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Curbstoners to honor Irish

BOARDMAN — The 2008 Ursuline High School Div. V state championship football team will be honored by the Curbstone Coaches on Monday at noon at the Blue Wolf Catering facility.

The event will be held in conjunction with a luncheon.

The Curbstoners also announced that their all-league football banquet will be Jan. 25 at the Georgetown at 6 p.m.

For tickets and reservations for the banquet, call (330) 707-0234 or (300) 549-0277.

Track officials meeting is Feb. 11

AUSTINTOWN — The mandatory state rules meeting for officials and coaches has been changed to Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. at Fitch High School.

The meeting is required to maintain certification for officials and coaches or school representatives must attend to be eligible for state competition.

Anyone interested in becoming an official can go online to myOHSAA.org or call Ron Scott, secretary of the Greater Youngstown Track Officials at (330) 758-9290.

Denise Gorski to receive award

BOARDMAN — The Ohio Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches will award Boardman High girls track coach Denise Gorski the Ed Barker Award at their annual clinic on Jan. 30.

The Ed Barker Award is the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the OATCCC and recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contribution to Ohio cross country and track and field.

Lakeview coach Diane Neighbarger will receive the Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award from the OHSAA. This award is given to only four coaches across the entire state to recognize the highest degree of professional conduct.

Victor inducted

Fitch High graduate Julie Victor will be one of six athletes inducted into the OATCCA Hall of Fame.

A talented thrower and jumper, Victor won three state titles in high school and was an All-American in the discus at the University of Michigan.

District 1 coaches-of-the-year are Rod Hice (Mineral Ridge, girls track), Louis Domitrovich (McDonald, boys track), Dave Deeter (Maplewood, girls cross country) and Sean Voorhies (Lakeview, boys cross country).

The banquet will be held at the Columbus Hilton at Easton. For details, call Diane Krumpak at (330) 533-0892.

Candle joins Toledo

ALLIANCE — Mount Union College Offensive Coordinator Jason Candle has been hired as a part of the Toledo football staff.

Candle (West Branch High) will coach the Rocket inside slot receivers and running backs.

He was a part of three Div. III national championship coaching staffs in his six years with Mount Union, racking up an 83-4 record.

He also played for the Purple Raiders, winning two national titles.

Prep track

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA. — The Lordstown High School girls 4x200 relay team of Jessica Reinke, JoHaana Morgan, Katie Bellay and Kayla Ellks placed fourth with a time of 1:59.4 in the Slippery Rock Univ. Invitational meet.

The Lordstown 4x800 relay team placed sixth (11:32.0) and Ellks was fourth in the long jump (15-5).

For the Lordstown boys, Preston Hall was fifth in the 55 hurdles (8.7).

Also, Jeff Farkas of East Palestine was fourth in the 55 hurdles with a time of 8.6.

Polar Bear Plunge

COLUMBUS — There are eight opportunities all across Ohio this winter to participate in Special Olympic Ohio’s “Freezin For A Reason” Polar Bear Plunges.

The first Polar Bear Plunge is Jan. 24 at Mosquito Lake in Cortland. For details call (614) 239-7050.

nation

49ers interview Rob Chudzinski

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Rob Chudzinski, the Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, is interviewing with 49ers coach Mike Singletary for San Francisco’s vacant offensive coordinator job.

Former St. Louis coach Scott Linehan and Indianapolis receivers coach Clyde Christensen interviewed with the 49ers on Friday.

Chudzinski was praised in 2007 when Cleveland’s offense scored 402 points and finished eighth in the NFL, but his unit slumped to 31st this season, contributing to coach Romeo Crennel’s firing.

Chudzinski got a contract extension from Cleveland last season.

Sorenstam, McGee tie the knot

ORLANDO, Fla. — Annika Sorenstam and Mike McGee were married Saturday, four weeks after the Swedish golf star ended her Hall of Fame career.

About 125 guests attended the afternoon ceremony and evening reception at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club. McGee, the son of former PGA Tour player Jerry McGee (East Palestine), has served as managing director for her business brand since December 2006.

Travis Wilhelm, the minister at Christian Campus House at Trine University in Angola, Ind., officiated the ceremony.

Swedish friend Maria Bertilskold was the maid of honor, and Stan McCamon of East Palestine, was McGee’s best man.

Busanda Stakes

NEW YORK — Pumpkin Shell rallied from last to beat Chocolate Pop by one length Saturday in the $72,020 Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at snowy Aqueduct.

Ninth for the first half-mile, Pumpkin Shell got into contention with a strong inside move before splitting rivals in the stretch to secure her second straight win.

Ft. Lauderdale Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Kiss the Kid edged Society’s Chairman by a neck to win the $100,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes for older horses at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Kiss the Kid, ridden by Elvis Trujillo, ran the 1 1-16th miles on grass in 1:40.59 and paid 24.60, 10.20 and 6.80.

Society’s Chairman returned 8.80 and 5.80, and A.P. Magic finished third and paid 16.00.

The first six finishers in the field of 11 finished within one length of each other.

world

Ski World Cups

LES CONTAMINES, France — Andreas Matt of Austria and Hedda Berntsen of Norway won their first freestyle World Cup titles in ski cross on Saturday.

Christopher Delbosco was second with his first World Cup podium, and Markus Wittner of Austria was third.

World champion Ophelie David of France was second.

Liverpool’s stumbles

LONDON — Liverpool played to a 0-0 draw at struggling Stoke on Saturday, leaving the Premier League leader in front by four points as it bids for its first English title since 1990.

Captain Steven Gerrard hit the crossbar and the post in the last six minutes for the 18-time champions.

Vindicator staff/wire reports