Wellsville Tigers Get Even On The Year

Saturday – February 12: Potter's On-line Sports photographer Jimmy Joe Savage said if you came to see a game you weren't disappointed. Wow! What a game it was... down to the last 8 seconds before you could safely say Wellsville had it in the bag.

This past Saturday evening the WHS Tigers hosted the East Liverpool Potters in a non-league backyard rivalry. After a dismal performance the night before with the Tigers losing to Southern Local lots of folks were wondering which team would show up. The Potters came into the Tiger's Den riding a six game winning streak and a 12&4 record on the season. They had already humiliated the Tigers with a 20 point win back in December. The team in blue was confident and gave the Tigers a whale of a game right to the last. There was no “gimme”. At the end of the first quarter the Potters were leading 22-20. At the half Wellsville held a slim three point lead with a 34-31 score.

The Potters came back in the third to tie the score at 34 all with 6:28 remaining in the quarter. After trading a basket each the Tigers took a two point lead with 4:35 remaining on the clock. By the end of three the Orange & Black held a nine point lead with a score of 51-42. Football Coach Dave Skinner agreed with us when we said it was the best third quarter we have seen Wellsville play all year. The Tigers were determined.

However the battle wasn't over. With just 2:33 left in the game the Potters tied it at 62 points apiece. Wellsville regained the lead at 69-65 with 1:07 left. It was tied at 69 with only a mere 0:35.2 seconds left in the fourth. Wellsville once again regained a lead of 72-69 with 0:15.2 seconds showing on the clock and with 0:08 left in the game the Tigers put the game out of reach with one final bucket. We can't say it was the best game we've seen but it has to rank close to the top. Final score was Wellsville 74-69. It was sweet.

The Tigers had three scorers in double digits. Wellsville's Mike Johnston was hot recording a game high 27 points on the night. Jalen DeSarro took second in game high points with 19 and Freshman Nate Scott put 10 points of his own in the books. The win puts Wellsville at 12&5 on the season.

The Wellsville Reserves won the opening match by a final score of 56-43. They took a nine point lead at the end of one quarter and never trailed at the end of any quarter after that. Freshman Seth Bradford had 16 points for game high in that contest.

It was Bug Thompson basketball with in your face defense and running to get the ball into scoring position. The foul shooting practice paid big dividends. Johnston had 9 of 11 shots from the line, DeSarro hit 5 of 8, Christian Kapp 5 of 6 and Junior Josh Carter was 100% going 6 for 6 at the charity stripe.

The Tigers have three make-up games left to finish the regular season. They are all league games. Their first one is the coming Saturday when Sebring comes to town. Good luck guys. Don't lose that intensity you showed this past Saturday.

Gooo Tigers...

ole nib

WHS Wrestlers Lose Tri Match

Saturday – February 12: Saturday we were back out with the camera taking in a rare WHS Wrestling Match at home. Saturday's match was a Triangular with a Cameron, WV, and St. Clairsville teams.

In the first match Cameron defeated the Tigers by a score of 65-12. In the second match St. Clairsville eliminated Cameron amd sent the packing. Then St. Clairsville defeated the Wellsville team with five pins and with a score of 63-6 took the over all win. Wellsville only had five wrestlers available for the match. The Tigers had eight forfeits against the St. Clairsville team and a similar amount against Cameron.

It was a difficult day for the Tigers but Wellsville is proud of their efforts.


ole nib

SLHS Newest Athletic Hall of Fame Class Introduced

Friday - February 11: In a half time ceremony at the Wellsville – Southern game the newest class of inductees into the SLHS Athletic Hall of Fame was introduced to the crowd assembled in the Wigwam. Among that class was Wellsville Garfield Elementary Principal Lisa Corbisello Ferguson.

Ferguson is a member of the SLHS Class of 1975. She played woman's sports in the days before Title IX. During her high school basketball career her team amassed a 40&0 record and won the Lion's Club Invitational three years running. Before Title IX there weren't any State Tournaments for female teams.

Ferguson also participated in volleyball and was named Outstanding Senior Volleyball player her senior year. When she wasn't playing basketball or volleyball she was a cheerleader for the SLHS men's sports.

Ferguson's athletic career in organized sports ended with her high school graduation. She told us she was very honored to be selected into the HOF but feels that everyone on that 40&0 basketball team should have been included. She noted they were the only team in the old Salineville High School or Southern Local sports history with that kind of undefeated record.

Lisa is married to Kevin Ferguson and is the daughter of Marlene and the late Vincent Corbisello. Picture above is Feguson with fellow inductees Corey Boyle, to her right, and Clyde Bonam.

Congratulations Lisa...

ole nib

The Tale of Two Teams

Friday – February 11: The Wellsville Tigers had two teams show up at the Southern Local Wigwam this past Friday evening. There was the first half team that went into the locker room at the half with an 8 point lead over the Indians. We're not sure who came out of the locker room at the end of the half. They looked like the same guys but the similarity ended there.

The Southern Indians went on a third quarter 29 point scoring streak and only allowed the other Tiger team 10 points of their own. At the end of three it was Indians 51-40 and that was all she wrote. By the final buzzer Southern Local had avenged their first loss of their season by a final score of 77-60. That loss happened almost a month ago to Wellsville in the Tiger's Den.

For the Tigers Jalen DeSarro had a team high 21 points that included two buckets outside the arch. Michael Johnston added 19 points to his career total.

The Southern Reserves won the opening match by a score of 40-37. Wellsville's Reserve Seth Martin banked a 3-pointer just beyond the 10 second line as the buzzer sounded to end the half in that game. It was something you don't see too often.

The loss dropped Wellsville to 11&5 on the season and 7&4 in the ITCL. Wellsville plays three more league games beginning this coming Friday that are make-ups due to snow days. All three are home games.

ole nib

Nicholson Stadium To Have A New Look

Probably the only remaining original structure left standing at Nicholson Stadium is the eastern side grandstands. For nearly 75 years it has stood symbolizing decades of loyal fans. For as far back as we can remember is was the “home” side for the Wellsville Tigers.

It was build in 1936 as part of FDR's Works Progress Administration. It is constructed of concrete, iron rebar and steel beams. Across the field was a similar, duplicate grandstand. It came down in 1995 because it deteriorated into an unsafe structure. The “home” side outlived his twin across the way by 15 years. From what we saw this past week it was only through the grace of God and some determined efforts made over the years that it lasted this long. While touring the old facility we were told about some individuals in years past did everything in their power to preserve the old grandstands. New support posts and angle iron was installed for support. Fresh concrete was used to patch different areas. Unfortunately it was all for naught. Time has taken its toil.

This past October school officials closed off the worse section for safety concerns. There were holes you could see day light through. Then they called in a structural engineering firm to conduct an inspection. With the flaking concrete, the corroded rebar hanging in various places and the holes it didn't take them long to render a professional opinion. The old stands had outlived its structural integrity and deemed it unsafe to be used. The cost to renovate it would be prohibited. There wasn't any alternative left to preserve the stands. It has to come down or sit there until it collapses. It couldn't be used. Safety of all concerned could not be compromised in any way, shape or form.

In our post of the last Board of Education meeting we reported a contract was given to a demolition company to do the deed. They are to begin tomorrow and estimate it will be all gone and cleaned up by the end of the month.

The land the stadium sits on was part of the Nicholson family farm that goes back to the 1800s. The Nicholson family donated the land so the school could build a new athletic facility. It was adjacent to what an 1877 map of that part of town called the Nicholson Addition. Back in those days Wellsville was a growing, thriving town, bulging at the seams with an expanding population. We've read where the growing railroad industry in Wellsville was the biggest reason for the town expanding in that direction. Land was being used up to build homes for the railroad workers and their families.

It's sort of sad to see the last original structure come down. There were countless football games, track meets and other events witnessed from those stands. It adds up to a lot of memories and some would say tradition. We hate to see it go but we can't argue with the decision to bring it down after our tour. It's the right thing to do.

In a few weeks it will all be just a memory of what was. All that will remain is pictures, paintings and those memories. It did get memorialized on one of the Floodwall Murals. Sad though it may be, years from now it will still be Nicholas Stadium, home of the Wellsville Tigers!

ole nib

Daw Middle School Basketball Wraps Up Regular Season

Wednesday – February 9: The Daw Middle School boy's basketball teams finished out their regular season on a winning note for both the 7th & 8th Grade this past Wednesday. The Wellsville teams hosted Crestview at Beacom Memorial.

The Daw 7th Graders won the opening game by a score of 42-23. After a slow start trailing the young Rebels 9-3 at the end of one quarter the Daw team went on a 12-5 scoring run in the second. They were still trailing at the half but came out of the locker room determined to record the win. Kurt Rosenbaum had 14 points for the game high. The Wellsville 7th Graders finish the regular season with a 10&2 record.

The Daw 8th Graders also started out on the slow side trailing by two points at the end of one. Then they got serious, out scoring the Rebel 8th Graders 15-1 in the second to take a 24-12 lead into the locker room. Crestview could never recover and the final score was Wellsville 46-21. Zach Mellott had the game high with 13 points. The 8th Graders finish the regular season with a record of 11&1. They suffered their first loss of the season just this past Monday at Leetonia by just one point.

Meanwhile, up at Crestview on Wednesday, the Daw girls split with the Lady Rebels. The 7th Grade girls lost to Crestview by a 36-23 score. The 8th Grade Lady Tigers brought home a 28-18 victory to finish the season at 11&2. Angelica Scarabino recorded 17 points for the Tigers. We don't have a won-loss record for the 7th Grade Ladies.

Now it's on to tournament time for the Middle schoolers. The boy's tournament will be played at Lowellville and the girl travel to Jackson Milton. Pictures in the collage are from the boy's game.

Good Luck to all...

ole nib

On The Calendar

There was lots of sports action to cover this past week plus a sprinkling of meetings. Now all we gotta do is to catch up with it. The editing and touching up of pictures once we get them down loaded is a real time consumer. The Middle School & Freshman regular basketball season concluded this past week. They're preparing for tournaments. The high school girls have one make-up game left this week. The guys will be playing three of them before they get into the tournaments.

Monday - February 14:

• Valentine's Day - give your sweetie at least a hug & a squeeze.


• Elks 1040 Regular Meeting - 8 PM at the lodge - 723 Riverside - Nomination of officers for 2011/2012 Lodge Year

Tuesday - February 15:

• Wellsville Public Library Story Hour - Ages 3 to 5 11:30 AM to 12:30 - After School Ages 5 & up 3:30 to 4:30 - Main St.


• Wellsville Village Council Regular Meeting - 6 PM at Village Hall - 1200 Main St.


• Wellsville Historical Society Regular Monthly Meeting is cancelled - too much snow & ice still on the ground around the museum

Wednesday - February 16:

• Medical Assistance Program - 9:30 AM to Noon at First Christian Church - 831 Main St. For more information call 330-424-7877


• Joshua Project Clothing Give Away - Noon to 6 PM at New Hope Community Church - 43152 State Rt.39


• WHS Alumni Activities Monthly Spaghetti Dinners - 4 to 7 PM at the Alumni Center - 201 Third St.


• Deadline for RSVPs for all Chamber of Commerce members attending the Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Training Facility Open house February 23


• WHS Choral Group Ebony & Ivory Valentine's Spaghetti Dinner Concert - 6 PM at the WHS Auditeria

Thursday - February 17:

• BWD Board of Trustees Regular Monthly Meeting - 9 AM At Wellsville Village Hall - 1200 Main St.


• First Baptist Church Food Pantry for handicapped only - 3 to 5 PM - 1401 Center St.


• Wellsville Youth Baseball Sign Ups - For boys ages 4 to 14 & girls ages 4 to 18 - 3:30 - 7 PM at both Daw Mid. School - Center St. & Garfield Elementary - Lincoln Ave.


• WHS Freshman Basketball vs winner of Lowellville- Jackson Milton Game- 5 PM at Mineral Ridge High School in Chuck Clark Memorial Tournament


• WHS Lady Tigers vs Jackson Milton Make-up Game - 6 PM in the Tiger's Den - Bengal Dr.

Friday - February 18:

• First Baptist Church Food Pantry - 3 to 5 PM -1401 Center St.
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Saturday - February 19:

• Wellsville Masons Breakfast - 7:30 to 10 AM - Open to the public - Cost by donation - Main St.


• WHS Lady Tigers vs McDonald - Div. 4 District Tournament - 5 PM at Hubbard High School - Hubbard, OH


• WHS Tiger Basketball vs Sebring Make-up Game - 6 PM in the Tiger's Den - Bengal Dr.

Sunday - February 20:

• Worship at a church of your choice


• Black History Program - 3:30 PM at First Baptist Church - 1401 Center St. - Public invited

There's a choice of two spaghetti dinners this Wednesday. At the Alumni Center it is $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 & under. Take outs are available. Call 330-532-9811 to place take out orders.

The Ebony & Ivory Dinner Concert promises to be very entertaining. The singers and performers are very talented. For more information call Choir Director Emily Barlow at 330-532-1188 - extension 2135. Tickets are $5 each.

The undefeated Freshman & the WHS Lady Tigers both start tournament action this week. Good luck to all the players. We're looking for trophies to come home! The WHS men's tournaments begin February 28.

Have a good week everyone...

ole nib