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Football ‘golden ages’ unfolding across the Valley

Depending on the fanbase, area high school football enthusiasts will point to different bygone eras as “the golden age” of football in the Mahoning Valley. Niles fans are quick to mention the 1960s when the Red Dragons won a pair of state titles in the midst of a 48-game unbeaten streak. Warren backers are rightfully quick to point toward the 1970s, when the Harding-Reserve rivalry was at its peak, and when both schools took turns climbing to the peak of greatness. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney fans enjoy a plethora of history. The Don Bucci era spanned 34 years and included 306 ...

Dedication, hard work pays off

Seeing my dad umpire a baseball game is nothing new, but seeing him umpire a baseball game on ESPN in the northeast regional tournament, a step away from the Mecca of little league baseball, is something I’ll never forget. For years I’ve seen my dad, Larry Hawthorne, work hard for something he thought would never happen. Watching him go from umpiring games at my old little league field in Sharpsville, Pa. to ESPN proves that hard work pays off. It was early January when my dad got an email from a Little League Baseball email address. My parents had just moved to Warren to be ...

Preparation can lead to success on the waters

The lures we use to catch fish can tell us a lot about the mood of our quarry and the adjustments we might make to improve our fortunes. Two recent fishing trips underscore my point. One trip resulted in numerous missed opportunities. The other was a slugfest during which nearly every strike resulted in a boated bass. Careful inspection of the wear and tear on the soft-plastic, boot-tail swimbait bodies I used to add bulk, color and action to my bladed jig revealed the tendencies of the fish during both outings. During the first trip, the bass seemed to be sneaking up on the ...

Staying on staff: 24 former HC’s are assistants in the Mahoning Valley

As far as Poland head coach Tom Pavlansky is concerned, there are never too many cooks in the kitchen. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians? Nonsense! It’s like suggesting that you can have too many former head coaches on the same sidelines. “You simply cannot place a value on experience,” Pavlansky said. “I wouldn’t trade those guys for anything. They keep me grounded, they can be problem-solvers because they’ve been through it all. Their presence is invaluable.” Pavlansky is referring to three former head coaches – Ryan Williams, Brian Palmer and Brian ...

Passion hasn’t faded at the end of an extended absense

Eight weeks. Two months. Sixty days. Doesn’t seem like a long time, but it can be an eternity when it comes to certain things – like waiting for the day when I would cast a line with hopes of hooking a fish. I knew before the surgical team at Cleveland Clinic anesthetized me June 20 that it would be a while until I returned to doing anything resembling “normal.” The surgeons and nurses did a great job and gradually I resumed walking, showering, cooking, writing this column and sleeping in any position other than flat on my back. Who knew I’d be pushing a grocery buggy ...

Gaining an appreciate for Warren football

Since starting my journalism career, I’ve had the opportunity to experience a few different things. Spring training in Arizona, a few different Arizona State sporting events, high school football in both Western Pennsylvania and in the Phoenix-metropolitan area, along with several other things. But the stories I’ve gotten to tell and the people I get to talk to along the way will always be the best part of those experiences, and over the past few months, I’ve gotten to dive into the history of football in Warren. It’s something I’ll never forget. Built at Mollenkopf is a ...