PREPS Youngstown Christian boosts sports program

The Eagles will join the East Suburban Conference and field a football team.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Christian is taking a step forward on the high school sports scene.
The Eagles have been admitted to the East Suburban Conference and will field their first varsity football team next fall, the school announced Tuesday.
Youngstown Christian became an Ohio High School Athletic Association member in July. Then in September construction on a $2 million high school began behind the current one on Southern Boulevard.
Future focus
"Youngstown Christian has had a wonderful 29-year history and these most recent developments provide a clear indication that we have great expectations for the future," said The Rev. Gary Johnston, superintendent of the school.
The new high school will have a gymnasium that will seat 500 to 600 fans.
"We think the school will be opened mid-fall next year, hopefully ready for the 2004-05 basketball season," said Greg Finnegan, Youngstown Christian athletic director.
Johnston added, "These initiatives are big steps and part of an ongoing effort to enhance the education of students who attend YCS."
In addition to Youngstown Christian, Ashtabula Sts. John & amp; Paul, Fairport Harbor, Cornerstone Christian and Lutheran East will participate in ESC basketball (boys and girls), volleyball, baseball, softball and track, with new members Southington and Mathews competing only in football.
"It's exciting. We'll begin play in the East Suburban Conference in 2004," said Youngstown Christian principal and varsity basketball coach Anthony Agresta.
By the numbers
The Eagles are Division III for all sports except football (Div. VI).
"There's over 90 churches in the Youngstown area affiliated with Youngstown Christian and we expect our enrollment will increase with the new school, new league, football program and OHSAA membership," said Agresta.
There are 471 students in kindergarten through 12th grade at Youngstown Christian, with 39 boys and 42 girls in grades 9-12. There are 49 boys and 42 girls in the eighth grade.
"We draw students from Mahoning County, southern Trumbull and some from western Pennsylvania," said Finnegan.
Addressing the distance YCS will travel for some of its conference games, Agresta said that his teams in the past have traveled to Steubenville, Cleveland and West Virginia for games, so ESC schools are actually closer.
He also said that Youngstown Christian will field a varsity football team in the fall of 2004 and that the Eagles, who will play an independent schedule, already have verbal commitments for three road games.
"We are prepared to play all of our early games away and will seek a place for future home games, hopefully in Youngstown," said Johnston.
Filling the position
Assistant coach Jonathan Moore added, "We have talked to some people about the football job and hope to have a coach by next spring so he can start a conditioning program."
Finnegan said that besides a head coach, four assistants will be hired, plus a strength coach and equipment manager.
"Money for coaches, uniforms and equipment aren't large hurdles because of our eagerness to start football," said Moore.