Four local players are an excellent example of the term student-athlete.

Coal Grove senior Tommy Pemberton, Symmes Valley senior Kyle Gilmore, Chesapeake senior Lisa Perry and Fairland senior Jeremy Pritt have been honored by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association as scholar athletes.

The three local basketball players were named to the OHSBCA All-Ohio Academic team.

Pemberton averaged 12 points a game while carrying a 3.9 grade point average. Gilmore and Perry each had a 4.0 GPA to go along with 13 points per contest.

Pritt also scored 13 points a game and had a 3.8 grade point average.

Highlight tape

It's the middle of the spring sports' postseason tournament, so there's nothing like some football news.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers 2003 Football Highlight tape or DVD is available for interested fans.

Sam and Penny Heighton put together another stellar production that includes several highlights off the field as well as the installation of the new stadium lights.

Interested fans should call Sam or Penny at (740) 532-7951.

Arden still in plans

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said that former Ironton football standout Redgie Arden remains in the team's plans this fall.

Arden injured an ankle at the start of spring workouts and missed most of the workouts including the Scarlet-Gray Game.

"Redgie has been doing a good job in the weight room and in the classroom," Snyder said.

"He hurt his ankle - that kept him out of practice for three weeks, but he should be in the mix at defensive end. We've got a bunch of young guys who have got some talent and Redgie is one of them."

Lutz gets cooking

Another former Ironton football player is really cooking. Literally.

Bobby Lutz, son of Ironton's head football coach, is operating his own catering business.

Bobby was an outstanding receiver at Marshall University and was the team's long snapper for four years. He never had a bad snap during his career.

Bobby also spent one season as an assistant coach at Ironton. He's expected to get help from his own assistant, mom Ellen.

New OHSAA commissioner

For those wondering about the newly appointed Ohio High School Athletic Association commissioner, put your concerns aside.

Danny Ross is one class act. A former principal at Portsmouth Notre Dame, he worked many basketball games as an official locally.

Of course, back then he had jet black hair, a mustache and flashed a big smile. Now days the hair is gray, the mustache is gone, but the smile remains.

Ross once applied for the job of superintendent of the Ironton City Schools, but the job went to Scott Howard.

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.