Gentile helps South keep memories alive

Gentile helps South keep memories alive

STRUTHERS

Cleveland South High School may soon be gone, but thanks to John J. Gentile, it won’t be forgotten.

Gentile, a 1952 Struthers High graduate, was South’s head football coach for 16 years (1961-76), as well as an assistant in 1959-60. The school will close this fall.

Thanks to the fundraising committee chaired by Gentile, the school’s Hall of Fame plaques, Wall of Fame pictures and Pig Iron Trophy display (given to the winner of the South-Holy Name game) were relocated to Mavis Winkles in Independence.

Sharon Speedway champions for 2010

HARTFORD

Sharon Speedway winners of 6 PAK Saturday season points winners. Rex King Sr. of Bristolville won the Governor Insurance Inc. Big Blocks at Sharon Speedway for his first track title since 1996. King edged out Del Rougeux and Kevin Bolland.

The E-Mods points champion was Jeff Johnson of Mineral Ridge, who narrowly beat Joe Gabrielson.

Guy Griffin of Greenville solidly claimed the 2010 Limited Sprints title, while A.J. Albrecht was runnerup.

Masury’s Michael Scharba was the Saturday night Hobby Stock points champion, while Stephen Walker reigned in Friday Night Thunder.

Alan Dellinger of Hermitage was the Pro Stock points winner.

Jack Sodeman Jr. of North Jackson was previously named the Gibson Insurance Agency 410 Sprints champion.

Hunsbarger, Vano GYBA selections

YOUNGSTOWN

The Greater Youngstown Bowling Association Hall of Fame selection committee announced its Hall of Fame inductees for 2010.

David “Butch” Hunsbarger and John Vano will be inducted at GYBA’s banquet on Sept. 19 at Mahoning Country Club in Girard.

For ticket information, contact the GYBA office (330)758-8367.

Phantoms to hold Anthem tryouts

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms will conduct auditions for singers or musical groups to perform the National Anthem at Phantom home games during the 2010-2011 hockey season.

The trials take place at the Covelli Centre on Sept. 16, from 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Tryouts should report to the Dental Express VIP doors located next door to the ticket office. Singers who plan to audition should know that they will be required to sing acoustically.

For more, contact Kelly Carroll at 330-747-7825.

Rock wins opener

BUCKHANNON, W. Va.

Slippery Rock University women’s soccer team opened its 2010 season with a 2-0 win over West Virginia Wesleyan Thursday.

The Rock found the back of the net twice in the second half to hand the Bobcats (0-1-0) their first loss of the season.

Thiel soccer blanked

GREENVILLE, Pa.

Playing for the second consecutive night to open the season, Thiel’s men’s soccer team fell to Point Park 5-1 Thursday.

The Tomcats had their season off to a fast start with a 3-0 win over Mount Aloysius on Wednesday, but never found that same energy in the loss to Point Park. The Pioneers (2-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half and added three more in the second half.

Body to sanction

cheerleading

HARTFORD, Conn.

The national governing body for gymnastics has agreed to sanction college cheer competitions, a step aimed at getting competitive cheerleading recognized as a sport.

USA Gymnastics will sanction events held by the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association, a group formed last year by six schools with varsity competitive cheerleading teams, the organizations said Thursday.

It’s an effort to end the confusion between the activity of sideline cheerleading and the gymnastic and tumbling competitions that make up competitive cheerleading, said Oregon coach Felecia Mulkey.

“What you are seeing is the birth of a new sport,” she said.

Healing hankshake

IRVING, Texas

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland and Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant have made amends.

About an hour before their teams played Thursday night, the pair shook hands and had what looked like a brief, pleasant conversation.

They spoke for less than a minute, with Ireland patting Bryant’s chest when they finished.

Ireland already had apologized to Bryant for having asked whether his mother was a prostitute during a pre-draft interview. This was their first face-to-face meeting since then.