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OVAC calendar year coming to an end quickly

The past two weekends have been some of the busiest for the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference. Championships in tennis, softball, track and field and baseball have all been crowned. That puts the finishing touches on a year when the conference crowned champions in 13 sports, held all-star games, passed out awards and broke new ground in basketball with the first-ever Wheeling Hospital OVAC Basketball Championships in February. Along with the on-field or on-court work, the OVAC is preparing to induct another class into its prestigious hall of fame and the museum continues to grow at ...

OSU Soccer Coach visits BHCC

What do Jim Tressel, Thad Matta and John Bluem have in common? All three led their respective Ohio State University athletic teams to NCAA championship games in 2007. However, unfortunately, all three lost. But, I was always told that there is no disgrace in losing in the championship game. While all Scarlet-and-Gray backers know the names Tressel and Matta, not many are probably familiar with Bluem. Bluem led the Buckeyes’ men’s soccer team to the title tilt last December, a game OSU dropped 2-1 to Wake Forest in Cary, N.C. Prior to the game, a reporter asked ...

Glory finds new home

The writing was on the wall. WW Has Glory needed a change. After winning his Maiden debut late last year at Wheeling Island, the Wayne Ward Kennel youngster experienced traffic problems in several of his seven Grade D 5/16 races — most of it brought on by himself. “Glory started slowing in the turns and getting in tons of trouble. Then he would come charging home at the end,” trainer Ron Otto said. “In February, he was down to one line and ready to grade off so I decided to move him to 3/8. If he was going to make Wheeling, he was going to have to run distance.” In his ...

Fortunate Son: Mr. Blue Collar

He’s not among the win leaders at Wheeling Island. He’s not going to rip off four or five victories in a row. Although far from a star, Fortunate Son is a greyhound who will give an honest effort each time he goes to the box. The Wayne Strong Kennel sprinter is a true blue-collar worker. In 24 Grade AA starts this year, Fortunate Son has 3 wins, 8 seconds, 3 thirds and 4 fourths — a 75 percent mark on the pay sheet. “Fortunate Son is a throwback ... he’s old school. He’s a hard knocking, hard trying tough dog,” said Donald Burk Jr. of Texas, Fortunate Son’s ...

Quick Strike breaks own mark

TK Quick Strike opened the first round of the $10,000 Mountaineer Classic at Wheeling Island Monday afternoon with a bang. The Charter Kennel middle distance dandy not only romped to an 11 1/2-length victory, but rewrote his own track record in the process. Quick Strike’s time of 37.27 shattered his old mark of 37.32. Breaking from the six hole, Quick Strike exploded out of the box and was never threatened in lowering the 3/8 track record he first set March 28. Creedence and WW’s Valera completed the trifecta ticket. Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley was ecstatic over Quick ...

Quest for Columbus set to begin

If you are a little confused on how the Division II track and field district is going to unfold this week, join the crowd. A PhD would be required to fully understand it, but after weeks of talking to people and trying to make heads or tails of this, I think I’ve basically got it figured out. The postseason of track and field opens today with the Division II preliminary day at both Meadowbrook and West Holmes High Schools. Division III is as simple as always. The meet opens Tuesday at Newcomerstown and wraps up Friday evening at Lee Stadium with the top four boys advancing to the ...