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A little bit of this and a little bit of that

A few notes and random thoughts as we look forward to a healthy Cleveland Cavaliers team making a trip to the NBA Finals:

The Warren Gridiron Club recently announced plans for a reunion of Warren’s NFL alumni and other stars to coincide with the Warren Homecoming event scheduled in September.

Virginia Holmes, chair of the event for the WGC, said more than 20 former Warren G. Harding and Warren Western Reserve athletes have been invited. The NFL Legends events that weekend include a casual dinner and open bar at the Trumbull Country Club Sunday evening, Sept. 25, and a celebrity golf outing the next morning, also at Trumbull CC.

The public can meet and talk to these Warren greats during both events.

Beverly and Paul Warfield are honorary co-chairs of the Gridiron Club’s events. Among the former Warren football stars invited are the Browner brothers – Ross, Jimmie, Joey and Keith – Mario Manningham, Chris Rucker, Deryck Toles, Leshun Daniels, Travis Davis, David Herron, Prescott Burgess, Derrick Kelson and Alfie Burch.

Those interested in attending either event can go to www.wghsports.com. More information about the Warren Homecoming can be found at www.warrenhomecoming.com.

BESIDES those big names coming to the area in the coming months, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh will be in Warren along with his staff for the Warren Harding Elite national football camp June 9 at Mollenkopf Stadium.

The one-day camp is open to all sophomores through seniors and is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon. More information is possible by calling Harding coach Steve Arnold at 330-841-2235 or by going to www.warrenschools.k12.oh.us/football-camp.

Another big-name camp scheduled for the area is the Greg Pruitt YPD camp slated July 22-23 at Bo Rein Stadium in Niles. The Youth Player Development camp is intended to help athletes in grades 5-9 sharpen their football and teamwork skills.

Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities is among the presenters and former NFL players such as Pruitt, Kevin Mack and Hanford Dixon are among the instructors, in addition to high school coaches from the area.

More information can be found at www.YPDcamps.com.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association recently made mention of the coaches it recognized during the 2015-16 school year with its Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Awards.

Two local names on the list serve as a reminder that a coach – on any level – can be a huge success without being loud, abusive, argumentative, etc. A coach doesn’t have to scream at his or her players, argue with officials, or go through all manner of histrionics and gestures in order to win.

Howland girls basketball coach John Diehl and Windham boys basketball coach Marty Hill were among those honored. It’s no surprise that these two have lasted as long as they have and been as successful as they’ve been. They treat people – opponents, officials, media, fans and, most importantly, the student-athletes under their charge – with respect and understand that screaming does not always help in communicating.

But they also can be demanding of their players and are steadfast in teaching the proper way to play the game they coach, both in regard to fundamentals and skills and in regard to teamwork and sportsmanship.

Congratulations coaches.

Congratulations also are in order for spring sports student-athletes in the area as we begin the final week of interscholastic sports for the school year.

The Warren G. Harding girls team leads the area’s track and field contingent heading to the state meet in Columbus. The Raiders won the Division I regional title Friday night at Austintown and are taking aim at winning the state title this week.

The area will have it’s usual large numbers of athletes headed to Columbus including several that are favorites to win their particular events.

We also had our usual representation at the regional level in softball, though the three Trumbull County teams at regional – Lakeview, Champion and Bristol – all lost in the regional semifinal round.

The Tribune Chronicle continues today and next week to run its Gallery of Champions, photos of teams that have won a league or division title, or a district or regional title.

Athletic directors have been sending in photos in recent weeks. Those who have not yet sent their championship photos, please to so to sports@tribtoday.com.

Also coming up in the next week or two will be our publication of area all-conference teams. We already have the Inter Tri-County League and Northeastern Athletic Conference teams and are waiting on the All-American Conference and the North Coast League.

The Tribune Chronicle Athlete of the Year awards also are right around the corner. We sent out nomination forms to athletic directors in the area and school personnel have determined who their nominees – male and female – will be. Those nomination forms have been coming in – the deadline is Wednesday – and we will publish all the nominees names next Sunday.

The winners will be announced the following Sunday, June 12.

In the meantime, go Cavs.

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