Ex-Quakers pace YSU to Horizon League title

ROCHESTER, Mich. — Freshman Maggie Hopple’s high finish in the 1,500 meters Sunday helped the Youngstown State University women’s track team capture its fifth Horizon League outdoor championship in six years.

Hopple, a former Salem High School All-Ohioan, finished fourth in the 1,500 meters in a personal-best time of 4 minutes, 33.56 seconds at the Elaine Leigh Track and Field Complex. YSU senior McKinley Field won in 4:24.30.

The Penguins started the day down 13 points after seven events and rallied to post 172 points to outdistance Milwaukee with 163 1/2.

Hopple was joined by two more Salem and YSU teammates in the 5,000-meter final on Sunday.

Sophomore Megan Stafford was 14th (17:57.25), senior Molly Hopple was 15th (17:58.39) and Maggie Hopple was 32nd (18:31.42) in the 51-runner field.

Carly Hall was 21st in the 800-meter preliminaries (2:26.02) on Saturday.

Butcher places in three events for Penguins

ROCHESTER, Mich. — Youngstown State sophomore Logan Butcher placed in three sprints Sunday at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Butcher, a South Range High School graduate, was third in the 400 meters in a personal-best 47.21 seconds, seventh in the 200 meters (22.14) and third in the 1600 relay (3:16.06) at the Elaine Leigh Track and Field Complex.

He helped the YSU men capture their seventh straight Horizon League outdoor title with 264 points. Pursue Fort Wayne was second with 129 1/2 points.

YSU juniors Sage Vavro and Connor Shingleton finished one-two in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday.

Sage Vavro defended his Horizon League title with a winning with a time of 8:54.55. Shingleton, a former Minerva High School standout, was second in 9:07.36.

Dorris runs at Baldwin Wallace

BEREA — Several area runners raced in the men’s 5,000 meters at the Harrison Dillard Twilight meet on Friday night.

Walsh University junior David D’Altorio from Boardman topped the 123 runner-field in a time of 14 minutes, 22.95 seconds at George Finnie Stadium.

Youngstown State freshman Dominic Pappagallo from Mineral Ridge ran unattached and was fifth (14:33.25)

Other area runners were John Carroll sophomore Chuck Reigrut from South Range in 57th (15:30.24), Baldwin Wallace sophomore Michael Dorris from West Branch in 63rd (15:34.90) and John Carroll senior Brian Standley from South Range in 64th (15:35.55).

The two-day unscored meet attracted more than 50 teams and 66 unattached athletes. It is is held annually in honor of Harrison Dillard, a 1949 graduate of Baldwin Wallace who won four NCAA national titles in the hurdles with the Yellow Jackets and four Olympic gold medals.

Boardman edges West Branch softball

BOARDMAN — Boardman hung on for a 7-5 softball win over West Branch on Saturday.

Carly Loper, Ellie Tucker, Madilyn Brammer and Tatum Householder had doubles for the Warriors.

Tucker was the losing pitcher with five strikeouts and two walks in six innings.

West Branch (8-11) is at Hubbard today.

WB: 1-0-1-0-0-1-2 –5-10-4

BO: 3-0-2-2-0-0-x –7-10-2

Day’s son going to Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Quarterback RJ Day said he is committing to play at Northwestern beginning in 2027, putting him in line to join his father in the Big Ten Conference.

The son of Ohio State football coach Ryan Day announced his decision this weekend on social media.

“Excited for the next step and ready to get to work,” Day posted in a message thanking coaches and family.

Chip Kelly is the offensive coordinator on coach David Braun’s staff at Northwestern after serving in that role under Day when the Buckeyes won the national championship in the 2024 season. Kelly was also the offensive coordinator when Ryan Day played QB at New Hampshire and set nine school records.

RJ Day plays at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio.

Fano brothers at Browns minicamp

BEREA (AP) — Before Spencer Fano gets to go against Myles Garrett and Mason Graham during the Cleveland Browns’ offseason workouts, the offensive tackle is lining up against a familiar opponent this weekend during rookie minicamp.

His older brother, Logan.

While Spencer’s draft suspense ended pretty quickly, when he was selected by the Browns as the ninth overall pick, Logan was undrafted. The defensive end received a couple of offers before deciding that the Browns were the best fit.

“I feel like it feels a lot like it was at Utah, but then I look and see we have Browns jerseys on. So I don’t know. It’s so cool,” Spencer Fano said. “Obviously I’m freaking ecstatic. You hear all these stories of how dudes will start to struggle because they feel like they’re alone. It’s hard to feel alone with the dude that I’ve lived with my entire life. Now he’s just a few doors down in the hotel.”

Even though the Fano brothers have taken lots of snaps against each other over the years, getting to do it on an NFL practice field on Friday and Saturday was certainly a milestone.

“I mean this is an NFL team. There’s just another level to it that makes you feel like, man, we’re doing it,” said Logan Fano, who is two years older.

Logan began his career at BYU but transferred to Utah in 2023 to join his younger brother. Even though he started 23 games at Utah, including all 11 he played in last season, and earned second-team honors on the All-Big 12 team in 2025, he went undrafted.

He had three ACL injuries in seven years, including two to the right knee, and was limited during the NFL scouting combine because of a hamstring injury.

The thought did cross both brothers’ minds that they could drafted by the same team. This ended up being the second-best result.

Spencer Fano will be under the spotlight more during offseason workouts and training camp as the projected starting left tackle on a rebuilt Browns offensive line.

Clemens, Rojas lead Twins past Guardians

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kody Clemens had three hits and Kendry Rojas earned his first major league win with a strong outing in relief as the Minnesota Twins held off the Cleveland Guardians 5-4 on Sunday.

Brooks Lee hit a tiebreaking single in a four-run fifth inning for the Twins, who took two of three in the series from their AL Central rivals.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was sent home hours before the first pitch due to lingering respiratory issues. Tony Arnerich filled in as acting manager.

Making his second career appearance, Rojas (1-0) struck out five and walked three over 3 1/3 innings. He allowed one run and five hits.

The 23-year-old left-hander from Cuba entered to begin the second inning after opener Andrew Morris worked a 1-2-3 first.

Yoendrys G0mez pitched a perfect ninth for his third big league save and second this season.

Brayan Rocchio went 4 for 4 and scored twice for Cleveland, setting a career high for hits. Gavin Williams (5-3) gave up five runs and 10 hits in six innings.