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SPORTS BRIEFING

West Branch throws flag BELOIT — West Branch’s flag football team will hold its first games on Sunday at Rayen Stadium in Youngstown. The Warriors will play Rootstown at 1 p.m. and Newton Falls at 3 p.m. West Branch will play 10 games on the season — all on the road — over five Sundays. Warriors on the roster include Tallie Muniz, Morgan Kurtz, Allison Kanagy, Abigail Janosik, Faith Hicks, Ciara Evans, Allie Brammer, Samantha Beatty, Erin Albert, Makenna Woost, Cambrie Nezbeth, Julia Egli, Nicole Deckard, Brianna Clark, Hayden Mulinix, Kaylee Hoops, Kelly Ewing, Elli ...

Penn State looks for more in Cleveland

CLEVELAND (AP) — Penn State is out to claim an elusive fifth straight NCAA Division I men’s wrestling title this weekend. The Nittany Lions have won four straight championships three times under coach Cael Sanderson, including the current run. He said the pressure to win a 13th title overall and make this the longest streak isn’t an issue, and believes past success should help his wrestlers trust that they have been prepared for the moment. “There hasn’t been a year that these guys, our teams haven’t wrestled great at the national tournament,” Sanderson said. “Should ...

SPORTS BRIEFING

Nastari 10th at nationals FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — Penn State junior and former United High School state champion Kaleb Nastari raced in the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center last weekend. Nastari joined Matt DeMatteo, Niko Schultz and Nick Sloff on the Nittany Lion men’s distance medley team that finished 10th in 9:32.87 for the 4,000-meter race Friday. It was the sixth-fastest time in program history. Northern Arizona won in 9:19.95. On Saturday, Penn State senior Ryan Henry finished ninth in the men’s shot put (62-feet-11 ...

Akron has everything but an NCAA victory

AKRON (AP) — Akron has already reached a milestone, becoming the first team to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament three straight years. The Zips have their sights set on another goal — an NCAA Tournament victory. In seven previous March Madness appearances, Akron has yet to reach the second round. The Zips (29-5) are the 12th seed in the Midwest Region and will face Texas Tech on Friday in Tampa, Florida. “We’re ready to take that next step, and we take pride in that. We’re not going to back down from anybody. We want to make history again,” said senior forward ...

First four tips off tonight in Dayton

DAYTON (AP) — March Madness tips off with the First Four, featuring one of this season’s best stories in Miami (Ohio) and a matchup of formerly embattled head coaches in Texas’ Sean Miller and NC State’s Will Wade. Coming off their only loss of the season, the RedHawks have a chance to silence some skeptics against fellow No. 11 seed SMU (20-13) on Wednesday night. The RedHawks, who are back in the tournament for the first time since 2007, were rewarded with a game in Dayton, roughly 43 miles from campus. “It’s going to be a great environment,” RedHawks coach Travis ...

SPORTS BRIEFING

OAC award for Mercer ALLIANCE — Mount Union senior Sydney Mercer has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week. Mercer — a West Branch High School graduate — helped lead the Purple Raiders to an 8-4 record during their spring break trip to South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Georgia, including wins over No. 24 Belhaven, No. 13 Emory and No. 7 East Texas Baptist. She finished the week with a .400 batting average and a .550 slugging percentage, with four doubles, a triple and seven RBIs. Mercer also broke a pair of school records last week, becoming the ...