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Gibson retires

CHAMPION — Champion High School’s football coach John Gibson has announced his retirement.

Gibson said he is looking forward to spending time with his family and enjoying other personal interests without the time commitments and pressures that are part of coaching.

He’s been coaching football at various levels for the past 37 years.

“Champion is a great place to teach and coach,” Gibson said.

“I appreciate the support that our administration and parents have offered over the years, along with the tremendous efforts of our athletes. I believe that the program is on the rise.”

Coaches hired

McDONALD — The McDonald board of education has named the following to coaching positions under supplemental contracts:

Allyson Jones, girls junior varsity basketball coach; Heidi Cope, girls eighth grade basketball coach; Gary Games, girls seventh grade basketball coach; Kevin O’Connell, volunteer girls basketball coach; A.J. Saul, boys ninth grade basketball coach; and Brad Conley, boys eighth grade basketball coach.

Also, Tammy Camuso, girls eighth grade basketball coach; Brian Higgins, boys junior varsity basketball coach; Bryan Phillips, boys eighth grade basketball coach; Bryant Wilson, boys seventh grade basketball coach; and volunteers: Sue Manna, bowling coach; Don Price, bowling coach; Frank Supanic, swim/diving coach; Rocco Tondo, boys varsity assistant basketball coach; Steven Hughes, boys ninth grade assistant basketball coach and Rich and Tom Martin, boys fifth and sixth grade basketball coach.

Mitzen named

BETHANY, W. Va. — Bethany College junior football player Nelson Mitzen was named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference defensive player of the week and the ECAC co-defensive player of the week.

In a game against Waynesburg, Mitzen posted nine tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

Snavely selected

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — Junior setter Brandi Snavely of the Geneva College volleyball team and from Columbiana was picked a first-team member of the NCCAA all-regional team.

Snavely leads the PAC with 10.53 assists per game.

Golden tabbed

CANTON — Shane Golden, a freshman wide receiver on the Malone football team and a product of Warren JFK, was named the Mid-States Football Association special teams player of the week.

Golden returned a free kick for a 78-yard touchdown against Urbana.

He has seven kick returns for a 31.6 yard average.

Pirates hire Benedict

PITTSBURGH — Jim Benedict, a former Indians and Yankees scout, was hired Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a special assistant to general manager Neal Huntington.

Huntington, a former Indians front office executive, worked with Benedict in 2007.

Before spending two seasons with Cleveland as a major league scout, Benedict was a pro scout and a special assistant to baseball operations with the Yankees for six seasons.

The 47-year-old Benedict was a minor league pitching coach with the Expos from 1994-98 and the Dodgers from 1998-2000.

nation

Triathlete death

NEW YORK — Authorities say a 32-year-old man who died during the New York City Triathlon last summer was killed by a condition linked to high blood pressure.

Esteban Neira died in the Hudson River during the swim portion of the triathlon on July 20.

The cause was initially a mystery. But after further testing, the medical examiner ruled the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

Triathlon organizer John Korff says the Argentine athlete apparently was unaware he had the condition.

world

Maradona offered job

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Diego Maradona was offered a chance to coach Argentina’s soccer team, but declined to say Tuesday whether he accepted.

Maradona and Carlos Bilardo were asked to lead the national team by Julio Grondona, head of the country’s soccer association.

Maradona would be the coach and Bilardo the general director, but the pair would not confirm whether they accepted the positions after leaving the meeting with Grondona.

“We have to keep talking,” Maradona said. “There are some things to resolve. This is just beginning.”

Bilardo agreed: “Are things getting started? Yes.”

Grondona has led the search for a coach following Alfio Basile’s recent resignation for personal reasons he’s yet to make public.

Vindicator staff/wire reports