Curbstone Coaches hear from Valley’s champions

June 20, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

Curbstone Coaches hear from Valley’s elite

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

West Branch wrestler Ian Sharp was the favorite to win the state wrestling title in 2016 as a junior, but a torn ACL in his right leg prevented him from achieving his dream after his opponent landed on his knee during his second state match.

Sharp had surgery two weeks after that and endured a rigorous rehabilitation program, progressing so well that he even made it back in time to earn his third football letter in the fall.

As a senior last winter, he went 39-1 and then swept through the field (4-0) to win the state Division II crown at 285 pounds. He was 117-17 overall during his Warriors’ grappling career.

Sharp was one of three individual and two team state champions honored Monday by the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s summer meeting at Avion Banquet Center.

The Champion baseball and softball teams also were honored along with Canfield Cardinals wrestler David Crawford and East Liverpool shot-put champion Lindsay Baker.

Sharp said rehabbing his knee was the hardest thing that he has ever had to endure.

“I was disappointed as a junior in that you’re expected to win, but an injury cuts short that dream,” he said. “In the final moments this year, I was actually more relieved than anything.”

Crawford, a three-time state qualifier, was 41-5 last year for the Cardinals and won the 170-pound title.

“All of our upper weight classes, except 220 pounds, advanced to state so winning only makes me hungrier to want to get back,” Crawford said. “It’s my driving force now to want to become a two-time state champion.”

Baker is the Potters’ record holder in discus and shot put and the school’s second female state champion.

“Going to state three times in the discus really helped prepare me this year for the shot put,” she said. “I was nervous at first, but that wore off once the competition began. Coach [Tonya] Roberts really helped me since my freshman year, giving me valuable advice and encouragement along the way.”

While the Golden Flashes softball team went 32-2 en-route to their seventh state crown, the Champion baseball team went 27-3 to capture the school’s first baseball title. It was the softball team’s fourth championship in the past seven seasons under head coach Cheryl Weaver.

“This team was definitely the best hitting team to come out of Champion,” Weaver said. “The way they got along, kept each other focused and how they clicked was impressive.

“After falling short in regional play in 2016, our seniors and juniors made state their goal and vowed not to fall short again,” she said.

Pitcher McKenzie Zigmont (21-1), who is headed to Notre Dame College, was the staff mainstay.

“Once we started beating some of the better teams on our schedule and run-ruling them, we felt like we had something really special,” Zigmont said. “The whole year was special because everything from our fielding to pitching to hitting just clicked.”

Rick Yauger, Champion’s baseball coach, said the Golden Flashes’ run began on May 16, 2016 when they were served early exit papers by Berkshire in the district semifinals.

“It’s a date that we as a team will never forget,” said Yauger who completed his third season. “We had the tying run on third base and couldn’t get it home, losing 5-4.

“Three days later, we had a team meeting and spoke to the disappointment, so we front-loaded our schedule by playing better teams at bigger venues and it worked.”

Catcher Michael Turner hit .467 and is headed to Kent State this fall where he will play for the Golden Flashes.

“When I was a freshman, our goal as a class was to win the state and we achieved that goal,” Turner said. “It’s a great feeling to walk off the field for the very last time as a state champion.

“Not many players can say that.”