SPORTS digest

Western Reserve inducts athletes

BERLIN CENTER

The 1999 boys basketball team was among those recently inducted into the Western Reserve Hall of Fame.

The inductees included contributors Ray Schafer and Howard Beeman Young, and Coach Al DeCola.

Athletes inducted were: Joy (Brown) Eichert (Class of 1993); Jackie (Boyle) Engle (1983); Mike Falasca (1984); Michelle (Morrison) Fleming (2000); Chris (Grace) Hrovatich (1981);

Diane (Williams) Krumpak (1980); Lorraine (Ramoff) Metzka (1989); Anna Marie (Ricciardi) Murphy (2003); Gary Namie (1990); Chris Oliva (1987); Harry Owen (1967); and Diana Smith (1989).

Canfield’s Italiano earns academic honor

KENT

Kent State senior safety Jordan Italiano (Canfield) was named Mid-American Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Wednesday. The pre-med/biochemistry major carries a 3.98 heading into his fourth academic year.

Italiano made a season-high 11 tackles against Bowling Green on Saturday, bringing his career total to 236.

The three-year starter is a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, is one of 80 FBS players on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and a nominee for the 2015 All-State American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

Last summer, Italiano was tabbed “Smartest Player in College Football” in NFL.com’s 15 for ’15 series.

A standout on the field and in the classroom, Italiano is a two-time Academic All-America selection, including first team honors in 2014. On the gridiron, he has forced five fumbles and intercepted five passes in his career.

YSU runners set for Horizon event

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State men’s cross country team will be competing to win their first Horizon League title at the conference’s Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the Cedarville University Elvin R. King Cross Country Course in Cedarville.

Last year, YSU placed third in the event. The men were ranked 14th this season in the Great Lakes Region by the USTFCCA, right above other Horizon League opponent Milwaukee.

Leading the men’s team is senior, Austin McLean. In every meet, he had a top-ten finish overall and was also honored Horizon League athlete of the week of Oct. 12.

Sophomore Ryan Sullivan placed first at the Penn State National Invitational for an overall team win, 10th at the Disney World Cross Country Classic, and 32nd at the All-Ohio Championship.

Sophomore Alan Burns has also had a strong season by taking third at the Tommy Evans Invitational, ninth at the Disney World Cross Country Classic and third at the Penn State National Invitational.

Junior Ethan Wilson has been a main runner as he has competed in all five meets and has always finished in the top-four of the YSU team.

Praying coach placed on paid leave

SEATTLE

The coach of a Washington state high school football team known for praying before and after games has been placed on paid administrative leave by the school district.

Bremerton School District officials said in a statement that assistant football coach Joe Kennedy was placed on leave Wednesday.

Officials say the leave was necessitated because of Kennedy’s refusal to comply with district directives that he refrain from engaging in overt, public religious displays on the football field while on duty as a coach. They say his conduct poses a risk that the district will be liable for violating federal and state constitutional rights of students.

Kennedy initially agreed to the ban, but with subsequent support from religious-freedom organization Texas-based Liberty Institute, he resumed the postgame prayers.

Staff/wire report