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HC Wrestling: Making history

  Every team sets goals and looks ahead to where it wants to be and that is slowly starting to form for Harrison Central mat coach Todd Dunlap after being notified that his squad has qualified for the Ohio Division II State Duals for the 2008-2009 season.     “We have always talk with our team about you have to wrestle the best to become the best,” Dunlap said in a phone conversation.    Well the Huskies, while qualifying for the first time in school history, will have their hands full seeing the Goliath’s of Division II wrestling with ...

Ferry set to unveil new softball diamond

“If you build it, they will come.” That was the catch phrase for the movie “Field of Dreams.” Well, Martins Ferry has built them (baseball and softball fields), but thanks to Mother Nature and some on-going construction, no one has shown up on the hilltop overlooking the Purple City. That is all expected to change early this week — weather permitting — when the Lady Purple Riders are scheduled to host Buckeye 8 Conference rival St. Clairsville. Game time is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday. According to Martins Ferry head coach Jess Cordery, the new diamond will be ...

KB’s Best Buy following in his dad’s footsteps

Back in 2005-06, Tempo Petrocelli was one of the most consistent top grade greyhounds at Wheeling Island. In 127 starts, Petrocelli had 37 wins, 21 seconds, 12 thirds and 19 fourths — a 70 percent mark on the pay sheet. All but 16 of his trips were in Grade AA. Now, one of Petrocelli’s sons, KB’s Best Buy, is making a name for himself at the Wheeling oval after competing at the 2007 National Greyhound Association Fall Meet in Kansas. In 25 Wheeling starts, Best Buy has 9 wins, including four in Grade AA, 4 seconds, 2 thirds and 4 fourths — a 76 percent mark on the pay sheet. ...

Littermates top qualifiers for WVGOBA Juvenile

Littermates Trust Fund Baby and Wuzinyurwallet are the lone undefeated greyhounds after the first two rounds of the $35,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Juvenile at Wheeling Island. Racing out of the Green/Maupin Kennel, the Tri-state invaders notched their second straight sprint wins Wednesday afternoon to lead all qualifiers with 30 points heading into Monday afternoon’s semifinal round. The championship final is scheduled for Saturday matinee, April 26. Also moving on to the semifinal are Iruska Frankford and RWC Strawberry, 25 points each; D’s ...

Bertolino eyeing the Olympics

It has been a roller coaster month for former Buckeye Local wrestler David Bertolino. The May graduate of Iowa State University recently took second at University Nationals in Akron to put himself in position to qualify for the Olympics trials in Las Vegas. “I have been there twice and I feel confident about qualifying out in Vegas,” Bertolino said in a phone conversation. “I just want to go out and have fun with it. I think there is a lot more pressure involved for Iowa State. In freestyle, which is what I am wrestling now, I can leave it all out on the ...

Suspense taken out of the draft

So much for suspense. The Miami Dolphins took care of that Tuesday by signing former University of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long as the No. 1 pick in this Saturday’s NFL Draft in New York. Yes, you read that right! The annual selection process is still days away and the Dolphins have made their pick. Sounds a little strange, doesn’t it? I find it hard to believe that my favorite team, the beloved aqua marine and orange, would take an offensive lineman with the top pick. After struggling to a 1-15 mark last season, it seems to me that the ‘Fish’ need more ...