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A wise decision

It was just a few days after the prep track and field season ended and Bellaire soon-to-be senior Megan Green had just earned all-Ohio accolades in the shot put.She was ready for a short break and anxious to enjoy her summer before starting volleyball preparations, which began early last week.Well, her mom caught wind of the Junior Olympic competition and convinced her daughter to enter.It was a decision that was well-worth it.Green recently made the trip to Detroit to part in the AAU Junior Olympic Nationals and finished eighth in the shot put, launching the iron ball to a mark of ...

BD’s Flip captures Winner’s Challenge

There's no place like home.Just ask Darren Henry Kennel trainer Donna Wilcox.Since BD's Flip returned to Wheeling after competing in the Twins Rivers Sprint at Lincoln, R.I., in July, he has been on fire - capturing four out of his five starts including last weekend's $5,000 Winner's Challenge at the Wheeling Island racetrack.Flip's stake victory wasn't easy as the April 2006 greyhound out of Kiowa Sweet Trey-BD's Cindy withstood a late challenge from Charter Kennel's Silver Jones to win by half a length in a swift 29.69."I don't think Flip wants to leave home again," Wilcox said. "He ...

Celebrities flock to charity golf classic

A deadly accident four years ago has helped a local organization provide for those in need.Jeff Showalter was tragically killed in an automobile accident on Sept. 6, 2004.As a result of his untimely passing, the Jeff Showalter Celebrity Golf Classic was formed by the Ohio Valley Christian Soldiers, an organization that strives to aid the needy.Now in its fourth year, the gala event has raised more than $90,000, according to one of the event's organizers, Dave Diosi. "Hopefully, we'll be able to surpass the $125,000 mark after today," he said.He stressed that every cent has been given to ...

OVAC Hall: A worthy honor for 16 more

If you say it once, you can say it a million times.The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference has its paws in several endeavors outside of the normal sporting championship. And everything the nation's largest high school sporting conference does is first class.And if you are disagreeing then you haven't taken in too many events within the conference.Another example of classy events and the conference's goal to not allow its former athletes to be forgotten took place Saturday evening on the floor at WesBanco Arena when the OVAC inducted 16 new members into its prestigious Hall of Fame, which now ...

Douglas reflects on valley wrestling

Returning to the Ohio Valley always holds a special place in Bobby Douglas' heart and it was no greater feeling than Saturday evening as the former Olympic wrestler had the opportunity to present his former Bridgeport wrestler Mike Kovalick in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame."The role coach Kovalick played in my life and the relationships between our families is like no other," Douglas said about his former Arizona State wrester. "This great wrestling family is very unique and every time I come home it seems we migrate back to our wrestling roots in Bridgeport."Douglas ...

Ward youngster Wizard makes his presence felt

"We're off to see the WizardThe wonderful Wizard of OzWe'll find he is a whiz of a WizIf ever a Wiz there wasBecause because because becauseBecause of the wonderful things he does ..."Since coming to Wheeling in late March, WW's Wizard has been a shining star for the Ron Otto-trained Wayne Ward Kennel. In 20 starts, Wizard has 7 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third and 3 fourths - an 80 percent mark on the pay sheet."From the moment Wizard arrived, he caught my eye. He was a standout in morning schooling," Otto said. "Wizard is still learning, maturing. We couldn't be happier with his progress."A ...