Rebels roll McDonald

NILES –Crestview’s boys bowling team posted a 2,102-1,247 win over McDonald on Wednesday at McKinley Lanes.

For the Rebels, Lucas Johnson had a 231 high game and a 384 series. Brody Brubaker (348), Milton Scott (334) and Peyton Mellott (333) all had strong series for the Rebels.

Quakers in control

SALEM — Salem’s boys bowling team recorded a 2,075-1,945 win over Marlington on Wednesday at Hunt Club Lanes.

Vinnie Yannucci had a 193 high game and a 376 series for the Quakers. Donald Blackburn added a 232 high game and a 375 series. Tanner James tallied a 174 high game and a 346 series.

The Quaker girls team was a 1,596-1,352 winner.

Brooklyn Herold had a 204 high game and a 364 series for Salem. Kylie Smith added a 172 high game and a 322 series. Nora Shean had a 172 high game and a 321 series.

Sebring HOF ceremony on Saturday

SEBRING — The Sebring Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony Saturday at Sebring McKinley High School, with the event set for approximately noon between the junior varsity and varsity boys games against Southington Chalker.

Dakota Wagner, a 2012 graduate, will be inducted for football. A three-sport athlete who earned 11 letters, Wagner was a first-team Inter Tri-County League linebacker, first-team Northeastern Inland District running back and Special Mention All-Ohio selection. He totaled 1,778 all-purpose yards, 14 rushing touchdowns and two punt-return scores. Defensively, he recorded 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He also played in the Penn-Ohio all-star game.

Sebring will also induct its 2010 and 2011 Division IV state champion cheerleading squads, which won consecutive titles in the mount category. Both teams were coached by Nicole Herman Mathias and Lynette Slagle Brownlee.

Members of the 2010 squad included Ciara Barnett, Kayla Davis, Brittany Fotheringham Gable, Erin Green Powell, Elaina Jurica, Courtney Maretich, Chasity Schuller Hubbs, Stevi Smith Heck, Angela Sutton and Amy Trainer Edwards.

Returnees Gable, Davis, Jurica, Hubbs and Heck led the 2011 squad, joined by Alissa Courtney Johnson, Siara Dalton, Julia Cunningham, Blakelyn Imler Light, Courtney Maretich, Kayla Moore-Wilt, Jaclyn Rinehart and Abigail Skelton Jenkins.

A public reception will follow the varsity game in Brook Gym.

JMU slots next coach

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Billy Napier will be watching 12th-seeded James Madison’s College Football Playoff game against fifth-seeded Oregon with an eye toward the future.

The former Florida coach was introduced Wednesday as the successor to Bob Chesney, who will leave James Madison for UCLA following the Dukes’ playoff run.

“This place continues to make history and it’s our job to continue that,” Napier said. “It’s in the DNA here.”

Napier agreed to a five-year contract that will pay him a guaranteed $1,005,000 annually, a deal that ranks him in the top five among coaches in the Sun Belt Conference.

The contract includes a $2.5 million buyout if he leaves before the 2029 season. It goes down to $1.75 million if he leaves before the 2030 season, and $1.25 million if he leaves before the 2032 season.

Athletic director Matt Roan said in addition to a salary in the top end of the conference, Napier will have high-level pay for his staff and a revenue-sharing percentage that is the highest in the Sun Belt and competitive nationally.

“We certainly have enough resources to be competitive,” Napier said. “I wouldn’t be sitting here if that wasn’t the case.”

Napier went 40-12 in four seasons at Louisiana, then 22-23 in his four years with the Gators. His run at Louisiana saw him dominate the Sun Belt, making four appearances in the title game as West Division champs and league titles in his final two seasons there.

Napier never got things rolling at Florida, having just one winning season at 8-5 in 2024. He was 3-4 when he was fired by the Gators this season.

Chesney has led the Dukes to a 12-1 record, the Sun Belt championship and a spot in the CFP. UCLA had been pursuing him since it fired DeShaun Foster in Week 3.

“Where we’re at currently, we need to maximize the momentum that we have,” Napier said. “We need to take full advantage of these opportunities that come with the College Football Playoff.”

Calling the next 90 days “critical,” Napier said he’ll be focused on meeting and retaining the current players and hiring his staff.

In Napier, JMU may have found a coach who can bring stability to a program that just hired its fifth coach in the last 10 years.

“This could be the price for success,” Roan said.

But he believes Napier’s experience at Louisiana and the age of his children could also lead to a desire to stick in one place.

“This is about building a sustainable program that can have continued success,” Napier said. “To where I can drive home everyday and feel good about the type of team we could have next year.”

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