YSU

YSU
Penguins travelto Akron today
AKRON -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team will try to snap a seven-game losing streak this afternoon when the Penguins travel to Akron at the James A. Rhodes Arena at 2 p.m.
The Penguins are 1-7 and are coming off their best effort of the season in a 79-75 loss to Atlantic Coast Conference member Clemson on Friday.
Akron is 2-5 after the Zips had their two-game winning streak snapped Friday by Bucknell 68-55.
The Zips are led by former Niles High standout Lori Krezeczowski, a junior transfer from Kent State. She averages a team-high 13.9 points a game.
Another local player for the Zips is senior Kristy Booms, a 6-1 forward from Canfield, who has played in all seven games, but is averaging just 0.7 points per contest.
LOCAL
Area fares wellin prep swim meet
CLEVELAND -- Boardman High junior Hayley Robinson placed fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:09.42 to lead a solid area showing at Saturday's St. Ignatius/Viking Invitational swim meet at Cleveland State University.
The invitational, which is one of the top regular season swim meets in the state, showcases some of the top teams from Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Boardman senior Brian Katz placed 15th in the 100 butterfly with a time of 56.01.
Canfield senior Rob Frankle led the Cardinals with a 10th-place finish in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:51.20, while senior Ashley Linnelli was 18th in the 200 IM with a time of 2:18.98.
Bowl gameshave local flavor
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three local football officials are participating in postseason college bowl games.
Greg Patoray worked the NAIA quarterfinal playoff game between St. Ambrose and St. Francis and also worked the Division III semifinal game between RPI and Ithaca.
Rob Luklan will be on the crew for the Fort Worth Bowl between TCU and Boise State on Tuesday.
Jim Visingardi will be working the Insight.com Bowl in Phoenix on Dec. 26 between California and Virginia Tech.
Phantoms fall
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -- A goal by Logan Bittle with 2:28 remaining sent the Soo Indians to a 4-3 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms in North American Hockey League action Saturday at the Big Bear Arena.
It was the second straight night the Phantoms (14-9-7, 35 points) played a tight game against the Soo (20-2-5, 45 points), but failed to come away with a victory.
The Soo won Friday night's series opener 2-1 on a goal by Jason Blain with just 35 seconds remaining in overtime.
The Phantoms will have a two-week break for the holidays before returning to action on Jan. 3 (7 p.m.) and Jan. 4 (3 p.m.) when they play host to the Dayton Gems at The Ice Zone in Boardman.
Maplewood setsHOF induction
CORTLAND -- Maplewood High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium. The ceremony will take place before the varsity basketball game against Cardinal.
To qualify for induction into the Hall of Fame, individuals must finish a season as All-Ohio and teams must finish in the top four in the state championships. Teams are inducted the year that they qualify; individuals are inducted the year after they graduate.
This year's inductees are:
* 2003 state championship cross country team. The team successfully defended its title after winning the 2002 state championship and graduating four of its top six runners. Members of the team are Rubin Plant, James Hall, Andy Morgan, Craig Rupe, Andy Arnio, Paul Moser, Jon Carlson and Steven Barnhart. Four members of the team, Morgan, Moser, Rupe and Arnio, were All-Ohio runners.
* The 2003 4x800 relay team. The team won this event at the 2003 state championship to give Maplewood a victory in three consecutive years at the state meet for the 4x800.
The 2003 team ran the second-fastest time ever in the state for Division III with a 7:55.2. This time was only three-tenths of a second off the state-meet record. Team members are Terry Rush, Paul Moser, Derek Armstrong and John Palmer.
* John Palmer qualified for the hall of fame on three occasions. He was a second-place finisher in the 2003 state track championships in the 800-meter run in a school-record time of 1:55.1. He was also All-Ohio in cross country in 2002 when he finished 18th and in 2001 when he finished 16th.
Book chroniclesStruthers football
AUSTINTOWN -- "This is Wildcat Country," a history of Struthers High football from 1916-2003, has been completed by author and historian Gene Janecko and is available for purchase by the public.
The 597-page compilation in scrapbook form with pictures and commentary is the fourth similar project by Janecko, a former Campbell Memorial and Ohio State football player and area teacher and football coach, who now lives in Austintown.
Janecko's previous publications covering the history of area high school football were, "The Campbell Memorial Red Devils Scrapbook," "The Rivalry: Youngstown East vs. Campbell Memorial," and "The West Side Saga: The Chaney High School Football Story."
The new Struthers book also chronicles other teams that played Struthers over the 87-year era, and also contains various pieces of Struthers history intertwined with its football teams.
Also included is an article by Janecko entitled, "A Buckeye Fairy Tale," which recalls his stay with the Ohio State football team.
Janecko's theme in his projects has been: "The games are over; the memories are not."
The new Struthers book is priced at $39 and may be ordered by calling (330) 792-0611.
Bowling events
* YOUNGSTOWN -- The seventh annual Youngstown Senior Singles Tournament, an event for bowlers 55-and-older, begins next month.
The five age divisions are 55-59 and 60-64 (Jan. 17-18 at Amron and Wedgewood) and 65-69, 70-74 and 75-and-older (Jan. 10-11 at Boardman and A-Plus).
Entries close Jan. 7. Entries are available at all centers or by calling (330) 782-9140 or (330) 545-6217.
* YOUNGSTOWN -- The 72nd Youngstown Bowling Association city tournament begins Jan. 23 at West Side Lanes with the team event.
Singles and doubles will begin Jan. 31 at Amron Lanes.
Entries may be obtained at the alleys or YBA office.
NATION
Harbaugh gearsfor new role
SAN DIEGO -- Jim Harbaugh has received many coaching lessons in his life. He'll use them in his new role as head coach at the University of San Diego.
The former NFL quarterback said Saturday that he will draw from the intensity of his former professional football coach Mike Ditka and the forthrightness of his coaching father.
He will assume his duties at the Division I-AA school, which doesn't offer scholarships in football, after completing his second season as quarterback coach of the National Football League's Oakland Raiders.
Vindicator staff/wire reports