Crucial summer for YSU men’s basketball

June 27, 2019

YOUNGSTOWN SIX-game winning streak. These group of young men saw a glimmer turn into real hope, hope of turning a program around. It’s a solemn vow each current Youngstown State University men’s basketball player and coaching staff member has pinpointed since Jerrod Calhoun took the coaching reins in late March of 2017. This is his third year with a program that has won eight in his first year and 12 last season. Calhoun and the YSU program felt as if 16 should’ve been more of a viable number in the 2018-19 season. Crucial injuries to Naz Bohannon, Darius Quisenberry and ...

Wrestling for girls is overdue in Ohio

June 26, 2019

The thought certainly doesn’t evoke much excitement for parents. Watching their daughter or son run onto a wrestling mat to face what is often a bigger, more built wrestler can be a tough sight to endure. Furthermore, watching them being twisted, lifted in the air, slammed and pinned would not be a fun experience. Sure, it may be the life of a high school wrestler, but there’s often a different feeling for fans when it’s a kid who looks like a grown man against a boy still working his way through puberty. That feeling changes even more for fans — and those competing — ...

Annarella was consummate professional

June 9, 2019

It's 9:32 a.m., and I’m speaking with Phil Annarella in the Austintown Fitch High School football locker room, adjacent to the Falcons playing surface. It’s late July as the Fitch football coach spots a senior sneaking in the room, heading for his locker. It’s photo day, and if you knew coach Annarella, being tardy on this day was unacceptable, even if it was 2 minutes. The Fitch coach quickly excused himself and confronted the late-comer. Annarella told him he was a leader on this team, being later than the 9:30 deadline couldn’t be tolerated. Imagine that context being spoken ...

Quit clapping, just respect these athletes

June 4, 2019

COLUMBUS THIS column was to be about how great this year’s state track and field meet was and how it is my favorite event to attend every year. I was going to talk about how Howland senior Vinny Mauri was amazing in his final running, winning his long-awaited state championship in the 3200-meter run. There was going to be mention of Garfield senior Tyler Klouda, who told me I was the first one to interview him at the Division II Lakeview Regional. Then, there’s McDonald’s Zach Gray, who won the Division III boys discus — the third Blue Devils male to win that event this ...

Nominees, senior all-stars & Flashes

June 2, 2019

Before we talk about the amazing success of the Champion High School softball program, a couple of housekeeping notes. First, is the timeline for the annual Tribune Chronicle Senior Athletes of the Year awards. Each year, we contact area schools through their athletic directors and invite them to nominate a male and female senior athlete to honor. Nominees are required to have lettered in two varsity sports and to have a minimum 2.0 grade point average. After that, it’s up to each school. Once we have the nominees, the Tribune sports staff votes to decide the winners. The ...

Drive to state track meet well worth it

May 31, 2019

THE cushiony grip on the wheel gets tighter as the mundane drive down I-71 continues. Break it into parts. First Ashland. Then Mansfield. Finally, that Sunbury exit says you’re almost there. Pass by Polaris and take a right on I-270. Mental checklist on the drive: laptop, camera, phone, 24-pack of water that goes in the hotel refrigerator, press pass, wallet, Disney bag with clothes along with other items. Check, check and check. Arrive at hotel, check in and start writing this column previewing this year’s state track and field meet, which begins today and runs through ...