ASHLAND, Ky. — Butler Cubs boxer Donovan Malovich, the Pennsylvania Silver Glove 70-pound champion, lost a close decision to Brandon Despain of Port Huron, Mich., in the championship round of the Northeast Regional Silver Gloves Tournament Saturday.

Despain won a berth in the upcoming national event in Independence, Mo.

UNIVERSITY PARK — Butler native and former Hy-Flyers' gymnast Nick Grant has been named Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Co-Freshman of the Week.A member of the Penn State men's gymnastics team, Grant won a share of the floor exercise title at the West Point Open last weekend. He took second in the vault.The Pennsylvania state all-around champion in 2007, Grant left Butler to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He won the Colorado state title in floor exercise in 2008.

GREENVILLE — Butler graduate and Thiel College senior Sarah McAfee has been named Presidents' Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlere of the Month.McAfee carries a 3.57 GPA as a biology/pre-veterinary major at Thiel, competing for the cross country and track and field teams there. She helped set the school's 4x800 meter relay record last year.

WPIAL football realignment will affect the schedules of a few Butler County teams this fall.• Erie McDowell has joined the Northern Seven in Class AAAA with Butler, Seneca Valley, Shaler, Pine-Richland, North Hills and North Allegheny.• Valley has moved up to Class AAA and is in the Greater Allegheny Conference with Mars, Knoch, Hampton, Highlands, Indiana and Kittanning.• The Class AA Allegheny Conference has been reduced to eight teams, enabling Freeport and Summit Academy to play two non-league games next season.