YSU

YSU
YSU programearns top honors
YOUNGSTOWN -- The 2002 edition of Penguin Power, the gameday program for Youngstown State University football games, was judged the best Division I-AA program in the country by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Penguin Power, a 148-page production of the YSU Sports Information and Marketing Offices, placed first ahead of second-place Illinois State.
LOCAL
Brager, Cuevasheaded to Ivy League
BOARDMAN -- Allison Brager and Monica Cuevas, both recent honor graduates of Boardman High, will continue their track careers at Ivy League schools.
Brager, a four-year letterwinner in track, will attend Brown University in Rhode Island and will major in medicine.
She finished fourth in the state in the pole vault the past two years. She set three school records this year (shuttle hurdles, pole vault relay and individual pole vault) and four meet records.
Brager graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and was a member of National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Patrice and Larry Brager.
Cuevas, a four-year letterwinner in track, will attend Columbia University in New York and major in international studies.
She finished third in both the 4x800-meter relay and the 800 at this year's state meet. She was a five-time All-Ohioan and holds school records in the 400, 800, 4x400 relay and 4x800 relay. She also set six meet records this year.
Cuevas graduated with a 3.8 GPA and was a member of National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Betty and Ernesto Cuevas.
Youngstown Christianhires basketball coach
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Christian School hired Dennis Malaska as girls basketball coach.
Malaska, who earned his bachelor's degree from Toledo and his master's from YSU, has 29 years of coaching experience, including five as head girls coach at Chaney.
Malaska was inducted into the East High Hall of Hame in 2002.
Ursuline's Metzingerchooses Tri-State
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ursuline High School graduate John Metzinger will play golf at Tri-State University next season.
Metzinger played baseball for the Irish, who reached the state tournament, and he was the Steel Valley Conference golf medalist as a junior.
Pro Football HOFopens new gallery
CANTON -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame's new gallery opens to the public today.
John Bankert, Hall of Fame executive director, says the $1.7 million gallery "provides an exciting new look to our heart and soul -- the area where the Hall of Fame members are individually honored with their bronzed likeness."
The interactive experience is provided through six high-tech touch-screen kiosks, each of which can access information from the Hall of Fame archives.
Bucks sign Ford
MILWAUKEE -- T.J. Ford became the first of this year's NBA first-round draft picks to sign, agreeing to a four-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 6-foot point guard from Texas was the eighth overall selection in last week's draft.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed but according to the 2002-03 NBA rookie scale, a four-year deal for the No. 8 pick would be worth about $7 million.
Van Gundy hires Ewing
HOUSTON -- Jeff Van Gundy, the new head coach of the Houston Rockets, hired Patrick Ewing as an assistant. Ewing was the star center under Van Gundy with the New York Knicks.
In 1994, Ewing and Van Gundy, then an assistant on Pat Riley's staff, lost in seven games to the Rockets in the NBA Finals. Ewing spent last season as an assistant with the Wizards.
Tom Thibodeau, who has spent the past seven seasons as a coach with the Knicks, Steve Clifford and Andy Greer were also hired as assistants. Clifford and Greer also coached with the Knicks.
Staff/wire reports