NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Joe Fusco, a 2001 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and one of the most successful coaches in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics history, died on Saturday. He celebrated his 87th birthday on Feb. 3.

Westminster’s head coach from 1972 to 1990, Fusco led the Titans to four NAIA Division II national championships, winning back-to-back national titles in 1976 and ’77 and 1988 and ’89. The program went a combined 21-1 between the 1976 and ’77 seasons and had the nation’s longest winning streak with 27-consecutive victories between the 1988 and ’89 seasons,. Fusco’s 1977 team was honored with the Lambert Trophy, which recognizes supremacy in Eastern college football, after going 11-0, his first undefeated season. Fusco is the College’s career wins leader, totaling a 154-34-3 record and win percentage of .814 during his 19 years as head coach.

Fusco was recognized as one ESPN’s 150 greatest coaches in college football’s 150-year history in 2019 in honor of the 150th season of college football, selected by a blue-ribbon panel of 150 media members, administrators and former players and coaches, that spanned more than a century of the sport.

Gregory named top freshman

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State freshman and West Branch High School graduate Sophia Gregory was named the Horizon League women’s basketball freshman of the week for the second time on Monday.

Gregory ranked second in the league in scoring and rebounding last week as the Penguins were the only Horizon team to win two road games.

Gregory averaged 17.5 points and 11.5 rebounds while posting double-doubles against Detroit Mercy and Oakland. She was also second in the league in field goal percentage.

Gregory went 16 for 24 from the field during the week.

Beavers win junior high event

LEWIS CENTER — Beaver Local’s junior high wrestling team finished second in Div. III on Sunday at the Ohio Athletic Committee’s Junior High State Duals at Olentangy High School.

Beaver Local beat Miami East 69-31, Liberty Center 62-33 and Elwood 71-27. In the championship match, Archbold won 59-41 over the Beavers.

Michael Miller led the Beavers with four pins in 5:39. Issac Barnes added three pins in 54 total seconds. Nick Marra had three pins in 4:28, while Landon Newbold had three pins in 8:00.