Game of Hope reveals players

STAFF REPORT

The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley has announced the participants in the fifth annual Game of Hope Charity Classic basketball game.

This event begins at 4 p.m. Jan. 24 in Youngstown State University’s Beeghly Center. The game will be televised on FOX 17/62-TV at 5 p.m. Feb. 8. Admission is $6. Bob Hannon of the United Way of Youngstown will be the play-by play announcer, with Amanda Beagle, Miss Ohio of 2004, assisting. Buzz Pishkur, president of Forum Health, will serve as an honorary referee.

Other activities include music by rock band Acoustic Juggernaut at halftime, the City Printing 10-point shot, YSU men’s basketball slam dunk exhibition, half-court shot, giveaways, raffles and visits by sports team mascots Scrappy (Scrappers) and Boomer (Thunder), and the Mahoning Valley Thunder dance team.

Proceeds benefit the Hope Foundation, which supports chronically and terminally ill children. For more information, go to thegameofhope.com.

Game participants are:

Team A: Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray; U.S. Reps. John Boccieri and Tim Ryan of Ohio; Warren Prosecutor Nick Graham; David Green from UAW 1714; Jeff Pegg, president of NEOEA; Mark Herron, minister of Monument of Faith Church of God in Christ; Felix Wright, former Cleveland Browns player; Jeff Ryznar, the Nominate-a-Player winner; Eric Ryan, executive director of Chevrolet Centre; Emily Haynam, assistant director of YSU athletics; and Mike Latessa. Serving as honorary head coach is Jim Graham, president of UAW 1112. His assistant is Rev. David Herron Sr., Monument of Faith Church of God in Christ. Bruce Zoldan, president of BJ Alan Fireworks, will serve as honorary team owner.

Team B: YSU athletic director Ron Strollo; Mahoning Valley Thunder general manager Adam Tokash; John Reardon of the Ohio Superintendents Financial Institution; Youngstown City Councilman Paul Drennen; Mike Venrose of Turning Technologies; Ursuline High School football coach Dan Reardon; Patrick Smith, executive director of Flying Horse Farms; Joe Fanto, vice president of National City Bank; state Sen. Joe Schiavoni; Matt Spatz from CD-93; and Joe Aulisio, WKBN-TV assistant sports director. David Morgan, sportswriter for the Akron Beacon Journal, and Adam Underhill, Jackson-Milton head basketball coach, will serve as honorary team head and assistant coaches, respectively. Harry Meshel, YSU Board of Trustees member and former state senator, will serve as honorary team owner.