YSU center Elkins makes 2nd-team AP

December 20, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State senior center Chris Elkins has been named a second-team All-American by The Associated Press.

Elkins also received third-team honors from The Sports Network. Elkins, a two-time first-team all-conference selection, started all 12 games at center for the Penguins season. He was the team’s Offensive Lineman of the Game five times.

He played every snap in seven games out of 12 and his grade for season was 87 percent (highest in four years since Coach Eric Wolford joined the staff). For the campaign, he played 717 snaps and had just four missed assignments per the coaching staff while not allowing a sack and only two quarterback hurries.

Elkins started the final 38 games of his career including every game as a sophomore, junior and senior. He moved to center from right guard for the 2013 slate.

Phantoms offer skating program

BOARDMAN

The Youngstown Phantoms, in conjunction with the Ice Zone, have teamed up to launch the Mahoning Valley Learn to Skate Program.

The program, which will be offered free to children, will launch on Jan. 4. The Ice Zone will be offering skates (limited sizes available), while all participants must provide their own helmet and gloves.

Phantoms coaches and players are slated to attend the first session which will be on Jan. 4 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Two five-week programs will be offered, all on Tuesdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The first session runs from Jan. 7 through Feb. 4, and the second from Feb. 25 through March 25.

For more information, contact the Ice Zone at 330-965-1423.

Donkey basketball game scheduled

MINERAL RIDGE

Fairhaven staff and Trumbull County school district representatives will be teaming up play a donkey basketball game on Jan. 17 with proceeds benefitting the Fairhaven School and Special Olympics. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the games starting at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $8 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, call 330-652-5811.

Reporting prep results

The Vindicator encourages coaches and statisticians to report prep results by email (sports@vindy.com) or fax (330-747-6712).

Phone calls (330-747-1478) are also acceptable but emails and faxes are strongly preferred. Deadline is 10:30 p.m.

Gold medalist skater Boitano comes out

Olympic figure skating champion Brian Boitano came out Thursday, two days after he was named to the U.S. delegation for Sochi along with openly gay athletes Billie Jean King and Caitlin Cahow.

The 1988 gold medalist had always kept his personal life private, saying in a statement that “being gay is just one part of who I am.”

But President Barack Obama’s decision to include openly gay athletes in the delegation for the opening and closing ceremonies — and not send high-ranking officials — was widely seen as a message to Russia about its treatment of gays and lesbians.

Russia has come under fierce criticism for passing national laws banning “gay propaganda,” and some suggested the United States should boycott the Sochi Olympics in protest. Obama rejected that idea.

White qualifies for slopestyle finals

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo.

Shaun White qualified for slopestyle finals at the U.S. Grand Prix on Thursday, guaranteeing himself the top-30 finish he needed to be eligible for the Sochi Olympics.

Less than a week after hurting his left ankle during a halfpipe contest, White tried a conservative first run, then added an extra revolution to his last jump on his second trip down the mountain. He scored 85.66 points to finish third in his heat and earn a place in the 16-man final Sunday.

Staff/wire reports