By Ed Farrell

Herald Assistant Sports Editor

MERCER HIGH is seeking nominations for its athletic Hall of Fame.

The school district’s 9th class of inductees will be enshrined Jan. 30, 2009, and high school AD Mike Piddington noted the following nomination critieria:

1) Must be a graduate prior to 1999 who excelled in the athletic program while at Mercer High and beyond (college, professional).

2) Coaches are eligible 5 years following their retirement from coaching in their sport.

3) Teams are eligible 10 years following its last year of competition.

Supporting documentation (newspaper articles, yearbook/media guide excerpts, etc.), in order to verify statistical and/or record-setting performances, should be submitted with the nominee’s name to the selection committee.

Nominations should be directed to Piddington, in care of Mercer High, 545 W. Butler St., Mercer, 16137, or e-mailed to mpiddington@mercer.k12,pa.us, or for additional information telephone 724-662-3560, ext. 14. The deadline is Sept. 5.

ä The 2008 Tom Burns Academic All-Star Awards are presented each year by the Mercer County Hall of Fame to a male and female athlete at each county school with the highest grade point average. Winners for 2007-08 school year were:

Gregory Speir/Ashley Wimer (Commodore Perry); Brice Long/Erin Puko (Farrell)’; Patrick Flynn (George Junior Republic); Greg Hogan/Nicole Powers (Greenville); Derek Fredrickson/Christy Allison (Grove City); Andrew Thiel/Krysta Cione (Hickory); Butch Buchholz/Corrine Livingston (Jamestown); Jason Wolinsky/Nancy Paul (Kennedy Catholic); Eric Montgomery/Kelsey Brownlee (Lakeview); Richard Ligo/Lydia Munnell (Mercer); Brandon Maun/Mackenzie Sherbondy (Reynolds); William Palmer/Shannon Wenger (Sharon); Darren McAnich/Natalie Bok (Sharpsville), and Daniel Bauer/Cassandra Byers (West Middlesex).

ä Youngstown television station WFMJ (Channel 21) will begin its coverage of scholastic football on Aug. 22, with its 15th annual version of “The Arby’s Overtime Report.” Sports director Dana Balash and sidekicks Mike Ackleson and Rob Decker will report scores and narrate highlights from as many as 20 games every Friday night during the season (air time, 11:15 p.m.). According to a press release, WFMJ provided some form of coverage to 233 games last year.

A programming note: Due to NBC network’s Olympics Games coverage, the initial Arby’s Overtime Report will air on WFMJ’s sister station, WBCB--The Valley’s CW.

For information, telephone 330-744-7661, or visit wfmj.com.