Poland Invitational attracts 66 teams

Poland Invitational attracts 66 teams

POLAND

Twenty-three Mahoning Valley schools will be sending their track teams to today’s Poland Invitational meet.

Participating will be Fitch, Badger, Boardman, Canfield, Cardinal Mooney, Champion, Crestview, Girard, Howland, Leetonia, Lowellville, Maplewood, McDonald, Springfield, Newton Falls, Niles, Poland, Salem, Struthers, Warren Harding, Valley Christian, East and Warren JFK.

Also competing will be teams from Akron SVSM, CVCA, Gilmour Academy, Hudson and Streetsboro.

The meet begins at 9 a.m.

Fitch’s Puhalla to play for Westminster

AUSTINTOWN

Austintown Fitch soccer player Kaelyn Puhalla will continue her athletic career in the fall at Westminster Colle in New Wilmington, Pa.

Puhalla was a four-year starter for the Falcons. She played primarily in the forward and midfield positions.

She has the Falcons’ records for assists in a season (13) and career (36).

Girard soccer league seeks donations

GIRARD

The Girard Youth Soccer League is seeking donations for the final phase of its construction near the soccer fields at Liberty Memorial Park.

The GYSL, a tax-deductible non-profit organization, hopes to build restrooms and a concession stand before the 2016 season. The estimated cost of the project is $150,000.

To donate, mail checks to P.O. Box 36, Girard Ohio 44420 or email girardyouthsoccerleague@yahoo.com or call (330) 240-7281.

Sponsorship plaques, bricks or wall tiles are available to companies that meet certain donation levels.

More information is available at www.girardyouthsoccer.com.

Warriors’ Curry busy rehabbing

OAKLAND, Calif.

Stephen Curry is rehabbing his injured right knee about three times a day, spending four to five hours at the Warriors’ practice facility to try to get back on the court for the defending champions as soon as possible.

And, if there’s any chance he can pull it off, that will be ahead of the initial two-week timeline Golden State general manager Bob Myers guessed. It’s the playoffs, and the reigning MVP realizes he probably won’t be fully 100 percent when he returns.

“I always have an optimistic view, no matter what it is,” Curry said Friday. “I hope to get back sooner. Having talked to the doctors and athletic training staff, all the experts, that two-week timeline, as Bob said, was an educated guess on cases, other situations on guys that hurt the same thing I did and the kind of recovery time they had. Everybody heals differently, whether it’s before two weeks, after two weeks, right at two weeks, the plan is to stay the same. Every day I’m getting treatment, every day I’m trying to do what I need to do to get back on the floor. When the body says it’s time, then we’ll push that button.”

He’s not ready yet to test the knee by shooting but expected to take that step in the coming days as long as he continues to improve.

Lakers hire Warriors’ Walton to coach

LOS ANGELES

Luke Walton is coming home to rebuild the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers reached an agreement Friday night with the Golden State assistant to become their head coach, dramatically choosing a young leader for their new era after Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers grabbed Walton just five days after they fired Byron Scott, who led the 16-time NBA champions to the two worst seasons in franchise history.

Walton spent nine seasons as a forward for the Lakers, winning two championship rings as a smart, steady contributor. Three years after his retirement as a player, the 36-year-old Southern California native is back to become the 26th head coach in franchise history.

Staff/wire report