SPORTS DIGEST || Brown, Jeffery elected YSU volleyball captains

Brown, Jeffery elected YSU volleyball captains

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State senior Val Jeffery and junior Sam Brown have been elected captains of the Penguins volleyball team for the 2016 season, head coach Mark Hardaway announced Thursday.

Jeffery will be a captain for the second straight season, and Brown will be a captain for the first time.

Jeffery was the Horizon League setter of the year as a sophomore in 2014, and her 1,114 assists in 2015 were the 10th-most in school history. She recorded her 2,000th assist as a Penguin against Cleveland State on Oct. 30, and she will go into her senior year ranking seventh in program history with 2,213 assists. Jeffery’s 10.11 assists per set average over her career is the second-best mark in school history.

Brown was named to the Horizon League’s All-Freshman Team in 2014 when she finished with 293 kills. Last season she posted 255 kills, the 10th-most ever by a YSU sophomore, and she will enter her junior year with 548 career kills. Only three other Penguins have had more after their sophomore year. Brown also has 446 career digs to her credit.

Fitch AD Rob Conklin honored by OATCCC

COLUMBUS

Austintown Fitch athletic director Rob Conklin was presented with the District 1 Distinguished Service Award by the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches recently during the organization’s annual awards banquet.

District 1 includes the counties of Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull.

Conklin was recognized for his outstanding service to the sport of track and field in District 1. He has been a track official since 1998 and is a member of the Greater Youngstown Track Officials Association. He has worked as a timer for the district and regional meets and has been a member of the state track and field championship hurdle crew since 2002. Conklin has been in education for 42 years and has served as the athletic director at Austintown Fitch High School since 2007.

Conklin resides in Boardman with his wife Sue. Their children, Jeff and Jennifer, are Boardman High School graduates.

Conklin was introduced at the banquet by Diane Krumpak, the OAT-CCC District 1 Representative. Denise Gorski, athletic director at Boardman High School and District 1 alternate presented Conklin with his award.

Krumpak was voted by the OATCCC executive board as the president of the association with a two-year term to start in 2018. She will serve as the vice-president for the next two years.

Krumpak teaches at South Range High School and also coaches the Raiders’ girls cross country and track teams.

Voren Hughes, a 1986 LaBrae High School graduate, was inducted into the OATCCC Hall of Fame at the same banquet for his accomplishments in track. Ken Kilpatrick, Hughes’ high school coach, accepted his honor as he was unable to attend the banquet. Hughes’ outstanding career included six indivdual state titles and two runner-up finishes.

Phantoms organize water drive for Sebring

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms are set to host the Phantoms Phamily Water Drive from Monday through Friday, Feb. 19 to help support the Sebring community.

Anyone who brings a case of water or a $5 donation to the Phantoms administrative office or Covelli Centre box office will receive a ticket voucher for any remaining Friday home games.

Sebring residents will receive all water collected, and monetary donations will be used to purchase additional cases of water. Anyone with questions is encouraged to call the Phantoms Administrative Office at 330-747-7825.

Seats are available for Canfield-Poland game

Poland athletic director Brian Banfield has announced that seats are available for tonight’s All-American Conference game against Canfield. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. at Poland High School and tickets will be on sale.

Staff reports