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Ohio State shows resolve after watching Nittany Lions rally back

COLUMBUS — Indianapolis ... beware! Buckeye Nation is on its way. Ohio State took another step toward the College Football Playoff Saturday afternoon when it shook off an ugly third quarter to subdue Penn State, which certainly didn’t fold its tents when it had every chance to after falling behind 21-0. The 28-17 victory against the ninth-ranked Nittany Lions clinches the Big Ten East for the third consecutive season for the Buckeyes, earning them a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 7. Though the title game against a Western Division opponent yet to be ...

Broken wrist fails to stop West Lib QB Zach Phillips

WEST LIBERTY - Zach Phillips opted to continue his football career at Gannon University after his record-setting career at Wheeling Park. He will always remembered, however, for the grid legacy he left at West Liberty University.\Phillips enjoyed a productive two-year stint as Gannon’s starting quarterback. After his sophomore season, however, he decided to leave the Erie (Pa.)-based institution and return to the Ohio Valley. His decision to transfer to West Liberty was well thought out, taking into consideration, family, academic and home. “The main reason I transferred was ...

Madonna great begins second year at Boston College women’s helm

CHESTNUT HILL - Joanna (Bernabei) McNamee is a lifelong winner. The Weirton Madonna legend is now in her second year as head women’s hoop coach at Boston College. She inherited a program last winter that was a bottom feeder in the power-packed Atlantic Coast Conference. The Eagles went 7-23 overall and 2-14 in the ACC, a year prior to her arrival. Bernabei made great strides in her first season at BC, elevating the Eagles to a 14-16 mark. The West Liberty University Hall of Famer embarked on the 2019-2020 campaign this past Tuesday, besting UMass Lowell, 89-46. “It was ...

Thurnes created lasting memories for many people

As we age, we are able to look back on our lives to remember places and people and episodes in our past that had such an influence on what we have been and what we have become. To some, it was the day they got married or when that first child was born. To others, it maybe a special family trip or notable vacation. And to others, it may be someone who had such an impact on their early lives that it carried them through and, unknowingly, played such a major part in their development as a person. Today, there are so many that are looking back on the influence that just a few years of ...

Madonna great begins second year at Boston College women’s helm

CHESTNUT HILL - Joanna (Bernabei) McNamee is a lifelong winner. The Weirton Madonna legend is now in her second year as head women’s hoop coach at Boston College. She inherited a program last winter that was a bottom feeder in the power-packed Atlantic Coast Conference. The Eagles went 7-23 overall and 2-14 in the ACC, a year prior to her arrival. Bernabei made great strides in her first season at BC, elevating the Eagles to a 14-16 mark. The West Liberty University Hall of Famer embarked on the 2019-2020 campaign this past Tuesday, besting UMass Lowell, 89-46. “It was ...

Bell adds another special honor to remarkable career

WHEELING - His basketball coaching resume is both lengthy and impressive. Bob Bell enters his 49th year of coaching roundball as assistant girls’ coach at Mentor High. The Cleveland-area school is the latest stop in Bell’s coaching journey stocked with success. The former River High hoop great has recently received yet another honor. Bell is this year’s recipient of the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Sportsmanship, Ethic & Integrity Award. He will receive the prestigious award at the girls’ state hoop tournament in March. “It (the award) really ...