WHEELERSBURG — For Cooper Heimbach, he’ll be going away as far away to college as about as far as one of his kicks. The Wheelersburg Pirates senior All-Ohio placekicker and punter realized his dream of kicking for Marshall after signing a letter-of-intent with the Thundering Herd. “To have such an amazing culture and historic program just 45 minutes down the road is amazing,” said Heimbach. “All the early mornings and late nights that’s led up to this and all the hard work is

COAL GROVE — There’s an old saying that good things come in small packages. In the case of Kaden Murphy, that package isn’t really that small and great things have been coming from it. The Coal Grove Hornets record-setting All-Ohio running back has done big things and plans to do even more after signing a letter-of-intent on Monday with the NCAA Division 2 West Virginia State Yellow Jackets. One factor that has always plagued Murphy is the size stigma. Murphy is just 5-foot-9

WHEELERSBURG — Talking with Cashton Adkins you almost get the idea that one of his idols is Buzz Lightyear. The Wheelersburg Pirates outstanding senior discus thrower signed a national letter of intent with the Marshall Thundering Herd on Monday, but you could almost hear Buzz Lightyear in the interview. It was Buzz Lightyear who famously said, “To Infinity and beyond.” In his own way, Adkins was saying, “To Marshall and beyond.” Signing with Marshall was a difficult decision

PROCTORVILLE — When it comes to being a good basketball coach or being a fortune teller, Jon Buchanan is much better at one than the other. Fortunately for the Fairland Lady Dragons, Buchanan is better at being a coach. When Buchanan, 47, started his coaching career 17 years ago with the Lady Dragons, the team began the season 0-8. That eighth loss came at Green and on the ride home the bus had to stop and wait on a train at a crossing to reach the highway. “When I first got

The coaches called. The visits were made. The offers were on the table. But when Ironton senior wrestler Nate Sloan looked at all the offers, only one program had something the others couldn’t offer. His brother. With his brother Ben already a member of the University of Rio Grande wrestling team, Nate accepted the RedStorm offer. Sloan admitted that his decision was affected by his brother. “I’d really be lying if I said I didn’t. I really wanted to wrestle with him again. I

Wheelersburg Pirates soccer standout Nick Sylvia signed a national letter-of-intent on Dec. 15 to play for the Messiah Falcons. Attending the signing ceremony were: seated left to right, brother Nathan, father Adam, Nick and mother Molly. They say behind every great man is a great woman. In the case of the Wheelersburg Pirates' outstanding senior soccer player Nick Sylvia, behind him was his brother Nathan. Practicing with his brother and watching him achieve success was part

WHEELERSBURG — Batman, Superman, Spiderman, even the Green Hornet can understand the life of Landon McGraw. Landon “Music Man” McGraw is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound wide receiver for the Wheelersburg Pirates’ football team and a forward on the basketball team. But while he’s a student by day and a ballplayer at night, he has his own secret identity, only his secret life is about to be unveiled. McGraw was chosen to be a contestant on the reality television show American Idol and it

Wheelersburg Lady Pirates softball standout Ava Estep signed a national letter-of-intent on Wednesday to play for the Maryland Terrapins. Attending the signing ceremony were: seated left to right, father Michael Estep, Ava, and mother Jennifer; standing left to right are sisters Rilee Estep and Bailee Estep. WHEELERSBURG — Anyone who knows or has heard of Wheelersburg Lady Pirates’ Ava Estep knows she is an outstanding softball player and they will sing her praises. Actually,

Rock Hill Redmen senior Nixon Snavely signed a national letter-of-intent on Monday to run cross country and track for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Attending the signing ceremony were: seated left to right, grandfather Danny Cox, grandmother Tammi Cox, brother Rex Snavely, Nixon, mother Lindsey Snavely, father Nick Snavely and grandmother Patty Cox; standing left to right, Rock Hill assistant coach Mike Miller, cross country head coach and track assistant Mark McFann, and track he

WILLOW WOOD — Free education, yes. Free pass to a starting position, no. Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ power-hitting junior first baseman Marley Ferguson has a guarantee about payment on her college education, but she knows there is no guarantee she will be handed a starting position on the Valparaiso Beacons softball team after making a verbal commitment. “I’m just going to have to put a lot of work into my spot. Yes, they like me and want me to come there, but they also have

Wheelersburg Lady Pirates’ senior volleyball standout Grace Woodward signed a national letter-of-intent to play for Coker University. Attending the signing ceremony were: seated left to right, mother Mariah Woodward, Grace, and father Rob Woodward; standing left to right, brother Graer Woodward, and sisters Gradie Jo Woodward and Greta Woodward. WHEELERSBURG — The volleyball life of Grace Woodward may be “from the womb to the tomb” experience. The Wheelersburg Lady Pirates se

Fairland Lady Dragons All-Ohio basketball standout Addison Godby signed a national letter-of-intent on Thursday to play for the Stetson University Hatters. Attending the signing ceremony were, left to right, stepfather John DeMoya, Aven DeMoya, mother Brooke DeMoya, Addison Godby, father Mason Reynolds and Judy Rogero; standing from left to right, Woody Godby, Sherry Godby and Chris Maynard. PROCTORVILLE — During her time playing basketball for the Fairland Lady Dragons, Addi

WILLOW WOOD — Softball is a game. But for Brenna Tibbs, it’s also going to be a job. The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings senior left-handed pitcher signed a letter-of-intent on Wednesday to play for the Ohio University Bobcats. “They just told me my only job is to pitch so, I’ll have to get that done,” said Tibbs with a laugh. “Some days you have an off day and they totally understand that, but that’s my one job and I’m expected to perform that way.” Tibbs described herself as a p

PROCTORVILLE — American writer Thomas Wolfe once wrote a novel, “You Can’t Go Home Again.” Evidently, Aaron Murray hasn’t read that...

Monday marks the 30th anniversary of the final game between the Huntington High Pony Express and Huntington East Highlanders, which took...

FRANKLIN FURNACE — Jonathan Knapp is a self-made pitcher. And the Green Bobcats’ senior-to-be just made himself a deal with the...

FRANKLIN FURNACE — The only number that mattered to Abbie Knapp was the right one. There has been a long list of suitors that includes...

COAL GROVE — The life of football in the NFL has become a microcosm of Austen Pleasants’ real life. The San Francisco 49ers re-signed him...

After what happened in his first season as a varsity head baseball coach, John Hunt is wondering what he has to do for an encore. Hunt...

CHESAPEAKE — When it comes to four-letter words, there’s one that Chris Calderon never gets tired of. Work. The Chesapeake Panthers...