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Don’t get tangled up with the wrong fishing line

The most important piece of anglers’ equipment unfortunately is something they all too often overlook. Fishing line is not the most exciting stuff that anglers use, so it is easy to shrug it off. That’s a shame because neglect and indifference can lead to a great deal of disappointment out on the lake. Line comes in many sizes, compounds, weaves and colors, each serving certain needs for those of us who spool them into our reels. Many who fish, however, are only vaguely aware of how the line they wind can work for or against them. Fishing presents baits and lures to the fish ...

A quick look back at football season

The Ohio high school football season came to an official end this past weekend with the crowning of seven state champions. The season didn’t end on a winning note for the Mahoning Valley, as Springfield’s historic run was halted in a 48-14 loss to Anna in the Division VI state title game. After winning 14 consecutive games — most in convincing fashion — the Tigers’ storybook season ended at the hands of the powerful Midwest Athletic Conference. Nonetheless, Springfield became the 15th area school to reach a state title game, and in the process the players and coaches ...

Listen up, Pelini coming back for YSU

YOUNGSTOWN — Telling people what they don’t want to hear is never an easy thing to do — for anyone. Doctors have to do it. Families have to do it. Friends, bosses, coworkers... and journalists. We all do. It’s part of life, whether we like it or not. So, while some people don’t want to hear that Youngstown State football coach Bo Pelini will be returning next season, he will, indeed, be back on the sidelines. He’s not quitting, and YSU isn’t firing him. Pelini and the Penguins agreed on a three-year extension in February of 2019, and YSU isn’t the type of ...

Fishing quells sports-induced anxiety

I am an anxious football fan. Game day stirs a churn of anxiety in me as the hours and minutes tick down to kickoff. Perhaps you are like me and were seeking distractions as The Ohio State Buckeyes prepared to square off against Wisconsin on Saturday evening. I was confident of the outcome, but no football game is a sure bet, especially the Big Ten championship. I had nervous energy to burn Saturday morning and afternoon. To calm my pre-game-jitters, I needed something other than the endless pre-game TV shows featuring talking heads blathering on about who will win and why. Enough ...

Valley’s football continues to shine

CANTON For the second year in a row, things didn’t end well for the Mahoning Valley in the high school football state championship. Don’t let that fool you. Football is alive and well in Trumbull and Mahoning counties. Springfield and Poland solidified that point in the playoffs (along with Girard’s state final appearance last year). Sure, the Tigers suffered an ugly 48-14 loss to Anna High School in the Division VI title game on Friday, and Poland was stunned in the Division IV semifinal last week, giving up two late TDs in a thrilling finish. That doesn’t mean Valley ...

Players, coaches learn to overcome

YOUNGSTOWN — Coaches are supposed to instill wisdom in their players. John Barnes has done just that for the Youngstown State University women’s basketball teams since he has been the team’s coach starting in the 2013-14 season. There’s on-court knowledge, practice habits, life lessons — all things these Penguins have done well the past couple of years. The team has made three WNIT appearances and had a WBI semifinal run, in addition to continued academic excellence, one of the best in the Horizon League and the nation. The challenge this 3-3 YSU team faces now is ...