By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer MARTINS FERRY — Chas Yoder played football at Martins Ferry where he was an all-stater and Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year for the Purple-and-White following the 2004 season. After a stellar career at Mount Union and serveral years as ...
By KIM NORTH Times Leader Sports Writer CADIZ — Anthony Hayes, a 1996 Cadiz High graduate, has taken over the Harrison Central reins after veteran head coach Justin Kropka stepped down following last season — his 13th. However, Hayes is no stranger to the Huskies program as he served as an assistant coach for 11 years under Kropka. “It’s an exciting time to be at Harrison Central,” Hayes said after being hired in the summer. “We’ve got a new school being built and we just had turf installed at our stadium prior to last season. “There’s a lot of passion for ...
By RICK THORP Times Leader Sports Writer WOODSFIELD — As his players readied for media day outside of his office, Josh Ischy sat behind his desk riffling through a myriad of paperwork. Ischy is a familiar face inside the Jay Circosta Fieldhouse, but not one accustomed to being seated in “the captain’s chair.” That spot was reserved for Circosta for the last 47 years. But when the winner of 336 games called it a career in coaching in May after 50 years in the business, the Switzerland of Ohio School District called upon Ischy to fill his shoes, as if anyone could really do ...
By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor HANNIBAL — There have been a few times this summer when Mike Flannery has to had to catch himself. The veteran River head coach has spent the last three seasons relying heavily on Lukas Isaly. It’s been a successful recipe, too. The Pilots won 27 of the 35 starts Isaly made, qualified for three postseason appearances, won an OVAC title and advanced to the Region 27 championship game last season. With Isaly and 11 other Pilot mainstays now graduated, Flannery oversaw summer workouts and into camp this month, trying to sell his 2018 team ...
By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor SHADYSIDE — Mark Holenka has a lot of hobbies, but other than helping his grandchildren, putting jigsaw puzzles together usually isn’t high on the list. The Shadyside head football coach may grow to enjoy them even more as he embarks on his 12th season at his alma mater. Coming off a solid 7-4 season, which ended with a thud in the opening round of the playoffs at Nelsonville-York, Shadyside returns several key pieces from that team. It also boasts a roster of 46 players and some talented younger players, so making it all come together ...
By SETH STASKEY Times Leader Sports Editor MORRISTOWN — Someone may have to pinch Bernie Thompson. The personable, 25-year old has actually been pinching himself basically every day since March when he hired as the football coach at his alma mater, Union Local. “It’s still a little surreal,” Thompson said early in camp. “I found myself, at times, sitting around and thinking, ‘wow! I am the head coach (at Union Local)’” The reality of the matter, however, comes to fruition Friday night when Monroe Central comes calling for the season opener. “To be able to coach a ...
