poised to embark on her latest coaching mission. The Weirton Madonna High graduate is in her first year as head coach of the University of Albany women’s basketball team. She comes to the NCAA D-1 program after a successful three-year stint at the University of Pikeville (Ky.). She guided Pikeville to 63 wins and back-to-back national tournament berths, including a program-record 26 victories and an NAIA Final Four appearance in 2016. For those accomplishments, McNamee was named the 2016 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NAIA ...