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OHSAA makes flag football official

COLUMBUS – The Ohio High School Athletic Association has elevated girls flag football to a fully recognized sport for the 2026-27 school year, following a unanimous vote of the OHSAA Board of Directors at its June meeting. Girls flag football becomes the OHSAA’s 29th recognized sport, including 15 sports for girls and 14 for boys. There are now 23 high school state associations in the United States that sanction girls flag football and a total of 40 states that offer girls high school football programs. Flag football will be included as a new sport in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los ...

Tressel to join Buckeye Ring of Honor

COLUMBUS — Former Ohio State football coach and current Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel will be inducted into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor when the Buckeyes open the 2026 season against Ball State on Sept. 5. Tressel becomes just the third coach honored on the C-Deck Ring of Honor, joining ...

Sunset Dip 5K keeps runners cool

COLUMBIANA — The fifth annual Sunset Dip 5K was held on June 9 at Firestone Park. A portion of the proceeds will go toward Firestone Park pool maintenance. Participants received a finisher medal, beach towel and a swim in the pool after the event. Logan Redfern was the overall winner as he finished in 17:50. Tanner Hoffer was the female winner as she finished in 21:00. SUNSET DIP 5K OVERALL WINNERS Women — 1. Tanner Hoffer (East Palestine) 21:00, 2. Sidney Schlueter (New Waterford) 23:59, 3. Aubrey Duggan (Steubenville) 24:29. Men — 1. Logan Redfern (Kensington) ...

County’s three state champs honored

CANFIELD – The Mahoning Valley was well-represented during the recently completed state athletic competition this past spring, both individually and teamwise. Four area individuals, along with one of the area’s top relay teams, earned the right to stand atop the podium after capturing ...

River Valley Renegades crowned in Columbiana

COLUMBIANA – The River Valley Renegades 12U baseball team won the Columbiana All-Star Tournament over the weekend posting a 3-1 overall record including an 8-0 win over Salem in the championship game. The Renegades, a collection of all-star players from East Liverpool’s River Valley Youth ...

SPORTS BRIEFING

EIGHT WILL PLAY DIV. I COLUMBUS – Eight schools have opted up to Div. I for the 2026 Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs, which has resulted in a number of shifts to Division I regional assignments that were initially announced on April 23. All eight schools that opted up to Div. I had been initially assigned to Div. II. There are no changes to Divisions III through VII. The OHSAA does not move schools up a division to replace schools that opt up to Division I. The changes increase Division I to 80 schools (from 72), while decreasing Division II to 98 schools ...