LOCAL
LOCAL
Suzy Whaley to playat Giant Eagle event
VIENNA -- Suzy Whaley, who will make history in July as the first woman ever to compete in a PGA Tour event, has accepted a sponsor exemption for the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic June 9-15 at Squaw Creek Country Club.
Last September Whaley won the Connecticut section PGA Championship, earning her an automatic spot in the PGA Tour's Greater Hartford Open, three weeks following the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic.
Clarett to returnto elementary
YOUNGSTOWN -- Maurice Clarett, tailback for the national champion Ohio State football team and a native of Youngstown, will return to his elementary school for a visit.
Clarett will appear at Sheridan Elementary School Feb. 27 to speak to students. His appearance will be part of the Newspaper In Education (NIE) program sponsored by The Vindicator, and Literacy Month that is being observed at Sheridan.
Clarett will also sign 50 miniature footballs for students. The footballs will be donated by Home Savings and Loan Co.
Donadee takes firstin sectional diving
AKRON --Canfield senior Jon Donadee cruised to first place in the boys sectional diving meet Thursday at Akron Firestone High School.
Donadee, a state qualifier last year, earned 437.40 points to easily outdistance GlenOak's Ben Levy (374.60).
The top 10 finishers advance to next week's district meet at Cleveland State.
Walsh's Jay Racickis All-American
NORTH CANTON -- Jay Racick, a junior linebacker for the Walsh University football team from Girard, was selected to the Hansen Gazette NAIA All-America team as an honorable mention.
One of seven All-American selections for Walsh, Racick established a school record by recording 120 tackles last season. He helped the Cavaliers to an 8-3 record, including 4-2 in the Mid-States Football Association.
Thakar named coach at Westminster
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Girish Thakar has been promoted from interim coach of the women's soccer program at Westminster College.
He is also men's soccer coach, a position he has held the past five years.
Rock coach resigns
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Bob Ogoreuc, the second winningest coach in Slippery Rock University swimming history, will resign effective at the end of the season.
Ogoreuc will continue as assistant professor in SRU's Physical Education and Sport Management Department and on his work on a national aquatics research project.
Ex-Chaney athlete to play at ASU
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Philip Faraglia, a former Chaney High student-athlete and now a senior at Palo Verde High in Las Vegas, has been accepted to Arizona State University.
Faraglia, who played baseball and football at Chaney high before transferring to Palo Verde last year, is planning to study sports medicine at Arizona State and try out for the baseball team.
He plays football and baseball for Palo Verde.
Umpire class
CANFIELD -- A class for persons wishing to become certified by the Ohio High School Athletic Association as baseball and softball umpires are reminded of a class that will begin Wednesday at Canfield High School. Cost is $65.
For more details call John Mang (330-503-6665), Bill Sferra (330-792-6787) or Greg Patoray (330-270-0259).
REGION
Pitt footballtickets on sale
PITTSBURGH -- The University of Pittsburgh announced its 2003 schedule and season-ticket packages.
Season-ticket prices were lowered for nearly 20,000 seats at Heinz Field, to under $100. Season-tickets start at $60. Big East Conference rivals Syracuse (Oct. 25), Virginia Tech (Nov. 8) and Miami (Nov. 29) visit Pittsburgh as well as Notre Dame (Oct. 11).
Pittsburgh will open the '03 season by playing host to Kent State Sept. 6. The Panthers will also play host to Ball State (Sept. 13) as part of the six-game home schedule.
For information, call 1-800-643-7488 or (412) 648-7488.
NATION
Sutherland leads by 1 at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Kevin Sutherland shot a 6-under 66 for a one-stroke lead over Mike Weir and Robert Gamez in the first round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Vindication won't race in Derby
NEW YORK -- Vindication, the unbeaten 2-year-old champion and winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, strained a ligament in his left front leg and will miss the Kentucky Derby and the other Triple Crown races.
Trained by Bob Baffert, the son of Seattle Slew was the early favorite for the Derby on May 3 after winning all four of his starts.
The injury was not considered serious, and the colt could return to race in the summer.
WORLD
Miller capturesfirst major title
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland -- Bode Miller of the United States captured his first major title, winning the gold medal in the combined at the world championships.
Norwegians Lasse Kjus and Kjetil-Andre Aamodt won the silver and bronze in the combined.
No false hull
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Challenger Alinghi will not use a version of Team New Zealand's false hull in the America's Cup final.
Vindicator staff/wire reports