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Flip, Tommy post victories in Winner’s Challenge

Darren Henry Kennel's BD's Flip and C and C Kennel's Tommy Commander posted opening round victories Wednesday in the Winner's Challenge at Wheeling Island.The stake field features the track's top 16 sprinters on the win leaderboard halfway through the 2008 racing season. The second round is set for Monday afternoon, Aug. 4 and the final on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 9.BD's Flip has been on fire for trainer Donna Wilcox since returning to Wheeling after being scratched after the first round of the Twin Rivers Sprint at Lincoln earlier this month. His opening round effort in the Winner's ...

Addition of PSHS would strengthen OVAC mats

Wrestling season is months away, but the idea of the stepping back on the mat is in the minds of many as Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Executive Secretary Tom Rataiczak officially announced Parkersburg South High School has applied for re-admission into one of the largest high school conferences in the country the OVAC.South has accumulated 38 West Virginia state titles in just over 40 years among all sports and 14 of those titles have come in grappling. The only other team to surpass the Wood County Patriots is cross-town rival Parkersburg High (18). One team that trails the ...

Ryan Farms pup Unclouded shines

He's relentless.Just like his daddy, Iruska All Star, Ryan Farms Kennel's Unclouded never gives up.The numbers paint the picture.In 138 starts, All Star had 60 wins, 34 seconds, 15 thirds and 14 fourths - an 89 percent mark on the pay sheet.Although Unclouded has had only 21 career trips at Wheeling Island, he has 5 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds and 6 fourths - a 90 percent mark on the pay sheet. He has not missed the ticket in four Grade AA outings."Unclouded is always coming at them. He doesn't give up," Ryan Farms Kennel trainer Terry Green said. "He has lots of guts, lots of go get it. ...

Winner’s Challenge finalists set

Charter Kennel's Silver Jones tops all qualifiers for Saturday afternoon's final of the $5,000 Winner's Challenge at Wheeling Island.The Rodney Cooley-trained sprinter had a first and a second in his two qualifying rounds to accumulate a total of 25 points. Silver Jones won the Holiday Sprint last December and also was a finalist in the Superstar Challenge in March.Also qualifying for the 5/16 final are BD's Flip (Darren Henry Kennel), 23 points; Braska Omni (Darren Henry Kennel) and Tommy Commander (C And C Kennel), 21 points each; Cry Huron (Gable Kennel), 16 points; Kiowa Rock Vince ...

Sam was all smiles Saturday

I don't know how many of you knew, or got to meet, Samuel A. Mumley.For those of you that did, you remember how Sam was and what he did, especially for the kids.For those of you that didn't have the pleasure of crossing paths with Sam, you didn't have the opportunity to meet one of the most generous and caring people in the world.I had the chance to meet Sam when I came to the Ohio Valley in 1983 as a youthful sports editor in Weirton. Our first encounter was an Ohio Valley Athletic Conference meeting at Mehlman's Cafeteria in St. Clairsville.There I was, a fresh-out-of-college kid, ...

OSU’s Pretorius has a lot to kick about

With more than 105,000 pairs of eyes watching him week after week during the regular football season, Ryan Pretorius has proved he certainly knows how to block.And, his blocking is not physical but mental.The Ohio State place-kicker isn't on the field for every play, but he definitely draws attention as he tries for extra points."When you're out there, you just block everything else out," said Pretorius, who went on to emphasize the importance of concentrating on the job at hand.Pretorius, who has a 50-yard range and a reputation for accuracy, didn't arrive on the OSU campus, just out of ...