YSU

YSU

Pace now a Penguin

YOUNGSTOWN — Torrian Pace of Chantilly High School in Centreville, Va., a running back, verbally committed to YSU.

Pace (5-foot-10, 224 pounds), rushed for 2,717 yards this season and close to 5,000 for his career.

He had 351 yards and five touchdowns in one playoff game last season. Chantilly finished the season with a 9-4 record.

He was also considering Army and Widener.

Arnold takes first

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — YSU senior swimmer Olivia Arnold won the 1,000-yard freestyle for the eighth time in dual action this season in a triangular Saturday against Green Bay and Illinois St.

The Phoenix beat the Penguins 186-97 while the Redbirds scored a 208-91 decision over YSU.

Arnold won the event with a time of 10:25.23, finishing seven-plus seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.

Freshman Nishani Cicilson finished second in the 50-yard freestyle and sophomore Ashley Williamson took second in the 100-yard butterfly (59.62).

YSU also took second in the 4x400 meter relay. The foursome of Kirstin Walker, Alana Kane, Cicilson and Megan Rupe swam 3:39.27.

area

Boardman hall

BOARDMAN — The Boardman High School Hall of Fame Committee is looking for nominations for this year’s class.

Nominees must have been out of school at least 15 years.

Apply with a resume of accomplishments, contact address and phone number of the nominee to the Boardman Booster Club, care of the Athletic Department at Boardman High School 7777 Glenwood Ave. Boardman, Oh. 44512 by February 6.

Curbstoners

BOARDMAN — Former Woodrow Wilson High athlete Nick Bolkovac, who later played at Pitt and then for the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be the guest speaker when the Curbstone Coaches Association gathers Monday at noon at the Blue Wolf Catering Centre.

McDonald’s game

WARREN — Two members of the Warren Harding boys basketball team, Desmar Jackson and Sheldon Brogdon, were nominated to play in the McDonald’s All-American game.

The McDonald’s game will feature an East vs. West format and will be played in Miami on April 1.

The final team rosters will be announced later this month.

Orange rallies, 5-4

BOARDMAN — Orange defeated the Canfield High School hockey team Saturday, 5-4.

Canfield led 4-2 entering the final period but then committed seven penalties.

Scott Sittig had two goals and an assist while Riley Emery and Joe Geiser each had a goal and an assist for the Cards (9-13, 3-6).

nation

Honoring Yow

From pink whistles to pink warm-up shirts, Kay Yow was honored at women’s college basketball games around the country Saturday, the day she was laid to rest.

Yow, the longtime North Carolina St. coach, died last Saturday after battling breast cancer for more than two decades.

Pink is commonly used by groups that try to raise awareness of the disease and raise funds to help search for a cure.

Kansas and No. 11 Texas A&M wore pink shirts before their game at College Station, Texas, and officials at the Rutgers-South Florida, Oklahoma-Missouri, and Cincinnati-Notre Dame games all used pink whistles.

Nicanor loses debut

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Nicanor’s debut wasn’t one to remember.

Hurting himself on his very first stride, the 3-year-old full brother of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro finished 10th of 12 horses in a one-mile maiden race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, hardly an encouraging step toward what his connections hoped would be a journey into this year’s Triple Crown races.

Under jockey Edgar Prado, who was aboard ill-fated Barbaro three years ago, Nicanor made a move near the half-mile mark but never got close to the lead.

John Gordy dies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — John Gordy, a former offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions and Univ. of Tennessee who helped form the NFL Players’ Association, died Friday. He was 73.

The university said in a statement Saturday that Gordy died Friday in Orange, Calif., after a long battle with cancer.

Distorted Passion

NEW YORK — Distorted Passion extended her winning streak to three, beating Blowing Kisses by 11‚Ñ2 lengths Saturday in the $70,460 Correction Handicap for fillies and mares at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Rajiv Maragh improved to 4-for-12, running the six furlongs on the fast track in 1:11.94.

world

Mexico puts in bid

MEXICO CITY — Mexico has submitted a bid to host the 2018 and 2022 World Soccer Cups.

Decio de Maria, the secretary general of the Mexican Football Federation, said its bid for either tournament was sent on Friday.

He said Mexico should have an edge over the other bidders as one of only four nations to have hosted the World Cup twice — in 1970 and 1986. The others are France and Italy. Brazil will host its second World Cup in 2014.

Mexico also has several new stadiums.

Powell clocks 47.75

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Asafa Powell was happy with clocking 47.75 seconds as he came second in the 400 meters at the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Invitational on Saturday.

The former 100-meter world record-holder has started the season in the 400 for strength training for several years. His best was 47.17 two years ago.

“The aim was to finish and run under 48 seconds, which I did, and I am very satisfied,” said Powell, who was part of the Jamaica team which won the 4x100 relay at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time.

Van der Sar sets mark

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar set an English record for the number of minutes played without conceding a goal in United’s 1-0 victory over Everton on Saturday.

The former Netherlands international has gone 1,122 minutes without giving up a goal.

He surpassed the previous mark of 1,103 minutes set by Reading’s Steve Death during the 1978-79 season.

Van der Sar was last beaten in November, when Arsenal’s Samir Nasri scored on him twice.

Vindicator staff/wire reports