After years of near misses, Marietta College men finally reach promised land

March 16, 2022

The camera was live. The microphones were hot. But a silence hung in the air as Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal reflected on what Saturday evening’s advancement to the team’s first Final Four meant for the program. “Obviously, before the game you come out and you see all the people and the environment, and you think back to 14 years ago when there was 5 people in the stands,” VanderWal said. “I just take solace in looking around and thinking no matter what happens, this is really special.” Special indeed. After an incredible decade of being one of the nation’s most ...

If you don’t care, may as well root for the Bengals

February 12, 2022

Sunday marks the 30th anniversary the last time my favorite team the Washington R- no, Football T- wait, Commanders (still not sold on that) played in the Super Bowl. Eventually, I decided to help other people in the same boat by suggesting who to root for in the big game if you just don’t care. It might be a little easier this year since a team from Ohio, with a quarterback from Ohio, will be taking the field, although I think we can all be forgiven if we didn’t see that coming. But maybe the Cincinnati Bengals beat your team on their improbable run or there’s some other ...

Warren basketball great Evan French recalls going head-to-head with Joe Burrow

February 11, 2022

Former Warren Warrior two-time All-Ohio basketball player Evan French remembers his very first impression of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow when the two faced off with their respective teams in the Division II Regional semi-final at the Convocation Center on the campus of Ohio University back in February of 2013. French had heard all about Burrow’s prowess on the football field but his abilities on the basketball court had been somewhat under estimated. “I could tell right away that he was a real-time hooper and that he was a complete player,” said French of Burrow ...

Tempo keys Williamstown girls’ resurgence

January 19, 2022

Age is non-discriminate when coaches learn to adapt on the fly. Four games into a winless season, Williamstown girls basketball coach Fred Sauro heeded the advice of his three assistant coaches. Even at 74 years old, Sauro didn’t rule out any input which would produce results. After wrapping up their second straight win Saturday at Wheeling Central Catholic, the Yellowjackets improved to 5-7 and secured the No. 10 slot in the Class AA ranking for the second straight week. “A conscious decision was made by our whole staff with my assistants Howard Rowsey, Lori Nohe and Brian ...

A name which still resonates at Catholic

December 30, 2021

Madeline Huffman visited her old stomping grounds at Parkersburg Catholic High School. The purpose was two-fold — join her former teammates during a recognition ceremony and watch her younger sister play at the Mary ‘O’ Crusaderette Classic. And by every indication, whether it was stated during a 25-minute video montage honoring the accomplishments from the past two seasons, or mentioned by PCHS coach Marty Viereller, the name ‘Madeline’ and her legacy still resonates throughout the Crusaderette girls program. “Everything everyone said tugs at the heart strings a little ...

Yellowjackets Sweep Regional

October 22, 2021

MINERAL WELLS — Favored Williamstown swept the W.Va. Class A, Region IV cross country championships here Thursday afternoon as expected. The Yellowjacket boys of head coach Cliff Taylor topped Buffalo, 35-54, while the WHS girls of head man Mike Taylor had the top four finishers and rolled ...