I don’t even know where to begin anymore. Things are getting better it appears in the sports world, at least when it comes to them making a return. The eternal optimist has high hopes for the summer months ahead and beyond, but are we fooling ourselves? More than three months into the ...

Influential people are often remembered for a myriad of reasons. Someone doesn’t have to be a sports figure to be a leader of people. I know when I was younger I had a lot of great teachers who probably never got enough credit for shaping the lives of so many students. On Sunday, I ...

It’s good to see at least a little progress when it comes to the slow return of sports. What has now turned into nearly a three month long ordeal hopefully will be a thing of the past in the not too distant future. The three-week summer period for coaches is underway and at least that ...

When it comes to the game of golf, everyone has to start somewhere. For area parents who are trying to get their child involved in a lifelong sport, there’s no better time than the present. The West Virginia Golf Association’s Callaway Junior Tour Rookie League kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ...

Prep coaches in the Mid-Ohio Valley aren’t leading their respective teams for the paycheck. Rather, they often coach for the love of the game, their players and the program. Nowhere was that more evident than with now ex-Parkersburg Catholic head boys basketball coach Rob Strcula. Aside ...

The first thing which comes to my mind when I think about the last name Jett is pure Olympic gold medal speed. For the younger crowd perhaps checking in, that would be Mr. James Jett of West Virginia fame. He’s a former Jefferson High Cougar, Los Angeles/Oakland Raider, top of the Olympic ...

Throughout any given day one often makes numerous decisions. Granted, most might be mundane like figuring out what to eat or wear. However, there are also times when a choice can have profound consequences. Sometimes the options, especially when it comes to a line of work, could be both ...

Pfffffffffft. Sometimes it’s just good to let out some air and take a deep breath. I wouldn’t say that’s out of frustration or anything. I try not to go that route in general. It seems like only yesterday it was all the sunshine and warmth anyone could handle. Now, it’s feeling ...

What the Parkersburg High School girls’ basketball team accomplished over the last four years has been incredible. With each all-state selection, Mountain State Athletic Conference title, and state championship won, it became harder not to see the truth that the team’s 2020 class ultimately ...

It’s been more than a month since the 24th annual Vienna River Road Race was canceled by a COVID-19 pandemic. Lou Molinaro, who always brings a smile to my face, is trying to keep his spirits as high as possible. Other than the fact he’s a good guy, maybe the reason I like talking with ...

Sports usually brings out passion. That can come from the participants, the coaches or even scribes. Rod O’Donnell, the boys track coach at Parkersburg High, has done his utmost best through the years to keep track and field as relevant as possible. He still pens a monthly column for ...

Everything Joe Burrow, a kid from Southeast Ohio, has been able to accomplish in the past year is nearly beyond belief. By now, most people around the Mid-Ohio Valley, and all over the country for that matter, are familiar with Burrow’s story. As a high school senior, he led the Athens ...

Parkersburg South High School currently has some openings. One of those should be filled in the not too distant future — the head boys basketball coach. Brett Rector recently stepped down to take an assistant job for University of Charleston men’s head basketball coach Dwaine Osborne. ...

The times continue to be trying indeed, especially in the world of basically no sports. Any morsel of potential good news and a break in the pandemic cycle is welcome. That’s why it was great to hear the PGA Tour is planning to resume action starting on June 11 with the Charles Schwab ...

What is a two-time Class A pole vault state champion and two-time All-American in the junior Olympics to do for practice in these troubled times? Of all the spring sports, Doddridge County’s Reese Burnside joins his track and field brethren in the high jump and long jump as those stuck ...

One of the first rules in life I think which stuck with me was there’s no crying in beisbol. After thinking about things for a little bit, it definitely was one of the firsts, but probably not the first. Beisbol, or rather baseball, is just a slang term for the grand old game on the world ...

Devin Hefner’s choice could have backfired on her. Brand new people to meet and brand new territory to tread at Marietta College posed quite the challenge. This transfer marked her decision to move to a new college, after all. Add in the facts MC women’s basketball head coach Kole ...

Shay-Lee Kirby is a warrior on the basketball court. Coaches, players or onlookers taking in her mad skills on either the offensive or defensive end of any past game could see as much for themselves. No scorer intimidates her when she’s guarding them. No shot is too big for her to take ...

Imagine you are a member of the Calhoun County girls’ basketball team. Staring you down every campaign is the fact the program has never had a winning season. It is an unblinking and unavoidable mark weighing on your mind year after year. There’s no escaping the weight until it is lifted. ...

Veteran Ritchie County head softball coach Dave Mossor is ready to get back on the diamond and play softball. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, only time will tell if spring sports will take place at all in 2020. At this point the Rebels should’ve been heading toward the 10th ...