By STEVE HEISER Steel sharpens steel. It’s an adage much older than the game of college basketball, but Thomas Haugh hopes that it will ring true for his Florida Gators during March Madness. Because if steel really does sharpen steel, the Gators should be razor-sharp for the gauntlet that lies ahead. Haugh, a former standout player for New Oxford High School, …

By STEVE HEISER There aren’t many folks who make life-changing decisions at 8 years old. For Montana DeLawder, however, one of the pivotal moments in her life came before she reached her ninth birthday. “I was 8, and my family used to watch the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on TV and we would always talk about wrestling,” she said. “Then …

By STEVE HEISER At 22 years old, Brayden Long has already solved an equation for life success that eludes many folks, even after decades of searching. It’s his own formula, mixing heavy doses of faith, family and football, along with a fierce focus on academic achievement. During his standout playing career at New Oxford High School and Slippery Rock University, …

By STEVE HEISER Ordinarily, Casey Lawrence displays a businesslike demeanor on the mound. Some folks might even call him stoic. Nov. 24, however, was not an ordinary day in the life of the Delone Catholic High School graduate. Actually, it was quite extraordinary. The unexpected flash of emotion that erupted from every pore of his body as he strode off …