Winter prep sports

Winter prep sports

youngstown

Varsity winter sports coaches at all area high schools are asked to fill out and return questionnaires that were mailed on Oct. 28.

Questions should be directed to sports editor Rob Todor at 330-747-1471, ext. 1292.

Babbaro earns honor

canfield

Villanova senior running back Angelo Babbaro has been named to the 2010 ESPN District 2 All-Academic Team.

This is the second straight year that Babbaro, a graduate of Canfield High School, has earned this honor.

He will now be a candidate for the ESPN Academic All-American Division honors.

The All-Academic District 2 team is comprised of NCAA Division I football players at both the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) levels.

To be eligible for the team, the student-athlete must carry a 3.330 cumulative GPA.

Grenga, Merlo, Critel and Beck are selected

AUSTINTOWN

Junior defender Anthony Grenga (Boardman High) and sophomore Joey Merlo (Cardinal Mooney High) were named to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference second team while two other Mount Union soccer players — sophomore goalkeeper Jon Critell and freshman midfielder Thomas Beck (both Cardinal Mooney) — received honorable mentions.

In 17 games, Merlo finished with 10 goals, including four game-winners. Currently, he is tied for third in goals per game (0.59).

Grenga had three goals and one assist in 19 games.

In net, Critell compiled an 8-6-3 record with three shutouts and a 1.25 goals-against-average. He made 92 saves and had a .807 save percentage.

Basketball elections

Two local men were elected to three-year terms as directors of the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association.

Dan Gorski of Boardman High was elected the District 1 district director.

Pat Pavlansky of Canfield was elected the GAC 1&4 girls advisory committee member.

IRB chief says US to host Rugby World Cup

LONDON

The chief executive of rugby’s governing body says it is a question of “when, not if” the sport’s World Cup is held in the United States.

Japan will become the first nation from outside the sport’s elite to host the showpiece in 2019, and International Rugby Board chief Mike Miller says the United States or Russia could soon follow.

Miller says “it’s a question of when — not if — it’s going to happen.”

Miller said Wednesday the IRB’s practice of choosing two tournament hosts at a time should allow it to spread a game that will be included in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Sisters each record hole-in-1 in same round

EDMOND, Okla.

Two sisters on the Central Oklahoma golf team are celebrating holes-in-one recorded in the same round.

Erica and Lindsey Branch each pulled off the feat Tuesday during a round at KickingBird Golf Club.

Erica Branch, a junior, had the ace on the 124-yard No. 3 hole, using a gap wedge in windy conditions. Less than two hours later, freshman Lindsey Branch knocked in an 8-iron on the 142-yard No. 11 hole.

Erica Branch shot a 1-under 69 while Lindsey Branch finished with an even-par 70.

Premium Wine wins Big A feature race

NEW YORK

Premium Wine rallied to beat the pacesetting Smokin Hero by a head Wednesday in the $44,000 allowance feature for New York breds at Aqueduct.

Ramon Dominguez was aboard for trainer Tony Dutrow as the 6-year-old improved to 8 for 26. The time was 1:09.76 for the six furlongs on the fast track.

Premium Wine paid $7.90, $4.90 and $3.20.

Vindicator staff/wire reports