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Kuhl receives award

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown District Football Officials Association awarded Jim Kuhl with the Fred Vicarel Respect For The Game award.

The award is given yearly to a member that exemplifies outstanding character as a high school football official.

Kuhl recently completed his fortieth year of officiating.

Swallow honored

WEXFORD, Pa. — Bobby Swallow, a senior quarterback for the Washington & Jefferson College football team from West Branch High, has been named Presidents’ Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Swallow was recognized for his record-breaking performance in W&J’s 35-29 loss to Thomas More.

Swallow was 40-for-58 passing for 361 yards a four TDs (4, 3, 10 and 25 yards). His 40 completions and 58 attempts were single-game school records.

He also moved into 20th place in NCAA Division III history with his 92nd career scoring pass.

Madeline selected

WEXFORD, Pa. — John Madeline, a freshman placekicker for the Thiel College football team from Hubbard High, was named Presidents’ Athletic Conference Special Teams player of the Week.

Madeline was honored for his performance in Thiel’s 36-22 win over St. Vincent last Saturday in a PAC game, as he accounted for 10 of the Tomcats’ points.

Madeline kicked two field goals (26 and 30 yards) and two extra points, and also ran for a two-point conversion on a fake extra-point attempt.

Harris takes bout

SLIPPERY ROCK — Joshua Harris of Youngstown won a four-round majority decision over Julius Jackson of Cincinnati in a cruiserweight bout, during a professional boxing show at Morrow Fieldhouse on the Slippery Rock University campus.

Harris (2-2-1), 26 and a graduate of The Rayen School, is trained by Frank West at the West-Buckeye Elks gym.

Also, welterweight Tom Joseph (4-1-1) won a six-round unanimous decision over Khristian Geraci (3-3-1) of Pittsburgh by the scores of 59-55, 59-55, 58-56.

In the 10-round main event, WBO #11 and WBA #15 heavyweight contender Brian Minto (32-2, 21 KOs), of Butler, Pa. retained his title with a fourth-round knockout of Galen Brown (31-9-1) of Missouri.

state

Transfer must sit

COLUMBUS — Nikola Kecman (NICK-oh-la KETZ-man), a sophomore on the Ohio State men’s basketball team, will sit out the first 12 games of the 2008-09 season in an agreement reached jointly by the NCAA and the university, the school announced Monday.

Kecman played for the Vizura team in his native Serbia as it was making the transition from an amateur to a professional team. The NCAA Eligibility Center determined that Kecman may have received more than “actual and necessary” expenses while playing for the team, leading to his 12-game term of ineligibility. Kecman did not receive money to play for Vizura, but was penalized for playing with others who the NCAA considered professionals.

The 6-foot-8-inch forward played his freshman season at Eastern Arizona College in 2007-08.

nation

Wooden Court

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Indiana State Univ. will name the floor at the school’s basketball arena for legendary coach John Wooden and his late wife, Nellie.

The floor of the Hulman Center will be named the Nellie and John Wooden Court at a ceremony before the Sycamore’s exhibition game against Albion on Saturday.

Wooden turned 98 this month.

He will provide a taped message, then members of his 1947 and 1948 teams will unveil new logos on the court.

Wooden was head men’s basketball coach, baseball coach and athletics director at Indiana State from 1946 to 1948. He was 44-15 in two years as basketball coach before going to UCLA, where he led the Bruins to 10 national championships.

Golf Skills Challenge

AVENTURA, Fla. — Greg Norman Jr. hit a 111-yard pitching wedge to within an inch of the cup in the final event Monday, and he and his father won the $800,000 Golf Skills Challenge.

“I had no idea it was going to be that close,” said Norman Jr., who returns to classes at the University of Miami on Wednesday $145,000 richer for his share of the top prize. “I got lucky.”

Greg Sr. seemed delighted about the shot by his 23-year-old son, a professional kiteboarder by trade.

“That’s what teamwork is all about,” the elder Norman said.

Vindicator staff/wire reports