State champions Brode, Melone among GYTOA athletes of year

Staff report

COLUMBIANA

Division I state shot put champion Dustin Brode and Division III 100-meter dash champion Nick Melone will be among the track award winners at this year’s Greater Youngstown Track Officials Association banquet on Tuesday at Dutch Village Inn.

Brode and West Branch hurdler Taylor Kring earned track athlete of the year honors for Mahoning County, while Melone and East Liverpool runner Maggie McIlvain earned the Columbiana County awards.

The GYTOA will also present its cross country awards, which will go to Boardman’s Sam Deskin and Lowellville’s Monica Ciarniello for Mahoning County and East Liverpool’s Jake Boyer and East Palestine’s Leighann Kelvington for Columbiana County.

All award winners are seniors.

The association will also honor seven officials for longetivity awards ranging from 15-45 years.

Official Margie Iagulli will also receive an award from the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations at the OHSAA Hall of Fame banquet next weekend.