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TheVindicator SUNDAY Ex-Steeler Faneca now a Jet MARCH 2, 2008 The New York Jets and Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca agreed to and terms on a fi ve-year, $40 million contract Saturday, making the for- SECTION C Sports RECREATION mer Steeler the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. C8 Jameson joins wrestling’s elite O’Neill The Fitch senior became only is big the 16th wrestler to win four state crowns. By ERIC HAMILTON Pavlik VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT COLUMBUS — After winning in Friday night’s semifinals and clinching a spot in the 145-pound state championship wrestling backer match, Fitch High’s Tony Jameson went back to his hotel room a little The “Married ... With wounded. Children” star has pride in He had a sore right shoulder and a few bumps and bruises, but maybe his Youngstown roots. what was hurting him most was his pride. By JOE SCALZO The three-time state champi- VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF on was about 24 hours away from an opportunity to make high Kelly Pavlik’s school wrestling history and he self-proclaimed didn’t seem very excited about it. “biggest fan” He wasn’t pleased with his per- didn’t even watch formance in his first three state his biggest fi ght, tournament matches and although at least not live. he won, it wasn’t as convincingly as Ed O’Neill was he’s grown used to during his stel- too nervous. He lar career. heard the result But when Saturday night fi nally that night, wait- came around and Jameson had his- ed a week, then O’Neill tory staring him square in the face, plopped himself he did what he’s always done at the down in front of state tournament — he won. a TV set and watched HBO’s replay Jameson became just the 16th of Pavlik-Taylor II. Twice. high school wrestler in state tour- As he was watching, he took nament history to win four state ti- out a pen and a piece of paper and tles when he defeated Tecumseh’s scored the rounds, awarding Pav- T.J. Rigel 8-4 in the title bout at the lik the 12-round decision by a 117- Schottenstein Center. The senior The Vindicator/Geoff Hauschild 111 score. now owns championships at 103, STATE CHAMPION: Fitch’s Tony Jameson holds T.J. Rigel of Tecumseh during Saturday’s state championship meet at Ohio State University’s Value City If this sounds like odd behav- 119, 135 and 145 pounds. Arena. Jameson is a four-time state champ. More wrestling stories appear on page C4. ior for a relatively famous 61-year- “I’m ecstatic,” Jameson said. “He old actor in California (who twice was beating me for half the match seconds left, my arms were getting ell, who carried him off the mat. He the fl ag out.” now be added to the collection of has been nominated for a Gold- and I had to come back, but that’s tired trying to hold the cradle.” then grabbed an Ohio State fl ag and After his celebration, Jameson four-time champions. The pictures en Globe, by the way), well, you’re how I live, you know? There was Rigel went to his corner for blood took a victory lap around the mat jogged over to the stands where his hang in the tunnel where wres- probably right. pressure I put on myself and this time with 57 seconds left and the waving it in celebration. family and friends were sitting and tlers exit on their way to the fl oor. “That’s how crazy I get,” said was about me tonight— as much offi cial asked Jameson if he wanted With that, Jameson received a jumped into the arms of his father He feels honored to be in such a se- O’Neill, a North Side native best as I could make it. The match was to go to his corner, but he declined. standing ovation from the crowd of Ken. When the awards were pre- lect group. known for playing Al Bundy on perfect.” He stood in the center of the mat more than 15,000. A crowd that had sented for the 145-pound weight “Those guys are just on another Fox’s “Married ... With Children.” Jameson trailed 4-2 heading into waiting and refl ecting. booed after his match on Thursday, class, Tony’s dad was given the level,” Jameson said. “I’ve met a lot “For some inexplicable reason, I the third period, but after a stall- “I was just thinking that I only thinking he had been pinned, was honor of presenting them. of those guys and now to be one of was too nervous to watch the fi ght. have one minute left in high school,” now giving him his due and recog- When it was Tony’s turn to re- them is great.” ing call on Rigel closed the gap to I don’t know where it comes from. Jameson said. “I was thinking about nizing his place in history. ceive his medal, the two bumped Jameson, who will return to Ohio 4-3, Jameson hit a reversal to go “The fight was that important how I wanted it to end. I wanted it “That was cool, but it’s hard to fists and his dad crowned Tony State next year as a member of ahead 5-4 with 1:33 left. He sealed to me.” the deal in the fi nal minute with a to end just like that.” say it was awesome, because they the champion — the four-time the Buckeyes’ wrestling team, fi n- After time expired, Jameson gave me a ‘standing boo’ on Thurs- champion. ished his senior season 44-2 and O’Neill, a 1964 Ursuline High cradle and a near fall to pull ahead graduate who played football at 8-4. shook hands with his opponent and day,” Jameson said. “But it was nice And he got another standing his career with a mark of 168-6. “He came right at me and that the opposing coaches, then jumped to hear the crowd and even better ovation. He was a perfect 16-0 in the state was good,” Jameson said. “With 30 into the arms of Coach Brett Pow- when they went crazy when I got Jameson’s name and picture will tournament. See O’Neill on Page C3 Barber reaches 1,000, Poland survives but YSU falls to Vikings The Penguins suffered their from the foul line, made four of six Warriors, 72-71 over those fi nal 35 seconds to wrap sixth 20-loss season in seven up the victory. The unbeaten Bulldogs An average team wouldn’t years. “They gave us every chance to have escaped West Branch’s win the game and our kids com- advanced to the regional for near-comeback. peted very hard again tonight, but By PETE MOLLICA An average team wouldn’t have it still came down to missing free a second straight year. survived losing one of its second- VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF throws and missing wide open 12- shift players with a dislocated fi n- By JOHN BASSETTI YOUNGSTOWN — The foot jump shots down the stretch,” ger early in the game. Youngstown State men’s YSU head coach Jerry Slocum said. VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF An average team wouldn’t have team finished its Horizon League The loss offset a senior night BOARDMAN — The road to the been 11 of 34 from 3-point range. season exactly the way it started it: performance by senior John Bar- regional that was supposed to go Then there’s West Branch, an losing to Cleveland State. ber, who led the Penguins with 12 through Poland still does, but it al- above-average underdog, which The Penguins played much bet- points and 10 rebounds for his sev- most took a detour through Beloit. wouldn’t have successfully pierced ter than they did in the fi rst meet- enth double-double of the season. It wasn’t until time ran out fol- Poland’s full-court pressure, which ing with the Vikings, but still suf- With 6:33 remaining in the fi rst lowing Matt Tafe’s free throw and wouldn’t have thrown and bounced fered a 65-58 setback in their regu- half, Barber tipped in a missed shot Alex Stull’s follow-up basket for the ball with precision and out-re- lar season fi nal before 3,602 fans at for his eighth point of the contest West Branch that bounded the Bulldogs, 43-38. . that gave him 1,000 career points the Poland boys INSIDE In the end, West Branch (14-10) With the loss, the Penguins suf- at Youngstown State. sealed the Divi- challenged Poland unlike almost fered their sixth 20-loss season YSU also had three others in dou- sion II district Preps any team this season. Before Satur- in the last seven years as they ble figures — senior Byron Davis, championship at Warren Harding day, the Bulldogs won most of their dropped to 9-20, 5-13 in the Hori- freshman Vance Cooksey and ju- Boardman High snapped a district games by 30 points. Only Board- zon League. nior Jack Liles, all with 10 points. Saturday night, title drought with man was closest: 82-80. On the other hand, Cleveland Barber, Davis, Dwight Holmes 72-71. a big win. “I give coach [Mike] Falasca and State (20-11, 12-6) which had 21 and George Cotal were all honored Make that his staff all the credit in the world,” Newton Falls losses a year ago, rebounded for its before the contest as seniors play- the undefeat- Ken Grisdale said of the Warriors. fi rst 20-win season since the 1992- ing in their fi nal home game. ed Poland boys; was eliminated “They play a pretty good schedule 93 campaign. Cleveland State also put four and make that by Pymatuning in the Northeastern Buckeye Con- The Penguins battled to the end players in double figures led by the gutsy West Valley. C4 ference. We scrimmaged them in and overcame as much as a 12- J’Nathan Bullock with 17, while Branch Warriors. the summer and we scrimmaged point second half defi cit. Breyohn Watson added 13 and Ce- After 22 games them in the fall, so they know how They were within three points, dric Jackson and Norris Cole each of mostly blowout victories, Poland to play us and they did a nice job 61-58, with 35 seconds remaining, (23-0) met its match at the district with it.” but the Vikings, who shot terribly See YSU on Page C5 level. Although West Branch had 24 West Branch stayed close, then turnovers to Poland’s 17, Grisdale fell behind by 16 before giving Po- wasn’t convinced that his Bulldogs land all it could handle. seriously disrupted the opponent. Special to The Vindicator/Nick Mays But Poland, an above-average However, holding the Warriors BULLDOGS ESCAPE: West Branch’s Michael Sellaroli (20) gets his legs cut team, shifted its multi-faceted ma- from under him by Poland’s Niko Fatimus during Saturday’s tournament chine into a higher gear. See Poland on Page C4 game. Poland won, 72-71. Schwartzbauer’s goal leads ’Hounds to 6-3 win

Youngstown picked up two points [for the win] of the year so puck loose and down the ice and he tant that play was for us. far,” SteelHounds coach Kevin Ka- raced to get it while Zaniboli came “It’s important that I can help the important points by beating minski. “We were headed to a 3-2 up the ice to nearly the blue line team like that.” game in the third period and any- to try to beat The Steelhounds went on to score the . thing could have happened. Schwartzbauer HOCKEY two more goals early in the third “That play gave us momentum to the puck. period by Mark Odut and Kevin Jar- By CHUCK HOUSTEAU Phantoms and an important win.” Schwartz- man to put the game away. VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT Derek Graham com- Every win is important for the bauer won the Odut’s goal was his second of the pleted a fi ve-point YOUNGSTOWN — With the SteelHounds as they battle for play- race broke free night and third against Wichita. weekend with two Youngstown SteelHounds clinging off position with just 10 games re- down the side- “It feels good to contribute like goals and an assist to a 3-2 lead late in the second peri- maining in the season. line toward the that,” Odut said of his multiple od, defenseman Nathan Schwartz- Youngstown (66 points) stayed net and slid to help lead the goals. “I’ve scored more in the past bauer outraced Wichita Thunder ahead of Mississippi for second the puck into a but Coach brought me here to play goalie Bill Zaniboni to a loose puck place in the Northeast Division wide-open net. Phantoms to a 6-2 defense and that has been my role and scored a short-handed, unas- and remains in fourth place in the “There was win over the Alpena this year.” sisted goal. Northern conference playoff chase. no way that Ice Diggers on Youngstown wasted little time in Little did Schwartzbauer realize The SteelHounds have one more the goalie Saturday night. C3 establishing control of the game by how big that play was in propelling game against the Thunder today at was going to scoring just 2:16 into the fi rst pe- The Vindicator/William D. Lewis the SteelHounds to a 6-3 Central 4:05 p.m. beat me,” said riod. Bryan Lachapelle received a PENGUINS FALL: Youngstown State’s Heather Karner drives through Hockey League victory before 4,162 Schwartzbauer’s play came with Schwartzbauer who scored his sec- pass in front of the net from Joel Ir- Valparaiso defenders Whitney Farris, left and Agnieszka Kulaga during fans at the Chevrolet Centre. 1:31 left in the second period and ond goal in as many nights and ving and sent it into the back of the Saturday’s game at Beeghly Center. The Penguins lost, 70-59. Story on “Those were the biggest two Wichita on the powerplay. third on the season. “That’s an C5. The defensemen pitched the honor for coach to say how impor- See Hounds on Page C3