Penguin Sports Digest

Football: Individual-Game Tickets On Sale Today  Posted Friday, August 1, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – The Youngstown State Athletics Department announced that individual-game tickets for the 2003 YSU football season will go on sale, Friday, August 1 at 9 a.m. at the YSU Athletic Ticket Office in Stambaugh Stadium.
Individual-game tickets cost $12 for reserved seats and $8 for general admission. Group tickets are available and hospitality tent reservations are still being accepted.
Fans can also purchase YSU football season tickets until August 28. The YSU athletic ticket office hours are 9 a.m. through 5 p.m.
In conjunction with the YSU Football Media Day on Monday, August 4, the ticket office will remain open until 8 p.m. Media Day begins at 4 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium and is open to the public.

Penguins Picked Third In Gateway Preseason Poll; Davis Earns Preseason Honors  Posted Thursday, July 31, 2003 by  ysupenguins
St. Louis, Mo. -- Youngstown State has been picked to finish third in the Gateway Football Conference according to a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches, media representatives and sports information directors.
The Penguins, who have never finished worse than third place in the Gateway, received 171 votes and finished behind preseason favorite Western Illinois (24 first-place votes) with 247 points and Western Kentucky (6 first-place votes) with 218 votes. Northern Iowa, who was picked fourth with 139 points, received one first-place vote.
Youngstown State was predicted to finish third on three previous occasions - 1997, 1999 and 2000. The Penguins won the Division I-AA National Championship in 1997; were National Runners-Up in 1999; and were playoff participants in 2000.
Individually, senior offensive lineman Josh Davis (Lisbon, Ohio) was named to the 2003 Gateway Football Conference Preseason Team, while senior linebacker Justin Dellarose and senior defensive back Sherrod Holmes were named Honorable Mention Preseason All-Gateway.
The Penguins open the 2003 season against Edinboro, Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

2003 Gateway Football Conference Preseason Poll

Team (First-Place Votes) Points
Western Illinois (24) 247
Western Kentucky (6) 218
Youngstown State 171
Northern Iowa (1) 139
Illinois State 131
Southern Illinois 130
SMS 74
Indiana State 42

Gateway Announces Conference Challenge  Posted Wednesday, July 30, 2003 by  ysupenguins
ST. LOUIS -- In a cooperative effort to highlight intersectional rivalries between member institutions of each league, the Gateway Football Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference will begin a Challenge Series in 2003, commissioner Patty Viverito has announced. A total of eight regular-season games between the two leagues constitute the challenge, with four of the games featured on television.

“The NCAA has paired Gateway and Ohio Valley teams in the opening round of the Division I-AA playoffs the past two years giving added meaning to the rivalry between these two great leagues,” says Viverito. “Extending the challenge to our regular-season games will serve as an exciting preview to postseason match-ups which are likely to continue with the NCAA policy of regional pairings in first-round games.”

The eight meetings in 2003 will mark the most common non-conference opponent for either league. The winner of the series will earn regional bragging rights. Each team has four home games, and 11 different teams (of the 17 total combined members) are involved in the series.

The genesis for the challenge came about after the leagues agreed to co-produce two games on Fox Sports Net (FSN) airwaves. The Sept. 6 game between Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri State will be seen live on FSN Midwest and FSN Chicago at 6:30 p.m., while the Sept. 20 game between Illinois State and Eastern Illinois will be seen live on FSN Midwest and FSN Chicago at 1:30 p.m. Both games will also be carried live by Fox Sports Digital Nets.

The Football Network (TFN) will televise the second game in the challenge (Sept. 13 at 6 p.m.) featuring Murray State and Southern Illinois. College Sports Television (CSTV) has also announced plans to air a fourth Gateway-OVC game, featuring defending national champion Western Kentucky and instate rival Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.).

The Gateway Conference has had more success in the all-time series, as league teams own a 67-40-1 record against Ohio Valley Conference members, which includes a 5-4 advantage last year. In the playoffs in 2002, Western Illinois beat Eastern Illinois (48-9), while Western Kentucky downed Murray State (59-20).

Notably, the leagues have combined for four national championships, while current members own eight of the previous 25 national titles. OVC member Eastern Kentucky has two titles (1979, 1982), while Western Kentucky (2002) and Youngstown State (1997) own I-AA championships as Gateway members. Prior to Gateway membership, Southern Illinois (1983) and Youngstown State (1991, 1993, 1994) also claimed an additional four championships. EKU was a national runner-up as an Ohio Valley member in 1980 and 1981, while YSU has a second-place finish as a Gateway member, in 1999.

In addition, three institutions have been members in both leagues. Current Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Illinois was a charter member of the Gateway Conference and was in the league for 11 seasons (1985-95). Youngstown State and Western Kentucky have spent seasons in the OVC before joining the Gateway Conference in 1997 and 2001, respectively.

Date Game Time Series
S6 SIU at SEMO 6:30 SEMO, 36-26-8
S13 Murray State at SIU 6:00 MSU, 10-7-2
S20 ILS at E. Illinois 1:30 ILS, 44-37-9
INS at Murray State 6:00 INS, 3-2
SMS at SEMO 6:00 SMS, 42-28
UT-Martin at WIU 6:05 0-0
EKU at Western Ky. 7:00 WKU, 43-33-3
S27 E. Illinois at INS 1:05 EIU, 38-35-4


All times CDT


Contact: Mike Kern, Asst. Commissioner
Phone: (314) 421-2268
Fax: (314) 421-3505 or (314) 421-0620

Football's Sam Eddy Inducted into Beloit Sports Hall of Fame  Posted Monday, July 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Beloit, Wis. -- The Beloit Sports Hall of Fame will recognize Youngstown State assistant football coach Sam Eddy on Monday, at their annual induction ceremony. Eddy joins Tony Brizzolara, Norman Edwards, Tom Good and George Kelsey as the five-member 2003 class is enshrined at the Lincoln Center. Beloit Memorial High School's undefeated 9-0 football team of 1972 will be honored.
Eddy, who is the assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and running back coach, has been with the Youngstown State program since the 1994 season. He has been the position coach for three of the most productive tailbacks in the school's history -- P.J. Mays, Andre Brown and Jake Andreadis. He is in his 11th season with the program.
He was also inducted into his college alma mater, Taylor University, Hall of Fame in 1989.

Football Players Report to Camp on August 3; Media Day August 4  Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2003 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State football team will begin preparations for the 2003 season on Sunday, August 3, when the entire team reports to Stambaugh Stadium to begin fall camp.
The veterans and newcomers will report for physicals and to pick up equipment on Sunday. The first practice is set for Monday (8 a.m.) along with the team’s annual Media Day, which will begin at 4 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. Because of new NCAA regulations, the Penguins will not have their first two-a-day practice session until Saturday, August 9. YSU is slated to have six two-a-day sessions this fall, but none come on consecutive days.
Third-year Head Coach Jon Heacock and the members of his coaching staff will greet more than 80 student-athletes at the beginning of fall camp.
YSU has 30 lettermen returning from last season’s 7-4 squad that finished third in the Gateway Football Conference with a 4-3 mark behind National Champion Western Kentucky and league champion Western Illinois. Six offensive starters and five defensive starters are back, but the Penguins will welcome plenty of new faces to the 2003 lineup.
Youngstown State begins the 2003 campaign against Edinboro on Thursday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m. YSU will play seven regular-season home games for second time in the past three years (2001 begin the other season). YSU plays non-conference home games against Slippery Rock (Sept. 6) and Florida Atlantic (Sept. 20) while hosting Gateway games against SMS (Oct. 4), Western Illinois (Oct. 11), Illinois State (Oct. 25) and Western Kentucky (Nov. 15).
Season tickets are still available by calling the YSU Ticket Office at (330) 941-1YSU. Also, single-game tickets go on sale on Monday, August 4.

Gateway Media Day Set for July 31
The 2003 Gateway Football Conference preseason poll and all-conference teams will be released on Thursday, July 31, at the league Media Day which will be at the Renaissance Hotel in St. Louis, Mo. Since joining the league in 1997, YSU has been selected in the preseason poll to finish first once (1998), second twice (2001 and 2002) and third four times (1997, 1999 and 2000). Only twice, in 1997 (3rd) and 2001 (t-2nd), did the Penguins finish where they were picked in the preseason poll.

Penguins Back on 1390 AM; 106.1 FM in 2003
For the second consecutive season, Bob Hannon and Coach Dick Hartzell will be YSU’s radio broadcast tandem on WNIO 1390 AM and WBBG 106.1 FM. Hannon will be in his 13th year as "The Voice of the Penguins" while Hartzell begins his second season on the broadcasts. All 12 games will be on the air 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Chad Krispinsky will handle the sidelines duties at home while Paul McFadden will handle reports from the field during road games.

WYFX to Offer Eight YSU Games on a Tape-Delay Basis
All home games will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis by Fox 17/62 with WKBN/WYFX Sports Director Robb Schmidt and former YSU All-American Todd Kollar calling the action. The games will be a same-day broadcast at 10:30 p.m. following the 10 o’clock news on Fox 17/62.
Also, the Sept. 13 contest at Kent State will be televised on a same-day tape-delay basis.

Penguin Power Half Hour on WYTV Debuts August 31
The Penguin Power Half Hour featuring Coach Jon Heacock and WYTV Channel 33 Sports Director Bob Hannon will begin on August 31 will air every Sunday at Noon throughout the season.

Penguin Club Press Luncheons Begin on August 26
The first Penguin Club Press Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26 prior to YSU’s home opener against Edinboro. The luncheons, which begin at noon, will be held for the remainder of the season on Tuesday’s at the DeBartolo Stadium Club. Tickets for the general public are $5 for Penguin Club members and $6 for non-members. Public reservations can be made by calling the Sports Information Office at (330) 941-3192. The media are invited to attend for free.

Penguin Playbook Radio Show With Coach Heacock On Tuesdays
The Penguin Playbook Radio Show featuring Head Coach Jon Heacock and host Bob Hannon begins on Tuesday, August 26 at 6 p.m. The show will be held on Tuesday nights throughout the remainder of the YSU football season. The first two shows will air at 6 p.m. with the remainder of the season set for 7 p.m.

Track & Field: State Champion Sprinter Signs Letter of Intent  Posted Tuesday, July 22, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- All-Ohio sprinter Brian Ryman of Old Fort High School will continue his academic and track careers at Youngstown State University, Head Coach Brian Gorby recently announced.
Ryman, the 2003 Division III State Champion in the 100 (11.06) and 200-meter dashes (21.90), will be looked upon to fill the shoes of Eugene Harris, who capped off his Penguin career being named the Horizon League’s Outstanding Running Performer at the 2003 Outdoor Championships and after winning the 100 and 200 for the second consecutive year.
“We are looking forward to Brian continuing the tradition of great sprinters at YSU,” Gorby said. “He will help fill the void left by Harris’s departure and will give us a strong chance at defending our league title in the indoor season and capturing our first Horizon League outdoor championship.”

Akron Football Players set up Workouts with Youngstown State  Posted Friday, July 18, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Members of the University of Akron football team have been holding class this summer; not in the classroom, but on the football field.

``From June until (preseason) camp starts in August, it's all about chemistry,'' said Zips senior wide receiver Matt Cherry, who was second on the team last year with 463 reception yards.

``You can't just come out during camp and expect that everything is going to be perfect. The summer is when you have to work on your timing and team chemistry. That's why we've been getting together.''

For the last few weeks, the Zips have been competing in 7-on-7 drills against Youngstown State. Last week, the Penguins traveled to Akron for a scrimmage.

Thursday, the Zips went to YSU's Stambaugh Stadium.

The scrimmages weren't official, which would be against NCAA rules. Instead, it was Akron junior quarterback Charlie Frye who got things going.

``One of our former players transferred to YSU and still I talk to him a lot,'' Frye said. ``I thought it would be good to start doing some 7-on-7 scrimmaging, so we set it up and our guys couldn't wait to get it going. And it says a lot about the dedication of our guys because they could be doing other things, but they are spending their time and (gas) money to travel to Youngstown for these kinds of scrimmages.''

Frye heads into the 2003-04 season ranked No. 2 on Akron's career passing yards list (4,877), and he's also second in career total offense (5,024).

Along with Frye and Cherry, other offensive players participating in the scrimmages were wide receivers Nick Sparks, Miquel Irvin (St. Vincent-St. Mary) and Morris Ellington and running back Dan Basch (Walsh Jesuit) -- all starters at one point in their careers.

Junior linebacker Chase Blackburn, who started in 11-of-12 games last year and led the team with 96 total tackles and 61 solo stops.

The Zips finished 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the MAC East Division. They lost the first six games of the season, but went 4-2 in the final six games, and the defense started to come together in the second half of the season.

The Zips return all 11 starters on an offensive unit that was sixth in the 14-team Mid-American Conference averaging 404.3 total yards per game. The defense finished eighth in the conference, allowing 394.5 total yards per game.

Blackburn, is hoping the 7-on-7 scrimmages will set the tone for the defense when camp begins Aug. 3 for freshmen and Aug. 4 for the rest of the team.

``The defense really played well at the end of the year and that was encouraging because we ended the season on a positive note,'' Blackburn said.

The Zips defeated rival Kent State 48-10 in the season finale at Kent. This year, the two teams will meet in the first game of the season at the Rubber Bowl on Thursday, Aug. 28.

``The guys look really good in the scrimmages and I can tell they are ready to get (preseason camp) started,'' Blackburn said.

Softball Trio To Play In College All-Star Game  Posted Monday, July 14, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Senior Amanda Berry and sophomores Kelly Murphy and Tiffany Patteson were selected to play in the College All-Star Game at the National Pro Fastpitch Festival on July 25 at 6 p.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, Head Coach Christy Cameron announced.
Berry, a first baseman, was named the 2003 Horizon League Player of the Year, finished second on the squad with a .318 batting average, set the single-season record for runs batted in (39) and tied the single-season hits record with 55. Berry also led the ripped 14 doubles, four triples and seven home runs for a slugging percentage of .566.
Murphy, who was named the 2003 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, led the League and set the YSU single-season record with 22 victories and 179 strikeouts. The North Olmsted, Ohio, native finished with a league-best 1.47 earned run average and tossed just the fourth no-hitter in Horizon League Tournament history with an 8-0 win over Detroit. It was also the first YSU no-hitter since the 1993 season. Murphy was also selected to the 2003 Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
Patteson, a first-team All-Horizon League selection in 2003, led the Penguins with a .325 batting average, including a .379 average against League foes. The left-handed hitting shortstop set the single-season and career triples record with nine and also collected 10 doubles and cranked three home runs for a slugging percentage of .548.
Berry, Murphy and Patteson helped guide the Penguins to a school-best 36-17-1 record and a second-place finish in the Horizon League.
Former Penguin Zetta Dumkrieger is also participating in the Festival, playing on a college graduates all-star squad. Dumkrieger’s team will play the professional team on Friday, July 25, at 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, July 26, at 2 p.m.

Tressels, Watsons donate $250K to YSU center  Posted Saturday, July 12, 2003 by  ysupenguins
A room in Kilcawley Center was named for the benefactors.

By ROB MEYER

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Standing behind a podium at Youngstown State University's Kilcawley Center, Ohio State University's football coach Jim Tressel admitted he never really left the city.

"Though I've been kind of gone for two years now, I will never really be gone from here," said the former YSU football mentor, who coached the OSU Buckeyes to a national championship this year.

Tressel was back in town Friday for two reasons — to donate $125,000 to YSU's new student recreation center, and for the dedication ceremony of a new reading lounge in Kilcawley Center.

Frank and Norma Watson of Canfield, parents of Tressel's wife, Ellen, matched the Tressels' donation of $125,000 for the recreation center. YSU then honored the families by the naming a room at Kilcawley the Watson-Tressel Reading Lounge. The lounge features couches, chairs and computers for study, relaxation and research.

"This is a definitely a team effort today," YSU President Dr. David C. Sweet said at the dedication ceremony. "It's the Tressel-Tressel team and the Watson-Watson team. We wanted to develop a quiet study room where students can study."

Recreation center

Sweet also discussed the new recreation center, which will be attached to Kilcawley Center. He said ground will be broken in about eight months.

The campaign to raise $12 million for the center has surpassed the $9 million mark. The 65,000-square-foot facility will feature a fitness center, climbing wall, weight room, jogging track, racquetball courts and a spiritual meditation room.


The Tressels and the Watsons have many ties to YSU.

Jim Tressel coached the Penguins to NCAA Division I-AA national titles in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997. He left YSU in 2001 to coach the Buckeyes. His wife, Ellen, is a graduate of YSU.

Frank Watson, also a YSU graduate, is a former university trustee and is the former president of the Youngstown Welding and Engineering Co.

"Our community is only going to be as strong as our university," Frank Watson said. "This project certainly makes our university a much stronger institution."

Jim Tressel said the new recreation center is one step toward making YSU the premier attraction in the city.

"When people talk about Youngstown in 2025, we want them to say 'That's where YSU is'," he said. "YSU is going to be in the history books as the main thing in Youngstown. People know how much passion we have for YSU."

Athletics: Sixty-Nine YSU Student-Athletes Named To Horizon League Spring Honor Roll  Posted Wednesday, July 9, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Sixty-nine Youngstown State University student-athletes were named to the 2003 Horizon League Spring Academic Honor Roll, the league announced. Youngstown State placed the third most student-athletes on the honor roll behind Butler (96) and UW-Milwaukee (90).
The Horizon League honor roll is awarded bi-annually and candidates for the academic honor roll must meet three criteria in order to qualify: 1) participate in at least one of the League's 19 sports; 2) must have completed three semesters (four quarters on the quarter system) as a full-time student at the same member institution; and 3) must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 as of June 20, 2003.

The following is a complete list of YSU student-athletes named to the honor roll:

Baseball
Adam Cox
Ty Furino
Matt Gnacinski
Corey Ohalek
Paul Yates

Women's Basketball
Maggie Johnston
Devin Novak
Jen Perugini
Melissa Tarrant

Men's Cross Country
Chris Hine
Kurt Michaelis
Anthony Orcena
Jeremy Riehm
Nick Smith

Women's Cross Country
Andrea Bardy
Julie Cole
Catherine Krupko
Jaclyn Nichols
Emily Schnitkey
Erin Treece

Men's Golf
Vince Altiero
Carmen DiPenti
David Johnstone
Josh Zarlenga

Women's Golf
Gina Abbruzzino
Jenny Grossi
Nichole Hamstreet
Lori Hatcher
Elizabeth Sabatino
Mary Woodworth

Women's Soccer
Kate Bollinger
Megan Gibson
Hannah Lawther
Lauren Roseman
Kara White
Rachel Wilds

Softball
Zetta Dumkrieger

Women's Swimming and Diving
Lena Arens
Danielle Blagg
Megan Blazek
Jordan Dunn
April Gellatly
Erin Hanson
Katie Kohut
Kalyn Leveto
Mandie Smail

Men's Tennis
Don Conese

Women's Tennis
Alyson Finamore

Men's Track and Field
Jarrod Davis
Chris Hine
Kurt Michaelis
Anthony Orcena
Jeremy Riehm
Nick Smith

Women's Track and Field
Andrea Bardy
Julie Cole
Lori Griffin
Beth Hochstetler
Leslie Johnson
Catherine Krupko
Jennifer Moore
Jaclyn Nichols
Emily Schnitkey
Erin Treece

Volleyball
Lena Arens
Michele Batton
Annie Buschur
Cameran Drake
Lori Lyman

Jackson Joins Penguin Volleyball Staff On Full-Time Basis  Posted Wednesday, July 9, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Andrea Jackson, a part-time assistant coach for the past 11 seasons, has joined the Youngstown State University volleyball coaching staff on a full-time basis, YSU Head Coach Joe Conroy announced.
“Bringing Andrea on staff full-time is going to help our program immensely,” Conroy said. “Her knowledge of the game and being here full-time will have a positive influence on our players and her eye for talent will have an immediate impact in our recruiting efforts.”
“This is an exciting time for me,” Jackson said. “Having the opportunity to be here for our student-athletes year round will hopefully be beneficial for them and the growth of the entire program.”
Jackson’s new responsibilities include recruiting, player development, match strategy, and an enhanced role in practice management.
Since Jackson joined the Youngstown State volleyball coaching staff in 1992, the Penguins have seen 19 players earn all-conference honors, a conference player of the year, a conference newcomer of the year, three all-newcomer team selections and collected more than 160 victories.
A native of Farrell, Pa., Jackson played two seasons at Cincinnati before transferring to Central Florida.
At Central Florida, she was named team captain and earned first-team all-conference honors during the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
While at UC, Jackson was a two-time first-team all-conference performer, named team captain in 1979, and was selected to play in the Pacific Rim Championships in Hilo, Hawaii.
In 1980, she was selected to play for the U.S. Olympic Volleyball team and trained at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jackson has also coached at the junior Olympic level and at various volleyball summer camps.
Jackson started her full-time duties on July 1.

Athletics: Penguin Power Named Best I-AA Program Again  Posted Wednesday, July 2, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown - The 2002 edition of Penguin Power, the gameday program for Youngstown State University football games, has been judged as the year's best Division I-AA Football Program, by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
The award was presented at the CoSIDA annual convention on Wednesday that was
held this week in Cleveland.
Penguin Power, a 148-page production of the YSU Sports Information and Marketing Offices, placed first in the Division I-AA competition ahead of second-place Illinois State University while Samford placed third. Samford won the best program cover award. The YSU program is printed by Allegra Print and Imaging in Youngstown.
Each year, the CoSIDA organization judges and ranks publications done by Sports Information Offices throughout the country. The I-AA football program contest was coordinated by Shamus McKnight of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Tom Morella Named Development Director, Brian Corvino Joins Staff  Posted Monday, June 30, 2003 by  ysupenguins
YSU Sports Information
30 Jun 2003

Youngstown -- Youngstown State Executive Director of Intercol-
legiate Athletics Ron Strollo announced on Monday that Tom
Morella will assume duties as Director of Athletic Development
and Brian Corvino has joined the department as Director of
Athletic Marketing and Promotions.

Morella, who has operated the YSU ticket office for the past
decade, will work day-to-day with the Penguin Club, the stadium
loges and athletic endowments and scholarships. Corvino will work
with YSU's corporate partners and the overall promotion of
department events.

Men's Basketball: Pope, Smith Added as Assistant Coaches  Posted Thursday, June 26, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Men's Basketball Coach John Robic announced on Wednesday that Bill Pope and Winston Smith have joined his staff as assistant coaches.
Pope spent the past six seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division II Lincoln (Mo.) University while Smith was an assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson the past two seasons.
Robic has previous ties to both new members of his staff. Smith played at UMass during Robic's final three seasons as an assistant with the program while Pope was a manager on Kansas' 1988 National Championship when Robic was a graduate assistant.
"I am very happy to have Bill and Winston join my staff," Robic said. "I have known Bill since I was at Kansas and I coached Winston at UMass and look forward to continuing my relationships with both of them."
Pope, a native of Kansas City, Kan., led the Blue Tigers to a 13-13 record last season, marking the third consecutive year Lincoln had finished .500 or above. In 2002-03, his squad ranked in the top two in the conference in blocked shots, steals, total rebounds, offensive rebounds, fewest points allowed and defensive field-goal percentage.
During his tenure at the Jefferson City, Mo., school, he had nine all-conference selections, two all-region performers, an All-American, a conference newcomer of the year and a conference player of the year (Kenny Dye in 2001-02). In 2000-01, his team shared the Heartland Conference Championship posting a 20-7 overall record and a 9-3 league mark. That season, he was named the Conference Coach of the Year. In 2001-02, the Blue Tigers went 14-12.
He also served as an Assistant Athletic Director and Compliance Coordinator the past four years.
Smith, a native of Summit, N.J., was an assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson the past two seasons. For the Knights, his main duties included overall management of the program, assisting in film exchange and camps and clinics. In his second season last year, Fairleigh Dickinson improved its record by 11 games from the 2001-02 campaign.
Prior to becoming an assistant at FDU, he was a four-year letterwinner for the Minutemen and was part of John Calipari's final recruiting class in 1996. He spent five years with the program, earning a medical redshirt his second season. Smith was part of two NCAA Tournament teams (1998 and 1999) and one NIT participant (2000). As a senior, he was a team captain while starting 26 contests for the Minutemen in 2000-01. He earned his degree in Sociology from UMass in 2001.

Penguins Announce 2003 Volleyball Slate  Posted Thursday, June 26, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Three teams from the Big East, a member of the Mountain West Conference, four in-season tournaments, 17 straight road matches to start the season, and the always rugged Horizon League slate highlight the 2003 Youngstown State volleyball schedule, Head Coach Joe Conroy announced.
"We have a very demanding schedule, especially early on in the season," Conroy said. "With 32 matches scheduled this year, our players will need to be focused mentally and strong physically."
The Penguins open the season in a flurry with five matches in three days at the Western New York Tournament, Aug. 29-31, with matches against Seton Hall, Niagara, Albany, Canisius and Syracuse. Youngstown State then heads west for the Comcast Lobo Invitational at the University of New Mexico, Sept. 5-6. The Penguins face host New Mexico, Delaware and Alcorn State.
YSU continues its in-season tournament barrage at the Binghamton Tournament, Sept. 12-13. The Penguins face Canisius for the second time, Binghamton and Quinnipiac. Youngstown State's final in-season tourney is at Morgan State, Sept. 19-20, when it plays four matches in two days against UNC-Asheville, Morgan State, Stony Brook and Bucknell.
The Penguins also play two non-league matches in Beeghly Center against West Virginia on Oct. 18 and NCAA Tournament participant Robert Morris on Nov. 11, and travel to St. Francis (Pa.), Oct. 28,
"Our non-league schedule is rigorous," Conroy said. "It will give our team an opportunity to learn how to play as a group because we are going to have a younger base than in the past. I also think it is a schedule which we can be very competitive and hopefully find some success."
Youngstown State opens Horizon League play on the road against UW-Green Bay on Sept. 26 and UW-Milwaukee on Sept. 27. The Penguins host Illinois-Chicago in their home opener on Oct. 3 and defending Horizon League champion Loyola on Oct. 4
The Penguins close out the season with four straight home matches, including League contests against Butler on Nov. 7, Wright State on Nov. 8 and the regular-season finale against Cleveland State on Nov. 14.
"The Horizon League continues to improve each season and we know that we have to play at our best each night because of the intense competitive level that each team brings," Conroy said. "Each team is continually striving to get better and we must work even harder to get to the level that we want to reach."
The 2003 Horizon League Tournament is Nov. 21-23 in Indianapolis, Ind. hosted by Butler University.

Nine YSU Student-Athletes Named To Academic All-Horizon League Team  Posted Thursday, June 19, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Nine Youngstown State University student-athletes were named to the 2003 Spring Academic All-Horizon League Team, the League announced on Thursday.
The YSU women's golf team placed three student-athletes - Gina Abruzzino, Lori Hatcher and Jennifer Grossi - on the squad, while baseball and men's track and field each placed two. Adam Cox and Ty Furino from the baseball team were selected while Kurt Michaelis and Nick Smith were picked from the men's track and field team.
Alyson Finamore represented the YSU women's tennis program while Beth Hochstetler was chosen from the women's track and field program.

Volleyball: Penguins Ink Cindric To Letter of Intent  Posted Monday, June 16, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Youngstown State University Head Volleyball Coach Joe Conroy announced on Monday the signing of Amanda Cindric to a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and volleyball careers at YSU.
Cindric, a Pittsburgh, Pa., native, was a four-year letterwinner at Carrick High School and was elected team captain her junior and senior seasons. A four-time all-district selection, Cindric, a 5-foot-7 defensive specialist, was named all-state in 2001 and received two gold medals at the Keystone State Games in 2000 and 2002, and a silver medal in 1999.
"Amanda gives us another solid passer with a lot of versatility," Conroy said. "In the game of volleyball, success comes with the ability to pass the ball and we feel we have found, in Amanda, a player that can help us become successful."

Soccer: Penguins Sign Ludt  Posted Monday, June 16, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Natalie Ludt, a native of Poland, Ohio, has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Youngstown State University, YSU Head Coach Liz Bartley announced on Monday.
"Natalie is a tenacious worker with speed," Bartley said. "She has a great work ethic and will lead by example."
Ludt's older sister, Kristy, played soccer for the Penguins from 1996-99.

Baseball: Schultz Named 'Louisville Slugger' Freshman All-American  Posted Friday, June 6, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Tucson, Ariz. -- Youngstown State freshman third baseman Charles Schultz (Worthington, Ohio) was named to the "Louisville Slugger" Freshman All-American Team, Collegiate Baseball newspaper announced Thursday.
Schultz, a 6-0 righthander, started 53 games for the Penguins in his debut season and had a team-best .356 average with 67 hits, 30 RBIs and 42 runs scored. He was also named to the Horizon League's All-Newcomer team last month.

Anderson Tabbed New YSU Swim Coach  Posted Thursday, June 5, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State has named Matt Anderson as its new Head Swimming and Diving Coach, Associate Director of Athletics Elaine Jacobs announced on Thursday.
Anderson comes to Youngstown State after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio State, where he served as recruiting coordinator and oversaw the sprint groups.
While at Ohio State, Anderson coached NCAA, Olympic Trial, Senior National and U.S. Open qualifiers and Big Ten finalists.
Prior to joining the Ohio State staff, Anderson spent two seasons as assistant swim coach at Northern Illinois. With the Huskies, Anderson served as the middle distance coach and mentored student-athletes qualifying for Senior Nationals, Junior Nationals, and the U.S. Open and Mid-American Conference finalists.
Anderson, a four-year letterwinner at Northern Illinois, earned a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois in 1997 and is a member of the College Swimming Coaches Association and the American Swim Coaches Association.
Anderson will begin his duties on July 1, 2003.

Women's Basketball: Hill Names Assistant Coaching Staff  Posted Thursday, June 5, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State women’s basketball Head Coach Tisha Hill officially announced on Thursday that Karin Nicholls, Kara Wile and Amy Waugh have joined her staff as assistant coaches.
Nicholls, a native of Decatur, Ill., brings 12 years of coaching experience to the Penguins’ staff, including seven seasons as a head coach and three years as a recruiting coordinator.
Prior to joining the YSU staff, Nicholls spent two seasons as head coach at Texas-Pan American and five years as the head coach at Truman State, where she compiled a record of 71-64. Nicholls also spent three seasons as the recruiting coordinator at Nebraska and two years as a graduate assistant at Illinois, where she earned her master’s degree in sports administration and management in 1992. Nicholls, who will serve as the Penguins’ recruiting coordinator and work primarily with YSU’s post players, earned bachelor degrees in both communications and psychology in 1990 from Bradley.
“Karin brings a wealth of basketball experience and knowledge to our program,” Hill said. “Her successful recruiting track record as a head coach and as an assistant will help raise the level of our program to where we want it to be.”
Wile, who spent last season as an assistant coach at Pike High School while taking graduate classes at Ball State, served as an assistant coach at Indiana State during the 2001-02 season and at Southern Illinois during the 2000-01 campaign.
A 2000 graduate of Saint Louis University with a degree in elementary education, Wile will work with the Penguin perimeter players, recruiting and scouting and player development. At Saint Louis, Wile was a four-year starting point guard and set the school record for assists.
“Kara is one of the most energetic and hard working people I know,” Hill said. “I am extremely excited to have her join the Penguin program. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for the players and the game will be a tremendous asset to our program.”
Waugh, who hails from Fort Wayne, Ind., comes to Youngstown State after spending four seasons as a standout guard at Xavier (Ohio). Waugh, who led the Musketeers and the Atlantic-10 with 19 points per game, will work with the Penguin perimeter players while coordinating film exchange, camps, travel and monitor student-athletes’ academic progress.
An honorable-mention All-American by womenscollegehoops.com and Street and Smith, Waugh led the nation with 3.6 3-pointers per game and won the ESPN College Three-point Championship.
Waugh graduated from Xavier in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in education.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Amy join our staff,” Hill said. “She was a standout player at Xavier and knows how to win. I’ve followed her career and have competed against her and I’m certainly thrilled to have her on our staff now.”

Penguin Club: Bill Dailey Golf Outing Set for Today  Posted Wednesday, June 4, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The 2003 YSU Bill Dailey Scholarship Golf Outing is set to be played this afternoon at Fonderlac Country Club in Poland, Ohio. More than 130 golfers are expected to participate in the event as well as several members of the YSU Athletics Department. The four-person scramble is set to begin at noon. Last year's winning score was a 12-under par 59.

Track & Field: Optimistic Penguins Sign Eight Recruits  Posted Tuesday, June 3, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Head coach Brian Gorby announced the signing of eight female student-athletes that will continue their academic and athletic careers at Youngstown State Tuesday.
Gorby, who dubs the class of women "the best incoming freshman class of high school seniors in the state of Ohio," said that a trio of sprinters, two throwers and three distance runners will be featured on the 2003-04 roster.
"Coach (Shawn) Cobey and (Dave) Purins have done a phenomenal job of recruiting the top athletes not only in the state of Ohio, but also in the entire nation," Gorby said. "This coaching staff's hard work and drive in recruiting has given the women's program a tremendous opportunity to compete for many championships for the years to come."
Twins Dominique and Dionne Jones and Danielle Bolt will look to make an immediate impact in the sprints for the Penguins next season.
Dominique is a former Division-I runner-up in the 400 while her sister is a runner-up in the 200. Both were part of the three-time state champion 4x400-meter relay squad.
Bolt (Brookline, Mass.) is a state champion in the indoor 55-meter dash and the outdoor 100 dash and is ranked among the fastest 25 sprinters in the nation. She was also named the Boston Globe's Athlete of the Year and finished tenth overall at the High School Indoor Track and Field U.S. Nationals in the 55 dash.
Twins Lindsey and Amy Hill from Mt. Vernon will look to replace YSU's three senior throwers. The sisters are both All-Ohioans in the shot put and discus. Lindsey placed fourth at the state meet in the shot put last year and is ranked in the top ten indoor shot putters in the nation. Amy won her regional last weekend in the discus with a threw of 135-10.
Lisa Davies (West Branch), Kim Jendre (Medina) and Marielle Glanz (Liberty Center) are YSU's three incoming distance runners.
Davies is a three-time All-Ohioan in cross country and has the fastest incoming time in the 5k in YSU history. Her 3,200-meter time of 11:02 ranks her as one of the top three runners in Ohio and is a state qualifier this season in the 1,600, the 3,200 and the 4x800-meter relay.
Jendre is a four-time All-Ohioan in cross country and has led Medina's 4x800 squad to the State Championships for three-straight years. According to Gorby, she is one of the five best senior middle-distance runners in the state and could make an immediate impact as a freshman.
Glanz is Liberty Center's school-record holder in the 5k with a time of 19:31 and is ranked among the top four runners that will compete in the 800 at the 2003 State Championships.

Incoming Personal Bests:
Dominique Jones - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
200 - 24.92 400 - 55.65

Dionne Jones - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
200 - 24.95 400 - 55.65

Danielle Bolt - Brookline, Mass.
55 - 7.18 100 - 12.06 Long Jump - 17-10

Lindsey Hill - Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Shot put - 43-09 Discus - 134-03

Amy Hill - Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Shot put - 42-09 Discus - 135-10

Lisa Davies - West Branch, Ohio
CC 5k - 18:38 800 - 2:18 1,600 - 5:06 3,200 - 11:02

Kim Jendre - Medina, Ohio
CC 5k - 19:01 800 - 2:18 1,600 - 5:08 3,200 - 11:29

Marielle Glanz - Liberty Center, Ohio
CC 5k - 19:31 800 - 2:19

Baseball: Florak Announces the Addition of Five Signees  Posted Tuesday, June 3, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Head Baseball Coach Mike Florak announced on Tuesday that five in-state standouts have signed national letters of intent to play baseball for the Penguins.
Signing with YSU are outfielder Brent Parks (Canfield, Ohio), pitcher/infielder Julian Perler (Reynoldsburg, Ohio), shortstop Josh Page (Plain City, Ohio), catcher/outfielder Erich Diedrich (Bay Village, Ohio) and pitcher/infielder Tom Zetts (Boardman, Ohio).
Page was named the Division III Central District Player of the Year. The shortstop hit .490 on the year and led Alder to the district championship. He was also named the Buckeye Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Alder finished the season with a 22-8 mark losing to top-ranked St. Henry 4-3 in the Division III regional semifinals. It was the deepest run into the postseason by the Pioneers since 1998. As a defensive back on the Alder football team, Page was a second-team Division IV All-Ohio selection.
Perler was a first-team Division I All-Central District selection leading Reynoldsburg during the 2003 campaign.
Parks entered his senior season was tabbed as the 90th best senior in the state playing for Coach Tony Ross at Canfield.
Diedrich is a left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing catcher/outfielder who helped Bay High advance to the state regionals for the first time since 1991. Bay won the District II Championship beating Firelands last week.
Zetts will be a two-sport athlete for the Penguins playing both baseball and football. As a quarterback, Zetts finished as the fifth all-time leading passer in school history throwing for 2,802 yards in his career. As a senior, passed for 1,468 yards and 13 touchdowns and was a second-team All-Ohio Division I pick. On the diamond, he was named the 94th best senior in the state prior to his senior campaign.
In the fall, outfielder Jeff Solt of Reynoldsburg and outfielder/first baseman Mike Tarjanica from Canfield along with right-handed pitcher Andy Svitak from Cleveland each signed with YSU.

Annual Football Camps Kick Off End of This Week  Posted Monday, June 2, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The 2003 Youngstown State football camps begin Saturday, but the YSU football staff is still accepting applications from potential campers.
The camps are the All-Position Camp, which is held June 8 through June 10, the QB/WR/DB Camp, which will be held on Wednesday, June 11, the Kickers and Punter Camp, which is held June 12 and 13, and the Offensive Line/Defensive Line Skills Camps, which are held June 7 and June 14. For more information, contact the YSU football office at (330) 941-3478. Click Blow for camp info...

Click Here for Camp Information

Track & Field: Michaelis Finishes Tenth in 1,500-meter Finals  Posted Monday, June 2, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Columbus, Ohio -- Junior Kurt Michaelis finished with a tenth-place time of 3:58.52 at the NCAA Midwest Regionals on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon at The Ohio State University's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Michaelis, who qualified for the finals yesterday with a time of 3:49.05, was in the field with the top four finishers in the event in the indoor season and needed to finish in the top five to move on to the NCAA Championships. Michigan freshman Nick Willis won the event with a Stadium-record time of 3:45.45.

Track & Field: Michaelis Qualifies for Regional Finals in Men's 1,500  Posted Saturday, May 31, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Columbus, Ohio -- Junior Kurt Michaelis qualified for the finals in the 1,500-meter run at the first-ever NCAA Midwest Regional Finals at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Michaelis finished with a time of 3:49.05 to place sixth in his heat and grab the final spot in the finals tomorrow at 7:23 p.m. He will head into the race with the ninth best time with the top five moving on to the NCAA National Championships in Sacramento in two weeks.
Also for the Penguins, Eugene Harris, the Horizon League Champion in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, finished with a time of 22.05 in the 200.
Along with Michaelis, Beth Hochstetler will compete in the discus tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. Michaelis also qualified for the 3,000-meter steeplechase and may compete in the event at 8:30 p.m. pending his performance in the 1,500.

Swimming & Diving: Penguins Add Four Divers  Posted Friday, May 30, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Cortney Harless (Steubenville, Ohio), Lynea Harrill (Mayfield, Ohio) and Erin Mazzant (Beaver Falls, Pa.) have signed national letters of intent to continue their academic and diving careers at Youngstown State University and Kristen Moffatt (Conway, Pa) has transferred to YSU from West Virginia, YSU Diving Coach Nick Gavolas announced on Friday.
Harless, a senior at Steubenville High School, was a district qualifier and finished 10th at the Ohio Central District Championship.
Harrill, who is relatively new to diving, placed 16th at the Northeast District meet.
Mazzant, who is a senior at Pine Ridge High School, placed 14th at the 2003 Pennsylvania State Championship meet and is a two-time state qualifier.
"This is a great group of kids with a willingness to come in and work really hard," said Gavolas. "With the addition of these four outstanding student-athletes, I am confident YSU can remain one of the top diving programs in the league."

Four Penguins Compete in NCAA Regionals  Posted Thursday, May 29, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's and women's track and field teams will have four athletes compete at the 2003 NCAA Mideast Regional at The Ohio State University beginning on Friday at the Jesse Owens Memorial Staidum. Representing YSU will be Kurt Michaelis, Eugene Harris, Delores Gaines and Beth Hochstetler.
Michaelis will be competing in three events -- the 800 meters, the 1,500 meters and the Steeplechase -- Harris will run in the 100 and 200 meters, Gaines is competing in the shot put and Hochstetler will be throwing the discus.
Michaelis will run Friday night in the 800-meter run and the 1,500-meter run preliminaries. Harris will compete in the 100 and 200 preliminaries while Gaines will take part in the shot put finales. On Saturday, if Michaelis and Harris qualify they run in the finals of their events. Hochstetler competes in the discus finals and in the final men's individual event, Michaelis runs in the steeplechase at 8:30 p.m.
Overall, there are representatives from 76 men's teams and 77 women's teams at the Mideast Regional. Included in those are SEC powers Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and Auburn, seven teams from the Big Ten, Big East Champion Notre Dame as well as Missouri from the Big 12 Conference. Teams from the Mid-American Conference, the Southern Conference, the Missouri Valley Conference, Conference USA, the Sun Belt Conference, among others will be competing.
From the Horizon League, Butler, Detroit, Illinois-Chicago, UW-Milwaukee and YSU will have participants on the men's side. On the women's side Butler, Detroit, Illinois-Chicago, Wright State, UW-Milwaukee and YSU make up the Mideast Horizon League participants.
In order to make the NCAA Outdoor Championships, athletes must finish in the top five of their event or in the top three in the relay events. The NCAA will also use the national descending order list to fill the rest of the NCAA Championships field. Other regional sites are George Mason, Nebraska and Stanford.
The 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held in Sacramento, Calif., hosted by Cal-State Sacramento at Hornet Stadium from June 11-14.

YSU Athletes/Times of Competition

Friday
Kurt Michaelis -- 4:45 p.m., 1,500-meter run preliminaries
Delores Gaines -- 5:30 p.m., Shot Put finals
Eugene Harris -- 6:45 p.m., 100-meter dash preliminaries
Kurt Michaelis -- 7:15 p.m., 800-meter run preliminaries
Eugene Harris -- 8:15 p.m., 200-meter dash preliminaries

Saturday
Beth Hochstetler -- 5:30 p.m., Discus finals
Kurt Michaelis -- 6:23 p.m., 1,500-meter run finals*
Eugene Harris -- 7:08 p.m., 100-meter dash finals*
Kurt Michaelis -- 7:23 p.m., 800-meter run finals*
Eugene Harris -- 7:53 p.m., 200-meter dash finals*
Kurt Michaelis -- 8:30 p.m., Steeplechase

*if qualify on Friday

Lady Pen's Soccer Sign Two Defenders  Posted Thursday, May 29, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Head Coach Elizabeth Bartley announced on Thursday that Mikey McCracken and Shannon Martig, both from West Branch High School, have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and soccer careers at Youngstown State.
At West Branch, McCracken was a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain. In 2002 she was named to the senior all-star team and received second-team All-Mahoning County honors her junior season.
Martig, a three-year letterwinner for the Warriors, was named to the All-Ohio team, senior all-star team, and academic all-star team her senior season. Shannon ranks in the top ten percent of her graduating class.
"I am looking forward to working with both girls," Bartley said. "They will help boost our defense, which is an area we are looking to develop."

18 YSU Student-Athletes Earn 4.0 Spring GPA  Posted Wednesday, May 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Eighteen Youngstown State University student-athletes earned a 4.0 grade-point average during the 2003 spring semester while six student-athletes own a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average through Spring 2003, the department announced on Tuesday.
The following student-athletes currently own a cumulative grade-point average of 4.0: Abby Ettenhofer (volleyball), Ashlee Russo (women's basketball), Catherine Krupko (track/cross country), Jaclyn Nichols (track/cross country), Matt Brouse (football) and Lee Everett (football).
Along with the student-athletes listed previously, the following athletes received a 4.0 grade-point average during the spring semester: Gina Abbruzino (women's golf), Lena Arens (volleyball/swimming), Michele Batton (volleyball), Katie Bollinger (soccer), Michael De Toro (track), Alyson Finamore (women's tennis), Lori Hatcher (women's golf), Beth Hochstetler (track), Leslie Johnson (track), Corey Ohalek (baseball), Tony Orcena (track), and Josh Zarlenga (men's golf).
The men's golf team led the all YSU athletic teams with a 3.28 grade-point average while the women's golf team finished with a 3.25 GPA.
Forty-five percent or 140 YSU student-athletes ended the spring semester with a semester grade-point average of 3.0 or better.

Baseball: Vikings Oust Penguins From Tournament, 10-4  Posted Sunday, May 25, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Fairborn, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team could not stop a hot-hitting Cleveland State squad on Saturday afternoon at the Horizon League Tournament, falling 10-4 in an elimination game to the Vikings at Nischwitz Stadium.
The Penguins end the season with a 27-28 mark while the Vikings, who won for the third time in the tournament, advance to semifinal game later on Saturday against Butler. In the contest, Youngstown State committed four errors and left the bases loaded in the fifth and seventh innings.
Cleveland State (13-38) opened the game up in sixth when Keith McLeod singled and Ben Smith belted his fourth homer of the year to left off reliever Justin Thomas. The Vikings tacked on another run when Eric Schmitz singled with the bases loaded scoring Dominic Erney to build a four-run lead.
One inning later, the Penguins committed two errors as Cory Rojeck and Mario Angelo reached base on miscues and both scored on a sharp single by Smith putting CSU ahead 9-3.
CSU added a run in the top of the ninth when McLeod doubled to score Angelo. In the bottom of the inning, Kendall Schlabach doubled and after a wild pitch scored on a groundout by Brandon Caipen. Schlabach's double gave him 203 hits in his career to set the school mark eclipsing the career mark of 202 held by Todd Santore.
In the fourth, the Vikings scored twice without a hit. Steve Chinn and Schmitz walked to open the inning before moving up on a sacrifice bunt by Rojeck. Chinn scored on a sacrifice fly by Angelo and after moving up to third on the play, Schmitz scored on a wild-pitch third strike to McLeod.
CSU increased the advantage to 4-2 in the fifth when Smith walked to open the inning and scored on a double by Doug Besozzi.
YSU, which swept a four-game series at CSU in April, pulled within one in the fifth when Jim Phillips tripled with two outs and scored on a single by J.J. Newman. The next two Penguins walked to load the bases, but Charles Schultz popped up to short to end the threat.
The Vikings pushed across their first run of the game in the third inning when Smith singled with one out and moved to second on a Besozzi walk. Erney followed with a grounder to short and Newman flipped the ball to Justin Banks at second for a force, but Banks threw the ball wide of first allowing Smith to come home from second.
The Penguins took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Adam Cox and Jim Lipinski came around to score. Cox opened the inning with a double and with one out scored on a base hit by Lipinski. Lipinski moved to second on a Brian Boone groundout to third and scored on a single by Phillips.
YSU sophomore Chris Dennis (1-1) took the loss pitching 4.1 innings while allowing just three hits but had six walks to go along with six strikeouts.
Pitching on two-days' rest, CSU's Matt Kaltenbach (7-7) picked up the win throwing five innings and striking out three. Kaltenbach also earned the win in the Vikings' play-in win over Detroit for the seventh-seeded Vkings. CSU's Jimmy Gulden pitched the final four innings of the game in relief.

Men's Tennis: Penguins Ink Howland Native  Posted Friday, May 23, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Men's Tennis Coach Eric Ronan announced Friday that Jason Trapp, a native of Howland, Ohio, has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and tennis career at Youngstown State.
Trapp, a standout No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles player for Howland High School, helped Howland clinch a share of the MAC title this season. Jason won the sectionals double title along with his brother last Saturday, marking the third straight year the team has won the title. Last year, Jason made it to the state tournament in doubles play.
"I am very excited Jason is coming here," Ronan said. "He is an excellent doubles player and will contribute immediately to our team."

Baseball: Phillips, Lipinski Lead YSU Past Milwaukee in Opening Round of Horizon Tournament  Posted Thursday, May 22, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Fairborn, Ohio -- Jim Lipinski and Jim Phillips had three RBI each as the Youngstown State baseball team beat UW-Milwaukee 9-6 in the opening round of the Horizon League Baseball Tournament at Nischwitz Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
With the victory, the Penguins (27-26) advance to Friday's winner's bracket game and will play either Wright State or Butler at 6:30 p.m. YSU earned its first-ever Horizon League Tournament win and first in the postseason since May 20, 1999.
Phillips and Lipinski combined to knock home the Penguins' final five runs of the game, on three two-out hits.
"Those hits were big, but everybody stepped up today," Head Coach Mike Florak said. "Kyle Sobecki is such a fierce competitor and we feed off of his effort. Everybody stepped it up today. That is what the makeup of this team is all about."
Sobecki (6-4) went six innings and came back strong after letting a 4-0 lead get away in the second by allowing four runs. He struck out three and walked one will scattering nine hits. Freshman Justin Thomas earned his first career save pitching the last three innings. Thomas allowed just two hits and struck out three in his initial postseason appearance.
Phillips came through the first time in the fifth when he hit a two-RBI single off Geoff Lefeber to put the Penguins in front 6-4. In the inning, Adam Cox singled with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Justin Banks' fly out, Lipinski and Brian Boone kept the inning going by drawing walks to load the bases. Phillips laced a Lefeber pitch to left center scoring Cox and Lipinski.
Two innings later, Phillips ripped a two-out double off Cory Kleeba to score Lipinski from second and boost the YSU lead to 7-4.
The Panthers (25-24) scratched out two runs in the bottom of the seventh and knocked Sobecki from the contest. Troy Doering and Steve Sanfilippo singled to open the inning and Thomas came on to replace Sobecki. After striking out Pudlosky, Thomas allowed an RBI single to Ben Stanczyk and an RBI ground out to Matt Alexander before working out of the inning when Marcellus Dawson grounded out to second. After that Thomas allowed one base runner the final two innings.
Lipinski came through in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs, he drilled a single of Stanczyk to put YSU in front 9-6.
The Penguins built a 4-0 lead early scoring three times in the first and by adding a run in the second.
In the first inning, Kendall Schlabach led off the game with a walk and moved over to third when Brandon Caipen followed with a bunt single up the first-base line that was misplayed by the Milwaukee infield. Charles Schultz scored Schlabach with an RBI base hit as Caipen moved up to third. Caipen, who had three hits, came in to score when Sanfillipo failed to handle a Justin Banks ground ball as Schultz advanced to third. Lipinski hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Schultz to give YSU a 3-0 advantage.
Schlabach came around to score again in the second. After walking with one out, he stole second and with two outs scored on a single to right by Schultz.
Milwaukee came back to tie the game in the bottom of the second scoring four times.
The first six Panthers hitters of the inning reached base as Sam Jansen, Troy Doering, Sanfillipo and Stanczyk each had RBI. UWM tied the game at four when Stanczyk singled home Pitrof with one out. Sobecki then worked out of the bases-loaded jam when David Michna hit into an inning-ending double play.
With the loss, Milwaukee -- the defending tournament champion -- will play top-seed Illinois-Chicago at 2:30 p.m.


Final Stats

Baseball: Cox, Schlabach Named All-League; Penguins Land Three on All-Newcomer Team  Posted Wednesday, May 21, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State junior catcher Adam Cox was named First-Team All-Horizon League while junior outfielder Kendall Schlabach earned second-team honors, the League announced Wednesday evening.
Justin Banks, Brandon Caipen and Charles Schultz were named to the League's All-Newcomer Team.
Cox had a monster year at the plate, belting 11 home runs with 36 RBIs and 39 runs scored. Schlabach, who earned league honors for the third straight season, hit .309 with 34 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.
Banks finished with 27 RBIs and a team-high 14 doubles while hitting at a .314 clip including .434 in league contests. Caipen hit .328 with three homers and 32 RBIs while Schultz hit a team-high .360, including hitting .410 against league opponents, with 39 runs scored.

Mays Signs with San Diego Chargers  Posted Tuesday, May 20, 2003 by  ysupenguins
The Chargers have signed running back P.J. Mays to a two-year contract.
Mays, 5-9, 222, is a rookie from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio where he rushed for 3,374 yards and 41 touchdowns during his career. He was a second-team Associated Press All-America selection following his senior season and a two-time All-Gateway Conference selection following his junior and senior seasons. Mays’ 41 touchdowns set a conference record. He was named the conference’s offensive player of the year following his junior season in 2001 when he rushed for 1,446 yards and 21 scores.

Mays began his collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati where he earned a spot on Conference USA’s All-Freshman team in 1999. Following his freshman season, Mays decided to return home and transferred to Youngstown State.

Mays was born July 17, 1980 in Youngstown. He was a first-team all-state tailback at Youngstown East High School. He also ran track, competing on the school’s 4-x-100 relay team.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Sign Georgia Standout Humphrey  Posted Monday, May 19, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State men's basketball coach John Robic announced on Monday that the Penguins have signed 6-foot-2 guard Quin Humphrey from Stockbridge High School in Atlanta, Ga., to a national letter of intent.
Humphrey averaged 26.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists and 2.5 rebounds per game as senior and led Stockbridge to its first playoff appearance since 1993 this past season. In the first round of the 5A playoffs, Humphrey scored 30 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists in a 60-56 win over Coffee High School. Stockbridge finished the year 20-10 overall losing to Savannah High School 48-43 in the 5A Georgia Sweet 16.
Humphrey was a first-team all-region and all-conference selection for Stockbridge, which was named the Metro Atlanta Prep Team of the Year. Prep Stars Magazine tabbed Humphrey as the No. 8 senior in the state while he earned third-team all-state honors.
During his junior season, he was also named third-team all-state and is a three-time Henry County Player of the Year.
Humphrey becomes the second player from the Atlanta area to sign with the Penguins this year. In November, Youngstown State inked point guard Michael Woodard out of Fairburn, Ga.
Humphrey's signing brings YSU's list of men's basketball signees to five. He joins Woodard, forward Craig Anderson of Mt. Prospect, Ill., forward John Barber of Renaissance High School in Detroit, Mich., and forward Dwight Holmes from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, who have previously signed with the Penguins.

Baseball: Penguins Will Play Panthers to Open League Tournament  Posted Monday, May 19, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball team will open play in the Horizon League Tournament on Thursday night at 6:30 against UW-Milwaukee at Nischwitz Stadium on the Wright State campus in Dayton.
The Penguins (26-26 overall and 12-11 in the Horizon League) will be the fourth seed in the tournament while the Panthers (25-23 and 13-10) are the third seed.

Baseball: Penguins Earn Split in Regular Season Finale  Posted Saturday, May 17, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team (26-26) finished off their 2003 regular season with a doubleheader split with the Marshall Thundering Herd (22-31-1), 6-10 and 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at Cafaro Field.
Corey Ohalek broke the school record in career wins by picking up his 22nd career victory in game two by tossing five innings and striking out four. Kyle Sobecki picked up his first save of the season in four innings of relief for the Penguins.
Adam Cox hit his 11th home run of the season in the eighth inning of game one to tie the school mark set by Joe Ayette in 1994.
In game two, YSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead by plating a run in the first and the second innings. In the first, Kendall Schlabach ripped a leadoff double down the right field line and later scored on a wild pitch. J.J. Newman drove home Brian Boone on a sacrifice fly in the second to put the Penguins up two.
Marshall tied the game at two by tallying a run in third and fourth innings, but YSU scored the next four runs to take a 6-2 lead. The Penguins scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, once in the sixth and once in the seventh.
In the fifth, Jim Phillips belted a leadoff double, then Schlabach singled him home two batters later. Charles Schutlz, who increased his hitting streak to ten games, singled home Schlabach to give the Penguins a two-run cushion.
Boone added an RBI single in the sixth and Cox hit an RBI triple in the seventh to put YSU up four.
Marshall plated a run in the top of the ninth and put the tying run at the plate, but Sobecki struck out Craig Dziedziejko to seal the victory.
In game one, the Penguins took an early one-run advantage in the bottom of the first. Schlabach was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brandon Caipen. Schultz followed with an RBI single to right to give YSU a 1-0 lead.
The Thundering Herd answered right back in the top of the second by sending nine hitters to the plate and tallying six runs - five unearned - on four hits. Mike Koitsopoulos and Gregg Hiller started the inning off with back-to-back singles, then Mike Frederick reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Roddy Steiger then drew a walk to put the Herd on the board, and Josh McConnell added a sacrifice fly. Also in the inning, Joe Glevenyak added a two-run double and Corie O'Bryan hit a two-run homer to give Marshall a 6-1 lead.
The Penguins cut the lead to two by tallying three runs in the bottom of the second by pounding out three hits. Jim Lipinski hit a leadoff single, then Boone followed with his first of two doubles in the game to put runners on second and third. Phillips followed with a sacrifice fly to center, then Ty Furino hit an RBI single and Schlabach had an RBI groundout to make the score 6-4.
The Thundering Herd, however, got two runs back in the top of the third on one hit and three walks.
YSU tallied a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Furino, but Marshall scored twice in the top of the seventh to take a 10-5 lead.
Cox's solo blast in the eighth got the Penguins within four, but Chris Koutsavlis and Chris Meadows held YSU scoreless for the final two frames to preserve the victory.
Justin Thomas struck out eight hitters in five innings of relief for the Penguins.
The Penguins will continue their season in the Horizon League Tournament on Thursday. Tournament seedings and game times will be announced on Monday.

More Than 30 Student-Athletes to Earn Degrees  Posted Saturday, May 17, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State University Athletic Department will be well represented at Saturday's YSU commencement ceremonies with 33 current and former student-athletes receiving their degrees.
Lissette Alamo (track and field), Anthony Barone (football), Adam Belmonte (track and field), Be Cicero (softball), Rafael Cruz (men's basketball), Justin Dellarose (football), Cameron Drake (volleyball), Dennis Dlugosz (football), Joleen Estok (softball), Alyson Finamore (tennis), Megan Gibson (soccer), Kate Gigliotti (soccer), Brandi Goettsch (diving), Jennifer Grossi (women's golf), Lavelle Hawkes (football), Jerry Johnson (football), David Johnstone (men's golf), Kosta Karapetsas (football), Kathryn Kohut (swimming), P.J. Mays (football), Molly McAtee (swimming), Kate McHugh (soccer), Charles Mister (football), Corey Ohalek (baseball), April Pankewicz (soccer), Lauren Roseman (soccer), Elizabeth Sabatino (women's golf), Todd Santore (baseball), Kyle Sobecki (baseball), Russell Stuvaints (football), Jessica Tait (soccer), Jon Tekac (football), Rachel Wilds (soccer) and Shawn Wire (men's golf).
Also, Sports Information Secretary Cindy Blevins earned her Associate Degree in Arts and YSU soccer assistant coach earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Arts.

Softball: Berry, Murphy Named To Great Lakes All-Region Second-Team  Posted Thursday, May 15, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Junior Amanda Berry and freshman Kelly Murphy were named to the 2003 Great Lakes All-Region Second-Team, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Wednesday. Berry and Murphy are the first YSU softball players to receive all-region recognition.
Berry, a first baseman, was named the 2003 Horizon League Player of the Year, finished second on the squad with a .318 batting average, set the single-season record for runs batted in (39) and tied the single-season hits record with 55. Berry also led the ripped 14 doubles, four triples and seven home runs for a slugging percentage of .566.
Murphy, who was named the 2003 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, led the League and set the YSU single-season record with 22 victories and 179 strikeouts. The North Olmsted, Ohio, native finished with a league-best 1.47 earned run average and tossed just the fourth no-hitter in Horizon League Tournament history with an 8-0 win over Detroit. It was also the first YSU no-hitter since the 1993 season. Murphy was also selected to the 2003 Horizon League All-Tournament Team.

Softball: Murphy Named To Horizon League All-Tournament Team  Posted Monday, May 12, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Cleveland, Ohio -- Youngstown State freshman Kelly Murphy was named to the 2003 Horizon League All-Tournament Team after posting a 2-1 record, a 1.21 ERA and throwing just the fourth no-hitter in tournament history.
Murphy, who finished the season with a school-best 22-6 record, tossed the no-no in a five-inning, 8-0 shutout over Detroit in the first round. The North Olmsted, Ohio, native also picked up a 3-2 victory over UIC in the quarterfinals.
Murphy, who was named the 2003 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, also set the school record for most strikeouts in a season with 179.

Penguins Eliminated By Cleveland State, 7-1  Posted Sunday, May 11, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Cleveland, Ohio -- The Youngstown State softball team's remarkable turnaround season came to an end when the Penguins were eliminated from the 2003 Horizon League Softball Tournament after dropping a 7-1 decision to Cleveland State (23-29-1) on Saturday afternoon at Viking Field.
The Penguins finish the 2003 campaign with a school-best record of 36-17-1. CSU faces Wright State in the championship game at 2:40 p.m.
Youngstown State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Amanda Berry doubled home freshman Tiffany Patteson, who walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
The Vikings quickly tied the contest, 1-1, on Stephanie Taylor's solo home run to lead off the top of the second inning.
The Penguins, who left 10 runners on base, threatened to break the tie in the bottom of the third with runners on first and second and no outs, but CSU pitcher Grace Luginbuhl buckled down and staved off the Penguin threat.
Cleveland State broke the game open on Michelle Beightol's three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to give the Vikings a 4-1 advantage. CSU added one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to seal the victory.
Senior Zetta Dumkrieger and junior Amber Smith each collected two hits for the Penguins.

Track & Field: Championship Bid Comes Up Short, Men Finish Second; Women Place Third  Posted Sunday, May 11, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- The Youngstown State men's track and field team's bid for their second league title of the year came up short as the Detroit Titans were too strong in the field events and edged out the Penguins for the 2003 Horizon League Outdoor Championship on Friday afternoon at the Michael A. Carroll Track and Field Stadium.
Entering the day in fourth place, the Penguins made a run and moved within four points of the Titans at one point. However, Detroit prevailed and captured their first Horizon League title with a total of 146 points while YSU came in a close second with 123 points.
The YSU women finished third with 80 points while UW-Milwaukee took home their third-straight title with a 252. Butler placed second with 81 points, just ahead of YSU.
YSU's Eugene Harris was named Outstanding Running Performer at the meet and took home two Horizon League Championships titles for the second straight season. Harris claimed the top spot in the 100 with a time of 10.62 and the 200 with a time of 21.34.
Kurt Michaelis defended his title in the 1,500 by winning the event for the second straight season in a time of 3:54.49. Michaelis also captured a second-place finish in the 3,000 steeplechase.
Delores Gaines earned a first-place finish for the women with a league title in the shot put with a toss of 43 feet, 10 inches. Also taking top honors was Beth Hochstetler who won the discus with a 145-06. Teammate Marian Steele placed second with a 139-07.
Earning second-team honors for the men were Sherod Holmes, Joseph Bruderly and Adam Lewis. Holmes finished in the 100 with a time of 10.83 while Bruderly came in the second spot in the shot put with a heave of 48-10 3/4. Lewis added a second-place finish in the 400 hurdles with a time of 56.60.
Danielle Sexton earned second-team honors in the hammer with a throw of 152-03.
The YSU women had a strong showing in the field events where they picked 22 of their 50 points. In the hammer, the Penguins picked up 20 points, having the second through fifth finishers. Behind Sexton, Gaines finished third with a throw of 150-00 while Christina Campana and Lauren Girdler finished fourth and fifth respectively. Gaines picked up two more points with a fifth-place throw in the javelin.

Horizon Softball Championships: Reichert's Miracle-Catch Preserves Penguins Victory Over UIC, 3-2  Posted Thursday, May 8, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Cleveland, Ohio -- Junior Lacey Reichert's fully-extended diving catch of a Michelle Miller line drive in the top of the seventh inning preserved victory for the Penguins over Illinois-Chicago, 3-2, in the quarterfinals of the 2003 Horizon League Softball Tournament.
Youngstown State (36-15-1) advances to the semifinals and will play the winner of No. 4 UW-Green Bay/No. 8 Wright State on Friday at 5 p.m.
Trailing, 3-0, in the top of the seventh inning, the Flames (20-36) made a valiant comeback that came up short. Alicia Creese led off frame with an infield single and Nikki Shepard reached on an error to put runners at first and second. Kristin Cumbo singled up the middle to load the bases. Brittany McIntyre's fielder's choice scored Andrea Milner, who pinch-ran for Creese, and Joyce Cathey's single to right field loaded the bases. Cameron Astiazaran ground out plated Trista Korbas, who pinch-ran Cumbo, and put runners on second and third with two outs to set up Reichert's fielding gem.
The Penguins got the board with a run in the bottom of the third when Zetta Dumkrieger registered a bases-loaded walk to put the Penguins ahead, 1-0.
Freshman Aimee Soller pounded a two-out, two-run double scored Codi Bise and Amber Smith, who singled and reached on an error, respectively, to give the Penguins a three-run advantage.
Freshman Kelly Murphy recorded her 22nd win of the season tossing 5.1 innings and allowing just two hits. Senior Steph Hartman tossed 1.2 innings to pick up her eighth save of the year.

LadyPens Victorious in 1st-round no-hitter at Horizon Championships  Posted Thursday, May 8, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown State (35-15-1) freshman Kelly Murphy threw her first career no-hitter to lead the Penguins to an 8-0 victory over No. 7 Detroit (18-21-1) in the first round of the Horizon League Softball Championship.

Youngstown State will face No. 3 UIC today at 5:00 p.m. and Detroit will face No. 6 Cleveland State Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.

Tiffany Patteson and Lacey Reichert each went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Penguins at the plate. Patteson also recorded two RBI and one run scored. Amber Smith and Aimee Soller each collected a hit and an RBI.

Detroit's Lindsay Roy allowed two earned runs in 3.2 innings in the loss.

Men's Basketball: Underwood, Baumann Named Co-MVPs  Posted Sunday, May 4, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team honored junior Adam Baumann and sophomore Doug Underwood as their 2002-03 co-Most Valuable Players at the team's annual awards banquet on Sunday at the Chestnut Room in the Kilcawley Center.
Underwood averaged a team best 14.7 points per game while Baumann led the team in rebounds per game at 7.7. Underwood picked up the team's Jeff Covington Award as the top scorer and tied with Baumann for the free-throw percentage award. Baumann was named the Leo Mogus Leading Rebounder and was the Four Square Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Senior captain Marlon Williamson picked up the Assists Leader Award with a total of 144 assists on the year. Williamson also set the school single-season record with 64 assists and led the Horizon League averaging 2.2 steals per game.
Junior TeJay Anderson was named the Most Productive Player averaging 8.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore Khari McQueen earned the Penguin Club Most Improved Player Award for his efforts during the season.
YSU's freshmen trio of Jonathan Mends, Derrick Harris and Andy Jahnke all earned awards. Mends was honored with the Tony Vivo Hustle Award, Harris earned the Bill Dailey Leadership Award and Jahnke picked up the Coach's Award.
Williamson was the lone individual to earn a fourth-year award. Baumann, Jamel Porter, Bill Mallernee and Anderson earned third-year awards while Underwood, Radakovich and McQueen earned second-year awards. Earning first-year letters were Jahnke, Mends and Harris.

Individual Awards
Dom Rosselli MVP Award: Doug Underwood and Adam Baumann
Four Square Club Scholar Athlete: Adam Baumann
Bill Dailey Leadership Award: Derrick Harris
Jeff Covington Leading Scorer: Doug Underwood
Leo Mogus Leading Rebounder: Adam Baumann
Free-Throw Percentage Award: Doug Underwood and Adam Baumann
Assists Leader: Marlon Williamson
Penguin Club Most Improved Player Award: Khari McQueen
Most Productive Player Award: TeJay Anderson
Tony Vivo Hustle Award: Jonathan Mends
Coach's Award: Andy Jahnke

Softball: Penguins Fall 4-3 at UIC, Finish Second  Posted Sunday, May 4, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Chicago, Ill. - The UIC softball team will head to the 2003 Horizon League Tournament riding high, following a 4-3 victory over Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon in the regular-season finale at Flames Field.

With the victory, the Flames (19-35, 11-7) took the weekend series and spoiled the Penguins (34-15-1, 13-5-1) bid for their first-ever Horizon League title.

YSU needed a win over UIC on Sunday to claim the crown, but now must settle for a second-place finish as Loyola (31-21, 16-5) laid claim to the regular-season championship after completing a weekend sweep of Detroit this afternoon with a 5-3, 12-inning triumph.

The Flames play inspired softball right out of the gate on Sunday, plating all four runs in the first two innings off Penguin ace Kelly Murphy.

Sophomore Sara Hernandez (1-for-2, 2 RBI) drove in UIC's first run with a single in the first to score Cameron Astiazaran (2-for-3, 2R). Michelle Miller (2-for-4, 2 RBI) padded the Flames lead in the second with a two-run single, before Hernandez made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly.

Youngstown State began to chip away at UIC's lead in the fifth inning as an RBI triple by Tiffany Patteson made it 4-1. Liz Holt then cut the Flames' lead to one in the top of the sixth with a two-run homer to left-center field off UIC starter Alycia Creese.

The Penguins put the lead-off runner aboard to start the seventh inning, but first baseman Brittany McIntyre, playing her third different position of the series, made a stellar defensive play to quickly squelch the Penguins' rally hopes.

With Patteson on first and no outs, Charlene Kudlock attempted to sacrifice bunt Patteson into scoring position. Kudlock bunted the ball in the air to far down the first base line, though, and a diving McIntyre snagged the ball, then fired to first to double-up Patteson.

Creese, who was making her first start since March 30th at Loyola, picked up her second win of the season in the circle, going the distance while allowing three runs on seven hits.

Murphy (20-5) was tagged with just her fifth loss of the year after surrendering four runs on nine hits.

Baseball: Penguins Sweep Doubleheader Over Wright State; 8-1, 5-3  Posted Sunday, May 4, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- Kyle Sobecki and Corey Ohalek each threw a complete game victory while Brandon Caipen had five hits on the day as the Youngstown State baseball team (22-23, 10-9 Horizon) swept the Wright State Raiders (17-29, 8-11 Horizon), 8-1 and 5-3, in a Saturday doubleheader at Cafaro Field.
In game one, Sobecki earned his fourth win while Ohalek picked up his fifth win in game two, allowing seven hits and striking out six in his sixth complete game of the year. Caipen led the offensive attack for the Penguins with three hits and two RBIs in the first game and two hits in game two.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Penguins pulled two games ahead of the Raiders for sole possession of fourth place in the Horizon League standings.
In game one, YSU jumped out to early an 3-0 advantage by plating three runs in the first on two hits. With one out and the bases loaded, Justin Banks singled home Kendall Schlabach to put the Penguins on the board. One batter later, Gary Hinkson reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Charles Schultz while Adam Cox scored on a wild throw.
The Penguins tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead, highlighted by a three-run triple by Caipen. Wright State got on the board in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Adam Morton, but YSU answered right back in the bottom half of the sixth by tallying a run on another wild throw.
Wright State got on the board first in game two by tallying three runs in the top of the third on RBI singles from Kofi Gyima and Matt Barhorst, but the Penguins scored five unanswered runs for the win.
The Penguin offense ignited in the fourth when Schultz and Banks started the inning off with back-to-back hits. Brian Boone followed with a a sacrifice fly to bring home Schultz and Banks scored on an RBI single from J.D. Hannan to get YSU within one.
Down one in the fifth, Caipen got the offense going again with a one-out triple, his second of the day. One batter later, Schultz singled through the right side of a drawn-in infield to bring home Caipen and tie the game at three.
The Penguins pulled away in the sixth with two runs on a two-out RBI triple from Schlabach and an RBI single from Caipen.
Banks provided three singles for the Penguins in game one while Hannan had three singles in game two. The top three spots in the lineup for the Penguins accounted for six of the team's 13 hits in game two.
The Penguins and Raiders will conclude their four-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Cafaro Field.

Athletics: Berry, Michaelis Named YSU's Top 2002-03 Athletes  Posted Thursday, May 1, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Junior softball first baseman Amanda Berry (Lorain, Ohio) and track and field/cross country athlete Kurt Michaelis (Toledo, Ohio) were honored on Thursday night as Youngstown State's top male and female student-athletes of the year at the 16th Annual Academic Awards banquet held at the Kilcawley Center.
Berry is first junior female and first softball player to ever receive the award. Michaelis, an NCAA All-American in the mile indoor, was a senior in indoor track and is a junior in cross country and outdoor track this year.
Berry has been a key component in the best softball season in school history. Entering this weekend's league series at Illinois-Chicago, YSU is 33-13-1 overall and in first place in the Horizon League with a 12-3-1 record.
Michaelis, a team captain for the track and cross country teams this past year, finished as an All-American at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, was named the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, won the mile championship at the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships while leading YSU to its first league title in school history and has set school records in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (outdoor), mile run (indoor) and 1,000-meter run (indoor).
Competing this past year as a senior in indoor track and a junior in cross country and outdoor track, his fourth school record is in the outdoor 1,500 meters.
At the NCAA indoor championships on March 15, Michaelis placed ninth overall in the mile with a time of 4:07.79, but by being the seventh-place American finisher, earned All-America status.

Hill Named YSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach  Posted Wednesday, April 30, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio –Youngstown State University Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo introduced Tisha Hill as the Penguins’ new women’s basketball head coach on Wednesday afternoon at the Beeghly Center. Hill, who spent the last two seasons as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Ball State University, becomes just the fourth head coach in the program’s 28-year history and succeeds Ed DiGregorio, who stepped down last month after 20 seasons.
“I am privileged to announce Tisha Hill as Youngstown State University’s new women’s basketball head coach,” said Strollo. “Her excellent recruiting track record and the fact that she has been a part of several winning programs speak volumes about Tisha Hill as a coach. What impressed me even more, though, was Tisha Hill the person.”
“Coach Hill brings a wealth of basketball knowledge, experience and leadership to YSU,” said Youngstown State University President Dr. David Sweet. “She has a plan and vision to carry on the YSU women’s basketball program’s rich tradition.”
“I am extremely excited that Ron (Strollo) and Elaine (Jacobs) have decided to bring me on board,” said Hill, whose first name is pronounced “TEE-sha.” “Like I said before, things are in place for Youngstown State to be successful and I am anxiously anticipating getting started at YSU.”
Hill, 33, made an immediate impact at BSU, helping guide the Cardinals to two straight 20-win seasons, including a school-record 24-8 mark in 2001-02, and two straight Women’s National Invitational Tournament second-round appearances in 2002 and 2003. The Cardinals were 21-10 last season. At Ball State, Hill also worked with the Cardinal post players, including 2003 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American Tamara Bowie, who was selected in the third round of the 2003 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics.
Prior to joining the Ball State staff, Hill spent four seasons at Virginia Tech, where she helped the Hokies to four straight postseason appearances, including trips to the NCAA second round in 2001 and the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1999.
Hill also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Horizon League-member UW-Green Bay and two years on the staff at Indiana. While at UWGB, Hill helped the Phoenix to an overall record of 38-20, including a Midwestern Collegiate Conference championship in 1996. During her tenure at Indiana, the Hoosiers made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 1994 and 1995 and finished with a two-year record of 38-19.
A native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Hill earned four letters as a point guard at Indiana, where she set career records for assists and steals. In 1992, Hill led the Hoosiers to a runner-up finish in the WNIT.
Hill earned her bachelor’s degree in sports management in 1993 and a master’s degree in kinesiology in 1995, both from Indiana.

Women's Golf: Penguins Capture First Horizon League Women's Title  Posted Tuesday, April 29, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Dayton, Ohio -- The Youngstown State women's golf team earned the first-ever Horizon League Women's Golf title and first Horizon League women's crown in school history on Tuesday finishing 10 strokes ahead of Loyola at the League's Women's Golf Championships at the Country Club of the North on Tuesday.
The Penguins finished with a three-round score of 981and were led by Lori Hatcher who earned the individual title by six strokes with a 235 (77-80-78). Jennifer Grossi placed third with a 242 (82-80-80), one stroke behind Butler's Melanie McLeod. Gina Abruzzino tied for fifth place, carding a 245 (84-83-78). All three individuals earned all-tournament accolades.
Loyola placed second in the tournament with a 991 while Butler was third with a 994. Cleveland State placed fourth with a 1,033. The Penguins had the lowest score each day in the wire-to-wire victory.
Also competing for YSU was Nichole Hamstreet who was 13th with a 264 (85-88-91) and Jennie Fleiner who placed 16th with a 267 (92-89-86).

3 Penguins Make All-Conference Women's Golf Team  Posted Tuesday, April 29, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind.—In the first season as a League-sponsored sport, all four Horizon League women’s golf teams are represented on the All-League Team.

Loyola senior Kendra Palmer and freshman Marissa Capriola are the first Horizon League Player and Newcomer of the Year, respectively. Palmer averaged 80.1 strokes in 14 rounds. Her season-best 75 at the Westerwinds Invitational earned her medalist honors and helped the Ramblers capture the team title. In addition, Palmer finished third at the Evansville Lady Aces Invitational. Capriola averaged 84.2 in 14 rounds, including a season-low 78 in the opening round of the Great Smokies Invitational.

Cleveland State Head Coach Tom Porten is the Horizon League Coach of the Year. This season, he guided the Vikings to three top three finishes, including a team title at the Malone Invitational, a second place showing at the Ashland University Tournament and a third place finish at the Cleveland State Invitational.

Youngstown State led the team with three players: seniors Lori Hatcher and Jennifer Grossi and sophomore Gina Abruzzino. Butler also has multiple representatives with seniors Kristi Laskowski and Melanie Mcleod. Cleveland State freshman Kristen Obush and Palmer complete the team.


WOMEN’S GOLF ALL-HORIZON LEAGUE TEAM
Kristi Laskowski, Butler, SR
Melanie Mcleod, Butler, SR
Kristen Obush, Cleveland State, FR
Kendra Palmer, Loyola, SR
Gina Abruzzino, Youngstown State, SO
Lori Hatcher, Youngstown State, SR
Jennifer Grossi, Youngstown State, SR

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kendra Palmer, Loyola
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Marissa Capriola, Loyola, FR
COACH OF THE YEAR: Tom Porten, Cleveland State

Lady Pen Golfers Lead after Round One of the Horizon League Championships  Posted Monday, April 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Dayton, Ohio -- The Youngstown State women's golf team is in the lead after the first 18 holes of the 2003 Horizon League Women's Golf Championships which are being held at Country Club of the North in Dayton. The Penguins hold a one-shot edge over Loyola and a two-stroke advantage over Butler. Leading the charge for YSU is Lori Hatcher who is first after a 77 in Monday's morning round.

Stuvaints Signs With Steelers  Posted Monday, April 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Two former western Pennsylvania high school players agreed to terms Sunday on free-agent deals with the Steelers. They were Duquesne University wide receiver Jeremy Conley, an Allderdice High School graduate, and Youngstown State linebacker/safety Russell Stuvaints, a McKeesport High School graduate.

"Oh man, I'm happy," said Stuvaints, who spent a long day praying that his name would be called in the draft. "This is the best day of my life. I love the Steelers. I never thought I'd get a chance to play for them."

The 6-foot, 208-pound Stuvaints said he spoke with Steelers secondary coach Willy Robinson and assistant secondary coach Darren Perry after he agreed to terms on a two-year contract. Stuvaints played linebacker in college but was told he will be tried out as a strong safety.

Baseball: Freshmen Help YSU to 7-3 Win Over Butler  Posted Monday, April 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- Freshman left-hander Justin Thomas struck out a career-high 11 batters while pitching seven strong innings and freshman shortstop J.J. Newman had career-best three RBI in a 7-3 win over Butler at Cafaro Field on Sunday afternoon.
With the victory, YSU (20-21 overall and 8-8 in the Horizon League) avoided the sweep by the Bulldogs (24-22 and 10-6) and ended a four-game losing streak and a five-game home losing skid.
Thomas was sharp in his seven innings picking up 11 strikeouts and scattering six hits. His three runs allowed were all unearned. Freshman Kevin Libeg tossed 1.1 innings of relief striking out two and Josh Wells retired both Bulldogs he faced in the ninth to end the game.
On the afternoon, YSU started seven freshmen -- five position players, the designated hitter and pitcher -- and did not have a senior in the starting lineup. All three Youngstown pitchers were freshmen.
The Bulldogs took an early advantage by plating two unearned runs in the top of the first inning, but YSU answered with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning, then erupted for three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead. Justin Banks and Jim Phillips led off the inning with back-to-back singles, then Banks scored on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt from Brian Boone. Newman drove home Phillips on a fielder's choice and Boone scored on a double play to give the Penguins a two-run advantage.
Butler threatened to diminish the YSU advantage in the top of the third by loading the bases with one out, but Justin Thomas forced an infield fly and a strikeout to thwart the Bulldog attack.
The Penguins added two more runs in the fifth on three hits. Adam Cox led off the inning with a single up the middle then advanced to third when Ty Furino doubled to left. The Bulldogs elected to issue Boone an intentional walk to load the bases and put the force play in effect, but Newman spoiled the plan with a two-run single up the middle that gave the Penguins a 6-2 lead.
YSU added to the lead in the sixth when Brandon Caipen singled and came around to score on Cox's first career triple. Butler added an unearned run in the seventh.
The Bulldogs stranded eight runners in the first four innings and 14 for the game. YSU also left 11 men on base. The Penguins pounded three Butler pitchers for 12 hits and handed Aaron Phillips (4-4) the loss.
The Penguins return to action on Tuesday night at 7 at Cafaro Field playing host to Kent State. The game will broadcast live on 1390 AM WNIO in Youngstown.

Track & Field: Michaelis Qualifies in Mile at Penn Relays  Posted Monday, April 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Philadelphia, Pa. -- Junior Kurt Michaelis qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regionals in his third event with a sixth-place time of 4:06.05 in the Men's Olympic Development Mile at the 109th annual Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field on Saturday afternoon.
With Saturday's time, Michaelis has now qualified in the 800, the 3000 steeplechase and the mile. He and all Horizon League Champions will compete at the Midwest Regionals on May 30-31 at Ohio State.

Softball: YSU Sets Single-Season Win Record With Sweep of UWGB, 6-0, 4-2  Posted Saturday, April 26, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Canfield, Ohio -- The Youngstown State softball team (31-12-1, 11-3-1 Horizon League) broke the school record for most wins in a season after sweeping Horizon League foe UW-Green Bay (8-20, 4-7 Horizon League), 6-0, and 4-2, on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at McCune Park.
Senior Zetta Dumkrieger, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, smacked the game-winning double in the top of the seventh inning and junior Amber Smith belted a game-tying solo home run to lead off the frame as the Penguins used a three-run seventh to knock off the Phoenix, 4-2, in the nightcap.
UWGB jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Alyssa Rostkowski's two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. YSU responded with a run in the top of the fifth when Dumkrieger first double of the game scored Char Kudlock, who singled.
The Penguins struggled against UWGB starter Kristin Kosbucki, who struck out 10 Penguins in 6.1 innings, until the seventh inning.
YSU game two starter Steph Hartman tossed a complete game four-hitter to pick up her 10th win of the season.
Freshman Kelly Murphy (17-4) tossed a two-hit shutout, her fourth of the season, with nine strikeouts to pick up her 17th victory of the season to pace the Penguins in the opener.
Offensively, freshman Aimee Soller went 2-for-3 and blasted a three-run home run, her first of the year, to cap a five-run fourth inning for Youngstown State. Junior Amanda Berry, who went 2-for-3, led off the frame with a double to right center and advanced to third on Liz Holt's infield single. Berry later scored and Holt moved to second on a Lacey Reichert's sacrifice fly, which was dropped by left fielder Katie Wegner. Freshman Codi Bise plated Holt with single to up the middle and Amber Smith reached on a fielder's choice, which forced Reichert out at third, to set the stage for Soller.
The Penguins jumped ahead, 1-0, in the bottom of the third when Char Kudlock's two-out single scored Smith, who led off the inning with a double to left field.
Youngstown State hosts UWGB in the series finale on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Women's Tennis: Thomas Earns Horizon League Honors  Posted Saturday, April 26, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Freshman Whitney Thomas (Solon, Ohio/Solon High School) was named to the Horizon League second-team, the league announced on Friday.
Thomas had an overall record of 5-8 this spring season competing at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. She also had a 4-3 record against Horizon League opponents, posting wins against Cleveland State, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Green Bay and Detroit.

Softball: Penguins Tie Single-Season Win Total With Sweep of Toledo, 6-0, 7-1  Posted Saturday, April 26, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Canfield, Ohio -- The Youngstown State softball team (29-12-1) tied a school record for most wins in a season at 29 after sweeping Toledo, 6-0, and 7-1, on Thursday afternoon at McCune Park.
In the opener, freshman Kelly Murphy and senior Steph Hartman combined for a two-hit shutout while freshman Liz Holt broke the single-season home with her ninth round-tripper of the season, a solo shot, in the bottom of the second inning.
The Penguins broke open the game with a four-run third inning. Sophomore Char Kudlock, who went 2-for-3, and junior Amanda Berry each smacked run-scoring doubles while senior Zetta Dumkrieger collected an RBI-single in the frame.
The Penguins added one run in the sixth when Lacey Reichert, who singled and stole second, scored on Amber Smith's double.
Freshman Aimee Soller also went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
In the nightcap, sophomore Ashley Lockmiller tossed a two-hit complete game with five strikeouts to pick up her fourth win of the season.
Kudlock went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs, while Dumkrieger turned in a 2-of-4 performance.
The Penguins, again, used a big inning to put away their opponent. With the game tied, 1-1, the Penguins cracked the tie with a five-run fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead. With one out, Holt doubled and Lacey Reichert and Erin Moore walked to load the bases. Holt scored when Smith was hit by a pitch and Soller's bases-loaded single scored Reichert from third. Moore scored on Tiffany Patteson's sacrifice fly and Kudlock plated Smith with a single to left field. Dumkrieger's infield plated Soller with YSU's fifth run of the frame.
Kudlock finished the scoring with a solo home run, her second of the season, in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Penguins host UW-Green Bay in a doubleheader, Saturday, at 1 p.m. and a single contest, Sunday, at 11 a.m.

Track & Field: Regional-Bound Michaelis Breaks Steeplecheese Record  Posted Saturday, April 26, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Philadelphia, Pa. -- Junior Kurt Michaelis ran a ninth-place time of 8:57.95 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to break the school record and qualify for the NCAA Midwest Regionals at the 109th annual Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field on Thursday evening.
Michaelis, who has now qualified in the 3,000 steeplechase and the 800-meter run, will compete at the regional meet at The Ohio State University's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on May 30-31.
Sophomore Nick Smith also competed in the 3,000 steeplechase, running a time of 9:23.27 to place 17th.
Michaelis will compete in the Olympic Development Mile Run on Saturday, April 26, at the Penn Relays. An All-American in the mile in the indoor season, Michaelis will be competing against the top 15 mile runners in the nation. CBS will broadcast the event at 3:55 p.m. EST.

Men's Basketball: Holmes Signs Letter to Play at YSU  Posted Thursday, April 24, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State men's basketball coach John Robic announced on Thursday that Dwight Holmes, a 6-foot-6 forward from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his basketball career at YSU.
Holmes, who attends Reynoldsburg High School averaged 17.5 points and nine rebounds per game as a senior for coach Chris Rider. He was named to the PrepSpotlight.com second-team Division I All-Ohio Team following the 2002-03 campaign. He is ranked as the 21st-best senior in the state and the fifth-best wing forward by PrepSpotlight.com.
He scored 13 points in District 10 High School Boys All-Star Game on the Ohio Capital Conference's squad earlier this month. He also played in the Ohio/Kentucky High School All-Star Game, which was held in Crestview Hills, Ky.
As a junior, he attended Stebbins High School in Dayton where he averaged 22.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while earning third-team All-Southwest Ohio accolades.
Holmes brings YSU's list of men's basketball signees to four. He joins point guard Mike Woodard of Fairburn, Ga., forward Craig Anderson of Mt. Prospect, Ill., and forward John Barber of Renaissance High School in Detroit, Mich.

Women: YSU, Hamstreet Win CSU Invitational  Posted Tuesday, April 22, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Avon, Ohio -- Senior Nichole Hamstreet shot a two-round 160 to earn medalist honors and help lead the YSU Women's Golf team to a win at the CSU Invitational with a score of 663 besting Butler's 744. Cleveland State was third with a 757.
Hamstreet led after the first round with a 79 and followed that with an 81 on the second day of competition. YSU took the top three places with Jennifer Grossi finishing second and Gina Abruzzino placing third. Grossi had a 166 (85-81) and Abruzzino had a 167 (89-78). Lori Hatcher placed fifth with a 170 (86-84) and Jennie Fleiner was seventh with a 180 (90-90).

Baseball: Shaffer Named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week  Posted Monday, April 21, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Freshman lefthander Eric Shaffer was named the Horizon League's Pitcher of the Week for the period ending April 20 for his performance against Cleveland State, league contact Mike Ingberg announced.
Shaffer picked up his third win of the season and the first Horizon League victory of his career in a complete game victory over Cleveland State on Friday evening. He allowed just five hits and one run while striking out a career-high nine Vikings. After allowing the run, Shaffer retired 10 straight at one point in the contest and retired the final eight batters of the game.

Softball: Murphy Ties Single-Season Win Record With 7-0 Shutout of Butler  Posted Monday, April 21, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State freshman Kelly Murphy (14-4) tied the Youngstown State record for most wins in a single season with 14 after she tossed a six-hit shutout to lead the Penguins (26-12-1, 8-3-1 Horizon League) past Butler (13-25, 4-10 Horizon League), 7-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Butler Softball Field.
Junior Amanda Berry, who went 2-for-4, cranked her seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot, in the top of the first inning to give the Penguins a 2-0 advantage.
The Penguins added an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning and put the game away with a four-run seventh inning. In the seventh, junior Lacey Reichert belted her first career grand slam and just the sixth in school history to put the Penguins ahead, 7-0. Zetta Dumkrieger singled , Berry doubled and Liz Holt walked to load the bases for Reichert.
The Penguins visit Canisius for a doubleheader, Tuesday, April 22, at 2 p.m.

Baseball: Penguins Complete Four-Game Sweep Over CSU, 16-14  Posted Sunday, April 20, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Euclid, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team (19-17, 7-5 Horizon League) battled back from a 14-8 deficit by tallying seven runs in the top of the eighth and adding an insurance run in the ninth to complete a four-game sweep of the Cleveland State Vikings (7-20, 1-6), 16-14, at Memorial Field #1 on Sunday afternoon.
Freshman Justin Banks led the Penguins with four hits, including his second home run in as many days, and three RBIs. Charles Schultz had three hits while scoring four times and driving in four runners while Adam Cox hit his ninth home run of the season. Paul Yates picked up his first victory of the season in relief while Josh Wells earned his second save.
The Penguins got out to an early 2-0 lead on the first inning when Schultz singled up the middle to score Brandon Caipen and Lipinski grounded out, scoring Schultz.
YSU increased their lead to four in the top of the second when Ty Furino singled home Jim Phillips and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Cleveland State got on the board in the bottom of the second when Doug Besozzi doubled home Brian Beaumier, but YSU answered right back in the top of the third when Cox drove a 1-1 pitch from Jimmy Gulden over the centerfield wall to regain their four-run advantage.
The Vikings knotted the score at five with a four-run third inning that was keyed by a three-run home run by Beaumier.
The Penguins scored twice in the top of the fifth to grab a 7-5 lead on RBI doubles from Banks and Jim Lipinski, but CSU plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead, then grabbed a 14-8 advantage by scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh.
However, Yates and Wells held the Vikings scoreless in the final two stanzas while the Penguins rallied with seven runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to claim the 16-14 victory.
Justin Thomas pitched 6.1 innings for the Penguins and struck out five hitters, but did not factor in the decision.
Cox's homer was the 17th of his career, which ranks him fourth in career home runs in school history.
The Penguins will host Toledo on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Baseball: Sobecki, Hinkson Highlight Doubleheader Sweep Over CSU  Posted Sunday, April 20, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Eastlake, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team (18-17, 6-5 Horizon League) swept a doubleheader from the Cleveland State Vikings (7-19, 1-5), 8-1 and 9-8, behind Kyle Sobecki's four-hit complete game in game one and Gary Hinkson's two-run single in the eighth inning of game two on Saturday afternoon at Eastlake Ballpark.
Sobecki allowed just one run and struck out six in his second complete game and third win of the season in game one. In game two, Cleveland State scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score at six and send the game to extra innings, but the Penguins scored three runs in the top of the eighth for the 9-8 victory.
With the score tied at six in the top of the eighth in game two, Brian Boone was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score J.D. Hannan, then Hinkson added the eventual winning runs on a two-run single through the left side that brought home Charles Schultz and Brandon Caipen.
The Vikings scored twice in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run single from Steve Chinn, but Jon Smart got Justin Poletti to groundout with the potential tying run on second base to earn his third victory of the season.
YSU jumped out to a four run advantage on five hits in the top of the first in game two. Kendall Schlabach drew a leadoff walk and scored on an RBI single to left from Jim Lipinski. Then, with two outs, Justin Banks singled home Schultz and Jim Phillips ripped a two-run double down the left field line to score Lipinski and Banks to give the Penguins a 4-0 lead.
The Penguins added a run in the of the third when Banks doubled to lead off the inning and eventually scored on a Matt Speas groundout.
Adam Cox increased the Penguin lead to six with an RBI single through the left side that scored Schultz in the fourth.
Cleveland State got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on a a solo homer from Steve Chinn, then tied the game with five runs in the bottom of the seventh.
In game one, the Penguins got out to an early six run lead on six hits and one Viking miscue in the top of the first. With one out, Jim Lipinski hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Caipen, then Cox nailed a two-run homer over the bleachers in left field for his eighth home run of the season to give the Penguins a 3-0 advantage. Banks and Phillips re-ignited the offense with back-to-back singles, then Hinkson drew a walk and Ty Furino was hit by a pitch to give the Penguins a 4-0 lead. Schlabach followed with an infield single that brought home Banks, then Phillips scored on a wild throw on the play.
Cleveland State answered with a run on a fielder's choice from Kolin Kelly in the bottom of the first. Cory Rojeck and Doug Besozzi started the inning with back-to-back hits to start the inning. However, Sobecki allowed only one hit after the third inning.
Banks added his first career home run on a solo blast in the top of the sixth to give YSU a 7-1 advantage.
The Penguins scored one more in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Caipen.
Gary Ball pitched one inning in a losing effort for the Vikings in game one while Gian Testa picked up the loss in the nightcap. Chinn finished with four RBIs in game two to lead the Vikings.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Penguins tied their 2002 win total with 18 victories.
The two teams will play their series finale tomorrow at Euclid, Ohio at noon.

YSU Names Finalists For Women’s Basketball Post  Posted Friday, April 18, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State University has selected West Virginia University Assistant Coach Joanna Bernabei, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Assistant Coach Liz Grzesk, Ball State University Assistant Coach Tisha Hill, and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Head Coach Jodi Kest as its four finalists for the vacant women’s basketball head coaching position, Associate Athletics Director Elaine Jacobs announced on Friday.
The following is the interview schedule for the candidates: Kest, Tuesday, April 22; Bernabei, Wednesday, April 23; Grzesk, Thursday, April 24; and Hill, Friday, April 25.
A native of Weirton, W.Va., Bernabei (pronounced “BAR-nuh-bee”) just completed her second season as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at WVU, where she helped the Mountaineers to a two-year mark of 29-27. Prior to joining the Mountaineer staff, Bernabei spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky and one year as head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan. At Wesleyan, Bernabei also served as the school’s senior women’s administrator.
Bernabei was a three-time Division II All-American and four-time first-team all-WVIAC selection at West Liberty State. She was also named the WVIAC Player of the Year in 1997 and holds the NCAA Division II records for career assists (1,107) and single-game assists (24). Bernabei earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from West Liberty State in 1997 and her master’s degree in physical education from Eastern Kentucky in 1999.
Grzesk (pronounced “GRESH”), a native of Boardman, Ohio, just finished her first season on the staff at UW-Green Bay and helped the Phoenix to a school-best 28-4 record and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Prior to joining the staff at UWGB, Grzesk spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Youngstown State, where she helped the Penguins to an overall record of 64-55, including a 22-9 mark and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999-2000.
Grzesk was a four-year letterwinner at Youngstown State from 1993-97 and was named the Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year in 1997. She also led the Penguins to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1995-96 and ranks eighth in school history with 1,468 career points. Grzesk earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Youngstown State in 1997 and a master’s degree in business administration from YSU in 2002.
Hill just completed her second season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Ball State, where she helped the Cardinals to two straight 20-win seasons and two consecutive appearances in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. Prior to joining the Cardinals’ staff, Hill spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech, where she aided the Hokies to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1999, and two seasons as an assistant coach at both UW-Green Bay and Indiana.
Hill earned four letters at Indiana University and established career-school records for assists and steals. She also led the Hoosiers to a runner-up finish in the 1992 Women’s National Invitational Tournament. Hill earned her bachelor’s degree in sport management from Indiana in 1993 and a master’s degree in kinesiology from Indiana in 1995.
Kest, a native of Highland Heights, Ohio, finished her first season as head coach at Texas A&M- Corpus Christi with a 2002-03 record of 15-12 and owns an overall coaching ledger of 168-125. Prior to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Kest spent six seasons as head coach at Gannon University and led the Lady Knights to three consecutive NCAA Division II tournaments in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Kest has also served as an assistant coach at Maine for two seasons, Cleveland State for one season, Nevada for two seasons and Cal Poly for a year. From 1986-1990, Kest served as head coach at Wilkes University, where she compiled a four-year record of 48-49.
Kest was a four-year letterwinner at Slippery Rock University and was a two-time All-American in basketball. She was a three-time team captain and ranks fifth all-time in scoring with 1,289 career points. Kest was inducted into SRU’s Hall of Fame in 1994. She earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education from Slippery Rock in 1984 and a master’s degree in education in 1986 from Northwest Missouri State, where she served as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons.

Red Team Storms Back to Win Spring Game 9-7  Posted Friday, April 18, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Red Team battled back from a 7-0 deficit scoring nine points in a span of 64 seconds late in the second half to earn a 9-7 victory at the 31st Annual Red-White Spring Game played at Stambaugh Stadium on Wednesday night.
Junior college transfer Nick Terracina booted a 47-yard field into a stiff North wind with 1:24 remaining as the Red overcame a seven-point deficit by scoring twice late. Sophomore Josh Cayson sprinted 53 yards for the first score of the game giving the White Team a 7-0 lead with 13:27 remaining. But the Red Team answered with a 10-play 88-yard drive that culminated in a four-yard run by sophomore Justin Reams. The Red Team went for two, but Mike Roberts was stopped just shy of the end zone by Mike Bracken and Sherod Holmes.
The Red Team attempted an onside kick, but Terracina's attempt failed to travel the necessary 10 yards and the White Team took over at the Red's 41.
On the second play of the drive, White quarterback Luis Gonzalez mishandled a quarterback-center exchange and Matt Briggs recovered the ball at midfield.
Rycraft completed a 14-yard pass to Chris DiMauro to move the ball to the 36-yard line. On third down, Rycraft hit Mike Roberts on a six-yard pass to set up a third-and-four situation at the White 30.
Terracina came on and boomed a kick through the North uprights giving the Red a 9-7 lead.
The White Team had one final chance to rally after Cayson returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the 45. On fourth down, Gonzalez was sacked by Brandon Brown to end the threat and the Red Team took over with 45 seconds remaining.
For the game, Rycraft completed 15-of-21 passes for 117 yards while Gonzalez was 6-of-17 for 64 yards and one interception. DiMauro had a game-high six receptions for 40 yards for the Reds. Shawn Carlson caught three balls for 35 yards for the White.
Cayson was the high rusher with 85 yards on 10 carries and had the 53-yard touchdown. Reams led the Red Team with 25 yards on eight rushes, including the five-yard score.
On defense, Justin Dellarose finished with seven tackles to lead the Red Team while Bracken had seven to lead the Whites. Also highlighting the performance for the Red Team was Brandon Brown who had two sacks and three tackles for losses.

Football: Red Team Storms Back to Win Spring Game 9-7  Posted Thursday, April 17, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Red Team battled back from a 7-0 deficit scoring nine points in a span of 64 seconds late in the second half to earn a 9-7 victory at the 31st Annual Red-White Spring Game played at Stambaugh Stadium on Wednesday night.
Junior college transfer Nick Terracina booted a 47-yard field into a stiff North wind with 1:224 remaining as the Red overcame a seven-point deficit by scoring twice late. Sophomore Josh Cayson sprinted 53 yards for the first score of the game giving the White Team a 7-0 lead with 13:27 remaining. But the Red Team answered with a 10-play 88-yard drive that culminated in a four-yard run by sophomore Justin Reams. The Red Team went for two, but Mike Roberts was stopped just shy of the end zone by Mike Bracken and Sherod Holmes.
The Red Team attempted an onside kick, but Terracina's attempt failed to travel the necessary 10 yards and the White Team took over at the Red's 41.
On the second play of the drive, White quarterback Luis Gonzalez mishandled a quarterback-center exchange and Matt Briggs recovered the ball at midfield.
Rycraft completed a 14-yard pass to Chris DiMauro to move the ball to the 36-yard line. On third down, Rycraft hit Mike Roberts on a six-yard pass to set up a third-and-four situation at the White 30.
Terracina came on and boomed a kick through the North uprights giving the Red a 9-7 lead.
The White Team had one final chance to rally after Cayson returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the 45. On fourth down, Gonzalez was sacked by Brandon Brown to end the threat and the Red Team took over with 45 seconds remaining.
For the game, Rycraft completed 15-of-21 passes for 117 yards while Gonzalez was 6-of-17 for 64 yards and one interception. DiMauro had a game-high six receptions for 40 yards for the Reds. Shawn Carlson caught three balls for 35 yards for the White.
Cayson was the high rusher with 85 yards on 10 carries and had the 53-yard touchdown. Reams led the Red Team with 25 yards on eight rushes, including the five-yard score.
On defense, Justin Dellarose finished with seven tackles to led the Red Team while Bracken had seven to lead the Whites. Also highlighting the performance for the Red Team was Brandon Brown who had two sacks and three tackles for losses.

Volleyball: Boscarelli, Buschur, Royer Named 2003 Team Captains  Posted Thursday, April 17, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Youngstown State seniors Beth Boscarelli, Annie Buschur and Colleen Royer have been named team captains for the 2003 volleyball season, YSU Head Coach Joe Conroy announced on Wednesday.
Boscarelli, a setter and defensive specialist, is a three-year letterwinner and ranked fourth on the team with 1.83 digs per game and second on the squad with 262 assists last season. Boscarelli was also selected as co-captain in 2002.
Buschur, who is a three-year letterwinner, led the team with 146 blocks and was second in the Horizon League with 1.22 blocks per game from her middle hitter position. The New Weston, Ohio, native slammed 2.35 kills per game last season and has 680 career kills and 343 career blocks.
Royer, an outside hitter, led the Penguins with 310 kills for a 3.16 kills per game average. The native of Euclid, Ohio, also led the Penguins with 258 digs and 2.63 digs per game average. Royer has also recorded 623 career kills and 584 career digs.

Football: Spring Game Set for Wednesday Night  Posted Tuesday, April 15, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team concludes their spring workouts on Wednesday night with the 31st annual Red-White Spring Game. Kickoff for the contest at Stambaugh Stadium is set for 7 p.m. Admission is $3. The contest will be broadcast live on WNIO 1390 AM in the Youngstown area. The game will feature two 35-minute halves with a continuous running clock. The final five minutes of the game will be run under game conditions.


Spring Game Official Rosters

Football: Brown Top Pick During Red-White Spring Game Draft  Posted Monday, April 14, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Sophomore FOX linebacker Brandon Brown was the first selection during the Youngstown State football team's Bob Dove Luncheon Red-White Spring Game Draft on Monday afternoon at the DeBartolo Club in Stambaugh Stadium.
The 31st annual Red-White Spring Game will be held on Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. Admission is $3.
Wide receiver/tight end Shawn Carlson was the first offensive player taken in the draft when he was selected by the White Team. During the draft, Commissioner and YSU Head Coach Jon Heacock said that center Ryan Jewell will play for the White Team while quarterback Matt Rycraft will play for the Red team. Luis Gonzalez had been listed as the quarterback of the White Squad before the draft.
Prior to the draft, the seniors and specialists were assigned teams by Commissioner Heacock and the YSU coaching staff.
Heacock also announced that tailback Mike Burns, defensive back Pat Reece, offensive tackle Norris Kennedy, wide receiver Phil Larmon, defensive back Waymann Peters, quarterback Aaron Marshall, wide receiver Jim Smith and defensive tackle Matt Porter will not play in the game.
Honorary coaches were also selected during the luncheon. On the Red Team, Danny Kopp (Boardman) will be the offensive coordinator while Al Yurcisin (Struthers) will be the defensive coordinator. On the White Squad, Sean Giblin (Ellsworth) will be the defensive coordinator while Jerry Yurcisin (Struthers) will be the offensive coordinator."
The respective teams will practice at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday in preparation for Wednesday night's game.

Football: Spring Game to Receive Local Coverage  Posted Thursday, April 10, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team's 31st annual Red-White Spring Game on Wednesday, April 16, will be broadcast live on WNIO 1390 AM in Youngstown. Air time for the 7 p.m. kickoff will be at 6:45 p.m. Calling the action will be YSU play-by-play broadcaster Bob Hannon, color commentator Dick Hartzell and sideline reporter Chad Krispinsky. The game will also be played live on the internet at www.ysu.edu/sports, the official website of YSU athletics.
Also, WYTV Channel 33 will broadcast a special half-hour Spring edition of Penguin Power Half Hour. Coach Jon Heacock will join Hannon for the Penguin Power show which is scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday, April 20 at 2:30 p.m.

Baseball: Penguins Score Seven in Ninth, Top Zips, 11-6  Posted Thursday, April 10, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Akron, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team (12-14) banged out 16 hits and scored seven runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Akron Zips (11-17), 11-6, on Wednesday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field.
Down 5-4 after eight innings, the Penguins capitalized on two Akron errors and banged out six hits to score seven runs to take an 11-5 advantage. Akron plated a run on a solo home run in the ninth, but that was the only run Jon Smart allowed in two innings of relief to pick up his second victory of the season.
In the ninth, Adam Cox and Jim Lipinski reached on Akron errors to lead off the inning and moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from Charles Schultz. Jim Phillips then smacked a two-run double down the left field line to give the Penguins a 6-4 lead. With two outs and a pinch runner J.D. Hannan on second, Tim Stacey drove a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall to give YSU a four-run advantage. Ty Furino, Kendall Schlabach, Brandon Caipen and Cox banged out four straight hits and accounted for three runs to increase the lead to 11-5.
YSU grabbed a two run lead in the top of the second when Phillips scored on a wild pitch and Schlabach singled to center to bring home Justin Banks. The Penguins added one more in the third when Cox hit his seventh home run of the season on a solo blast to centerfield.
Akron, however, scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. With one out and the bases loaded, Brian Kimutis hit a three-run double down the left field line to tie the game at three. Craig Welch singled home Kimutis and eventually scored on an RBI double to the gap in right center by Marcus Geiselman to give the Zips a two run advantage.
The Penguins scored once in the eighth on an RBI single from Furino to set up the seven-run ninth inning.
Eric Shaffer pitched two scoreless innings and struck out two Zips, but did not factor in the decision. Mike Hosterman threw a scoreless third inning and struck out two while Josh Wells did not give up a run in two innings of work. Akron's Dan Swallie picked up the loss in relief.
Schultz and Schlabach finished with three hits apiece to lead the Penguins. Cox, Caipen, Phillips and Furino each supplied two.
YSU will begin a five-game homestand when they host the Detroit Titans on Friday at Cafaro Field. The game will be broadcast on 1390 AM WNIO with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.

Softball: Murphy Fans Nine As Penguins Complete Sweep of Wright State, 5-2  Posted Monday, April 7, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Fairborn, Ohio -- Freshman Kelly Murphy struck out nine and allowed just three hits in six innings to pick up her 11th victory of the season as the Youngstown State softball team (17-9-1, 3-0-1 Horizon League) completed its first Horizon League sweep after defeating Wright State (6-21, 1-4 Horizon League), 5-2, on Sunday afternoon at the WSU Softball Field.
The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth after junior Amanda Berry, who went 2-for-4, doubled and scored on a throwing error. Liz Holt advanced to second on the error and scored on Lacey Reichert's double down the left field line. Reichert also finished with two hits.
Youngstown State added two more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-0 advantage. With two outs and Zetta Dumkrieger on first, Berry singled up the middle to put runners on first and second for Liz Holt. Holt responded with a single to left field, which scored Dumkrieger, moved to second on the throw home and advanced Berry to third base. Berry then scored the Penguins fourth run on a wild pitch.
Wright State plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the YSU lead to 4-2, but the Penguins added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Patteson led off the frame with a triple and scored on Dumkrieger's ground out.
Senior Steph Hartman picked up her second save of the season tossing a scoreless, hitless seventh inning.
Youngstown State continues its road trip with a doubleheader at Cleveland State, Wednesday, April 9, at 3 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio.

Football: Terracina's Eight Field Goals Lifts Red Past White, 24-15  Posted Monday, April 7, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Junior placekicker Nick Terracina made 8-of-10 field goals, including a 50-yarder, to lead the Red Team past the White, 24-15, in the Spring Special Teams Scrimmage on Sunday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.
Terracina also made four field goals from 32 yards, and one from 34, 37 and 40 yards, respectively.
For the White, Herb Jones scored the only touchdown of the day on an 18-yard interception return of Ryan Martino's pass attempt on a fake punt. Placekicker Joe Bishop made 3-of-8 field goal attempts, converting from 32, 35 and 37 yards.
Martino, who punted seven times for the Red, led all punters with a 39.1 average, which included a 55-yard punt.
Bishop and David Mills shared punting duties for the White and averaged 38 and 36 yards per punt, respectively.
YSU Head Coach Jon Heacock was pleased with his team's effort.
"We showed alot of enthusiasm out there today," Heacock said. "Our guys have really worked hard over the last three days and really showed a lot of effort today."
This week, the Penguins practice Wednesday at 3:15 p.m., Friday at 3:30 p.m. and will hold their final jersey scrimmage of the spring on Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

Penguin Club: Bob Dove Spring Game Luncheon Set for April 14  Posted Thursday, April 3, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The annual Bob Dove Spring Game Luncheon and Player Draft will be held on Monday, April 14 at Noon in the DeBartolo Stadium Club.
Coach Jon Heacock and selected student-athletes will be in attendance as a Red Squad and a White Team will be picked for the Spring Game, which is Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. Admission to the luncheon is $5 for Penguin Club members and $6 for non-Penguin Club members. Reservations can be made by calling (330) 941-7292.

Softball: Penguins Sweep Robert Morris, 7-0, 12-1  Posted Thursday, April 3, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Canfield, Ohio -- The Youngstown State softball team improved to 14-9-1 overall after sweeping a doubleheader from Robert Morris (4-19), 7-0, and 12-1, on Thursday afternoon at McCune Park.
In the opener, freshman Kelly Murphy tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout with four strikeouts to pick up her ninth win while the Penguins pounded out 11 hits.
Freshmen Liz Holt and Tiffany Patteson each went 3-for4 with a runs scored and a run batted in, while junior Lacey Reichert, who went 2-for-4, clobbered a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was Reichert's first home run of the season. Junior Amanda Berry also went 2-for-4 and scored twice with an RBI double.
In the nightcap, the Penguins plated five runs in the bottom of the first, two in the second, three in the third and two more in the fourth to defeat the Colonials in five innings.
Berry, who went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, belted her fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot, in the bottom of the third inning to lead the YSU 10-hit attack.
Patteson, Holt and sophomore Char Kudlock each collected two hits for the Penguins.
Senior Steph Hartman tossed a complete game, four-hitter and did not allow an earned run to pick up her fifth victory of the season.
Youngstown State returns to Horizon League action with a three-game series against Wright State, April 5-6, in Dayton, Ohio. The Penguins and Raiders will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and will play a single-game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Football: Penguins Complete Seventh Practice, Scrimmage Next  Posted Wednesday, April 2, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team neared the halfway point of the Spring practice session completing their seventh practice out of 15 on a gorgeous Wednesday afternoon at Stamabugh Stadium.
YSU will hold its first jersey scrimmage of the Spring on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The defense will be the Red Squad while the offense will be the White Team.
On Wednesday, Head Coach Jon Heacock said the biggest thing the Penguins were trying to work on is playing consistent football.
"It was another good day," Heacock said. "The kids worked hard and competed. We have a lot of work to do. We are not playing well all the time, but we are playing hard and with enthusiasm and emotion and that is the start with this team."
Friday marks the eighth practice and first scrimmage of the spring. Heacock said he wants to see how some players perform in new positions during the scrimmage. Sophomore Mike Andrews has moved from the secondary to the BAN linebacker position and Steve Durbin is back on defense at nose tackle after playing on offense a year ago.
"We will do some things after the jersey scrimmage and sort some things out," Heacock said. "We wanted to give everybody a chance to play on Friday in a position that they have learned. We want to give them the opportunity to see if they can play and see if we are making the right decisions."

Football: Crummey Set to Make NFL Europe Debut  Posted Tuesday, April 1, 2003 by  ysupenguins

Rhein Player Page for Crummey


Rhein, Germany -- Former YSU All-America offensive tackle Pat Crummey is set to make his debut in NFL Europe as a member of the Rhein Fire on April 13 against Amsterdam.
Crummey, who was an All-American at YSU in 2001, was allocated to the league by the New York Giants. He spent the 2002 season on the Giants' practice squad.
A native of Van Wert, Ohio, Crummey played at YSU from 1998-2001. He began his career on the defensive side of the football before moving over to offense prior to his sophomore year. He started every game his final three years for the Penguins and was a two-time first-team Gateway Football Conference selection and two-time YSU Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Former Penguin Tim Johnson was a linebacker for the Rhein Fire last season as the team qualified for the World Bowl. Crummey is the third Penguin to participate in the NFL Europe joining Johnson and Matt Hogg, who played for Barcelona.
The Fire will appear on television twice in the United States this spring. The April 20 game against Scotland will be aired on Fox Sports Net while the May 25 game against Berlin will be carried by Fox. The 11th World Bowl will be on June 14 in Glascow, Scotland.

YSU Announces Women's Basketball Search Committee  Posted Monday, March 31, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State University Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Elaine Jacobs will be in charge of a seven-person search committee to hire a new women's basketball coach, YSU Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo announced on Monday.
Serving on the committee with Jacobs are: Rick Bevly, YSU Events Manager; Dr. Frank Bosso, YSU Associate Professor for Human Performance and Exercise Science; Kathylynn Feld, YSU's NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative and Professor of Health Professions; Dr. Jane Kestner, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Rick Love, YSU Associate Director of Athletics and J.P. Daliman, Attorney at Law.
YSU Head Coach Ed DiGregorio announced his resignation from YSU on Monday, March 17. DiGregorio spent 20 years with the YSU program and finished with a career record of 319-241. During his tenure, the Penguins appeared in three NCAA Tournaments, advancing to the second round in 1998 with a win over Memphis, won five regular-season Mid-Continent Conference and three Mid-Con tournament titles and was also a two-time honoree as Conference Coach of the Year (1995 and 1999).

Baseball: Ohalek, Sobecki Extend Streak to Seven in Doubleheader  Posted Sunday, March 30, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team (10-9) extended its winning streak to seven games by sweeping the Binghamton Bearcats (5-14-1), 3-1 and 5-0, in a doubleheader at Cafaro Field behind strong pitching performances from Corey Ohalek and Kyle Sobecki on Saturday afternoon.
Ohalek threw a three-hit shutout and struck out eight Bearcats in the nightcap while Sobecki allowed one unearned run in six innings of work in game one. Brandon Caipen went 3-for-6 on the day with two RBIs to lead the offensive attack.
In game one, Binghamton capitalized on a Penguin error in the first inning and took an early 1-0 lead when Joe Costello singled home Tony Berube.
The Bearcats would retain their one run advantage until the bottom of the fourth, when the Penguins scored three runs with two outs and saw six straight batters reach base. Jim Lipinski drew a two-out walk, stole second and advanced to third on a single up the middle from Jim Phillips. Justin Banks followed with a two run triple to right center and eventually scored on a J.D. Brink wild pitch.
The Bearcats threatened in the top of the sixth, putting runners on second and third with one out, but Sobecki prevailed by getting Jay Balback to fly out to center and striking out Chris Darling to preserve the 3-1 lead.
Josh Wells pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up his first career save.
In game two, Ohalek got an immediate offensive boost when Lipinski doubled home Caipen in the bottom of the first to give YSU an early 1-0 lead.
The Penguins tacked on one more run in the second when Charles Schultz scored on a Kendall Schlabach sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Down 2-0 in the top of the fourth, Binghamton's Dusty Edwards spoiled Ohalek's no-hitter with an infield single to leadoff the inning. Berube followed with a double to put Bearcats on second and third with no outs, but Ohalek struck out the next three hitters to thwart the Binghamton threat.
With momentum in their corner, the Penguins scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open. With two outs, Penguin hitters banged out four straight hits, highlighted by a two run single from Caipen and an RBI single from Schlabach.
Ohalek allowed only one more Bearcat to reach base in the final three innings to seal the win.
Brink picked up the loss in game one, surrendering three hits and walking seven in a complete game effort. Mark Messina allowed five runs in five innings to pick up the loss in game two.
The Penguins will host Binghamton for the final game of their three game series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch at Cafaro Field is set for 1 p.m.

YSU’s Michaelis, UDM’s Hemstreet Named Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Year  Posted Thursday, March 27, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis—Youngstown State’s Kurt Michaelis and Detroit’s Kim Hemstreet are the inaugural Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year, respectively.

Michaelis, a senior, capped off one of the best careers in YSU history when he became the Penguins’ first NCAA Division I All-American following a ninth-place finish in the mile (4:07.79) at the NCAA Championships. Earlier in the season, he set another school precedent by earning League Athlete of the Week honors three weeks in a row (Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11). Michaelis also set school marks in the mile (4:02.71) and the 1,000-meter run (2:28.23). In addition, he led the Penguins to their first Horizon League championship in any sport and finished the season with the League’s top time in both the 800-meter run (1:51.41) and the mile (4:02.71).

Hemstreet, who also won the inaugural women’s cross country athlete of the year last fall, was a double-winner at the Horizon League Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., breaking League records in the 3,000- (9:50.44) and 5,000-meter runs (17:20.55). One week later, she set a school record in the 5,000-meter run with a Horizon League season-best time of 16:58.92 at the Alex Wilson Invitational. In addition, she set the League’s top time this season in the 3,000-meter run (9:47.93). At the Windsor Team Challenge, Hemstreet broke the first of three school records on the season, finishing the 1,500-meter run in 4:33.88.

Baseball: YSU Wins Fifth Straight, Downs Bison, 12-1  Posted Thursday, March 27, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team (8-9) extended its winning streak to five games for the first time since May 2000 by defeating the Bethany Bison (3-9) 12-1 on Wednesday evening at Cafaro Field.
YSU scored 11 runs in the first five innings and never trailed the entire contest. Adam Cox led the offensive attack with his sixth home run of the season and four RBIs. Eric Shaffer picked up his second win of the season, allowing three hits and striking out eight Bison including retiring four on strikes in the second inning. See more, including stats, in the Baseball Digest.

Penguins Begin Contact With Hoot N' Holler  Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team began full-contact drills on Tuesday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium. The Penguins worked out for 80 minutes in a practice that consisted of drills, Hoot N' Holler, a brief top-unit scrimmage and field-goal attempts.
Coach Jon Heacock said the four workout of the spring went well.
"There was a lot of enthusiasm out there today so that was good to see," Heacock said. "There was a lot of energy for the most part and I was pleased with how hard we played. We have a young team so we have to play harder than other squads and play with a lot of passion."
After the Hoot N' Holler drill, which was held at the midpoint of the practice, the Penguins held a brief scrimmage featuring players from the top units. All three quarterbacks -- Aaron Marshall, Luis Gonzalez and Matt Rycraft -- took snaps during the scrimmage.
Following the scrimmage, redshirt freshman Joe Bishop and junior transfer Nick Terracina worked on field goals. Terracina made a 47-yard kick into a stiff North wind to highlight the kicking duel.
YSU continues practice on Friday, March 28 at 3:30 p.m. in Stambaugh Stadium. Youngstown State will also practice on Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

Baseball: Smart Named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week  Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Senior righthander Jon Smart was named the Horizon League's Pitcher of the Week for the period ending March 23, league contact Mike Ingberg announced.
Smart hurled a complete game in the Penguins 3-1 victory over Akron, surrendering one unearned run while limiting the Zips to three hits in seven innings. He also struck out five and made two putouts.

Jake Stewart Leaves YSU Football Team  Posted Monday, March 24, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Personal issues have forced senior placekicker Jake Stewart to withdraw from Youngstown State University as well as the Penguins football program, Coach Jon Heacock said on Monday.
The senior from Austintown Fitch has been a three-year starter for YSU but withdrew from classes late last week. Stewart scored 157 points in three seasons, including making 20 field goals. He was also 97-of-104 on extra-point attempts.

Baseball: Smart's Three Hitter Leads Penguins to 3-1 Victory  Posted Monday, March 24, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- Senior Jon Smart scattered three hits and surrendered one unearned run to pick up a seven-inning complete game 3-1 victory over the Akron Zips (4-10) on Sunday afternoon at Cafaro Field.
Adam Cox led YSU's (6-9) offensive attack with two hits, including his fifth home run of the season, and two RBIs.
YSU grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning without hitting the ball out of the infield. Kendall Schlabach led off the inning with an infield single, stole second, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Brandon Caipen. Cox followed with an infield hit to bring home Schlabach and give the Penguins the early advantage.
With one out and the score tied at one in the bottom of the third, Cox drove a Billy McKinney pitch over the left field wall to reclaim the lead at 2-1.
The Penguins added one more run in the bottom of the fifth when Jim Phillips hit the gap in right center for an RBI double, driving home Jim Lipinski.
Akron's only run came on a wild pitch in the second.
YSU continues its 10-game homestand on Tuesday against Davis & Elkins College. First pitch at Cafaro Field is set for 1 p.m.

Football: Penguins Make Additions to Coaching Staff  Posted Wednesday, March 19, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Head Football Coach Jon Heacock announced on Tuesday he has made two additions to his staff and increased the duties of two current assistant coaches.
Ken Conatser, who spent 15 years at YSU before leaving two years ago, and Jerry Olsavsky, a Chaney High School graduate who played 10 seasons in the National Football League, have been added to the YSU staff while current assistants Brian Wright and Brian White will take on increased duties in their positions. Conatser has been named as YSU's special teams coordinator while Olsavsky will coach the linebackers.
Conatser left the Youngstown State program following the 2000 season to join Coach Jim Tressel's staff as special teams coordinator at Ohio State. After one season with the Buckeyes, Conatser then spent time at the University of Kansas as an assistant coach.
"He has always been a key part of our football family and we are excited to have him back," Heacock said. "He has a great amount of experience and knowledge and has always been important in helping us with community service."
Conatser came to YSU in 1986 and during his tenure with the Penguins coached a variety of positions. While with the Penguins he served in numerous capacities including, assistant head coach, offensive line coach, inside linebackers coach, was the defensive coordinator, the offensive coordinator and the special teams coordinator from 1989-94.
Olsavsky played 10 seasons in the NFL as a linebacker after a standout college career at Pittsburgh and an outstanding high school career at Chaney High School in Youngstown. A 10th-round draft choice by the Steelers in 1989, he played nine years in the Steel City as a professional before spending one year with Baltimore in 1998. In his NFL career, he played in 117 games.
Prior to coming to Youngstown, Olsavsky was an assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at North Carolina.
"He graduated from Chaney and played at Pittsburgh so it is great to have a local guy on the staff," Heacock said. "He has an outstanding NFL background and brings a lot to the table for us."
White has been elevated to the restricted-earnings coaching position after spending last season as a graduate assistant. White, who was a contributor as a defensive and offensive lineman for the Penguins from 1990 through 1993, is in charge of the tight ends and will help with the special teams this season.
"Brian has done a good job and has earned the right to have more duties on our staff," Heacock said.
Heacock also said Wright, who is YSU's quarterbacks coach, will also assume duties as the Penguins' wide receivers coach.
Youngstown State begins spring practice on Friday, March 21 at 3:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

DiGregorio Steps Down As Women’s Basketball Coach  Posted Monday, March 17, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Youngstown State University Women’s Basketball Coach Ed DiGregorio announced his resignation on Monday, March 17, effective immediately.
"My tenure at Youngstown State University has been a wonderful and very rewarding journey," DiGregorio said. "I’m grateful for the opportunities and help given to me by so many people on this campus.
"I would also like to thank our many outstanding young ladies who performed so well in the classroom and on the playing court. They have brought great recognition to our great university, our community, their parents and families, but above all else they can walk tall and be proud of their accomplishments. I only hope that I have touched their lives in some small way as they have touched mine."
DiGregorio has led the women’s basketball program on an amazing journey since taking over prior to the 1983-84 campaign. During his tenure, the Penguins appeared in three NCAA Tournaments, advancing to the second round in 1998 with a win over Memphis, won five regular-season Mid-Continent Conference and three Mid-Con tournament titles and was also a two-time honoree as Conference Coach of the Year (1995 and 1999). He finishes with a 319-241 record (a .570 winning percentage) at the school.
YSU Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo said DiGregorio is a strong part of the Athletic Department who will be missed.
"Coach D has had such an outstanding positive impact on so many lives in his 20 years with our university," Strollo said. "He has supported all of our athletic programs and has brought a great amount of notoriety to our department because of the successes our women’s basketball teams have had."
In the 1990’s, DiGregorio, a Youngstown native, led a YSU program that was the 31st most successful in the NCAA Division I women’s basketball ranks posting a 196-90 record. Included in that run was a school-record five straight 20-win seasons and a school-best 28 wins in 1997-98.
Youngstown State President Dr. David Sweet said DiGregorio epitomizes the work ethic and spirit of the university.
"He has been a great ambassador, not only for our athletic department, but for our campus and community," Dr. Sweet said. "He is a well-respected individual throughout the collegiate coaching ranks and has spent the past two decades supporting our athletic and academic programs."
DiGregorio has had many highlights while on the YSU sidelines. On Feb. 1, 2001, he earned his 300th career coaching victory with a 74-59 win over Valparaiso at the Beeghly Center. His 98 league wins while YSU was in the Mid-Con are the most by any coach in the conference’s history. Also, he has had four student-athletes named conference players of the year (Brianne Kenneally, Shannon Beach, Liz Grzesk and Dorothy Collins). Kenneally was a two-time Mid-Con Player of the Year selection. Beach and Grzesk were Mid-Con selections while Collins was an Ohio Valley Conference pick.
He helped lead the Penguins into the Horizon League in 2001-02 and also was the head coach when YSU was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (1983-88). Before DiGregorio took over, YSU had won 105 games in the programs eight years.
Strollo said a nationwide search for DiGregorio’s successor will begin immediately.

Track & Field: Michaelis Named All-American, Finishes Ninth in Nation  Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Fayetteville, Ark. -- Kurt Michaelis capped an already phenomenal senior indoor season with a ninth-place finish in the mile at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas on Saturday afternoon.
Michaelis became YSU's first Division I All-American by being the seventh American to cross the finish line with a time of 4:07.79.
"I want to give credit to God," Michaelis said. "I thought my year was over after the Notre Dame race and I was given a second chance."
"It's always been a dream of mine to be an All-American and to be YSU's first it's just an amazing feeling."
"The race went a lot slower than I thought it would in the beginning. The first quarter we went about 61 seconds, but then we fell down to about 66. By the final quarter it was a dead sprint."
"This is such a phenomenal accomplishment," Head Coach Brian Gorby said. "We talked about seniors stepping it up at the beginning of the year and he's done way beyond that. This is a credit to his work ethic, drive and desire."
Arkansas junior Chris Mulvaney won the race by nearly a half second with a time of 4:05.70.
The entire meet will be shown tomorrow afternoon on ESPN2 at 1:30 p.m. EST.

Track & Field: Michaelis Qualifies for Finals at NCAA Championship  Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Fayetteville, Ark. -- Senior Kurt Michaelis qualified for the final round in the mile at the NCAA Championships on Friday evening at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
Michaelis, who finished third in his heat of eight, will compete in the final round of 11 tomorrow evening at 6:15 p.m. CST. The finals will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Monday at 1:30 p.m. He needs to defeat one American in the race to be named All-American.

Baseball: Cox's Blast Keys Four-Run Fifth, 4-2 Victory  Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Cookeville, Tenn. -- Junior Adam Cox hit a three-run home run to highlight a four-run fifth inning that lifted the Youngstown State baseball team over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (5-8), 4-2, on Friday afternoon at Bush Stadium.
Cox finished with two hits in four at bats to lead the Penguin offense while Corey Ohalek surrendered eight hits and two runs in the nine-inning complete game to get the win.
Facing a 2-0 deficit heading into the top of the fifth, Brandon Caipen put the Penguins on the board with an RBI single to right that scored J.J. Newman. After Jim Phillips singled to right, Cox stepped up and gave YSU their first lead of the game on his three-run blast over the left field wall.
The Golden Eagles scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third on back-to-back RBI singles by Casey Benjamin and Ryan Hay.
The Penguins continue their three-game series at Tennessee Tech tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Diving: Leveto and Smail Compete at NCAA Zone Meet  Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Oxford, Ohio -- At the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships on Friday, Youngstown State's Kalyn Leveto placed 39th in the three-meter competition and Mandie Smail was 42nd at the diving well at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatics Center.
Leveto had a score of 191.50 while Smail finished with a mark of 185.25. Both will compete in the one-meter competition on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. Youngstown State's Kalyn Leveto placed 26th in the one-meter competition and Mandie Smail was 37th at the diving well at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatics Center. Leveto had a score of 218.05 while Smail finished with a mark of 187.95

Softball: Youngstown State Drops Two At Rebel Games  Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Orlando, Fla. -- The Youngstown State softball team fell to 5-3 after dropping a pair of games to Tennessee-Martin, 5-2, and Colorado State, 1-0, on Friday at the Rebel Games.
Freshman Liz Holt smacked four hits on the day, including a 3-for-4 performance against UT-Martin.
Against Colorado State, freshman Kelly Murphy (3-1) scattered eight hits in her third straight complete game but picked up her first of the season.
The Penguins conclude their spring trip against Robert Morris and St. Peter's (N.J.) at 2:20 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Softball: Penguins Push Streak To Four  Posted Thursday, March 13, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Orlando, Fla. -- The Youngstown State softball team (5-1) extended its winning streak to four games after knocking off Bucknell, 4-2, and Penn, 10-4, on Wednesday at the Rebel Games.
In the first game against Bucknell, senior Zetta Dumkrieger went 3-for-4 with a triple, double and a run batted in while junior Amanda Berry belted three hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs. Freshman Liz Holt, who went 2-for-4, also laced a triple.
Freshman Kelly Murphy (3-0) tossed her second straight complete game for her third straight victory.
Against Penn, Holt tied a school record with four hits, including a double, and drove in three runs to lead the Penguins to a 10-4 victory.
Berry and freshman Codi Bise each went 2-for-4 while senior Steph Hartman (2-1) tossed a complete game and picked up her second consecutive win.
After a off-day, the Penguins face Tennessee-Martin and Colorado State on Friday, March 13, at 12:30 p.m. and 4:10 p.m., respectively.

Softball: Murphy, Hartman Each Toss Shutouts Over Yale, Appalachian State  Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Orlando, Fla. -- The Youngstown State softball team improved to 3-1 after two dominating pitching performances from freshman Kelly Murphy and senior Steph Hartman as the Penguins shutout Yale, 1-0, and Appalachian State, 2-0, on Tuesday at the Rebel Games.
Murphy tossed her first career shutout allowing just three hits with eight strikeouts and classmate Liz Holt belted a solo home run to lift the Penguins (3-1) past Yale, 1-0, in the first game. Murphy has not allowed a run in 12 consecutive innings pitched this season.
Against Appalachian State, Hartman gave up just four hits and struck out two while sophomore Erin Moore went 2-for-4, drove in a run and scored once.
Youngstown State continues its spring trip at the Rebel Games against Bucknell and Penn on Wednesday at 11:20 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Baseball: Penguins Slug Five Homers in First Win, 13-11  Posted Sunday, March 9, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Jefferson City, Tenn. -- The Youngstown State baseball team picked up their first victory of the 2003 campaign by defeating the Ohio Bobcats, 13-11, in game one of a doubleheader behind five homeruns on Saturday afternoon.
The second game was postponed due to darkness tied at five in the bottom of the fifth inning and will be continued tomorrow.
Freshman Justin Thomas picked up his first collegiate victory in game one while Clint Ford picked up the save.
The Penguins will continue their spring break trip tomorrow against Ohio. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Jefferson City.

Track & Field: Smith Shatters School Record at Alex Wilson Invite  Posted Sunday, March 9, 2003 by  ysupenguins
South Bend, Ind. -- Sophomore Nick Smith broke the school record in the 3,000-meter run with a seventh-place time of 8:26.17 at Notre Dame's Alex Wilson Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
Smith's time tops Bob Bond's old record of 8:28.75 that was set in 1998.
Also at the invite, Emily Schnitkey finished eighth in the mile with a time of 5:08.43 while Kurt Michaelis finished 13th in the men's mile with a time of 4:21.08. Nick Buzek placed 26th in the 5,000 with a time of 15:12.73.
Michaelis, who provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the mile on Feb. 8, will find out Monday if his time of 4:02.71 was fast enough to compete against the top runners in the nation on March 14 in Fayettville, Ark.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Eliminated By Flames, 79-59  Posted Saturday, March 8, 2003 by  ysupenguins

Milwaukee, Wis. -- The Illinois-Chicago Flames shot 50 percent from the field and put four players in double figures to eliminate the Youngstown State men's basketball team, 79-59, in the quarterfinals of the 2003 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship on Friday evening at U.S. Cellular Arena.
Youngstown State ends the season with an overall record of 9-20, while the Flames improve to 21-7 and face No. 2-seeded UW-Milwaukee, Saturday, at 8:30 p.m. (EST).
The Flames jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead but the Penguins rallied to tie the game, 12-12, at the 14:10 mark of the first half.
From that point, UIC scored 17 straight points to take a 29-12 lead with 7:38 remaining. Cedric Banks, who paced the Flames with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, ignited UIC with seven points during the run.
After buckets by Derrick Harris and Khari McQueen cut the UIC advantage to 15 points, 31-16, the Flames scored seven straight points to cushion their lead to 21 points, 38-21.
Youngstown State, which shot just 34.6 percent in the first half and 51.7 percent after halftime, was led by sophomore Doug Underwood's game-high 20 points. Underwood connected on 9-of-20 from the floor, including two 3-pointers. Junior Adam Baumann also reached double figures with 13 points on 5-of-6 from the field.
Besides Banks reaching double figures for UIC, Armond Williams and Aaron Carr each posted 13 points and Jon Schneiderman added 11 points, including three 3-pointers.

Women's Basketball: Penguins Eliminated By Butler, 77-71, In Play-In Game  Posted Thursday, March 6, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Green Bay, Wis. -- The Youngstown State women's basketball season came to an end after dropping a 77-71 decision to Butler in the play-in game of the 2003 Horizon League Women's Basketball Tournament at the Phoenix Sports Center.
The Penguins, who were the eighth-seed, ended the season at 6-22 while the ninth-seeded Bulldogs improved to 6-22.
Butler, which never trailed during the game, jumped out to a 10-point advantage, 21-11, less than seven minutes into the game, utilized seven first-half 3-pointers to boost its lead to as many 14 points and owned a 10-point lead, 43-33, at the intermission.
After Butler's Jessica Monaco layup gave the Bulldogs a 45-33 lead at the 19:45 mark, YSU's Maggie Johnston put the Penguins within nine points 45-36, with a 3-pointer with 18:52 to go.
Youngstown State continued to chip away at the Butler lead and sliced the deficit to three points, 57-54, after two free throws by Jessica Olmstead with 7:06 remaining.
Butler, though, pushed its lead back to nine points, 63-54, at the 6:04 mark after layups by Nancy Bowden and Cortney Urquhart and two charity tosses from Angel Mason.
The Penguins were not finished and cut the Butler lead to three points, 66-63, for a second time after a Jen Perugini layup, a Devin Novak 3-pointer and a jumper by Tara Fleming with 3:59 remaining.
Youngstown State would get within three points on three different occasions, but could not get any closer.
Perugini lead the Penguins with 19 points while Johnston posted 15 points in her final collegiate game and Olmstead added 13 points.
The Bulldogs shot just 29.6 percent from the floor in the second half compared to 50 percent for YSU, but Butler converted 18-of-26 free throw attempts after halftime.

Penguins Get First Road Win in 2 Years...Advance  Posted Wednesday, March 5, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Green Bay, Wis. -- For the first time in more than two years, the Youngstown State men's basketball team left a road court victorious and the win came at a special moment beating UW-Green Bay 65-61 in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament on Tuesday night at the Resch Center.
Senior Marlon Williamson scored a game-high 22 points and Doug Underwood added 16 as the Penguins (9-19) earned their first-ever victory at Green Bay and snapped a 29-game road losing streak that spanned more than two years. Now, YSU advances to play third-seeded UIC on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wis., in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
Head Coach John Robic said his first postseason victory in four tries was a special one.
"I am just happy to keep playing," Robic said. "We played much tougher tonight than we did in the last four games. We were really aggressive defensively and to have 27 offensive rebounds shows how hard we worked."
YSU played tough from the start keeping the game close throughout the first half. At halftime, the game was tied 31-31, a marked improvement from the Feb. 19 game in which Green Bay came out and played well building a 34-24 halftime lead.
Williamson said the team wanted to come out and play well at the beginning. In the game, Williamson made 6 3-pointers while Underwood added three.
"I had a nice touch going and I give credit to Coach for putting the ball in my hand," Williamson said. "Not just to shoot the ball, but to create plays. We needed a boost in the beginning and that is what I provided. We wanted to deliver the first punches of the game and we were able to come out and set the tone."
In the second half, the Penguins stepped their game up.
After trailing by five on two occasions in the second half, YSU rallied. Trailing 47-42 with 13:32 remaining, the Penguins took a 49-48 on Williamson's 3-pointer with 9:56 left and never trailed again.
YSU boosted that lead to its biggest advantage of the game at 63-55 with 2:16 left. But UW-Green Bay came back pulling within 64-61 on a bucket by Terry Parker. But Andy Jahnke converted a free-throw with 20 seconds left to seal the win. Matt Rohde missed two threes in final seconds.
For the game, YSU held a 45-35 lead in rebounding, including a season-best 27 offensive rebounds. YSU shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) while Green Bay shot 31.5 percent (17-of-54) for the game. UWGB was 24-of-26 from the free-throw line while YSU was 8-of-18.

YSU Claims First Horizon League Championship in School History  Posted Monday, March 3, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Milwaukee, Wis. -- The Youngstown State men's track and field team captured the first Horizon League Championship in school history on Sunday afternoon at the Klotsche Center on the campus of UW-Milwaukee behind a complete team attack and individual victories from Eugene Harris and Kurt Michaelis.
With the win, the Penguins claimed their first league crown since 1997 and bring home the first Horizon League Championship in any sport since YSU joined the league in 2001.
"This group shows what heart can do for you," Head Coach and Men's Coach of the Year Brian Gorby said. "The seniors who sacrificed the last four years finally got a championship. They weren't going to get denied."
Harris won both the 60-meter dash (7.02) and the 200 (22.29) for the second consecutive year while Michaelis earned a victory in the mile (4:11.96).
"It feels really good to finally get the first championship in the league," Harris said. "We showed we can compete in the league and hopefully more championships will follow."
In the men's sprints and hurdles, Sherrod Holmes finished just .01 seconds behind Harris to place second and finished fifth in the 200. Tyler Morton, Adam Lewis and Alvin Shavers claimed the third through fifth spots in the 60 hurdles.
Michaelis led the distance group with a victory in the mile, a third-place finish in the 1,000 and a fourth-place finish in the 800. Nick Smith placed highly in three events, finishing third in the mile, fifth in the 800 and eighth in the 1,000. Nick Buzek added a third-place finish in the 5,000.
"It's tough to explain how this feels," Michaelis said. "We waited so long and for everything to come together and for it to happen my senior year is unbelievable."
In the field, Nick Roberts finished third in the shot put and fourth in the weight throw while Jarrod Davis placed third in the weight throw and fourth in the shot.
On the women's side, Lissette Alamo broke the school record in the long jump with a distance of 19-3 1/4 to place second while Delores Gaines broke her own record in the weight throw with a third-place heave of 54-7 1/2 to lead the women to a fourth-place finish.
Aaliyah Gillespie won the 60 hurdles with a league-record time of 8.75 and turned in a fifth-place finish in the 60 dash to lead the sprints and hurdles. Jeanna Cunningham added a third-place finish in the 400 while Leslie Johnson finished fifth.
Emily Schnitkey placed fifth in the mile, sixth in the 5,000 and seventh in the 3,000 to lead the distance group while Lindsay Frontz chipped in with a fifth place finish in the 800.
In the field, Beth Hochstetler, Gaines and Marian Steele claimed the third through fifth spots in the shot put while Laura Schatz placed third in the high jump and seventh in the pole vault.
The men finished with 116 points to edge out Loyola (99) and Detroit (91). Hosting UW-Green Bay claimed the women's crown with 165 points. Detroit and Loyola tied for second with 97 points while YSU finished with 84.
The Penguins will continue their season when they travel to South Bend, Ind. to compete in the Alex Wilson Invitational on March 8.


Final Results

Men's Basketball: Baumann, Williamson Earn League Honors  Posted Monday, March 3, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Junior center Adam Baumann and senior guard Marlon Williamson were among members who earned accolades by the Horizon League, the conference announced on Sunday. Baumann was named to the All-Newcomer Team while Williamson was named to the All-Defensive Team.
Baumann, a 6-8, 235-pound junior from Scottsdale, Ariz., transferred to YSU this season from Yavapai Junior College and finished the regular-season with an impressive six double-doubles. He averaged 12.0 points and 7.9 rebounds on the year. He had a total of 213 rebounds for his first Youngstown State season.
Williamson, a 5-11, 201-pound senior from Detroit, Mich., set the single-season school record with 62 steals this year. He also became the first player in YSU history with more than 100 assists (139) and 50 steals (62) in the same season.
The Penguins return to action on Tuesday night when they play at UW-Green Bay in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament.

FIRST TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
Cedrick Banks, UIC
Seth Doliboa, Wright State
Willie Green, Detroit
Dylan Page, UW-Milwaukee
Clay Tucker, UW-Milwaukee

SECOND TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
David Bailey, Loyola
Martell Bailey, UIC
Joel Cornette, Butler
Brandon Miller, Butler
Armond Williams, UIC

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Willie Green, Detroit
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bruce Pearl, UW-Milwaukee
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Paul McMillan, Loyola

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
Adam Baumann, Youngstown State
Paul McMillan, Loyola
Modibo Niakate, Cleveland State
Elijah Warren, Detroit
Demetrius Williams, Loyola

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Pape Badiane, Cleveland State
Joel Cornette, Butler
Brandon Miller, Butler
Clay Tucker, UW-Milwaukee
Marlon Williamson, Youngstown State

Track & Field: YSU Looks to Bring Home First League Championship  Posted Friday, February 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- During the past few weeks, Head Coach Brian Gorby has been preaching to his athletes "the head and hard work sets it up - the heart brings it home." If all goes to plan and their hearts prevails, the Youngstown State track and field team will bring home the first Horizon League Championship in school history at the Indoor Track and Field Championships in Milwaukee, Wis. this weekend.
Heading into the championships, both the men's and women's squads have a solid chance of bringing home the title.
"If we're the healthiest team, we have the best chance to win," Gorby said.
Gorby, along with his assistant coaches, are looking to reestablish the tradition of track and field excellence that the program had in the Mid-Continent Conference, winning eight conference championships from 1994-1997. Of those eight championships, six were keyed by Gorby's current support staff.
"We've made the sacrifices and with sacrifice comes success," Gorby said. "It's going to take a whole team effort to bring the title and tradition back to Youngstown."
Leading the way for the men will be Kurt Michaelis, the defending league champion in the 800-meter run and the mile. In addition to being a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Championship and a three-time Athlete of the Week, Michaelis will head into the meet with the top time run this season in both events and the second-fastest time in the 1,000.
Nick Smith will also play a key role for the men, competing in the 1,000, the mile and the 3,000. Smith owns the third fastest time run this season in the mile, the seventh fastest in the 3,000 and the tenth fastest in the 1,000. He also finished third in both the mile and the 3,000 to earn All-Ohio honors.
In the sprints, Ryan Strzalka holds the sixth fastest time in the 60 dash while Eugene Harris, last year's champion in the 60 and the 200, heads in with the third fastest time in the 200.
In the field events, Edwin Jackson is heading in sixth in the long jump while Nick Roberts is second in the shot put and Jarrod Davis is fourth in both the shot and the weight throw.
On the women's side, Jeanna Cunningham will look to continue her success from last season where she finished second in the 200 and third in the 400 en route to being named Newcomer of the Year. Heading into the championship meet, she holds the fourth fastest time in the 200 and the fifth fastest time in the 400.
All-Ohioan Aaliyah Gillespie brings the top time in the 60 hurdles and the fourth spot in the 60 dash while Lindsay Frontz owns the third fastest time in the 1,000. Emily Schnitkey holds the fifth spot in the mile, the 3000 and the 5000.
In the field, Lissette Alamo, who finished second in the long jump and third in the triple jump a year ago, will head into the meet holding the second spot in the long jump. Delores Gaines will look to defend her title in the weight throw while Laura Schatz will head into the meet as the defending champion in the high jump.
The event kicks off on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. EST with the long jump and concludes with the awards presentation on Sunday at 5:15 p.m.

Leveto Wins Horizon League Title in Three-Meter  Posted Friday, February 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Cleveland, Ohio -- Youngstown State sophomore diver Kalyn Leveto won the three-meter diving event with a score of 416.40 at the Horizon League Championships at the Robert F. Busbey Natatorium on the campus of Cleveland State University on Thursday evening.
With the win, a Penguin diver has won the three-meter diving event at three straight conference championships.
Senior diver Mandie Smail finished sixth in the three-meter with a score of 384.75.
In other action, sophomore Erin Carter finished 14th in the 200-yard IM with time of 2:15.32. Lena Arens placed 11th in the 50 free with a personal-best time of 25.19 while teammate Missy Weise finished four places back in 15th with a time of 25.67.
YSU currently occupies the fifth spot in the standings ahead of Cleveland State and Butler with 92 points. Wright State is in first with 219.
The Horizon League Championships continue tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m.

Meet Results

Baseball: Season Opener Cancelled, Moved to Saturday  Posted Friday, February 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball team's season-opening road trip to Columbia, Mo. was delayed at least one day due to inclement weather at the University of Missouri.
The Penguins were scheduled to kick off their 2003 season on Friday at 5 p.m, but that game has been moved to Sunday as part of a two-day four-game series against the Tigers.
Weather permitting, YSU will take off for Columbia Friday morning and will begin the first of two double headers on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Swimming & Diving: Penguins to Compete at League Championships  Posted Wednesday, February 26, 2003 by  ysupenguins

Follow this link for Tourney Results

Youngstown -- The Youngstown State swimming and diving team will begin competition Wednesday evening at what league officials are boasting as one of the most competitive Horizon League Championships ever at the Robert F. Busbey Natatorium on the campus of Cleveland State University.
The Penguins will head into the meet with two of the top divers in the conference in Kalyn Leveto and Mandie Smail.
Leveto holds the top score in the Horizon League in one-meter diving with a school-record 296.02 and the 11 dive three-meter diving. She is also owns the second spot in the six dive three-meter diving.
Smail is right behind Leveto in the 11 dive three-meter diving and holds the fourth spot in the two other diving events.
Lena Arens leads the sprint group heading into the championship meet, holding the seventh best time in the 50-yard free with a 25.44. Missy Wiese holds the 18th fastest time in both the 50 and 100 free.
The Penguins will also be led by the versatility of Erin Carter and Jordan Dunn. Carter ranks in the top 25 in six different events while Dunn occupies one of the top 25 spots in three events.
Wright State will look to become only the second team in league history to win back-to-back championships after edging out UW-Green Bay in last year's championship.
The meet begins Wednesday evening with the preliminary round of three-meter diving and concludes with the 400 freestyle relay on Saturday.
Trials will begin daily at 10:30 a.m. and finals will begin at 6 p.m.
Results can be found on Cleveland State's website near the completion of each event.

Softball: Penguins Look To Carry Fall Momentum Into Spring  Posted Wednesday, February 26, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Promising. That is probably the best adjective to describe the 2003 Youngstown State University softball team and the key factor that may have been lacking in previous seasons. Coming off a successful fall campaign with a 12-4 mark, the Penguins hope to use that record as the impetus for greater results and possibly a foreshadowing of things to come in the very near future.
The Youngstown State softball program is on the threshold of turning its fortunes around and the 2003 season could be the genesis of better days to come. The main reason prospects of a successful 2003 campaign are optimistic is the Penguins return 10 letterwinners and nine starters from last year’s squad and the addition of six talented newcomers.
"We saw some really bright spots and played pretty well during the fall season," Head Coach Christy Cameron said. "I think we have improved our team in several areas and hopefully we continue playing well this spring."
"Our team is still pretty young but we also have a solid base of talented, veteran leadership throughout our lineup, which will be beneficial for us."


Pitching
The Penguins lost one of their top arms last season when Be Cicero went down with a career-ending injury, but they also return their most consistent hurler from a season ago – senior Steph Hartman.
Over the last two years, Hartman has been the Penguins’ ace on the mound and led the team with seven wins and a 2.94 earned run average in 2002.
Joining Hartman on the hill are junior-college transfer Ashley Lockmiller and freshman Kelly Murphy. Lockmiller, who spent one season at Owens Community College, compiled a 12-2 recorded and a 1.61 earned run average last season.
Murphy, who hails from North Olmsted, Ohio, was a two-time first-team all-state pick and set the state record for 21 strikeouts in one game.


Infield
The infield, which returns three starters, is a mixture of solid veteran leadership and youthful talent.
Junior Amanda Berry, who was named second-team All-Horizon League in 2002, returns for her third season starting at first base. The left-handed hitting slugger posted a team-high .336 batting average with 10 doubles and a .500 slugging percentage.
Sophomore Kiisha Warfield, who appeared in 10 games last season, could also see some time at first base.
The middle infield may be young with sophomore Char Kudlock at second base and freshman Tiffany Patteson at shortstop, but the talent is limitless. Kudlock, who led the team with 22 runs scored last season, tied for the team-lead in home runs and hit .364 during the 2002 Horizon League Softball Tournament.
Patteson, from Guelph, Ontario, is a left-handed hitting shortstop and hit .526 at the 2001 Canadian National Championships. Patteson was also invited to participate in the 2002 Canadian Olympic Team Camp.
Junior Lacey Reichert returns to the hot corner for the Penguins in 2003. Last season after an injury to starting third baseman Jenn Hartman, Reichert made the switch to third base. Hartman, who may also see time as the designated player, also provides experience and depth after playing 28 games at third base last season.


Outfield
The Penguin outfield also returns all three starters from a season ago, has a talented crop of newcomers ready to make a jump into the starting lineup and has some depth.
Senior Zetta Dumkrieger, who finished second on the squad with a.273 batting average, returns to right field for the second straight season. Last season, Dumkrieger recorded eight multi-hit games and hit .400 against left-handers.
Slated to patrol center field for the third straight season is junior Amber Smith. Smith led the squad in stolen bases last season and hit .333 with the bases loaded.
Sophomore Erin Moore, who started 41 games in left field last season, returns for her second campaign while freshman Liz Holt may also see time in the corner outfield slot.
Freshman Laura Amero, who helped her prep squad to the 2001 state title, is a versatile athlete and can play all three outfield positions.


Catcher
Behind the plate may be the area of most concern for Cameron. Although the Penguins have three catchers listed on the roster, only one returns with collegiate playing experience but who missed the fall season to injury.
Senior Allison Pfaff, who started 40 games for the Penguins last season, is YSU’s most experienced catcher but missed all of the fall season.
Freshman Codi Bise, who was a three-time first-team all-league pick at Canal Winchester High School, gained some valuable experience in the fall behind the plate.
Freshman Aimee Soller should also see some time catching.


Summary
The combination of a solid fall season, nine returning starters, a talented core of newcomers and a renewed desire for the game has the YSU softball program optimistic for a breakout season in 2003.
Although team morale is high and the positive atmosphere is contagious, the Penguins do have some challenges ahead with an ambitious non-league schedule including Colorado State, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech before delving into a strong Horizon League slate.

Men's Basketball: Fox 17/62 to Televise YSU-UIC Game  Posted Monday, February 24, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown's Fox 17/62 (WYFX) will broadcast the Youngstown State-UIC men's basketball game live on Saturday night. Tipoff at the UIC Pavilion is set for 7 p.m. The game will also be carried live on Fox Sports Chicago.
As the Horizon League Game of the Week, Josh Lewin and David Kaplan will call the action.

Women's Basketball: Penguins Defeat Butler In Overtime, 80-74  Posted Saturday, February 22, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State sophomore Jen Perugini, who tied a career-high with 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, hit a jumper as time expired to send the game into overtime and catapulted the Penguins (6-18, 3-10 Horizon League) to an 80-74 victory over Butler (5-20, 3-11 Horizon League) on Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
With the game tied, 66-66, Butler's Cortney Urquhart's layup with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Bulldogs a 68-66 lead and apparent victory. Following a timeout, YSU's Jessica Olmstead's in-bounds pass intended for Maggie Johnston was intercepted by Butler's Stephanie Boeke just past halfcourt. Boeke, however, was called for traveling with 0.4 seconds left and set up Perugini's game-tying shot.
In the extra period, the Penguins outscored the Bulldogs, 12-6, and converted 10-of-12 charity tosses to preserve the win.
Youngstown State held an eight-point advantage, 46-38, at the 13:40 mark of the second half but Butler used a 16-5 run over the next 4:18 to take a 54-51 lead at the 9:20 mark.
The Penguins and Bulldogs battled through four ties and four lead changes to close out the second half.In the first half, the Penguins trailed by as many as 13 points, 27-14, with 8:27 to go but closed out the half on a 22-6 run. During that span, the Penguins were sparked by junior Jessica Forsythe and Perugini, who each scored six points. Forsythe, who scored a career-high 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the floor, hit a jumper to cut the deficit to two points, 33-31, at the 1:18 mark. After senior Maggie Johnston tied the game at 33-33 with two free throws, Forsythe drained a 3-pointer with five seconds left for the intermission.
Olmstead also reached double figures with 16 points, including 12 after halftime, and dished out eight assists while Johnston recorded seven assists.
For the game, YSU shot 53.8 percent from the floor compared to 37.5 percent for Butler.
The Penguins visit Wright State, Monday, Feb. 24, at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Can't Overcome Bulldogs, 69-60  Posted Saturday, February 22, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Butler went inside against the Youngstown State men's basketball team on Saturday night using a career-high 24 points by forward Joel Cornette to outscore the Penguins 44-26 in the paint and hand a 69-60 loss to YSU at the Beeghly Center.
With the defeat, Youngstown State drops to 8-17 overall and 4-10 in the Horizon League and has dropped four straight games. YSU is now tied for sixth with UW-Green Bay, and although the team's split the head-to-head meeting, the Phoenix hold the tie-breaker for a first-round league tournament home game with a victory over league-leader UW-Milwaukee.
Butler (21-4 and 11-2) kept pace with the Panthers and are just a half game out of first in the league race.
Cornette played a large role in the victory scoring a career-high 24 points. He scored 18 of those in the first half as Butler built a 37-30 at the half.
But YSU did not go down without a fight. Behind by 12 points with 3:07 remaining, the Penguins went on an 8-2 run behind a jumper by Doug Underwood, a three-point play by Baumann and a 3-pointer by Andy Jahnke to pull within six, but Butler scored the next four points to seal the win.
Baumann finished with a team-high 14 points for YSU while Underwood and senior Marlon Williamson -- playing in his final home game -- had 13. Williamson also added three steals giving him 62 to become the first player in school history with more than 60 steals in a year.
Besides Cornette, Duane Lightfoot had 18 points of 9-of-10 shooting and Darnell Archey finished with 10.
Butler grabbed the first two points of the game on a fast-break layup from Archey, but the Penguins responded by scoring the next five points on one of Williamson's three first half three pointers and an Baumann layup.
After exchanging buckets, but Cornette scored the next seven points to take a four point lead at 11-7. The Penguins brought the lead down to one three times in the half, but the Bulldogs went into the locker room with a seven point lead at 37-30.
YSU opened the second half with a tip-in from TeJay Anderson, but Butler responded with a 9-3 run to grab an 11 point lead at the 14:11 mark. The Bulldogs led by as many as 12 seven times before YSU made its final run.
For the game, Butler shot a season-high 58.7 percent (27-of-46) while the Penguins shot 42 percent (21-of-50). The Bulldogs held the edge on the glass at 26-25.
The Penguins return to action on Thursday night when they play at Detroit.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Play Host to Butler In Home Finale  Posted Saturday, February 22, 2003 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State men’s basketball team plays their final regular-season home game of year on Saturday night when they play host to Butler. Tipoff at the Beeghly Center is set for 7 p.m. Prior to the game, YSU senior guard Marlon Williamson will be saluted for his four-year Penguin career.
Youngstown State (8-16 overall and 4-9 in the Horizon League) has lost four straight games and is coming off a 69-53 loss at UW-Green Bay on Wednesday. YSU will hope to send Williamson off with a victory against the Bulldogs. YSU has won two straight games on Senior Night beating Oakland (2001) and IPFW (2002). However, those two teams did not present the challenges the Bulldogs will.
Butler (20-4 and 10-2) still has hopes of winning the league regular-season title entering the final portion of the season. The Bulldogs have four league games remaining beginning with the contest in Youngstown. Butler is 7-4 this year on the road and is 4-2 in the Horizon League away from Indianapolis.
The Penguins and Bulldogs played a tight ballgame at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Jan. 18, with Butler earning a hard-fought 64-60 victory. YSU battled back within three in the final two minutes only to lose by that four-point margin. That was the closest (by margin) the Bulldogs came to losing at home this season.
YSU returns to the road for two games, beginning Thursday night in Detroit before playing at Illinois-Chicago on Saturday.

Scouting the Butler Bulldogs
Butler picked up its 20th victory of the season on Thursday night beating Wright State 79-64. With the win, the Bulldogs have won 20-or-more games for nine consecutive seasons.
Butler has five players who average in double figures led by Brandon Miller’s 12.5 per game. The Bulldogs shoot extremely well (47.6 percent from the field; 40.6 percent from 3-point range and 74.1 percent from the free-throw line) and defend well (59.8 points allowed per game). Butler ranks in the top 10 in the nation in scoring defense with that average.
The Bulldogs like to put up the 3-pointer with 37 percent of their made field goals coming via the trey. Also, 43 percent of their attempts have been 3-pointers.
Butler is coached by Todd Lickliter who owns a 46-10 mark in his two seasons.

Earlier This Year at Butler
Junior forward Adam Baumann scored a game-high 25 points as Youngstown State almost came back from a 14-point first-half deficit only to drop a thrilling 64-60 contest to Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Jan. 18.
In a frantic finish, which featured a missed free throw by NCAA record holder Darnell Archey for the first time in 86 attempts, YSU pulled within three points on a 3-pointer by Marlon Williamson, his third straight trey, as Youngstown State pulled within 63-60 with 17 seconds to go. But finally after putting the Bulldogs in the one-and-one, Mike Monserez clinched the victory by hitting one of two free throws with five seconds remaining.
In the contest, YSU outrebounded Butler 29-16 and grabbed 12 offensive boards. YSU shoot 48.9 percent (22-of-45) while the Bulldogs made 53.3 percent (24-of-45).

Men's Basketball: Penguins Lose 69-53 at UW-Green Bay  Posted Thursday, February 20, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Green Bay, Wis. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team suffered a 69-53 loss to UW-Green Bay on Wednesday night at the Resch Center in Green Bay. With the defeat, the Penguins remain a half game in front of Green Bay in the league standings.
The Phoenix (9-17 overall and 4-10 in the Horizon League) made 33-of-47 free throw attempts compared to a 9-of-16 effort for the Penguins (8-16 and-4-9) who have now lost four straight. UWGB made just one field goal in the final 11:58 of the game with its last 15 points -- and 24 of its last 26 -- coming from the free-throw line. With the defeat, YSU has lost its last 27 road games and dropped 29 straight away from Youngstown.
For the game, YSU shot 37 percent (20-of-54) while Green Bay shot 51.5 percent (17-of-33). Doug Underwood was the only Penguin to reach double figures scoring a team-high 11 points. Terry Parker had a game-high 16 points for the Phoenix to lead four players in double digits. Also scoring in double figures for UWGB were Aaron Jessup (15), Greg Babcock (13) and Mike King who had 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Head Coach John Robic said he was frustrated by everything that happened on the court on Wednesday.
"It was a big game for both teams and with them playing at home it was a bit bigger for them," Robic said. "By no means are we going to stop trying with a Butler coming to our place on Saturday and two big road games remaining."
Green Bay came out quickly building an 18-4 lead just under eight minutes into the contest. YSU trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half before pulling within eight at 32-24 just before the half. Before the break, Green Bay's Brandon Hansen made a jumper for a 34-24 Phoenix lead.
In the second half, Green Bay led 44-29 with 14:40 remaining before the Penguins made a comeback. YSU pulled within 48-42 at the 8:37 mark on a basket by TeJay Anderson. After one of just three UWGB misses in the half, Youngstown had a chance to get closer, but Bill Mallernee and Anderson each missed shots and Green Bay answered by making four free throws.
The Penguins again cut the deficit to six at 52-46 with 6:27 remaining but King made one of four Green Bay baskets and YSU could get no closer than eight the rest of the game. Green Bay led by as many as 18 in the final minute and never trailed in the game.
The Penguins will try to bounce back on Saturday when they play host to Butler. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.

Final Box Score

Men's Basketball Suffers Worst Loss of Season  Posted Sunday, February 16, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team suffered their worst loss of the season losing 86-61 to Horizon League leader UW-Milwaukee on Saturday night at the Beeghly Center.
The Penguins (8-15 overall and 4-8 in the Horizon League) were in the game at halftime trailing just 35-31, but the Panthers (21-5 and 12-2) outscored YSU 50-30 in the second half.
For the game, UWM was led by Dylan Page who scored a game-high 27 points while teammate Clay Tucker chipped in 25. Ronnie Jones also added 14 for the Panthers who have now won eight straight games.
Leading the way for YSU was Adam Baumann who scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Doug Underwood had 16 points and six rebounds as YSU lost its third consecutive game.
The Panthers shot 45.8 percent (27-of-59) for the game while Youngstown State shot just 37 percent (20-of-54). UWM outrebounded the Penguins 42-40 in the game as well.
Trailing by just five at halftime, YSU came out sluggish but stayed within seven points the first three minutes of the half. Then Milwaukee went on a 10-0 to put the game away boosting a 48-41 lead to 58-41 with 14:55 left. The Panthers never trailed in the game and led by as many as 27 points.
Youngstown State will try to pick up its first road victory of the season on Wednesday night when the Penguins travel to Green Bay to face UW-Green Bay.

Track & Field: Smith, Gillespie Named All-Ohioans to Highlight Weekend  Posted Sunday, February 16, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Findlay, Ohio -- Aaliyah Gillespie and Nick Smith earned All-Ohio honors at the All-Ohio Championships on Saturday at the University of Findlay to highlight a weekend where members of the Youngstown State track and field teams competed in three different meets in three different states.
Gillespie finished third in a school-record time of 8.78 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles while Smith was earned All-Ohio honors in two events, finishing third in both the mile and the 3,000.
Also at the All-Ohio Championships, Jarrod Davis broke the school record in the weight throw with a seventh-place heave of 49-11 1/4. In the distance events, Chris Hine finished sixth in the 3,000 and Jeremy Riehm finished tenth in the 5,000. Edwin Jackson placed tenth in the long jump to round out top-ten finishers.
On the women's side, Emily Schnitkey finished sixth in the 5,000 and Delores Gaines placed eighth in the weight throw. In the jumps, Lissette Alamo finished eighth in the long jump and sixth in the triple jump while Laura Schatz placed fifth in the high jump.
On Friday, Feb. 14, the sprinters from the men's squad and the women's field competitors traveled to Slippery Rock, Pa., for the Slippery Rock Invitational. Alexandra Casi won the long jump with a distance of 16-11 while Sherod Holmes took second place in the 55-meter dash. Lauren Girdler, Katy Williams and Christina Campana finished third trough fifth respectively and Kim Lammers grabbed fifth place in the shot put.
Junior Kurt Michaelis traveled to Fayettville, Ark. to compete in the Tyson Invitational on Friday, Feb. 14. Michaelis finished fourth in the mile with a time of 4:07.30.
The Penguins will continue their season when travel to Kent State on Feb. 22 to compete in the Kent State Tune-Up.

Men's Basketball: Vikings Rally in Second to Beat Guins 86-76  Posted Saturday, February 15, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Cleveland, Ohio -- Sophomore Doug Underwood scored 22 points, but the YSU men's basketball team let a six-point second-half lead slip away as the Penguins suffered an 86-76 loss to Cleveland State at Goodman Arena on Thursday night.
Youngstown State (8-14 overall and 4-7 in the Horizon League) led 42-38 at halftime and held two six-point leads early in the second half before the Vikings (8-16 and 3-8) rallied to snap a seven-game losing streak and hand the Penguins their 26th consecutive road defeat.
In the first half, Youngstown State was sharp making 15-of-26 shots (57.7 percent) and outrebounding the Vikings 16-9 in building its four-point advantage.
But in the second half, YSU shot just 29.7 percent (11-of-37) and was outrebounded 31-20 while the Vikings shot 42.2 percent (14-of-33). Cleveland State outscored YSU 48-34 in the final half.
CSU was led by Percell Coles who had a game-high 25 points. Jermaine Robinson added 24 points and Tahric Gosley had 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Gosley had all 17 of his rebounds and 16 of his 18 points in the second stanza. Adam Baumann added 11 for the Penguins along with eight rebounds while Marlon Williamson had 10.
For the game, the Vikes outrebounded the Penguins 40-36. YSU made 26-of-63 field-goal attempts (41.3 percent) while CSU made 28-of-58 (48.3 percent) shots.
The Penguins play host to league-leader UW-Milwaukee (20-5 and 11-2) on Saturday night at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Soccer: Penguins Sign Two West Virginia Standouts  Posted Thursday, February 13, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Soccer Coach Liz Bartley announced today that Maddie Lawther and Shirley Hartness have both signed national letters of intent to continue their soccer careers at Youngstown State.
Lawther, a standout forward from Moundsville, West Virginia, accumulated 45 goals last season, finishing with 128 career goals and 75 career assists. She will join her sister, Hannah, who ranked second on the team in goals last season. Bartley said the two compliment each other very well. "Maddie will give us speed upfront," Bartley said. "She is a very hard worker both offensively and defensively."
Also signing is Shirley Hartness, a midfielder from Parkersburg, West Virginia. Hartness will give the Penguins needed control in the middle. "She sees the field very well," Bartley said.

Swimming & Diving: Leveto Named Athlete of the Week  Posted Tuesday, February 11, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Sophomore diver Kalyn Leveto was named the Horizon League's Women's Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week for the period ending Feb. 9, league contact Kyle Smith announced Tuesday.
Leveto earned two first-place finishes at the YSU Diving Invitational on Feb. 9, with wins in the one-meter and three-meter events. She finished with a 12-dive score of 522.95 in the one-meter and an 11-dive score of 411.85 in the three-meter competition.

Diving: Leveto Wins Twice at YSU Diving Invitational  Posted Tuesday, February 11, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Sophomore diver Kalyn Leveto defended her own pool by winning both the women's one and three-meter diving events at the YSU Diving Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Beeghly Natatorium.
Leveto won the one-meter with a 12-dive score of 522.95 and the 11-dive three-meter event with a 411.85.
Senior Mandie Smail finished third in both events, earning scores of 453.10 in the one-meter and 335.00 in the three-meter.
Clarion University's Kim Perez placed second in both events, with scores of 481.20 in the one-meter and 344.00 in the three-meter. Erin Cooper placed fourth in the one-meter with a score of 413.40, while Sarah Swerdlow placed fourth in the three-meter and fifth in the one-meter.
In the men's competition, Clarion's Shawn Colten won both the one and three-meter competitions with scores of 534.05 and 441.80, respectively. James McGee placed second in both while Ray Murray came in both events.
The Penguins will compete in the Horizon League Championships at Cleveland State on Feb. 26.

Track & Field: Michaelis Provisionally Qualifies, Schnitkey Breaks Record at Notre Dame  Posted Tuesday, February 11, 2003 by  ysupenguins
South Bend, Ind. -- Junior Kurt Michaelis broke the school record and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the mile while Emily Schnitkey broke her own school record in the mile at the Meyo Invitational hosted by Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday.
Michaelis ran a time of 4:02.71 to finish ninth in a mile race that featured the top five mile times run in the world this season. Schnitkey placed 13th in the women's mile with a time of 5:03.00 to break the record.
"Kurt ran awesome today," Gorby said. "I think that time puts him in the top ten in the nation. I'm proud that someone from Youngstown State can be mentioned in such high esteem."
In the women's 800-meter, Lindsay Wojciak finished 15th with a time of 2:21.65. In the men's 3,000, Nick Smith placed 21st with a time of 8:36.28 while Nick Buzek ran a 30th-place time of 8:43.37.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Fall Just Short at IPFW, 65-63  Posted Saturday, February 8, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Fort Wayne, Ind. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team suffered a disheartening 65-63 loss to IPFW on Saturday afternoon at the Gates Sports Center.
Trailing by as many as nine in the second half, YSU (8-13) rallied and trailed by two with seven seconds left after a Marlon Williamson layup. On the inbounds pass, Williamson fouled Ric Wyand who missed the front end of the one-on-one with five seconds left. Jonathan Mends grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball up court to TeJay Anderson who had a layup disallowed with 0.4 seconds remaining after being called for traveling.
Head Coach John Robic said the final sequence was tough, but the effort by his team was not worthy of earning a victory.|
"On the final play, our players did exactly what they were supposed to do," Robic said. "I was really disappointed in our effort however and we have to play harder. I was fearful of playing this game, but good teams figure out how to win these contests."
With the loss, the Penguins have now dropped 25 consecutive road games since February 2001. IPFW improves to 6-18 on the year and earned its first win over a Horizon League team in four tries this season.
Junior center Adam Baumann recorded his fifth double-double of the year scoring a team-high 17 points and grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds. TeJay Anderson scored 11 and Doug Underwood added 10 for Youngstown State.
For IPFW, Jim Kessenich had a game-high 19 points leading four players in double figures. Kessenich, a 6-10 forward, made a game-high three 3-pointers.
The Penguins trailed by nine with 16:56 left in the game and were able to get within one at 49-48 with 9:51 left, 54-53 with 6:12 remaining and 61-60 with 56 seconds left, but could never forge ahead.
For the game, YSU outrebouned IPFW 39-32. The Mastodons shot 41.1 percent from the field (23-of-56) while Youngstown State shot 39.3 percent (22-of-56).
The Penguins return to Horizon League action on Thursday night when they play at Cleveland State. YSU has not won Cleveland since January 1983.

Women's Tennis: Penguins Perfect in Win Over Cleveland State  Posted Saturday, February 8, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Boardman -- The Youngstown State Women's Tennis team improved their spring record to 1-2 after defeating Horizon League foe Cleveland State, 7-0, Friday night at the Boardman Tennis Center.
In singles action, at No. 1 Whitney Thomas defeated Paulina Reyes (6-1, 6-1), at No. 2 Anne Marino beat Audrey Shade (6-1, 6-1), at the No. 3 spot Heather Hagood downed Rebekah Bicksler (6-1, 6-0), at No. 4 Alyson Finamore beat Amanda Cerney (6-0, 6-1) at No. 5 Nicolette Bondi defeated Katie Shears (7-5, 6-3) and at No. 6 Andrea Dixon downed Mandy Sweeney (6-0, 6-1).
In doubles action, at No. 1 Thomas/Hagood defeated Reyes/Cerney (8-1), at the No. 2 spot Marino/Finamore beat Shade/Shears (8-2), and at No. 3 Dixon/Bondi downed Bicksler/Sweeney (8-0).
The Penguins return to action on March 2, when they play host to the University of Dayton at 1 p.m., at the Boardman Tennis Center.

Men's Basketball: Baumann Clutch Down the Stretch, Leads Penguins Over Loyola, 65-63  Posted Friday, February 7, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Junior Adam Baumann scored four of the last five Penguin points, including the winning jumper with 46 seconds remaining, and came up with two key blocks in the last 40 seconds to give the Penguins another down-to-the-wire victory at the Beeghly Center over Loyola-Chicago, 65-63 on Thursday night.
After trailing by eight with 7:52 remaining in regulation, the Ramblers went on a 9-0 run over the next 5:42 to take their first lead since the 19:00 mark in the second half at 60-59. The Penguins answered back and tied the game at 60 on a Baumann free throw and reclaimed the lead 62-61 after a TeJay Anderson make from the charity stripe, but Loyola recaptured the lead 63-62 with 1:10 left.
On the ensuing possession, Baumann grabbed his 14th rebound on the night off a Khari McQueen miss to set up the winning bucket. Baumann added a free throw with five seconds left to seal the victory.
Loyola had one final chance calling timeout with 2.9 seconds remaining, but Corey Minnifield's desperation 3-pointer missed as time expired.
Leading 43-42 at the 15:20 mark in the second half, the Penguins scored the next six points ignited by a fast-break ally-oop from Marlon Williamson to Anderson to take a 50-43 lead with 12:27 left. YSU extended its lead to eight on two occasions with the second leading up to Loyola's late run.
The Penguins claimed a 2-0 lead on a fast break lay-up from Baumann at the 18:50 mark in the first half, but Loyola scored the next eight points on two three-pointers and a fast break dunk. YSU regained the lead by scoring the next seven points to take a 9-8 advantage on a layup by Anderson.
The Penguins would extend their lead to nine at 31-22 with 1:35 remaining in the opening half, but Loyola answered with a 7-0 run of their own to get within two heading into the break.
With the win, the Penguins move to 8-12 overall and 4-6 in the Horizon League, doubling their total league victories last year. The win also puts the Penguins into a fifth place tie with the Ramblers, who fall to 4-6 in the league and 9-14 overall.
"We're having a good year," Head Coach John Robic said. "The progress this program's made in a year is tremendous."
Baumann finished with his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 17 points to go along with his 14 rebounds. Doug Underwood had a team-high 19 points, and Anderson chipped in with 11. Williamson finished with nine assists and three steals.
YSU shot 45 percent from the field on the night, including 59.1 percent in the second half. The Penguin defense held Loyola to just 33.8 percent from the floor and 9.1 percent in the second half behind the three-point arc.
The Penguins will travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. to take on IPFW on Saturday, Feb. 8. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.

2003 Penguin Football Signees  Posted Wednesday, February 5, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Head Football Coach Jon Heacock has announced that 17 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the YSU football program.
Of the group, 13 are freshman and four are junior-college transfers including defensive lineman Matt Porter and punter/place kicker Nick Terracina who enrolled at YSU during the semester break and will participate in spring drills. Also, 14 of the 17 will play on the defensive side of the ball while two are on offense and Terracina is a specialist.
On offense, quarterback Tom Zetts our of nearby Boardman High School and wide receiver Rory Berry from Beaver Falls, Pa., are the two signees. Zetts was a second-team All-Ohio selection in Division I, the state's largest classification.
On defense, YSU signed seven defensive lineman/defensive ends, five defensive backs and two linebackers. Three of the four junior college players will play defense. Porter (American River College) and Coby Hayslett (Pasadena City College) will be part of the defensive line while Justin Martin (College of DuPage) is a linebacker.
Two local players will join the YSU defense as well. Defensive backs Tim Dewberry (Canfield, Ohio) and Rob Massucci (Warren, Ohio) both signed with Youngstown State on Wednesday.
The Penguins, who finished 7-4 last year and were third in the Gateway Football Conference, were especially thin on the defensive line following last season losing four of their top six lineman -- including all three starters -- from last year's squad.
Seven of the members of the signing class are from Ohio while four are from Florida. Other states represented include Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Michigan, California and Louisiana.
The Penguins begin Spring practice on Friday, March 21 with the Annual Spring Game set for Wednesday, April 16.

2003 Signee's Facts & Bios

Penguin Club: Penguins of the Year Honored  Posted Wednesday, February 5, 2003 by  ysupenguins
    Youngstown -- The 2003 Youngstown State
Scholarship/Ring Banquet will be held tonight at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman. At
this evening's dinner, YSU Board of Trustee Member
Bill Knecht, Boston College
Director of Athletics
Gene DeFilippo and the
1979 Football Team, which advanced
to the NCAA Division II title game, are being honored as the Penguins of the
Year. The banquet begins at 6:15 p.m. with a buffet dinner followed by the
night's program that begins at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Swimming & Diving: Dunn Wins Three, Penguins Defeat Canisius, 156-77  Posted Saturday, February 1, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Jordan Dunn led the Penguins with three victories while Missy Weise and Kalyn Leveto each chipped in with two wins each to lead the Youngstown State swimming and diving team over Canisius 156-77 on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Natatorium.
Dunn dominated the distance events, winning both the 1,000-yard freestyle and the 500 freestyle and added a win in the 400 IM to earn 27 points for the Penguins. Leveto won both the one and three-meter diving events to earn while Weise earned victories in the 100 and 200 freestyle to earn 18 points apiece.
Also earning victories for YSU were Lena Arens in the 50 freestyle, Erin Carter in the 100 backstroke, Danielle Blagg in the 100 breaststroke, the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.
Finishing second and earning four points for the Penguins were Lauren Connolly in the 1,000 freestyle, Carter in the 50 freestyle, Val Keim in the 100 butterfly and Erika Gregos in the 500 freestyle.
Senior Mandie Smail earned two second place finishes on YSU's senior day with seasonal-best scores in both the one and three-meter diving.
Megan Blazek, Blagg and Amanda Howard each had a third-place finish.
The diving team will compete in the YSU Diving Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 9. The swimming squad will continue their season on Feb. 26 at the Horizon League Championship.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Falter at Wright State, 80-68  Posted Saturday, February 1, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Dayton, Ohio -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team had four players score in double figures, led by Doug Underwood's 15 points, but Wright State's Seth Doliboa scored a game-high 30 points to help lead the Raiders to a 80-68 victory over the Penguins at the Nutter Center on Saturday afternoon.
YSU (7-12 overall and 3-6 in the Horizon League) trailed by as many as 17 points in the game before rallying with four. However, Wright State (8-11 and 2-7) hung on to snap a six-game losing streak.
Besides Underwood's 15, TeJay Anderson and Adam Baumann scored 11 points apiece while Brian Radakvoich added 10. Baumann had a team-high seven rebounds.
For the Raiders, Doliboa had 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for a double-double. He was 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. The only other WSU player in double figures was Vernon Hollins who poured in 24.
YSU made 24 field goals to WSU's 21 and outrebounded the Raiders 34-33. However, the difference came at the free-throw line in a game that featured 51 fouls. The Raiders were 32-of-39 from free-throw line while the Penguins were 15-of-21. Youngstown State finished the game shooting 41.4 percent (24-of-58) while Wright State shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47).
The Penguins will look to bounce back on Thursday night when they play host to Loyola at the Beeghly Center.

Men's Basketball: Underwood's Career High, Winning Jumper Key Penguin Win   Posted Saturday, February 1, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Doug Underwood nailed a 14-foot jumper with 13 seconds left in regulation to give the Penguins the lead, then Marlon Williamson made a key steal with three seconds on the clock to seal the victory as the Youngstown State men's basketball team pulled out a thriller over UW-Green Bay 77-76 Wednesday night at the Beeghly Center.
After trailing by eight with 3:23 left in the second half, the Penguins went on an 11-4 run to bring the lead to one behind five of Underwood's career-high 28 points. Trailing by one with 25 seconds remaining, the Penguins came out of the huddle after a timeout and Williamson looked to Underwood once again on his career-high 12th assist.
"Doug's starting to come of age as he's working harder in practice," Head Coach John Robic said. "Hopefully other guys will feed off of that."
Youngstown came out of the locker room for the second half with a one-point lead and exchanged buckets with UW-Green Bay, but the Phoenix grabbed an eight-point advantage at at the 11:08 mark keyed by seven straight points from Mike King.
UW-Green Bay led by as many as nine with less than six minutes remaining on a three-pointer by Matt Rohde before the Penguins made their late-game run.
The Penguins opened up the first half hot from the field and seized a seven point lead at the 13:21 mark after two straight jumpers from Bill Mallernee. UW-Green Bay battled back and grabbed a two point advantage with 2:07 remaining, but the Penguins scored the final four points of the half on a lay-up by Jamel Porter and two free throws from TeJay Anderson.
The Penguins shot a commanding 57.7 percent from the field in the second half and 54.7 percent for the game. UW-Green Bay converted on 50 percent for the game and outrebounded YSU 30-29.
With the win, the Penguins surpassed last year's win total in league contests and move to 7-11 overall and 3-5 in the Horizon League. The Phoenix fall to 7-13 and 2-6. It was the first one-point victory for the Guins since winning 63-62 at Oral Roberts on Dec. 2, 2000.
The Penguins will go back on the road and travel to Wright State on Saturday, Feb. 1.

YSU To Hold Fifth Annual Women's Athletics Alumni Day  Posted Tuesday, January 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State Athletics Department will hold its Fifth Annual Women's Athletics Alumni Day, Saturday, Feb. 1, Associate Athletics Director Elaine Jacobs announced.
Several games and events will be held throughout the day in Stambaugh Stadium and Beeghly Center commencing with the YSU varsity swimming and diving meet against Canisius at 2 p.m.
Alumni activities include the Alumni Softball Game in Stambaugh Stadium, the Volleyball Alumni Game in Beeghly Center, and the Cross Country/Track and Field Fun Run, which starts in the front lobby of Beeghly Center. Those events begin at 2:30 p.m.
At 3:30 p.m., the Soccer Alumni Game will start in Stambaugh Stadium, while the women's basketball Alumni Game will be held in Beeghly Center.
An Alumni Social and Dinner will be held in the DeBartolo Stadium Club from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The events conclude with the YSU women's basketball game against Wright State in Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Baseball: Penguins Coaches to Hold Pre-Season Camp  Posted Tuesday, January 28, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball coaches will hold a pre-season camp for both boys and girls from age seven to high school seniors on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23, Head Coach Mike Florak announced.
The camp will be the second of the year hosted by the staff and will be a two day session at Beeghly Center and Stambaugh Stadium on YSU's campus. It will feature three options for participants depending on their desired area of focus.
The first option will be from 9 a.m. to noon both days and will be for the general player looking to improve their overall skills, covering fielding, throwing, base running and hitting. The second option will be a videotaped session for pitchers and will last from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. The final option is for the complete player who wishes to attend the camp all day for both sections. Each program will be advised by the entire baseball coaching staff.
The first option will cost $75.00 and the pitching session will be $45.00. The combined program will be $95.00. A $10 late fee will be charged for those not registering before Feb. 19.
For more information, please contact the YSU baseball department at (330) 941-3485.

Track & Field: Michaelis, Schnitkey Lead Penguins at Central Collegiate Championships  Posted Monday, January 27, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Kent, Ohio -- Kurt Michaelis earned 12 points on two third-place finishes while Emily Schnitkey placed fifth in two events to earn eight points to lead the Youngstown State men's and women's track team at the Central Collegiate Championships on Saturday and Sunday at Kent State.
Michaelis was just one second off the school record in the 800-meter run (1:51.78) to finish third and also placed third in the mile (4:11.03). Schnitkey also nearly broke a school mark with a fifth place time of 5:05.19 in the mile and added a fifth-place finish in the 3,000 (10:25.24).
Also scoring for the men was Nick Buzek, who placed eighth in the 5,000 with a time of 15:13.29. A total of 15 men had seasonal best performances.
Aaliyah Gillespie provided the highest individual finish on the women's side with a third-place time of 9.08 in the 60-meter hurdles. Lissette Alamo chipped in with a sixth-place finish in the triple jump. Also earning points for the women were the 4x400 relay and the distance medley relay which both finished seventh. A total of 19 women set seasonal records for the Penguins.
The track and field teams will continue their 2003 indoor season on Friday as they travel to Penn State for the Penn State National Open.

Flames Pull-Out Victory in Thriller Over Penguins, 78-76  Posted Monday, January 27, 2003 by  ysupenguins
UIC outshot the Penguins 46 percent to 40 percent, but the Penguins held the advantage on the free throw line, capitalizing on 73 percent to UIC's 63 percent. The rebounding totals were even at 36.
With the loss, YSU moves to 6-11 overall and 2-5 in the Horizon League. The Flames improve to 12-4 overall and stay tied with Butler atop the Horizon League with a 6-1 record.
The Penguins return to action against UW-Green Bay on Wednesday at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Men's Basketball: Detroit Outlasts YSU in Defensive Battle, 57-49  Posted Thursday, January 23, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team struggled shooting all night while Detroit converted on 62 percent of their second-half shots to outlast the Penguins in a defensive battle Thursday evening at the Beeghly Center, 57-49.
Adam Baumann led the Penguins with a double-double, scoring a game-high 16 points while going 6-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe to go along with 10 rebounds. Doug Underwood was the only other Penguin in double figures with 12 points.
After trailing by one heading into the locker room, the Titans opened up the second half on a 14-3 run and held the Penguins without a field goal to take a 10 point lead at the 12:16 mark.
The Penguins offense came alive after a media timeout, going on a 13-1 run led by two threes and eight points by Underwood, and took a two point lead at 35-33 with 7:49 to play.
However, Detroit answered right back and reclaimed the lead at 44-37 after a fast-break dunk by Terrell Riggs with 3:57 remaining in the half. The Titan defense then held the Penguin offense to just three field goals the rest of the way to seal the victory.
YSU jumped out to an early five point first-half lead at 7-2, but the Titans used an 11-2 run to claim its own five-point advantage with 11:26 left in the opening half. The Penguin defense held Detroit scoreless for the final seven minutes of the half and went into intermission ahead 19-18.
The Penguins shot a combined 34 percent from the floor while Detroit converted on 41 percent. YSU held the rebound advantage at 36-35 and held the league's second ranked scorer Willie Green to just 12 points, seven under his season average.
With the loss, the Penguins drop to 6-10 overall and 2-4 in the Horizon League. Detroit improves to 8-8 overall with a 3-4 record in the conference.
YSU returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they play host to co-league leader Illinois-Chicago at 2 p.m.

Baseball: YSU Picked Third in Preseason Horizon League Poll  Posted Wednesday, January 22, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- After finishing third in its debut season in the Horizon League last year with an 11-8 record, the Youngstown State baseball team was picked to finish third again in the 2003 season by the head baseball coaches of the league.
The Penguins finished with 24 points in the preseason poll, putting them behind UW-Milwaukee and Illinois-Chicago and one point ahead of Butler.
The two-time defending tournament champion Panthers were ranked first with a total of 34 points, receiving four first-place votes and two second-place votes. Illinois-Chicago, last season's regular season champion, finished just one point below the UW-Milwaukee with 33, receiving three votes apiece for first and second place.
Cleveland State and Wright State tied for fifth in the poll with 12 points apiece. Detroit rounded out the rankings with nine points.
The Penguins will begin practice on Thursday, Feb. 6. Opening Day is slated for Feb. 28 at Missouri.

Women's Basketball: Fabianova Out For Remainder of Season  Posted Wednesday, January 22, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State sophomore Barb Fabianova will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in her right knee, YSU Head Coach Ed DiGregorio announced on Tuesday.
"This is a big loss for us," DiGregorio said. "Barb is such a fine young lady and we are going to miss her talents. Now she needs to focus on her rehab and getting healthy."
The 6-foot forward, who suffered the injury on Jan. 11 against UW-Milwaukee, appeared in 13 games for the Penguins and averaged six points per game and shot 37.2 percent from 3-point range.
Fabianova is the third player on the 2002-03 YSU women's basketball team to suffer a season ending injury or illness. Prior to the season, junior guard Cathy Hanek was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis, and freshman guard Ashlee Russo, who played in just four games, is out due to persistent soreness after preseason ankle surgery.

Johnson Becomes Sixth Penguin to Play in Super Bowl  Posted Monday, January 20, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- With yesterday's Oakland Raiders victory over the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game, former Penguins linebacker Tim Johnson becomes the sixth YSU football player to appear in the Super Bowl. The Raiders will face Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXVII on Sunday in San Diego.
Johnson, who played at YSU from 1999-2000, was a key part in the Raiders' victory. In the game he recorded three solo tackles, two assisted tackles and forced a fumble on a Tennessee Titans kickoff return just before the half that led to a field goal.
He joins the list of Ron Jaworski, Quentin Lowry, Ed McGlasson, Cliff Stoudt and Jeff Wilkins to play at YSU and then go on to play on pro football's greatest stage. Lowry, Stoudt and Wilkins have all been members of Super Bowl winners while Wilkins has appeared in three Super Bowls in his career.

Penguins in the Super Bowl

Player Team Result Year

Cliff Stoudt Pittsburgh Steelers W, 35-31 over Dallas 1979
Cliff Stoudt Pittsburgh Steelers W, 31-19 over L.A. Rams 1980
Ed McGlasson Los Angeles Rams L, 31-19 to Pittsburgh 1980
Ron Jaworski Philadelphia Eagles L, 27-10 to Oakland 1981
Quentin Lowry Washington Redskins W, 27-17 over Miami 1983
Jeff Wilkins San Francisco 49ers W, 49-26 over San Diego 1995
Jeff Wilkins St. Louis Rams W, 23-16 over Tennessee 2000
Jeff Wilkins St. Louis Rams L, 20-17 to New England 2002

Penguin Club Sponsors Bus Trip to CSU Game  Posted Monday, January 20, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State Penguin Club is offering a same-day motorcoach trip to the Youngstown State-Cleveland State men's basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Convocation Center in Cleveland.
The cost of the trip is $25 per person and includes transportation and game ticket. The group will depart from YSU at 3:30 p.m. and stop at Tower City in downtown Cleveland. The bus will leave from Tower City at approximately 6:15 p.m. for the 7 o'clock tipoff.
To make a reservation or for more information contact the YSU Penguin Club at (330) 941-3720. Reservations must be made by Friday, Feb. 7.

Penguins Thwart Butler Comeback To Save 72-62 Victory  Posted Monday, January 20, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- All five starters scored in double figures and the Penguins defense thwarted a late Butler (3-12, 1-4 Horizon League) comeback as the Youngstown State women's basketball team (4-11, 1-4 Horizon League) picked up their first Horizon League victory of the season, 72-69, on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.
Jen Perugini had a double-double with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds and hit the winning shot at the 1:18 mark to put the Penguins ahead 70-69. After an exchange of turnovers, Jessica Forsythe made a key steal with 14 seconds left and Jessica Olmstead capitalized on two free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the victory for YSU.
After the Penguins led by 17 points, 61-44, at the 9:19 mark in the second half after two of Olmstead's 13 points, Butler began a 25-7 run over the next seven minutes to take their first lead of the half at 69-68 on Stephanie Boeke's 3-pointer with 2:26 remaining. Butler's Lisa Pryor, who finished with 11 points, drained three 3-pointers while Boeke added two treys during that span.
Leading 41-33 at the intermission, Youngstown State quickly extended its lead to 16 points after starting the second stanza with a 10-2 run. Olmstead converted a layup, Perguini hit a jumper, junior Devin Novak, who finished with 15 points, hit one of her five 3-pointers, and Olmstead connected on 1-of 2 free throws to cushion the Penguins' advantage.
After being down by five early, Butler tied the score at 11 with 12:56 remaining in the first half for the third tie of the game. Youngstown State, however, outscored the Bulldogs 16-7 over the next six minutes to pull ahead 27-18. The Bulldogs would pull within one at the 2:05 mark on a lay-up by Angel Mason, but the Penguins scored the next seven points and went into the locker room with an eight point lead at 41-33.
Forsythe poured in 13 points with five rebounds and five assists while senior Maggie Johnston added 11 points with six assists.
Youngstown State hits the road for a three-game, six-day road trip beginning against Detroit, Thursday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. in Detroit, Mich.

Men's Basketball: YSU Takes Butler to the Wire in Loss  Posted Monday, January 20, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Junior forward Adam Baumann scored a game-high 25 points and the Youngstown State men's basketball team came back from a 14-point first-half deficit only to drop a thrilling 64-60 contest to Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
In a frantic finish, which featured a missed free throw by NCAA record holder Darnell Archey for the first time in 86 attempts, YSU pulled within three points on a 3-pointer by Marlon Williamson, his third straight trey, as Youngstown State pulled within 63-60 with 17 seconds to go. But finally after putting the Bulldogs in the one-and-one, Mike Monserez clinched the victory by hitting one of two free throws with five seconds remaining as Butler handed the Penguins their 23rd straight road defeat.
YSU Head Coach John Robic said he the 40-minute effort by his team was satisfying, but not winning was disappointing.
"There are a lot of sad kids in that locker room and I am glad to see that it hurts not to win," Robic said. "We are getting better though, but let's not jump the gun. They are the No. 2-ranked team in the Mid-Major polls for a reason and they withered the best storm we could give them."
The Bulldogs (15-1 overall and 5-0 in the Horizon League) built a 14-point lead in the first half, then held off the Penguins (6-9, 2-3) in the closing minutes after Archey's NCAA Division I consecutive free-throw record ended at 85 in a row. Darnell Archey and Mike Monserez each hit four 3-pointers and scored 15 points apiece Saturday as Butler is off to the best start in the school's basketball history.
In the contest, the Bulldogs made 10 3-pointers, the most allowed by the Penguins this year. On the other hand, YSU made seven, including three by Williamson and three by Andy Jahnke.
YSU came into the game leading the Horizon League in 3-point field-goal percentage defense at 28.8 percent.
"This was a game between the top two defensive teams in the league, and they are the best shooting team in the league," Robic said. "We are the the best defensive team against the 3-point shot, but we didn't get it done today."
Butler's first four baskets were 3-pointers, including two by Archey and one by Monserez that put the Bulldogs in front for good at 12-10. Lightfoot, who came in as the nation's field goal percentage leader at .693, then hit two straight from under the basket following Youngstown turnovers.
Butler completed a 12-3 run with two baskets by Ben Grunst and took its biggest lead at 34-20 on consecutive 3-pointers by Miller and Archey. Baumann scored the next three baskets to cut Butler's lead to 34-26 at halftime.
In the contest, YSU outrebounded Butler 29-16 and grabbed 12 offensive boards. YSU shot 48.9 percent (22-of-45) for the contest while the Bulldogs made 53.3 percent (24-of-45).
Archey hit his first attempt with 3:42 remaining, giving Butler a 56-51 lead, but his second shot rolled off the right side of the rim. He had not missed a free throw since February 2001.
The Penguins begin a key three-game home set on Thursday night when they play host to Detroit. YSU also plays host to UIC and UW-Green Bay before hitting the road again.
"I would like to think we got their best shot and I hope this gives us some momentum heading into a key three-game homestand," Robic said.

Men's Basketball: Underwood Lifts YSU Past Wright State 66-60  Posted Monday, January 13, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Sophomore Doug Underwood scored a career-high 24 points to help lead the Youngstown State men's basketball team to a 66-60 Horizon League win over Wright State on Monday night at the Beeghly Center.
Underwood had the hot hand in the first half for YSU scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. For the game he finished by making 10-of-16 shots. Wright State's Vernard Hollins scored 27 points, but YSU held the leagues leading scorer Seth Doliboa to just 12 points as he missed 17 shots.
The Penguins improved to 6-8 overall and 2-2 in the Horizon League. The six wins eclipses last season's five-win total and the two league wins equals last year's mark. Wright State is now 7-7 and 1-3 in the Horizon League.
After leading 30-23 at halftime, Youngstown State led 45-32 with 13:47 left. But the Raiders kept chipping away and closed to within 54-52 on a fastbreak layup by Hollins with 3:08 left.
But following that basket, YSU scored six straight points on a Marlon Williamson basket, a Brian Radakovich 3-pointer and a Williamson free throw. After that the closest the Raiders could get was within five points in the final 11 seconds.
For the Penguins Adam Baumann recorded his second double-double of the season scoring 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Williamson added 11 points, eight assists, five steals and four rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Radakovich finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
YSU outrebouded Wright State 42-38 and shot 44.4 percent (24-of-54) from the field while the Raiders shot just 38.5 percent (25-of-65) and were 3-of-17 from behind the 3-point line.
Up next for YSU is Butler on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Following that game the Penguins play three straight at the Beeghly Center.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Drop 74-56 Contest at UWM  Posted Sunday, January 12, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Milwaukee, Wis. -- For more than a half, the Youngstown State men's basketball team stayed with UW-Milwaukee, but the Panthers used a 15-4 run midway through the second stanza to take control of the game in a 74-56 victory on Saturday night at the Klotsche Center in Milwaukee.
At the 11:41 mark in the second, YSU trailed just 42-34 before the Panthers went on their run. The Penguins (5-8 overall and 1-2 in the Horizon League) lost their 22nd straight game on the road by suffering the defeat. UW-Milwaukee improves to 12-4 and 4-1 on the season and has won 10 straight home games, including all five this season.
Sophomore Doug Underwood scored a team-high 14 points for YSU marking the 12th time in 13 games this season he has reached double figures. Underwood also had a season-high eight rebounds. Freshman Andy Jahnke, a native of Manitowoc, Wis., scored a career-high nine points off the bench in a return to his home state. For UWM, Dylan Page scored a game-high 19 points. Also scoring in double figures for the Panthers were Clay Tucker and Jason Frederick who each scored 13 points while Ronnie Jones added 10.
YSU Head Coach John Robic said his team competed the entire night against a very good Milwaukee squad.
"I feel better this year than I did last year after playing here," Robic said. "I thought we did a lot of good things tonight but we still didn't shot the ball well. I am proud of my kids. We are getting better and making strides. If we can make every game ugly, we have a chance."
For the game, YSU outrebounded the Panthers 32-30. YSU shot just 38.6 percent (17-of-44) while UW-Milwaukee shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48). From the foul line, the Penguins were 20-of-26 while UW-Milwaukee was 26-of-34.
YSU ended the first half with a flourish pulling to within 29-22 at the break. YSU trailed 27-10 with just over three minutes remaining before closing out the first stanza on a 12-2 run. Following two Underwood free throws, freshman Jonathan Mends helped ignite the run making a fastbreak layup and from there the Penguins were able to climb back within seven points by halftime.
In the opening half YSU went from the 16:50 mark through 2:41 without making a field goal but was able to stay in the contest. The Penguins did make their final three field-goal attempts. In the first half, YSU made 10 free throws while making just six field goals. UWM then went cold and did not make a field goal in the final 7:20 of the opening period.
For the half, YSU shot just 28.6 percent going 6-of-21 but was steady at the line making 10-of-12 shots. UWM was 9-of-26 (34.6 percent) and made just 2-of-10 from behind the 3-point line. Underwood led the Penguins scoring eight points while Page had eight for the Panthers in the first half.
The Penguins will be back on the court quickly playing host to Wright State on Monday night. Tipoff at the Beeghly Center is set for 7 p.m. YSU is 5-1 at home this season. The Raiders lost 55-52 at Cleveland State on Saturday night falling to 7-6 and 1-2 on the year. Click Here to See the Penguin Men's Basketball digest for the Final Stats.

Indoor Track & Field: Michaelis Wins Mile, Schnitkey Strong at Black Squirrel Classic  Posted Sunday, January 12, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Kent, OH -- Junior Kurt Michaelis won the mile to lead the men while sophomore Emily Schnitkey anchored the women by finishing fourth in the 3,000-meter run and sixth in the mile at the Black Squirrel Classic at Kent State on Friday and Saturday afternoon.
Michealis provided the only win for either squad, finishing first with a time of 4:10.66.
The men had a strong showing in the 5,000-meter run, picking up four of the top-ten sports in the race. Nick Buzek came in second, losing only to YSU Assistant Coach Matt Folk, with a time of 15:23.75. Tony Orcena placed fifth and Chris Hine and Dave Mealy claimed the eighth and ninth spots. Also for the men, Paul Robinette placed fifth in the mile and ninth in the 3,000-meter run.
On the women's side, sophomore Aaliyah Gillespie provided the highest finish among YSU women, placing third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.11. Laura Schatz finished fourth in the high jump while Delores Gaines anchored the throws for the Penguins, placing seventh in the weight throw. In the distance events, Lindsay Frontz finished seventh, just four seconds behind Schnitkey, in the mile, Racheal Albert finished eighth in the 800-meter run and Lindsay Wojciak chipped in with a ninth place finish in the 3,000-meter run. Rounding out top-ten finishers for the Penguins was Leslie Johnson with a tenth place showing in the 400-meter dash.
The Penguins will start classes on Monday then travel back to Kent State in two weeks for the Central Collegiate Championship on Jan. 25.

Indoor Track & Field: Penguins Striving for Championship Run in 2003 Campaign  Posted Friday, January 10, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- After a strong debut season in the Horizon League, Coach Brian Gorby and the Youngstown State men’s and women’s indoor track and field team will feature a new coaching staff, three returning school-record holders and an entire team with talent and experience in hopes of its first Horizon League Championship.
"It feels like a championship environment," Gorby said. "With the new coaches' wealth of championship experience and the athletes' hard work and attitude, we should really make some noise in the league this year."
Gorby's new assistants are three former track and field standouts at Youngstown State that each have school records and were part of four Mid-Continent Championships. Dave Purins will coach the sprints and hurdles, Marcella Scaife will coach the jumps and assist in sprints and Shawn Cobey will oversee the throwing events. Matt Folk, a cross country national qualifier at YSU in 1998, will return as the distance coach.
The women’s program is coming off of one of its most successful seasons and YSU's best finish in any sport in the Horizon League, finishing second to a Detroit Mercy team that lost many seniors by just five points, and is expected contend for the league title.
Returning for the women to lead in the sprinting events is sophomore Jeanna Cunningham. Cunningham emerged last year as the Horizon League's Newcomer of the Year, finishing second in 200-meter dash, third in the 400-meter dash, and leading the 4 X 400-meter relay at the league meet in February. She was also the top Penguin runner in the 60, 200, and 400-meter dashes.
The distance events will be extremely deep for the women, bringing back two school record holders. Emily Schnitkey will look to continue her solid sophomore campaign from cross country season where she finished sixth in the Horizon League and broke her own school record in the 6,000-meter event. As a freshman indoor athlete last year, Schnitkey set the school record in the mile with a time of 5:03.1 and also owned the season's best time in the 3,000-meter for Youngstown. Senior Jen Moore will also return to the squad for her final season to defend her school-record time of 2:59.44 in the 1,000-meter run.
Anchoring the jumps for the Penguins are sophomore Laura Schatz and senior Lissette Alamo. Schatz is the defending league champion, jumping a height of five-feet four-inches at the league meet. Alamo, who improved tremendously in her junior season, will be turned to to compete in the triple jump and long jump. Last season, she increased her long jump distance two feet over the course of the year to finish second at the league meet.
The throwing corps is loaded with experience with seniors Delores Gaines and Danielle Sexton leading the way for the Penguins. Gaines is the returning league champion in the weight throw and also earned Horizon League Athlete of the Week honors last season for recording personal bests at the Kent State Tune-Up.
In addition to the returning talent on the women's side, freshman Alexandra Casi of East Palestine will come in as one of the top track and field recruits in Ohio. Casi was a three-time state champion at East Palestine, including winning the long jump last year. She also boasts high personal bests in the 200 and 400-meter dashes and 300-meter hurdles.
"Alex's athletic abilities and work ethic will be a great help," Gorby said. "If you add 30 other very talented and hard working young ladies that will play a big part in helping the team, we will hopefully make the final step from runner-up last year in the Horizon League to champions this season."
The men will also be solid in all areas, bringing back loads of talent from a squad that that finished fourth in its debut season in the Horizon League.
The Penguins' sprinting corps will return the top three finishers in the 60-meter dash at last year's league meet. Eugene Harris earned first place honors in the 60 and 200-meter dashes while Jerald Burley finished second in the 60-meter and third in the 200-meter dash. Edwin Jackson rounded out the 60-meter team with a third place finish.
Kurt Michaelis will anchor the distance events for YSU, returning for his junior season as a provisional NCAA qualifier in the mile a year ago. Michaelis owns two school records and is the defending league champion in the 800-meter run and the mile. His sophomore accomplishments led to being named the Horizon League Outstanding Track Athlete last season. Nick Smith and Tony Orcena will also return to lead in the 3,000 and 6,000-meter events.
Burley will come to the track directly from the football team and lead the jumping events for the second straight season. Burley, who earned honorable mention honors in the Gateway Conference as a wide receiver and return specialist, finished fourth in the league last season in the long jump.
Sophomore Jarrod Davis and freshman Nick Roberts will provide a stronghold in the throwing events for the Penguins. Davis has greatly improved since last season, improving his shot put throw six feet. Roberts is a guard on YSU's football team and holds the school record for best incline press in school history at 410 pounds. As a track and field athlete at Champion, he set the school and county record in the shot put and was a two-time state qualifier.
Freshman Ryan Petrick joins the Penguins as a state champion in the 800-meter run as a senior at Champion High School and is expected to perform well in the distance events. Freshman Ryan Strzalka is also expected to add depth to the talented sprinting corps.
The Penguins will travel to Kent State four times and Penn State once before competing at the All-Ohio Championship in Findlay on Feb. 14. They will then travel to Indianapolis and back to Kent State before heading to Milwaukee for the Horizon League Championship on March 1-2. The NCAA Championships will be held March 14-15 in Fayettville, Ark.

Soccer: Bestard Finishes Season Fourth In the Nation  Posted Friday, January 10, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Youngstown State goalkeeper Cailtin Bestard finished the 2002 soccer season ranked fourth in the nation averaging 9.26 saves per game.
Bestard started in 17 matches for the Penguins recording 176 saves, surpassing Christine Handte in the YSU record book for most saves in a season. She collected 10 or more saves on 10 occasions, including 93 saves against Horizon League opponents. Bestard's career-high 18 saves came against Butler on Nov. 3.
This is the fifth straight year Youngstown State has been ranked in the top 15 nationally in saves per game.

Men's Basketball: Radakovich Shot the Difference in Win Over CSU  Posted Friday, January 10, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Sophomore Brian Radakovich made an off-balance layup with 21 seconds remaining to help lift the Youngstown State men's basketball team to a 57-55 victory over Cleveland State on Thursday night at the Beeghly Center.
With the contest tied, Radakovich grabbed a rebound off a missed shot by Bill Mallernee and falling out of bounds called timeout with 45 seconds left. After the timeout, YSU worked the ball around as TeJay Anderson found Radakovich who after two moves made the game winner. CSU had a chance to tie, but Jonathan Burge missed twice in the final seconds.
The victory improves YSU to 5-7 on the year as the Penguins have matched their win total from a year ago while improving to 5-1 at the Beeghly Center on the season. Cleveland State drops to 6-9 overall and 1-2 in the Horizon League.
The Penguins almost put the game away in the second half building a 37-21 lead at the 15:22 mark. But Cleveland State stormed back taking a 46-43 lead with 5:21 remaining in the contest.
That is when Youngstown State kept things tight the rest of the game tying the game at 49. After that point, YSU did not trail again even though CSU tied the contest twice in the final two minutes.
For the contest, YSU's Doug Underwood had a game-high 17 points. Marlon Williamson scored 15 points and Anderson added 11. Khari McQueen finished with a career-best eight rebounds. Andre Williams scored 12 points to pace CSU while Percell Coles added 11.
The Penguins outrebounded the Vikings 44-29 and shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48) while CSU made just 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the field.
YSU returns to action on Saturday night when the play at UW-Milwaukee. Tipoff at the Klotsche Center is set for 8 p.m.

Men's Basketball: YSU Battles Back Losing to Oakland 75-70  Posted Tuesday, January 7, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Rochester, Mich. -- For the second straight game the Youngstown State men's basketball team dug themselves out of a second-half hole to almost pull out a victory before suffering a 75-70 loss at Oakland on Monday night.
In the second half, YSU trailed 60-43 with 11:14 remaining only to pull within three at 73-70 with 14 seconds left before ultimately losing by five. With the defeat, the Penguins (4-7) have lost five straight overall and dropped their 21st straight game on the road.
Trailing by 17, YSU pulled within 60-51 with 8:22 remaining on two Adam Baumann free throws. Oakland pushed the lead back up to 12 on 4:57 and were still in front 69-59 with 1:50 left. YSU kept fighting back pulling within 72-65 with 55 seconds remaining. Doug Underwood drilled a three to pull the Penguins within 72-68 with 27 seconds left. A Mike Helms free throw pushed the lead to 73-68 with 25 seconds left but Marlon Williamson's layup brought YSU within three. But Helms and Kelly Williams added free throws to seal OU's (6-6) victory.
For the game, Baumann finished with a career-high 25 points and set a school record by going 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. Baumann also added eight rebounds. Underwood was the only other Penguin with double figures with 10.
Leading Oakland was Helms who had 34 points. Cortney Scott addes 17 while Rawle Marshall had 13 for OU.
YSU Head Coach John Robic said the almost complete comeback showed his team can play well when they want to.
"It was definitely too big of a whole to come back from," Robic said. "I told out guys after the game that the last four minutes is how we have to play all the time. We did some really good things during that span."
For the game, YSU shot 39.7 percent (23-of-58) from the field and was 21-of-25 from the free-throw line (84 percent). Oakland was 23-of-48 (47.9 percent) from the field and 25-of-41 from the foul line. Youngstown State outrebounded the Golden Grizzlies 37-34.
The Penguins will try to get back on the winning track when they return to Horizon League action on Thursday night when they play host Cleveland State at 7 p.m. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Ohio as YSU will play three games in five-day span.

Women's Basketball: Penguins Struggle Early, Lose to Ramblers, 84-63  Posted Saturday, January 4, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Loyola jumped out to a 43-22 first half lead behind 16 of Ciara Henderson's career-high 26 and a 57.1 percent shooting effort to topple the Youngstown State Women's Basketball team 84-63 on Thursday evening at Beeghly Center.
The Penguins struggled shooting the entire first half, converting on just 21.4 percent from the field and missing their first eight shots. Loyola came out firing and never trailed, jumping out to a 16-4 lead with 14:30 remaining in the opening half after one of seven threes by Henderson.
YSU scored the next four points on a jumper by Devin Novak and a layup by Tara Fleming to shrink the lead down to eight, but they would not get any closer the entire night. Novak finished with 13 points.
The Penguins got within 12 with 4:40 left in the first half after a three by Jessica Olmstead but went on a scoring drought that lasted almost four minutes and went into the locker room down 43-22. Olmstead finished with a team-high 18 points, including 13 in the second half.
"You can't dig a hole like we did the first half and get down 21," Head Coach Ed DiGregorio said. "It's hard to play catch-up."
YSU matched the Ramblers point-for-point in the second half with 41 each, shooting 48.3 percent from the field. However, the first half deficit was too much to overcome.
The Penguins never got closer than 16 and trailed by as many as 27 in the second half.
Youngstown State continues its season on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Cleveland State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

23 Student-Athletes Achieve 4.0 Fall Semester GPA  Posted Saturday, January 4, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Twenty-three Youngstown State University student-athletes earned a 4.0 grade point average during the fall 2002 semester, Associate Athletics Director Elaine Jacobs announced on Thursday.
Three track and field student-athletes – Julie Cole, Lori Griffin and Jaclyn Nichols – have a cumulative 4.0 grade-point averages through the fall semester.
Along with Cole, Griffin and Nichols, the following YSU student-athletes received a 4.0 grade-point average: Brandon Caipen (baseball), Mike Furino (baseball) Matt Gnacinski (baseball), Adam Baumann (men’s basketball), Matt Brouse (football), Lee Everett (football), Abby Ettenhofer (volleyball), Lena Arens (volleyball), Lori Griffin (track), Jaclyn Nichols (track/cross country), Nadia Shah (tennis), Jen Perugini (women’s basketball), Ashlee Russo (women’s basketball), Jennifer Grossi (golf), Hannah Lawther (soccer), Maura Patton (soccer), Danielle Blagg (swimming and diving), Katie Kohut (swimming and diving), Julie Cole (track/cross country), Beth Hochstetler (track), Catherine Krupko (track), and Laura Schatz (track).
The Youngstown State men’s golf team earned a department-best 3.29 grade-point average last semester while the women’s golf team earned a 3.22 g.p.a. In all, seven of YSU’s athletic programs earned a team grade point average of at least 3.00. The Penguin volleyball team finished the semester with a 3.21 g.p.a. while the women’s basketball earned a 3.20 grade point average. Women’s cross country ended the semester with a 3.13 team g.p.a. while swimming and diving and women’s track and field ended with grade-point averages of 3.07 and 3.01, respectively.
Also, 141 (44 percent) of YSU student-athletes own a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0, while 157 (49 percent) student-athletes received a semester grade-point average of 3.0 or greater.

Men's Basketball: YSU Drops League Opener at Loyola, 76-59  Posted Wednesday, January 1, 2003 by  ysupenguins
Chicago, Ill. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team had a solid second-half effort, but came up short on Tuesday afternoon losing their Horizon League opener 76-59 to Loyola at the Gentile Center.
In the second half, YSU (4-6 overall and 0-1 in the Horizon League) outscored Loyola 37-33 and cut a one time 24-point deficit to 10 points with just under three minutes left in the ballgame. However, the Ramblers (5-8 and 1-1) held their lead down the stretch snapping a six-game losing streak and improving to 4-0 at home this season.
Junior Adam Baumann and sophomore Doug Underwood scored 13 points each to lead the Penguins. Senior David Bailey had a game-high 25 points leading four Ramblers in double figures. Also, scoring in double digits for Loyola were Paul McMillan (13), Demterius Williams (14) and Kevin Clancy (12). Marlon Williamson had a career-high and a team-season-high nine assists in the contest.
In the second half, YSU trailed 47-23 in the opening minutes before battling back. Thanks to eight points by freshman Andy Jahnke off the bench, YSU trimmed the deficit to 69-59 on a three by Marlon Williamson and a jumper by Underwood with 2:42 remaining, but that was as close as YSU could get. McMillan added two free throws, Terrance Whiters made another and Bailey made two fast-break baskets as the Ramblers scored the game's final seven points. Bailey had 16 points in the second half.
For the first seven-plus minutes of the game, the Penguins kept things close trailing 14-13 after a Doug Underwood basket with 12:24 left. But the Ramblers took over after that point outscoring YSU 29-9 the remainder of the first half to grab a 43-22 halftime lead. With YSU within one, Loyola scored 13 of the games next 15 points to gain control of the ballgame. The Ramblers scored the final seven points of the half as well holding the Penguins scoreless for a 3:17 span.
Head Coach John Robic said YSU cannot let a team have a run like that at any point.
"We started out well to open the game, but they made a big run their in the first half and we can't afford to let teams do that," Robic said. "They were a step quicker in the first half and you have to give them credit for that. I am proud of the effort that my team showed in the second half."
In the first half, Youngstown State committed 15 turnovers against the Loyola pressure and shot just 37 percent (10-of-27). Loyola shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the field as McMillan, Bailey and Clancy had nine points each. Underwood scored nine of YSU's 22 first-half points.
For the contest, YSU shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54) while Loyola shot 48.2 percent (27-of-56). The Ramblers outrebounded the Penguins 35-33 for the game. From the free-throw line, YSU was 11-of-14 while Loyola was 17-of-26. YSU finished with 20 turnovers -- five in the second half -- while Loyola had 15 for the game.
The Penguins are back on the road this Monday, Jan. 6, when they play at former Mid-Continent Conference rival Oakland. Youngstown State has not won at Oakland in three all-time trips. YSU's next Horizon League contest will be at the Beeghly Center against Cleveland State on Thursday, Jan. 9. The contest will be broadcast live by Fox Sports Ohio.

Men's Basketball: Niagara Hands YSU First Home Loss, 66-58  Posted Sunday, December 29, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Niagara shot 60.9 percent from the floor in the second half and closed the game on a 17-8 run to give Youngstown State men's basketball team their first home loss of the season 66-58 on Saturday evening at Beeghly Center.
Juan Mendez led four Purple Eagles in double figures in points with 21 and added 15 rebounds for a double-double. Doug Underwood led four Penguins with double digits in scoring with 13.
Youngstown jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after a back-to-back layups by Brian Radakovich and held at least a tie in the contest until the 6:17 mark in the first half when Niagara went ahead by one at 20-19 following a tip-in by Mendez. YSU regained the lead on a three-pointer by Marlon Williamson to go ahead 26-25 and went in to the locker room ahead 28-27. Williamson finished with 11 points and dished-out six assists.
The Penguins opened up the second half strong on a 10-2 run to go ahead nine at 38-29, but Niagara followed with a 10-4 run to bring the lead to three at 42-39 with 10:30 remaining in the half. The Purple Eagles clenched its first lead of the half with 6:16 remaining on a layup by Mendez, but Radakovich struck right back with a layup of his own to put the Penguins back on top 50-49. Niagara's David Brooks answered with a three-point play to bring the Purple Eagles up to stay with 5:38 remaining.
YSU brought a nine-point Niagara lead down to four with just over a minute remaining following a three by Andy Jahnke two free-throws by TeJay Anderson, but Tremmell Darden had back-to-back fast break dunks to seal the victory for Niagara.
The Purple Eagles outshot YSU 54.5 percent to 40.7 and but the Penguins held a 32-30 rebound advantage. Anderson had 12 points and nine rebounds and Radakovich had 11 points.
The Penguins will travel to Loyola on Tuesday, Dec. 31, to open up the Horizon League portion of the schedule. Tipoff in Chicago is set for 2 p.m.

Women's Basketball: Perugini Leads Penguins Past Akron, 68-59  Posted Sunday, December 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Jen Perugini's career-high 20 points led a Penguin offensive attack that featured four players with double figures in points and a 57.1 percent field goal percentage as the Youngstown State women's basketball team defeated the Akron Zips 68-59 Sunday afternoon at Beeghly Center.
YSU hit on 8-of-12 three pointers on the game, four coming from Devin Novak. Novak, Jessica Olmstead and Maggie Johnston finished with 12 points each.
Akron jumped out early on the Penguins and built an eight point lead at the 15:27 mark in the first half after a three-pointer by Jen Arnold, who finished with a game-high 21 points.
The Penguins' offense ignited after an Olmstead three prompted an 23-5 run to give YSU a 10-point lead with 6:46 remaining in the opening half. Akron scored the next six points to get within four, but the Penguins used a 12-3 run to close the first half at 43-30. YSU shot 63 percent in the half.
YSU came out of the locker room and increased their lead to 18 on two different occasions and held a 17-point lead with 4:33 remaining in regulation at 64-47 after a lay-up by Olmstead.
After the media timeout at the 3:54 mark, the Zips came out using full court pressure and scored the next 12 points capitalizing on seven Penguin turnovers to bring the score to 64-59 with 1:52 remaining. The Penguins defense would not allow another point and fast-break lay-ups by Jessica Forsythe and Olmstead closed out the scoring.
The Penguin defense held Akron to a 36.2 shooting percentage on the game. Perugini shot 4-4 from the free-throw line, increasing her streak to 32 consecutive makes. Akron outrebounded YSU 31-29.
The Penguins will take an 11-day holiday break until Jan. 2 when they open up Horizon League play against Loyola at Beeghly Center.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Drop 71-59 Contest At UMKC  Posted Saturday, December 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Kansas City, Mo. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team dropped a 71-59 contest to UMKC at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on Saturday night.
The Kangaroos had two players finish with double-doubles and Michael Watson scored 22 points to pick up their first win of the season. Doug Underwood scored a team-high 13 points for YSU, all in the first half, and sophomore Brian Radakovich scored a season-best 11.
The Penguins (4-4) were close early in the second half trailing 40-38 just after the break. But after falling behind 55-50 with 9:23 left, Youngstown State was held scoreless for almost eight minutes, not scoring until 1:44 remained in the game. UMKC took advantage outscoring YSU 10-0 over that stretch.
Junior Adam Baumann grabbed 11 rebounds and scored seven points.
For the game, UMKC (1-7) outrebounded the Penguins 52-35. James Williams finished the game with 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Carlton Aaron had 18 points and 20 rebounds.
YSU shot just 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the field and UMKC shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59).
The Penguins return home next Saturday to play host to Niagara at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Women's Basketball: Penguins Fall To Buckeyes  Posted Saturday, December 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Columbus, Ohio – The Youngstown State women's basketball team fell to 2-7 overall after dropping a 76-45 decision to Ohio State, Friday evening at Value City Arena. Ohio State improves to 7-2.
Sophomores Jen Perugini and Jessica Olmstead each scored eight points to lead the Penguins, who shot just 34.6 percent from the field and committed 23 turnovers.
YSU hosts Akron, Sunday, Dec. 22, at 1 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.

Men's Basketball: YSU Has Strong Effort in Five-Point Loss  Posted Thursday, December 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Pittsburgh, Pa. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team had one of its best efforts of the season but came up short losing to Duquesne 61-56 on Wednesday night at the Palumbo Center.
Junior center Adam Baumann scored a game-high 18 points, including going 8-of-8 from the line, and grabbed seven rebounds and YSU (4-2) trimmed a 11-point second-half deficit to two on three occasions, but could not get any closer to the Dukes (2-5).
The Penguins charged back after falling behind 34-23 at the outset of the second half. YSU went on a 9-0 run on baskets by TeJay Anderson, a three-point play by Derrick Harris and a Baumann layup and two free throws. But Duquesne extended its lead back to seven.
With 6:23 remaining, the Penguins again were within two on a 3-pointer by Doug Underwood, but DU again answered with two Ron Dokes free throws.
After two more Baumann free throws pulled the Penguins within two again at 48-46 with 5:38 left, Duquesne built a five-point advantaged and extended that to eight on a trey by Jimmy Tricco with 3:41 remaining.
Following Tricco's three, the closest YSU could get was the final margin of five.
In the first half, YSU led early in the contest, before Duquesne took the lead on a 3-pointer by Kevin Forney to go in front 16-13 with 11:10 remaining in the half and never trailed again.
Youngstown State led 13-10 before the Dukes went on a 12-0 run to grab a 22-13 lead at the 9:04 mark of the first half. At the break, Duquesne held a 30-21 advantage.
For the game, YSU shot 39.1 percent (18-of-46) while Duquesne hit 45.2 percent (19-of-42) from the field. The Penguins outrebounded the Dukes 30-29 and both teams committed 20 turnovers. YSU made three 3-pointers while DU made five.
The Penguins will try to end an 18-game road losing streak on Saturday night when they play at UMKC (0-7). Tipoff at the Municipal Auditorium is set for 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Penguins Suffer Overtime Heartbreaker to Buffalo, 86-80  Posted Thursday, December 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
    Youngstown --
Buffalo's Erin Lawrenson hit a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to force
overtime at 67-67, then Jessica Kochendorfer's three-point play with 13
seconds
remaining in overtime to catapult the Bulls (5-1) to a 86-80 victory over the
Youngstown State women's basketball team (2-6) Wednesday night at the Beeghly
Center.

    The Penguins overcame a 12-point half time deficit and came
within 13 seconds of victory twice, but Buffalo executed down the stretch to tie
the game at the end of regulation and scored the last 11 points in the last 1:05
of overtime to seal the victory.  The Bulls were 11-11 from the line in
overtime.

    Buffalo jumped out to an early 4-0 lead at the 18:30 mark
after two free-throws from Allison Bennett, but the Penguins battled back to
take the lead 13-11 with a three-point play by Jen Perugini with 15:33. 
Perugini finished with 20 points on the night and 15 rebounds for her first
double-double on the season. 

    The lead would change hands four times until YSU led 22-21
with 8:34 remaining in the opening half following a jumper by Nicole Neila. 
The Bulls answered going on a 17-4 run to close out the half at 38-26.  The
Penguins shot 34.6 percent from the field in the first half while Buffalo hit on
45.5 percent.

    YSU came out of the locker room and opened the second half
outscoring the Bulls 8-1 to bring the Penguins within five on a fast-break layup
by Jessica Olmstead with 15:36 remaining.  The Bulls scored the next five
points to leap ahead by ten and led by as many as 11 at the 10:37 mark after two
free-throws by Rachel Martin.  Buffalo held a nine point lead at 61-52 with
6:40 remaining, but the Penguins caught fire and went on a 13-2 run behind two
three-pointers by Devin Novakand one by Jessica Forsythe, who scored 11 points,
to go ahead 65-63 with 1:31 remaining in regulation.  Novak finished with a
team and career-high 21 points.

    A free-throw from Kim Kilpela brought the Bulls within one,
but two free-throws by Novak extended the lead to three at 67-64 with 14 seconds
left in regulation.  Buffalo called a timeout that set up Lawrenson's
three-pointer that sent the game to overtime.

    Youngstown State opened up a quick 73-69 lead after two
free-throws from Perugini with 3:09 remaining and led by five at 80-75 after
Novak hit again from downtown, but would not score again. Kochendorfer made two
free-throws and then put back a miss by Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe to put the Bulls
ahead for good.

    YSU senior Maggie Johnston also reached double figures with
13 points.

     The Penguins return to action at Ohio State on Friday,
Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Value City Arena in Columbus.

Men's Basketball: Penguins beat Shawnee, 84-69  Posted Saturday, December 14, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team used a stifling defense and a balanced offensive attack to outscore Shawnee State 48-33 in the second half to defeat the Bears 84-69 on Friday night at Beeghly Center.
After nearly surrendering a double-double to Shawnee State center Adam Davenport in the opening half with 16 points and nine rebounds, the inside toughened up for the Penguins and held the center to just five points and three rebounds in the second half. Four Penguins finished with double-digits in the scoring column and the team shot 55.2 percent from the field in the second-half. YSU's 84-point output on the night was a season high.
The Penguins jumped out front early after a three-pointer by Marlon Williamson to make it 7-4, but the Bears answered going on a 13-4 run behind 10 points by Antwain Lavender to take the lead at 17-11 with 10:40 remaining in the first half. Lavender finished with a game-high 27 points.
Youngstown steadily chipped away at the lead and tied the game for the fifth time at the 6:52 mark after buckets by Adam Baumann and TeJay Anderson to make it 24-24. Both Baumann and Anderson finished with a team-high 13 points.
Shawnee State jumped ahead again and led by five with just under four minutes remaining, but the Penguins battled back and went into the locker room knotted up at 36.
The Penguins came out firing in the second half, opening up with a 17-7 run to take a 10-point lead after a three by Jonathon Mends with 15:19 remaining.
Shawnee State came within seven points at 62-55 after a layup by Kevin Cunningham, but would not get any closer. The Penguins led by as much as 20 after two free-throws by Andy Jahnke with 2:49 left in the game at 82-62.
YSU finished shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free-throw line. Doug Underwood finished with 11 points and Khari McQueen finished with a career-high 10 points in just 13 minutes.
The men's basketball team will continue its season on Wednesday as they travel to Duquesne to take on the Dukes at 7:30 p.m.

Cross Country: Edwards, Schnitkey Earn League Academic Honors  Posted Friday, December 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Senior Will Edwards and sophomore Emily Schnitkey added one more accomplishment to their list of many for the 2002 cross country season by being named to the Horizon League 2002 Fall Academic All-League Team, the league announced Thursday morning.
Edwards, the men's team MVP, led the team in every race in the 2002 campaign. At the Malone Invitational, Edwards was the first collegiate runner to finish and led the team to a second-place finish. He finished 12th at the All-Ohio Championship and earned second-team honors at the Horizon League Championship by finishing ninth. Edwards carried a 3.6 GPA, majoring in criminal justice.
Schnitkey earned academic honors by having a perfect 4.0 GPA, majoring in nutrition. As the women's MVP, Schnitkey also led the team in every race. She earned first-team honors at the Horizon League Championship by placing sixth at the meet and placed 11th at the All-Ohio Championships. She also finished third at the Notre Dame Invitational and topped her own school-record time in the 6k by 32 seconds at the NCAA Pre-Nationals with a time of 21:58.6.
The teams were chosen by the Horizon League Sports Information Directors and Faculty Athletic Representatives and must meet three criteria: have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or better; have completed at least three semesters at the same institution; and be a starter or significant contributor on the team.

Men's Basketball: Baumann Sparks YSU in 63-48 Win  Posted Saturday, December 7, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Junior forward Adam Baumann recorded his first career double-double scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to help spark the YSU men's basketball team to a 63-48 victory over Buffalo on Saturday night at the Beeghly Center.
The Penguins (3-2) earned their second home win over a Mid-American Conference foe at the Beeghly Center by beating the Bulls. YSU had defeated Toledo last Saturday.
For the contest, YSU shot 43 free throws (making 26), the second most in a single game in school history, including making 20-of-30 attempts in the second half. On the night, YSU made just 18 field goals (shooting 36 percent) and just one 3-pointer (by Marlon Williamson).
YSU drew 31 Bulls fouls while committing just 18 in the game. The Penguins also played tough defense holding Buffalo to just 35.3 percent (18-of-51) shooting from the field. In three of five games this season, Youngstown State has held an opponent below 40 percent from the field.
Besides Baumann's 19, Doug Underwood added 13 while Williamson scored 10. Leading the way for Buffalo were Clarence Smith and Daniel Gilbert who each had 10.
At halftime, YSU led 26-25 and at one point had a 25-17 lead with 2:59 left as Buffalo scored eight of the halves final nine points.
In the second half, YSU led 30-29 before taking control of the game scoring eight straight points to own a 38-29 bulge in its favor. The Penguins held the momentum and would not let the Bulls get within seven the remainder of the contest.
Youngstown State does not play again until next Friday because of final exams. The Penguins play host to NAIA power Shawnee State on Dec. 13.

Women's Basketball: Penguins Go Cold In Second Half, Fall To Toledo, 70-61  Posted Saturday, December 7, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team shot just 35.7 percent in the second half, allowed Toledo 47 second-half points on 67.9 percent shooting from the floor and dropped a 70-61 decision in Beeghly Center on Saturday evening.
YSU falls to 2-4 while Toledo improves to 4-1 overall.
The Penguins, who shot 48 percent in the first half, led the Rockets, 29-23, at the intermission. Toledo, however, held the Penguins scoreless for the first 4:27 of the second half and scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 30-29 lead at the 15:42 mark. Youngstown State, which missed its first eight shots of the second half, finally scored and regained the lead, 31-30, on a Tara Fleming layup with 15:33 to go.
Toledo scored the next six points of the game to retake the lead, 36-31, with 14:08 remaining on layups by Teresa Kahle and Amanda Davis and a jumper by Tia Davis, who scored 16 of her game-high 25 points in the second half.
After ties at 37 and 39, the Penguins the Penguins were able to trim another five-point Toledo lead, 44-39, to a one-point game, 46-45, after a 3-pointer by Devin Novak, who scored a career-high 18 points, with 8:54 to go. Kahle, who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, pushed the Rockets' lead back to three, 48-45, after an offensive rebound and put back at the 8:23 mark.
Fleming and junior Jessica Forsythe each made a free throw to cut the YSU deficit back to one, 48-47, with 7:08 to go. After a layup by Toledo's Amanda Davis, Novak canned two free throws to keep the Penguins in the game, 50-49, at the 6:13 mark.
Toledo, however, used a 14-0 over the next 2:58 to take an insurmountable 15-point lead, 64-49, with 3:15 remaining. Tia Davis scored six points with an assist and steal during that span.
Toledo, which shot just 25 percent in the first half, out-rebounded the Penguins, 43-29, and collected 20 boards on the offensive glass. The Rockets outscored the Penguins in the paint, 40-20, and scored 18 second-chance points compared to Youngstown State's two.
The Penguins return to action against Kent State, Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. in Kent, Ohio.

Youngstown State Earns USA Today/NCAA Academic Achievement Award  Posted Saturday, December 7, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State University is one of 10 I-AA/I-AAA colleges and universities nationwide to be recognized as having the highest student-athlete graduation rate above the student-body average. Ranking seventh nationally in the category, Youngstown State recently received an award as part of the USA Today/NCAA Foundation Academic Achievement Awards program.
For student-athletes who entered Youngstown State during the 1995-96 academic year and have earned degrees within six years, YSU student-athletes graduated at a 27-percent higher rate than the general Youngstown State student-body.
The rankings from this survey were determined by federal graduation-rate forms used by schools and were for freshmen who entered school in the fall of 1995 and had six years to graduate.
“This honor proves once again that our student-athletes excel in the classroom as well as on the playing field,” Provost Tony Atwater said. “It’s a credit to the students and also to the coaches and staff in our athletic department, who work so diligently to maintain high academic and athletic standards.”
Marilyn O'Bruba, YSU coordinator of academic counseling, said YSU student-athletes work tremendously hard to be successful in the classroom and earn their degrees.
"Our student-athletes work tremendously hard to be successful in the classroom to earn their degrees and this honor is because of their work ethics," said Marilyn O'Bruba, YSU's Coordinator of Academic Counseling. "We work closely with them on a daily basis throughout the year and monitor their progress to help make sure their grades are satisfactory, and that they are on the right track towards their graduation. Our staff works diligently to make sure their time in the Jermaine Hopkins Academic Center is productive and we make sure they can balance academics, practice time and game-time obligations."
The academic achievement awards were established to recognize colleges and universities in three categories: institutions graduating the highest percentage of student-athletes, institutions with the highest student-athlete graduation rates above the average of the student body, and institutions with the greatest increase in percentage of student-athletes graduating over the previous cohort.
Long Island University-Brooklyn had the highest percentage difference between graduation rates of student-athletes and the student-body at 49 percent in I-AA/I-AAA. SE Louisiana was second while fellow Horizon League members UW-Milwaukee (32 percent) and Cleveland State (30 percent) were third and fourth respectively.
Besides Youngstown, rounding out the top 10 schools were Monmouth (29 percent), Southern Utah (29 percent), Horizon League member Wright State (27 percent), Austin Peay (27 percent) and High Point (26 percent).
Excellence in athletics and academics have long be a strong commitment by the YSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. In 2001, the Penguins joined the Horizon League, which is a league geared toward enhancing the holistic university experience for the student-athlete. Prior to moving into the Horizon League, YSU student-athletes earned Academic all-conference, all-district and All-America accolades.
Recently, through part of the Andrews Trust, that dedication was furthered with as the Jermaine Hopkins Academics Center in Stambaugh Stadium underwent major enhancements. The area of the Center was increased and renovated, new carpeting, lighting and study cubicles were added and individual offices were built for O'Bruba and her staff. During the upcoming semester break a computer lab will be created in the Hopkins Center as well.

2002 Division I-AA/I-AAA Honorees

School Rate
Long Island-Brooklyn +49
SE Louisiana +43
UW-Milwaukee +32
Cleveland State +30
Monmouth +29
Southern Utah +29
Wright State +27
Youngstown State +27
Austin Peay +27
High Point +26

Women's Basketball: Olmstead's Career High Leads YSU Past Colonials  Posted Wednesday, December 4, 2002 by  ysupenguins

Youngstown -- Four Penguins scored in double figures to lead a balanced offensive attack as the Youngstown State women's basketball team (2-3) toppled the Robert Morris Colonials 82-68 at Beeghly Center on Wednesday night.
Sophomore guard Jessica Olmstead led the Penguins on a career-high 20 points while Maggie Johnston added 17 and Devin Novak and Jessica Forsythe chipped in with 15 each. Forsythe also tallied 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. Novak's 15 points was a career high.


Robert Morris jumped out to an early 8-2 lead after a steal by Candace John and a jumper by Missy Spangler. Spangler recorded a game-high 27 points and added six assists while John finished with 22, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
The Colonials led until the 9:53 mark when Olmstead hit on one of her four three-pointers on the night to put the Penguins ahead 16-15 for the first time on part of a 13-2 run. Olmstead was successful on her first seven shot attempts.
Robert Morris cut the lead to just one point twice, once on a layup by John and once on a free-throw by Spangler, but would come no closer. The Penguins capped the opening campaign going on their second 13-2 run of the half after a Johnston picked Spangler's pocket and made a layup to put Youngstown up 37-25 at the half.
The Penguins came out of the locker room storming, opening up a 17 point lead at the 10:37 mark on a jumper by Barb Fabianova. Spangler and John cut the lead to a single digit at nine, capitalizing on four straight attempts from the free-throw line with 3:48 remaining.
Johnston began a 10-of-12 spell from the charity stripe to bring the lead back to 11, but Spangler answered back with one of her three three-pointers with 2:07 remaining. However, Johnston scored nine of her 17 points in the last 1:36 to seal the victory for the Penguins.
The women's basketball team continues their season on Saturday as part of a double-header against Toledo at 5:15 p.m. at Beeghly Center.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Saint Francis 70, Youngstown State 56  Posted Wednesday, December 4, 2002 by  ysupenguins
LORETTO, PA -- Freshman Darshan Luckey scored a career-high 29 points and junior Steveroy Daley added 17 to lead the Saint Francis University men’s basketball team to a 70-56 victory over Youngstown State (2-2) on Wednesday night at the Stokes Center.

The Red Flash (2-2) set a school record by sinking 21-of-21 shots from the free throw line, while the Penguins converted on just 12-of-26 attempts from the line (46.2 percent).

Luckey (17) and Daley (13) dominated the first half of play against the Penguins, combining to score 30 of Saint Francis’ 38 points in the opening half. The Red Flash led by two points, 14-12, with 14 minutes remaining in the first half before mounting a 13-4 run to push out to a 27-16 advantage on a three-pointer by Luckey with nine-and-half minutes to play.

Luckey opened the game by sinking his first five shots from the floor with a wide array of moves from both the inside and outside. He finished the game three-for-four from three-point range and six-for-six from the free throw line.

Daley shot 60.0 percent from the field (six-for-10) and made good on all five of his free throw attempts. Junior point guard Erick Wills chipped in six points, six assists and five steals.

“Steveroy presents match-up problems for the opposition because of his athleticism,” said Red Flash head coach Bobby Jones. “He was very aggressive on the offensive end and attacked the basket tonight.

“As a team, we did a much better job of getting the ball on the block than we have the last couple of games.”

Sophomore guard Doug Underwood led Youngstown State with 17 points while junior TeJay Anderson chipped in 12.

Saint Francis shot 51.1 percent (23-for-45) from the floor, compared to 39.6 percent field goal shooting (21-for-53) for the Penguins. YSU outrebounded the Flash, 33-27.

Youngstown State pulled within four points in the second half, 50-46, on a lay-up by Underwood with 9:15 remaining, but SFU answered with a 12-5 run to push the lead back to double figures.

“We bounced back after a disappointing loss on Sunday (76-59 setback to VMI) and that is very encouraging,” said Jones. “This was a very good team win – everyone contributed tonight.”

Women’s Basketball: Russo Likely To Miss Rest of the Season  Posted Wednesday, December 4, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State freshman Ashlee Russo will likely miss the rest of the 2002-03 women’s basketball season due to persistent soreness from preseason ankle surgery, YSU Head Coach Ed DiGregorio announced.
“Ashlee is a very courageous young lady and we will miss her talents this season,” said DiGregorio. “She tried to comeback for this season but it is evident that she physically cannot perform to her capabilities. Her ankle cannot take the everyday pounding that comes with basketball so the best thing we can do for her is to rest her.”
“This is not the way I wanted this season to end, but I need to become 100 percent so I can perform at the level I want and expect to compete.”
Russo, who has appeared in four games this season and scored seven points, is the second guard YSU has lost for the season. Junior Cathy Hanek was lost for the year after being diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis.

Women's Basketball: Penguins Fall To CMU, 56-51  Posted Sunday, December 1, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Nashville, Tenn. -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team (1-3) fought off a 13-point first-half deficit, but could not overcome the Central Michigan Chippewas (3-1) and lost its third straight game after a 56-51 loss in the consolation game of the First Tennessee Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gym.
Trailing 30-22 at halftime, the Penguins scored the first four points of the second half on jumpers by sophomore Tara Fleming, who was named to the All-First Tennessee Tournament Team and sophomore Jessica Olmstead to cut the lead Chippewa advantage to 30-26 with 19:03 to go in the game.
The Penguins were able to slice the Chippewa lead to two points, 34-32, on a Jessica Forsythe jumper with 15:27 to go but Central Michigan continued to hold the Penguins at bay. After the teams traded baskets to make the score 36-34, CMU's Lindy Hatfield nailed a 3-pointer to give the Chippewas a five-point advantage at the 12:55 mark.
Youngstown State put together a 10-5 run over the next six minutes to tie the game, 44-44, at with 6:44 remaining. After two more ties at 46-46 and 48-48, CMU's Erin Kuhl drained a 3-pointer and Desiree Eidson's offensive rebound and put-back gave the Chippewas an insurmountable five-point advantage, 53-48, with 2:53 left.
"We fought back hard to tie the game but we missed several scoring opportunities and that really hurt us," said YSU Head Coach Ed DiGregorio. "We never put pressure on (Central Michigan) after we tied the game. The opportunities were there but we could not convert them."
Fleming's layup at the 2:26 mark cut the deficit to three points, 53-50, but the Penguins missed their last three field goal attempts while Kuhl and Eidson converted a free throw and a layup to put the game away.
Fleming added a free throw with two seconds remaining to finish the scoring.
The Penguins missed their first eight field goal attempts of the game and quickly fell behind, 16-3, with 11:53 remaining in the half. Youngstown State trimmed the deficit to nine points, 18-9, at the 9:51 mark after a Jen Perugini jumper, a free throw by Forsythe and a 3-pointer by Barb Fabianova.
The Penguins continued to claw themselves back into the game with a 10-5 run over the next 6:21 to cut the Chippewa advantage to four points, 23-19, with 3:31 to go. Forsythe and Perugini each nailed two free throws and senior Maggie Johnston canned a jumper and a three-pointer to get YSU within striking distance.
Central Michigan's Lindy Hatfield drilled a 3-pointer at the 2:47 mark but YSU's Devin Novak stroke a 3-pointer to bring the Penguins back within four points, 26-22, with 2:32 to go. The Chippewas, who missed their first nine field goal attempts of the game, scored the final four points of the half to to take a 30-22 lead into the lockerroom.
Youngstown State returns home to host Robert Morris, Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center.

Men's Basketball: YSU Earns First Win Over Toledo, 69-61  Posted Sunday, December 1, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team won their ninth straight November home game and in the process beat Toledo for the first time in school history earning a hard-fought 69-61 victory over the Rockets at the Beeghly Center on Saturday night.
Senior guard Marlon Williamson scored a career-best 23 points on the evening as YSU (2-1) beat Toledo (1-3) for the first time in eight contests between the two schools.
The Penguins (2-1) saw a 15-point first-half evaporate before rallying in the second half. Toledo led by four on two occasions in the second half, the last time at 48-44 with 9:37 remaining.
A Williamson trey cut the deficit to one before UT's Nick Moore added a layup to boost the lead back to three points. Brian Radakovich added a jumper to pull back within one and Williamson pulled up on a fastbreak drilling a 3-pointer to give YSU a 52-50 advantage and the Penguins never trailed again.
Youngstown State extended the lead to 66-58 on a free throw by Williamson with 43 seconds left. After Sammy Villegas drained a three to cut the deficit to 66-61, YSU made three of four free-throw attempts to ice the win -- the Penguins third straight at home over a Mid-American Conference team.
For the game the Penguins had four players finish in double figures led by Williamson. Doug Underwood scored 14 points and TeJay Anderson and Adam Baumann each added 10 points. Leading the way for the Rockets was Moore who scored a game-high 25 poins.
YSU was outrebounded 33-25 by the Rockets, but only turned the ball over nine times, while Toledo committed 20 miscues.
Williamson, who also made a career-high five 3-pointers said cutting down on turnovers -- YSU had a total 49 in the first two games -- was crucial in picking up the victory.
"Basketball is a game where if you lose a game or don't play well in one game you can come back in two or three days and correct your mistakes," Williamson said. "We turned the ball over way too much against Slippery Rock. All through practice from that game to this game, Coach, put a big emphasis on taking care of the ball. If we take care of the ball we are a pretty good team.
"The big thing was today as a team we won that game."
As a team, YSU shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) for the game while the Rockets (19-of-44) shot 43.2 percent. In the first half, UT struggled from the field making just six field goals but attempting 11 free throws while YSU had none. YSU led 30-15 at one point in the first half before Toledo scored the final seven points before the teams went into the locker room with the score 30-22.
The Rockets opened the second half on a 13-4 run to grab a 35-34 lead on a free throw by Milo Kirsh.
The Penguins play at St. Francis (Pa.) on Wednesday. Tipoff against the Red Flashes (1-1) in Loretto, Pa., is set for 7 p.m.

Swimming & Diving: Bak Named to 2004 Olympic Staff  Posted Saturday, November 30, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State swimming and diving coach Jackie Bak was recently invited to be a member of the Olympic Staff in Greece when the United States travels to Greece in 2004 to compete against the best swimmers in the world, USA Swimming announced.
As a staff member of Team USA, Bak will give her insight and knowledge at Duel in the Pool, a dual meet against Australia in 2003, the 2003 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
"This is the ultimate achievement in amateur athletics," Bak said. "It is a great opportunity for me to represent Youngstown State at the International level."
Bak has previously coached Team USA at the 2002 FINA World Championships, helping the Americans rewrite the record books with three world records, seven American records and 26 medals, despite bringing just 26 athletes. She coached 13 Olympic medallists from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia and three 2001 world champions.
Bak, who his in her fourth year as head coach of YSU’s swimming and diving team, has been involved with USA Swimming since taking a position as business manager with USA Swimming’s National Team Division in 1998. Bak also has worked with the National Distance Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was a part of the National Distance Team staff in 2001.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Open Home Slate With Win  Posted Wednesday, November 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Four players scored in double figures as the Youngstown State men's basketball team picked up its first victory of the season beating Slippery Rock 73-52 on Tuesday night at the Beeghly Center.
Doug Underwood and Marlon Williamson tied for team-high scoring honors with 11 points while Jamel Porter and Adam Baumann added 10 points each in their first YSU home game. Nine of YSU's 11 players scored in the game and each played at least 12 minutes.
The Penguins (1-1) shot 59.2 percent (29-49) from the field and held the Rockets to 35.4 percent (17-of-48) but committed 26 turnovers. YSU used a height advantage to control the boards 39-21. In the first two games this season, the Penguins have held opponents under 40 percent. Last year that happened just once in 28 games.
In the first half, YSU took the lead at 3-2 and never trailed again. YSU outscored the Rockets, who led 2-0, 25-4 after they scored the first basket of the game. Youngstown State led by as many as 22 (35-13) on a Brian Radakovich layup with 2:30 left in the half and owned a 35-19 lead heading into the locker room.
Slippery Rock trimmed the YSU lead to 44-32 just under four minutes into the second half before YSU dug in and built a 24-point advantage -- the biggest of the game -- at 60-36 with 9:19 remaining.
The Penguins play host to Toledo (1-2) on Saturday night at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. YSU has never beaten the Rockets in seven previous games.

Mays Among 15 Finalists for Payton Award  Posted Tuesday, November 26, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Philadelphia, Pa. (Sports Network) - Youngstown State senior tailback P.J. Mays is among 15 players who are finalists for the 2002 Walter Payton Award honoring the top offensive player in Division I-AA. Ballots with the names of all 15 finalists were mailed out today and are due Dec. 2. The final three in the voting will be invited to attend the presentation of the Awards, with the winner of that Award not announced until the event. The 16th Annual I-AA College Football Awards will be held Dec. 19 in Chattanooga, Tenn., on the eve of the NCAA I-AA National Championship game.
Mays finished the season with 1,284 yards rushing and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. On 255 carries he averaged 5.0 yards per attempt and 116.7 yards per game -- the seventh-best total in Division I-AA. For his career he scored 45 touchdowns setting the Gateway Conference career mark in just three seasons.
Two players have been added to the 16-member Walter Payton Award ballot
since the most recent "Payton Watch" revision on Oct. 30. Fordham running back
Kirwin Watson and Georgia Southern quarterback Chaz Williams have been selected as
Payton finalists
The following are the 16 players appearing on the 2002 Walter Payton Award ballots. Additional information on each player, as well as history and facts about each of the I-AA awards, is available at www.sportsnetwork.com

2002 Walter Payton Award Finalists
David Corley, QB, William & Mary
John Edwards, QB, Montana
Bruce Eugene, QB, Grambling State
Ryan Fuqua, RB, Portland State
Chas Gessner, WR, Brown
Brett Gordon, QB, Villanova
Ryan Johnson, RB, Montana State
Stephan Lewis, RB, New Hampshire
P.J. Mays, RB, Youngstown State
Carl Morris, WR, Harvard
Billy Napier, QB, Furman
Willie Ponder, WR, Southeast Missouri
Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois
Allen Suber, QB, Bethune-Cookman
Kirwin Watson, RB, Fordham
Chaz Williams, QB, Georgia Southern

Penguins Sweep Gateway Weekly Honors  Posted Monday, November 25, 2002 by  ysupenguins
St. Louis, Mo. -- The Youngstown State football team had the offensive, defensive and special teams player of the week in the Gateway Football Conference with tailback P.J. Mays earning the honor on offense, cornerback Sherod Holmes and placekicker Jake Stewart picking up accolades for their performances against Samford.
Mays finished his YSU career with a 137-yard performance and scored two touchdowns -- one on a 14-yard run and one on a 51-yard screen pass -- to set the league record for career touchdowns with 45. Holmes set a school record with four takeaways against the Bulldogs. He had two interceptions and recovered two fumbles in the game. He also added two pass breakups to go along with six tackles. Stewart had the best day of his career kick three field goals -- 26, 36 and 42 yards -- and making four extra points for a total of 13 points in the game.
YSU was the only Gateway team to play on Saturday, but all three players were picked by the Gateway for their outstanding performances.

Mays Breaks Record, Seniors Leave With Victory Over Samford  Posted Monday, November 25, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- It was a day for the ages at the Ice Castle for the Youngstown State football team as 18 seniors concluded their collegiate careers victoriously over the Samford Bulldogs 37-29 behind a record-breaking day for P.J. Mays on a cold, windy day at Stambaugh Stadium.
Mays scored two touchdowns to lead the Penguin offensive attack and became the career leader in Gateway Conference history in total touchdowns.
After a 42-yard Jake Stewart field goal, Mays tied the Gateway record with a 13-yard run over the right side to increase the Penguin lead to 10-0 at the 4:31 mark in the first quarter. Stewart increased the margin to 13-0 with a 26-yarder with 1:15 left in the opening period.
Samford (4-7) opened the scoring up early in the second quarter when Josh Kellet hit Efram Hill from 48-yards out to put the Bulldogs up on the scoreboard.
The Penguins (7-4) answered right back with Mays' scoring his historical touchdown. After driving to their own 49-yardline, redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Marshall hit the senior tailback out of the backfield on a screen pass that covered 51 yards for the score. The touchdown was the 45th touchdown of Mays' career and his 34th in just two seasons.
The Bulldogs' defense stepped up late in the second quarter to keep the game close. After Fred Gilliam fumbled on the YSU 11-yardline, Robert Evans forced a Marshall fumble and Samford recovered deep in Penguin territory.
Just two plays later, Kellett hit Hill for the second time of the game from 12 yards out to pull the Bulldogs within six at the break.
After stalling on its initial drive, the Penguins got a boost from junior cornerback Sherod Holmes as he intercepted a Kellet pass on the Samford 28-yardline. Six plays later, Stewart extended the YSU lead to 23-14 his third field goal of the day, this time from 36 yards out.
With 5:42 remaining in the third quarter, Marshall connected on a 59-yard strike to senior wideout Jerald Burley on a fly pattern to increase the Penguin lead to 30-14.
Samford responded immediately when Hill returned a Kosta Karapetsas kickoff 76 yards to the YSU 17-yardline. Three plays later, Ramon Wilson found Aryvia Holmes in the endzone for the touchdown and then again for the two-point conversion to pull the Bulldogs within eight at the end of three.
The Penguins opened their final quarter of the season with a 10 play, 76-yard drive that ended with a six-yard Josiah Doby touchdown over the right side to increase the margin to 37-23.
Again, Samford would not be denied of making the game close and would answer with a drive of their own. On the 12th play of their ensuing drive, Kellett called his own number and scored from three yards out to cut the deficit to eight after the extra point.
With 4:12 remaining in the game, the Penguins made a final stand as they have done time and time again. The Bulldogs faced a third and four from the Penguins 10-yardline when Russell Stuvaints tackled Kellett in the backfield for a five yard loss. On fourth and nine, Kellett looked to Hill one more time to pull the Bulldogs within two, but threw the ball out of the end zone to preserve the victory for the Penguins.
Mays finished the day with 137 yards on the ground and 56 through the air to lead the offensive attack that featured a total of 456 yards. Marshall threw for a career-high 180 yards on completions including two touchdown passes. Burley hauled in five catches for 94 yards.
Holmes anchored the defense, coming up with four turnovers on the game, including two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Stuvaints led with 10.5 tackles and one forced fumble.
The Penguins wrapped up their 2002 campaign with a three-game winning streak and a final record of 7-4.

Lady Penguins Earn First Win at BGSU Since 1990  Posted Saturday, November 23, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Bowling Green, Ohio -- Behind a strong second-half effort by Jessica Olmstead and Jessica Forsythe the Youngstown Women's Basketball team earned their first win at Bowling Green since 1990 with a 70-64 victory at Anderson Arena on Friday night.
Olmstead drilled a 3-pointer with 43 seconds left and grabbed the game-clinching rebound of a miss by Stefanie Wenzel with three seconds left. She also added a career-high seven assists.
With the game tied at 64, Olmstead drilled a 20-footer off a pass from Maggie Johnston to give the Penguins a 67-64 advantage. Wenzel then tried a shot in the lane but Olmstead grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 2.5 seconds. After Olmstead grabbed the rebound, BGSU Coach Curt Miller was called for a technical foul. Maggie Johnston made two free throws on the technical foul call and Olmstead added a free throw for the final margin.
Johnston and Forsythe led the Penguins (1-0) with 14 points each while Barb Fabianova added 13 and Olmstead contributed 12 -- all in the second half. For BGSU, Franchine Miller had a game-high 16 points.
YSU made 12 3-point field goals on the night (on 23 attempts) tying for the second most in a game in school history.
On the night, the Penguins were 25-of-56 from the field (44.6 percent) while Bowling Green was 33.9 (19-of-56).
To open the second half the Penguins came out hot making their first three shots of the half. Novak drained a three, Forsythe drilled a jumper, Johnston hit a pull up jumper on a fast break and added a free throw extending a one-point halftime lead to 45-36 in under two minutes. But Bowling Green answered back with a 14-2 run to grab a 50-47 lead before Olmstead drilled a three to tie the ball game.
In a tightly-contested first half, YSU took a 37-36 advantage into the locker room. The first half featured five ties and neither team led by more than five points. YSU's biggest lead was at 22-17 while Bowling Green's biggest advantage was 28-24.
Leading 19-17 in the first half, Jessica Forsythe put the Penguins in front 21-17 on a basket and after a Tara Fleming free throw YSU held a 22-17 advantage, its biggest of the half at 28-24.
But the Penguins answered back on a 3-pointer by Johnston and regained the lead at 30-28 on a trey by Fabianova. YSU ended an 8-0 run on a basket by Devin Novak before five straight points by BGSU's Stefanie Wenzel put the Falcons in front 33-32. A Fabianova free throw put Youngstown State up 34-32 before another bucket by Wenzel tied the game for the fifth time of the half. Fabianova drained her secon 3-pointer of the half putting the Penguins ahead 37-34. Two free throws by Wenzel brought Bowling Green within one at the break. Wenzel scored the last eight points of the first half for the Falcons.
In the first 20 minutes, YSU shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) and held BGSU to 37.9 percent (11-of-29) from the field.
The Penguins will play their home opener on Wednesday night against Niagara. Tipoff at the Beeghly Center is set for 7 p.m.

Football: Penguins Close Out 2002 Season Against Samford  Posted Thursday, November 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State football team plays their final game of the season against Samford on Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The contest is the final game for 18 Youngstown State seniors. Seniors playing in their final game are Anthony Barone (FS), Jerald Burley (WR), Brandon Byers (LB), Justin Dellarose (LB), Andy DeNiro (OT), Dennis Dlugosz (TE), Tim Frost (DE), Justin Green (QB), Kosta Karapetsas (P), P.J. Mays (TB), Guy Mazard (DT), Matt Mechling (DT), Wendell Parrish (DT), John Schumacher (TE), Martin Stachowicz (DE), Colby Street (LB), Russell Stuvaints (LB) and Jon Tekac (LB). All 18 individuals will be saluted prior to the game.
The Penguins (6-4 overall) are coming off a 24-17 victory at Illinois State on Nov. 9. YSU had last Saturday off following the win over the Redbirds that clinched a school-record-tying seventh consecutive winning season.
Samford (4-6) has lost three straight games, including a 48-24 loss at SE Missouri State last Saturday. The Bulldogs, an NCAA Independent, will join the Ohio Valley next season.
One milestone that can be eclipsed on Saturday is the Gateway Football Conference’s career touchdown mark. Mays is just one shy of tying the mark of 44 set by Northern Iowa’s Jeff Stovall (1993-96). Mays is also two rushing touchdowns shy of tying the career mark of 43, also held by Stovall. Another mark Mays has a shot at is the career YSU regular-season rushing record of 3,505 held by Tamron Smith. Mays has 3,339 entering his final game.

Coaching Capsules
YSU: Second-year Coach Jon Heacock (Muskingum, 1983) is 14-7 overall at Youngstown State. Heacock finished the 2001 season with an 8-3 record setting a school record for wins by a first-year mentor. He has spent eight of the past 11 years on the YSU coaching staff. He spent seven seasons in Youngstown from 1990 through 1996 before spending three years as the defensive coordinator at Indiana. He returned to YSU as the defensive coordinator in 2000 and took over as head coach in January 2001.
Samford: Bill Gray (Mississippi College, 1983) is completing his first full season at Samford. In 15 games with the school, Gray is 8-7. He has been at Samford since 1994 and took over as the interim head coach midway through last season. He was named the coach on Nov. 21, 2001.

Samford Scouting Report
Samford is playing its final game of the 2002 season and final game as a Division I-AA Independent before moving into the Ohio Valley Conference next year.
The Bulldogs have had some success scoring points (25.6 per game), but are also allowing 34.8 points per contest, including at least 48 in the past three games. In four victories, SU has allowed 25 points or less, while in six defeats the Bulldogs have surrendered at least 37 in each contest.
Samford features a two-quarterback system and some talented wide receivers led by Aryvia Holmes. Holmes has a school-record-tying 74 receptions and a single-season best 1,068 yards. He owns the school mark for career receptions and career yards. Holmes is averaging 118.7 yards this season.

Last Game Recap: Penguins 24, Redbirds 17
The Penguins put together a solid all-around effort in winning 24-17 at Illinois State on Nov. 9. YSU’s offense performed well with 323 yards of total offense while the Penguins defense limited the Redbirds to 198 total yards. Youngstown trailed 10-0 in the second quarter before tying the game on a four-yard run by P.J. Mays and a 42-yard field goal by Jake Stewart. After falling behind 17-10 on the opening possession of the half, YSU scored two touchdowns in two minutes to take control of the game. A Matt Mechling interception set up a one-yard Mays run on fourth-and-goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Brown recovered a live ball off the foot of Jake Stewart. Again on fourth down, Aaron Marshall threw a 34-yard touchdown to Jerald Burley for the winning score. Mays finished with 146 yards rushing on a season-high 32 carries.


YSU Has Won Both Meetings Against Bulldogs
Youngstown State has won the only two meetings between the two programs. YSU won 10-0 in 1991 in the Division I-AA semifinals to advance to the title game against Marshall in Statesboro, Ga. In 1993, the Penguins beat the Bulldogs during the regular season. The 1991 Samford squad was coached by Terry Bowden while the 1993 squad was coached by Chan Gailey.

Last Meeting: YSU 24, Samford 7
Darnell Clark had 160 yards rushing and Tamron Smith added 109 and two touchdowns in a 24-7 YSU win over Samford on Oct. 23, 1993. Quarterback Mark Brungard was 15-of-21 for 205 yards and Jeff Wilkins added a field goal. YSU broke open a 7-7 game with 17 third-quarter points.


The 1991 Semifinal: YSU 10, SU 0
Tamron Smith had a school-record 46 carries and ran for 246 yards in a 10-0 YSU victory. The only touchdown of the game came in the first quarter when Chris Vecchione returned a fumble six yards for a touchdown. A 28-yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins was YSU’s only other score in the game. The Penguins caused eight Samford turnovers, including six interceptions, but lost four fumbles and had a 42:45 time of possession.

No Interceptions Thrown Lately
The Penguins’ quarterbacks have not thrown an interception since the second quarter against SMS -- Aaron Marshall’s only interception of the season. That is a span of 26 quarters without throwing an interception. In that time, YSU has thrown 92 passes without throwing to an opposing player.


Mays' Touchdown Total at 43
Senior tailback P.J. Mays has scored 43 total touchdowns in his three-year Youngstown State career. His 43 is tied for the second most in Gateway Football Conference history, one shy of the mark of 44 set by Northern Iowa’s Jeff Stovall (1993-96). Mays is just the third player in Gateway Football Conference history to score at least 40 touchdowns in a career. He joins two former Northern Iowa players -- Jeff Stovall (44) and Dedric Ward (43) -- as the only individuals in conference history with 40-or-more touchdowns.


Tekac Cracks Tackle Top 20
Senior linebacker Jon Tekac has posted a career-high 100 total tackles this season. Tekac’s previous best was last year when he recorded 69 stops. For his career, the senior from Pulaski Township, Pa., has recorded 259 total tackles, which ranks him 20th in school history.

Looking to Win Turnover Margin
With a game remaining in the 2002 campaign, the Penguins are trying to finish 7-4 and are trying to win the turnover-margin battle. Through 10 games, YSU is at a plus two after forcing two turnovers at Illinois State on Nov. 9. In 16 of the last 17 years (all but 1989), Youngstown State has had an advantage (or a plus) in the turnover-margin department.
In six victories, the Penguins own a plus-eight turnover advantage (17-9). In four defeats, Youngstown State is at a minus-six disadvantage (9-3).


Penguins On November 23
This will be the fourth contest in YSU history on a Nov. 23. YSU has an all-time record on Nov. 23 of 1-2: 1957 at Eastern Kentucky (L, 0-13); 1963 at Eastern Kentucky (L, 14-34); 1991 at Towson State (W, 27-17).


YSU Guaranteed Winning Season
By beating Illinois State, the Penguins are guaranteed of finishing with a winning record. With that, YSU will tie the school record for consecutive winnings seasons at seven. YSU had six straight winning seasons -- 8-3 in 1996, 13-2 in 1997, 6-5 in 1998, 12-3 in 1999, 9-3 in 2000 and 8-3 in 2001 -- entering the year and with six wins will make it seven in a row. YSU had seven straight winning seasons from 1940 through 1949, a streak that was interrupted for three years by World War II. YSU had a streak of six straight winning years from 1989-1994.


Opponents Can’t Miss on FGs
Entering the game against Samford, opposing field goal kickers have made 12 straight attempts against YSU. Placekickers have not missed a field-goal attempt since the Indiana State game. Of those 12, three have been from 50 yards or more, including a Hancock Stadium record 56-yarder by Illinois State’s Stephen Carroll. Samford has seen its opponents make six straight field goals. On the year, opponents are 16-of-20 while YSU is 4-of-7. The four made are the fewest in a year since 1995 (4). Only four times since 1975 have the Penguins made five or fewer field goals in a year.

Penguins Enjoy November Success
Under Coach Jon Heacock the Penguins are 4-1 in November the last two seasons and have played some of their best football. In 2001, the Penguins defeated Southern Illinois and Elon and took Division I-A Marshall to the wire in a loss posting a 2-1 mark. This season, YSU is 2-0 with wins over Southern Illinois and at Illinois State.


YSU Continues Gateway Streak
Since joining the Gateway Football Conference in 1997, the Penguins have never finished below .500 in league play. This year, YSU finished 4-3 after beating Illinois State to finish third in the conference and extend its streak to six years. Western Kentucky and Western Illinois have been .500 or above for two straight years and Indiana State and Illinois State will post winning records this season. Northern Iowa had a 17-year streak of .500-or-better league finishes snapped this season.


Penguins Convert on Fourth Down
The Penguins have had a high percentage of success on fourth-down plays this season. YSU has gone-for-it on fourth down 15 times and has been successful on 11 attempts, including scoring six touchdowns on fourth down. The 73.3 percent conversion rate ties for the best in school history -- also 11-of-15 in 1999.


15 Receivers Close To Record
This season, the Penguins have had 15 different players catch a pass. That is the most in a season since 1999 and one shy of the school record of 16 set in 1995. YSU also had 15 players with a reception in 1994.


Heacock Sets Wins Record
Head Coach Jon Heacock set a school record for victories by a coach in their first two seasons. Heacock has won 14 games since taking over prior to the 2001 season. Rey Dempsey won 12 games, Jim Tressel won 10, Bill Narduzzi won nine and Dwight Beede won eight in their first seasons. Heacock also set a record with eight victories in his first campaign last year.


Six Penguins Have Thrown a Pass
This season, six Penguins have thrown a pass at some point -- quarterbacks Aaron Marshall, Colby Street, Luis Gonzalez and Justin Green along with tailback P.J. Mays and wide receiver Matt Rycraft. The last time six different players threw a pass in a season was in 1999. In 1983, a school record seven players attempted a pass. Against McNeese State earlier in the year, Street, Gonzalez and Green all threw passes along with Mays. It marked the first time since Nov. 21, 1992 against Georgia Southern when four Penguins attempted -- and completed -- a pass in the same contest.


YSU Defense Playing Well
The Youngstown State defensive unit ranks second in the Gateway Football Conference in scoring defense, pass defense, rushing defense, total defense and pass efficiency defense. The Penguins rank 12th in the nation in pass defense and 17th in total defense. YSU has allowed more than 20 points in a game only twice this season. Samford will present a challenge for the Penguins averaging 25 points per game and 216.7 yards passing per contest.


Mays Sets 200-Yard Record
Senior tailback P.J. Mays is the first player in YSU history to have four 200-yard rushing games in his career. Mays and Paris Wicks were tied at three 200-yard games prior to Mays’ 210-yard performance against Southern Illinois. He also has 13 100-plus yard games in his three-year career.


Mays Has Shot at Rushing Mark
Senior tailback P.J. Mays has a shot to set the school record for career rushing yards with a 167-yard performance against Samford on Saturday. Mays enters the game against Samford with 3,339 yards during the regular season, trailing on Tamron Smith’s school mark of 3,505. Mays has a shot to become just the fifth player in Gateway history to rush for more than 3,500 yards with a strong effort. Overall, he is only the fifth player in school history over the 3,000-yard mark (he has 3,374 yards including playoff games). Mays joins Tamron Smith, Paris Wicks, Robby Robson and Adrian Brown as the only Guins over the mark.


Mays Ranks Highly in School, Conference Records
Entering his final game, senior tailback P.J. Mays ranks fourth in career rushing touchdowns (41), is also fourth in touchdowns scored (43) and fourth in rushing at 3,228 yards at Youngstown State. In the Gateway Conference, Mays is tied for second in league history just one touchdown behind Northern Iowa’s Jeff Stovall (44 from 1993-96) and is second in rushing touchdowns trailing Stovall’s mark (43) by two.


Mays Over 1,000 Yards Again
P.J. Mays has 1,147 yards rushing on the season marking the second consecutive season he has rushed for more than 1,000 yards. He is the first YSU back to have more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons since Tamron Smith in 1992 and 1993. Only two other players, besides Smith and Mays have had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at YSU -- Frank Horvath (1960 and 1961) and Paris Wicks (1981 and 1982). Mays’ 1,147 yards rank as the 12th-best single-season total in school history.

Marshall Owns 5-2 Mark As QB
Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Marshall has provided steady play at quarterback since taking over the starter role prior to the game against SMS. Marshall won his first three games and as YSU’s quarterback owns a 5-2 mark, although he started as a wide receiver vs. Illinois State.


2002 Senior Notes
• Quarterback Justin Green appeared in two games this year and started against Western Kentucky.
• Defensive tackle Tim Frost suffered an injury in the third game and was lost for the year.
• Punter Kosta Karapetsas has 110 punts in his career for an average of 36.5 per kick.
• Linebacker Colby Street started the first two games at quarterback before moving to linebacker.
• Defensive tackle Matt Mechling has played in 45 games, starting 41 contests the most on the team.
• Free Safety Anthony Barone has played in 46 contests, starting the last 33 of his career. He has recorded 206 career tackles.
• Wide receiver Jerald Burley has caught 42 passes for 631 yards and six touchdowns.
• Linebacker Brandon Byers has started every game this season.
• Offensive tackle Andy DeNiro has been part of offensive lines that have blocked for a total of 9,975 yards rushing.
• Tight End Dennis Dlugosz has caught 28 passes for 409 yards in his career.
• Tight End John Schumacher has caught 45 passes for 673 yards and seven TDs.
• Linebacker Justin Dellarose has recorded 166 total tackles in his career.
• Defensive tackle Guy Mazard has 79 tackles and 20 tackles for losses in his career.
• Linebacker Russell Stuvaints has 181 tackles and seven forced fumbles in his career.
• Defensive End Martin Stachowicz has started all but one game the last two years.
• Linebacker Jon Tekac has started every game the past three seasons.
• Defensive Tackle Wendell Parrish has recovered two fumbles at YSU.


Turnover Free Games
Twice this season the Penguins have posted turnover-free games and in both contests YSU has come out a winner. Against Illinois State and Indiana State, Youngstown State did not commit any miscues en route to victories.

Penguins Elect Captains
Prior to YSU’s game against Southern Illinois, the Penguins voted on the captains to represent the team for the 2002 season. Senior tailback P.J. Mays, senior tight end John Schumacher and senior linebacker Jon Tekac were named this year’s captains by the Penguins. With 18 seniors on the 2002 squad, Coach Jon Heacock appointed captains for each of the first eight games of the season -- two each game and three against Western Illinois.


Interception First Timers
Against Illinois State, one Penguin defender intercepted the first pass of his career while the other had the first pick of his season. Defensive tackle Matt Mechling had the first interception of his career in the third quarter that helped set up the tying touchdown. Mechling intercepted the ball with a broken bone in his right hand. Free safety Anthony Barone had the first interception of his season -- fourth of his career -- also in the third quarter on a botched field-goal attempt by Illinois State.


Three QBs Have Started Before
Earlier this season, the Penguins started different quarterbacks in three consecutive games. That marked the first time since 1983 that three different quarterbacks have started in consecutive games in the same year. Starting in 1983 were Mike Sloe, Jamie DeVore and Ken Kuhn. Starting in 2002 were senior Colby Street, senior Justin Green and redshirt freshman Aaron Marshall.
The Penguins added another starter to the list of quarterbacks this season when Matt Rycraft was in on the first snap of the game against Illinois State. With his start, YSU set a school record for quarterbacks starting in a single season at four.


200, 100 For the First Time Ever
For the first time in school history, the Penguins had a player amass more than 200 yards rushing and another amass 100 yards rushing in the same game. Against Southern Illinois, tailback P.J. Mays had 210 yards while Mike Burns added 123 yards. It marked the second time this season -- Mays and Josiah Doby in the opener against Clarion -- that YSU had multi-100-yard runners in a game. Also, it is the 19th time since 1974 that the Penguins have had two 100-yard rushers in the same game.


YSU All About Power Football
Since the 1990 season, the Penguins have been known as a smashmouth football team and the yearly averages back that up. Beginning with the 1990 season, the Penguins have rushed more than passed (percentage wise) in 10 of the last 11 years. The 1995 season is the only time YSU passed more than ran the football. Currently, the Penguins are following that trend rushing for 63.2 percent of their total yardage.

Home Sweet Home
The Penguins have had tremendous success at Stambaugh Stadium since the building opened for the 1982 season. All-time at Stambaugh, the Penguins are 105-33-1. In 2001, YSU won its 100th game at the Stadium. Since 1996, YSU is 37-9 and since 1989, the Penguins are 82-18-1. McNeese State became the first non-conference team to win at Stambaugh since Delaware in 1998.


Fourth Quarter Leads Hold Up
Since the 1990 season, the Penguins are 109-5 when leading entering the fourth quarter. The times when YSU blew a fourth-quarter advantage were in 1991, 1996, 1997 and twice in 2000. That gives the Penguins a 95.6 percent chance of winning entering the final 15 minutes with an advantage. This year YSU is 6-0 leading into the fourth.

Penguins Open 2002-03 Season at Indiana State  Posted Thursday, November 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State men’s basketball team begins the 2002-03 season by playing on the road at Indiana State on Friday night. Tipoff at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Ind., is set for 7:05 p.m.
The Penguins will be looking to snap a 15-game road losing streak and a 17-game skid away from the Beeghly Center. YSU last won away from Youngstown on Feb. 17 at UMKC. The Penguins have lost seven consecutive non-conference games on the road last winning at Robert Morris on Jan. 2, 2001.
This is the first meeting between the two teams, who both hope to begin the season on a good note after disappointing 2001-02 campaigns. Youngstown State finished 5-23 overall while Indiana State was 6-22. The Sycamores were coming off a 22-win season and a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title while YSU won 19 games, including a school-record-tying 11 conference games the season before.
For the Penguins, five players will be making their Division I debuts -- Adam Baumann, Jamel Porter, Andy Jahnke, Derrick Harris and Jonathan Mends. Returning from last year’s squad are Marlon Williamson, TeJay Anderson, Bill Mallernee, Khari McQueen, Brian Radakovich and Doug Underwood.
YSU opens its 2002-03 home campaign against Slippery Rock on Nov. 26.

Last Time Out: Penguins 88, Upstate Basketball 82
Senior Marlon Williamson led three Penguins scoring in double figures with 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor to lead the Youngstown State men's basketball team past Upstate (N.Y), 88-82, in an exhibition game at Beeghly Center on Nov 9.
Leading by five at halftime, the Penguins connected on eight of their first nine shots of the second half to jump out to a 17-point lead, 58-41. Upstate (N.Y.), however, used a 12-2 run over the next three 3:07 to cut the Penguin lead to 60-53, with 11:14 remaining in the game.
Layups by junior college transfer Adam Baumann and Bill Mallernee pushed the YSU advantage back to 11 points, 64-53, with 10:15 to go, but Upstate cut the deficit to 67-64, with 7:29 remaining. Sophomore Doug Underwood, who poured in 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, scored the next four points for YSU to push its advantage to seven points, 71-64, with 7:06 left.
Youngstown State extended its lead to 13 points, 80-67, but Upstate again chewed the Penguin advantage to three points, 81-78, with 1:12 to go. The Penguins used five free throws and a layup by TeJay Anderson to seal the victory. Jamel Porter also recorded a double-double for the Penguins with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
For the game, the Penguins shot an impressive 52.6 percent from the floor, including 62.5 percent in the second half.


Robic in His Fourth Season on the YSU Bench
Head Coach John Robic begins his fourth season as the head basketball coach at Youngstown State when the Penguins play at Indiana State on Friday. Through three years he has posted a 36-50 record as YSU’s head coach. His 36 wins rank as the fourth-most in school history among 11 all-time coaches. Robic and his staff -- Eric Skeeters (fourth year), Dolph Carroll (first year) and Ross Burns (first year) -- lead the Penguins into their second year in the Horizon League.


Scouting the Indiana State Sycamores
Indiana State finished the 2001-02 campaign with a 6-22 overall record and finished eighth in the nine-team Missouri Valley Conference. Like the Penguins, Indiana State will count on some new faces for success in 2002-03. Six newcomers join the squad that features 14 players, including two players who redshirted last year. The Sycamores lost their first four and last four games of the season a year ago.
At the Hulman Center last year, ISU was an uncharacteristic 4-10. In the four previous seasons, the Sycamores were 45-8 in the arena. In 1999-2000 and 2000-01 the Sycamores won 22 games in each season and played in the NCAA Tournament.

Same Conference...In Football
Youngstown State and Indiana State do have a close connection with both schools members of the Gateway Football Conference. YSU is in the Horizon League for its Olympic Sports while Indiana State is in the Missouri Valley for its Olympic programs. This year the Penguins beat ISU 31-16 at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown.


Marlon Williamson The Lone Senior
Guard Marlon Williamson is the lone senior on this year’s squad. Williamson has played in 67 games in his three-year career and was Coach John Robic’s first-signed recruit prior to the 1999-2000 season. The last time YSU had just one senior on the roster was actually when they had none for the 1988-89 campaign.


TeJay Anderson One of The Best
Junior forward TeJay Anderson has been one of the best field-goal shooters in school history. Through two seasons, Anderson has made 59.6 percent of his shots, a school record by more than two percent over Jeff Covington -- YSU’s all-time leading scorer. Last year, Anderson made 57.5 percent after making 60.8 percent of his shots as a freshman.


Penguins Hope Poll Position Pays Off
Last season in the preseason Horizon League poll, Loyola (Chicago) was picked ninth in the nine-team league. However, the Ramblers finished with a 17-13 overall mark, were 9-7 in the league and played in the league tournament title game losing in overtime. This year, the Penguins have been picked ninth and are hoping for a similar road that Loyola traveled last season.

YSU 16-4 Under Robic When Shooting 50 Percent or Better
Since John Robic took over prior to the 1999-2000 season, one statistic has remained constant for the YSU program. When the Penguins shoot 50 percent or better from the field they are 16-4. In 2001-02, YSU was 2-0 last year when shooting 50 percent or higher. Last year, YSU was 5-0 when shooting above 49 percent.


Penguins on 3-Point Streak
The Penguins have made a 3-pointer in a school-record 112 straight games and has made a 3-pointer in every game since John Robic took over prior to the 1999-2000 season. The last time YSU did not make a 3-pointer was against Slippery Rock on Nov. 20, 1998. During the streak, YSU has made just one 3-pointer on four occasions.


YSU Tinkered With Lineup A Lot
Last year in 28 games, the Penguins used 11 different starting lineups. Overall, 10 different players started at least one game, while eight started at least seven and no one started every game.


Youngstown Led the League At the Free-Throw Line
Youngstown State did show the Horizon League one thing during the 2001-02 season -- the Penguins are solid from the free-throw line. On the year, YSU led the league making 73.9 percent of its free throws. It was the highest percentage in the league since 1998-99 when Detroit made 75.2 percent. YSU’s 73.9 percentage ranked second in school history behind a 75.6 percent effort in 1979-80.


YSU Struggled on the Road Going Winless Last Season
The Penguins did not win on the road during the 2001-02 season, the first winless season away from Youngstown since 1992-93. The 15 defeats set a school record for most road losses in a season. In 15 games, YSU was outscored 1,177-939, an average of 15.9 points per game. The Penguins shot 39.2 percent from the field while their opponents shot 50.1 percent. YSU’s last road win was in February 2001.

Penguins In Season Openers
Last year, the Penguins dropped an 87-64 decision at Evansville in the season opener. Under Coach John Robic, YSU is 2-1 in season-opening games. Since 1990-91, YSU is 6-6 in the first game of the season. In school history, YSU is 34-38 in season lidlifters.



Horizon League Sent Three Teams To the Postseason Last Year
The Penguins and the nation saw how good a league the Horizon League was in 2001-02 by sending three teams to the postseason. Illinois-Chicago won the league tournament and in the NCAA Tournament lost 71-63 to No. 2 seed Oklahoma. Butler and Detroit both qualified for the NIT. Butler beat Bowling Green in the first round before losing at Syracuse in overtime. Detroit lost in the opening round at Dayton.


Beeghly Center Provides W’s
YSU is 17-9 at the Beeghly Center in the past two years. The Penguins won their final two home games of the 2001-02 season and all five wins during last year’s campaign came at home. YSU earned league wins over Wright State and UW-Green Bay while beating Kent State, Slippery Rock and IPFW during the non-league slate.


Beeghly Over 2,400 Fans Again
For the third consecutive season, the YSU men’s basketball team averaged more than 2,400 fans per game at the Beeghly Center. YSU averaged 2,570 per contest after averages of 2,728 last year and 2,480 in John Robic’s first season of 1999-2000. The program last had three seasons of averaging more than 2,400 from the 1968-87 season through the 1988-89 campaign.

Burns, Carroll Join Coaching Staff
There are plenty of new faces on the Youngstown State bench this season.
Besides five new players, assistant coaches Dolph Carroll and Ross Burns joined the program in the offseason. Carroll spent the previous 13 seasons as the head coach at Yavapai College in Arizona while Burns spent two seasons as an assistant at Wagner.


Doug Underwood Among Top Five Freshmen YSU Scorers
Sophomore Doug Underwood scored 290 points last season posting one of the best scoring seasons by a freshman since the Penguins joined the Division I ranks in 1981-82. Also, Underwood set a freshman YSU record attempting 105 3-pointers and ranked second in 3-pointers made by a freshman (29) trailing Mike Alcorn. Here is a list of the top five freshman scorers:

Porter Pours In Double-Double
Junior College transfer Jamel Porter showed he has a bright future with the Penguins recording a double-double against Upstate (N.Y.) Basketball in YSU’s lone exhibition contest. Porter had 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds making his debut in the exhibition win. For the game he was 4-of-5 from the field.


Up Next: YSU Plays Home Opener Against Slippery Rock
The Penguins open their 13-game 2002-03 home slate against nearby Division II foe Slippery Rock on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Youngstown State has won five straight against the Rockets, including a 99-67 victory last season at the Beeghly Center. The contest is the season opener for Slippery Rock and the first for new coach John Marhefka who joins the program after spending a season at Armstrong State.
YSU then plays Mid-American Conference foe Toledo on Saturday, Nov. 30 and overall plays four of its first six games at home before playing four of five on the road.

Baseball: Penguins Coaches to Hold Winter Camp  Posted Thursday, November 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball program will hold a camp for both boys and girls from age seven to high school seniors on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28, Head Coach Mike Florak announced.
The camp will be a two day session at Beeghly Center on YSU's campus and will feature three options for participants depending on their desired area of focus.
The first option will be from 9 a.m. to noon and will be for the general player looking to improve their overall skills, covering fielding, throwing, base running and hitting. The second option will be a videotaped session for pitchers and will last from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. The final option is for the complete player who wishes to attend the camp all day for both sections. Each program will be advised by the entire baseball coaching staff.
The first option will cost $85.00 and the pitching session will be $45.00. The combined program will be $95.00. A $10 late fee is charged for those not registering before Dec. 24.
For more information, please contact the YSU baseball department at (330) 941-3485.

Lady Pen's Basketball Falls To OGBM Legends, 79-75  Posted Monday, November 18, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Sophomore Jessica Olmstead scored a team-high 12 points and dished out six assists while classmate Jen Perugini and junior Devin Novak each posted 10 points but the Youngstown State women's basketball team came up on the losing end of an exhibition game against the Ohio Girls' Basketball Magazine (OGBM) Legends, 79-74, Saturday evening in Beeghly Center.
The Penguins jumped out to an early 6-1 lead with after a Jessica Forsythe layup at the 17:52 mark of the first half. OGBM used a 9-2 run over the next 2:30 to take a 10-8 advantage and would never trail again.
After the OGBM Legends pushed its lead to 11 points, 31-20, with 5:53 left in the half, the Penguins cut the deficit to four points, 33-29, after a Maggie Johnston jumper, an Olmstead layup, a 3-pointer by Novak and a Tara Fleming layup with 3:28 remaining. Youngstown State continued to hang tough and narrowed the lead to one point, 37-36, after another Novak 3-pointer with 42 seconds remaining. OGBM's Vita Redding, who scored a game-high 29 points, scored a layup with 21 seconds left gave the Legends a three-point advantage, 39-36, at the half.
OGBM began the second half with a 14-2 run to jump out to a 15-point lead, 53-38, with 15:02 left in the game. OGBM held a double-digit lead for the next 10 minutes when Olmstead buried a 3-pointer to slice the deficit to seven points, 70-63, with 5:02 to go. The Penguins whittled away the Legends' lead to five points, 72-67, after a fast-break layup by freshman Michelle Holmes at the 2:36 mark. OGBM extended its lead back to eight points, 75-67, with 2:20 remaining, but the Penguins scored the next four points on a layup by Aliyah Sabree and an Olmstead jumper to trim the lead to four, 75-71. YSU would not get any closer.
For the game, Youngstown State shot just 39.7 percent for the game while the OGBM Legends connected on 45.5 percent from the floor.
Perugini and Forsythe each grabbed nine rebounds for the Penguins.
Youngstown State opens the 2002-03 campaign against Bowling Green, Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Swimming & Diving: Wiese, Smail Earn Victories Against Duquesne  Posted Monday, November 18, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Missy Wiese won the 100-yard freestyle and Mandie Smail earned victories in both the one and three-meter dives as the Youngstown State swimming and diving team fell to the Duquesne Dukes 81-30 at the Beeghly Natatorium on Saturday afternoon.
Wiese earned the victory by over a second, swimming a time of 56.09. Smail won the one-meter event with a score of 230.65 and the three-meter dive with 232.75.
Erin Carter finished second for the Penguins in the 200-yard freestyle and Wiese placed second in the 50-yard freestyle. Kalyn Leveto also finished second in the one and three-meter dives.
The swimming and diving team will continue their season Jan. 18, 2003 at Akron after taking a 10-day training trip to Florida over winter break.

Cross Country: Edwards Runs Personal-Best at Great Lakes  Posted Monday, November 18, 2002 by  ysupenguins

West Lafayette, Ind. -- Youngstown State senior Will Edwards ended his YSU cross country career running a personal-best 10k time of 32:36.6 to become the third best runner in school history as he led the men’s team to a 17th-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional at Purdue University on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Emily Schnitkey led the Penguins on the women’s side to a 27th place finish by running a 78th-place 6k time of 23:12.5.
Tony Orcena finished behind Edwards for the Penguin harriers, running a 107th-place time of 33:15.0. Co-captains Kurt Michaelis and Paul Robinette finished in the three and four slots, running times of 33:21.7 and 33:30.4 to place 112th and 120th, respectively. Nick Smith rounded out the scoring for the Penguins by finishing 124th with a time of 33:36.9.
Lindsay Frontz came in second for the women, finishing 169th with a time of 24:58.0. Lindsay Wojciak completed the course with a time of 25:08.4 to finish 172nd overall. Just three seconds behind her, Gina Mavrikis finished 173rd with a time of 25:11.4. Katie Krupko concluded the top five with a 183rd-place time of 25:27.3.
Wisconsin won the men's competition while Notre Dame earned top honors on the women's side.
The men finish the season with a record of 95-84 and the women finish going 71-92.
Edwards, Michaelis, Robinette, Smith, Nick Buzek and Chris Hine all ran personal-best times.

Football: Penguins Set 2004 Grid Schedule  Posted Thursday, November 14, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team will face one of the toughest road schedules in school history and play host to six contests -- including three of the first four and five of the first seven games of the season in 2004, the athletic department announced on Thursday. The Penguins play home non-conference contests against Slippery Rock, Florida International and Liberty while playing at McNeese State before beginning Gateway Football Conference play.
The Penguins' home slate features Gateway games against Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Indiana State. While road contests at Western Kentucky, Western Illinois, Illinois State and SMS round out the schedule.
Head Coach Jon Heacock said the 2004 schedule will be present many challenges both in the Gateway season and the non-league campaign.
"Playing two of our first three Gateway games at home, it will be critical for us to get off to a good start in a conference as good as ours," Heacock said. "Again we play a difficult non-conference schedule and I am happy our great fans can see us against an up-and-coming team in Florida International and Liberty, whom we had a good rivalry with in the early 1990's. We'll have our work cut out for us on the road playing five very good teams at their place."
YSU opens the season with two home games, the first a Thursday night contest on Sept. 2 against nearby Division II power Slippery Rock. The Penguins then play host to Division I-AA Independent Florida International on Sept. 11.
After two home games, YSU plays at McNeese State on Sept. 18. It will be the Penguins' second-ever trip to Lake Charles, La., and the first since September 1995.
Youngstown State returns home to play host to Liberty on Sept. 25. The last time the Penguins and the Flames meet on the gridiron in Youngstown was in 1993.
Following four non-league games, YSU opens the 2004 conference season at Western Kentucky on Oct. 2.
YSU then plays host to Southern Illinois (Oct. 9) and Northern Iowa (Oct. 16) before playing three of its final four games away from Stambaugh Stadium.
The tough stretch includes a game at Illinois State (Oct. 23), a home contest against Indiana State (Oct. 30), a road game at Western Illinois (Nov. 6) and a contest at SMS (Nov. 13).
With the configuration of the schedule, YSU will not play a home regular-season game in the month of November for the first time since 1994 when YSU played its final three games on the road.
The 2004 schedule does not feature a bye week until the end of the season (Nov. 20). The NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs are set to begin on Nov. 27 at various campus sites.
YSU's 2003 slate includes home games against Slippery Rock, Florida Atlantic, Western Illinois, Western Kentucky, Southwest Missouri State and Illinois State. The Penguins play at Kent State, Liberty, Indiana State, Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois.

2004 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location
Sept. 2 Slippery Rock Stambaugh
Sept. 11 Florida International Stambaugh
Sept. 18 at McNeese State Lake Charles, La.
Sept. 25 Liberty Stambaugh
Oct. 2 at Western Kentucky* Bowling Green, Ky.
Oct. 9 Southern Illinois* Stambaugh
Oct. 16 Northern Iowa* Stambaugh
Oct. 23 at Illinois State* Normal, Ill.
Oct. 30 Indiana State* Stambaugh
Nov. 6 at Western Illinois* Macomb, Ill.
Nov. 13 at SMS* Springfield, Mo.

Fourteen Women's Basketball Games To Air On WNIO-AM 1390  Posted Thursday, November 14, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State University Athletics Department and Clear Channel Radio Youngstown have reached an agreement to broadcast 14 Youngstown State women's basketball games during the 2002-03 season on WNIO-AM 1390, Associate Athletics Director Rick Love announced on Thursday.
"YSU's exclusive radio partnership with Clear Channel Youngstown will continue throughout the basketball season with the airing of 14 women's games live along with the Horizon League Tournament which starts March Madness,” Love said. “We look forward to an exciting basketball season and the opportunity to present this radio schedule to the YSU fans in this region."
"We are excited supporters of women's sports and so we are pleased to broadcast YSU women's games on 1390/WNIO,” William E Kelly, Jr., Area VP for Clear Channel Radio said. “Coach DiGregorio has consistently fielded a competitive team year after year and has done a great job of recruiting Mahoning Valley talent to play and study at YSU. We are glad that these fans will be able to follow the team through it's affiliation with Clear Channel Radio.”
Veteran sports broadcaster Steve Sefner, who handles the sideline reporting for YSU football games, will call the play-by-play action for the Penguins.
All broadcasts will begin with the "Pizza Hut Pre-Game Show", feature the "Option Care Halftime Report" and conclude with the "Giant Eagle Post-Game Report."

2002-03 Youngstown State Women's Basketball Broadcast Schedule
Date Opponent Time
11/27 NIAGARA 7 p.m.
12/7 TOLEDO 5:15 p.m.
12/15 at Kent State 2 p.m.
12/20 at Ohio State 7 p.m.
12/22 AKRON 1 p.m.
1/2 LOYOLA* 7 p.m.
1/8 at Cleveland State* 7 p.m.
1/11 UW-MILWAUKEE* 7 p.m.
1/27 at IPFW 7 p.m.
2/1 WRIGHT STATE* 7 p.m.
2/12 CLEVELAND STATE* 7 p.m.
2/22 at Butler* 2 p.m.
2/24 at Wright State* 7 p.m.
3/1 UIC* 7 p.m.

Sixth Annual Jamboree on Tap For Thursday  Posted Wednesday, November 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Sixth Annual Penguin Club Jamboree will be held on Thursday night at the Georgetown Banquet Center in Boardman. The banquet center is located at 5945 South Ave.
The evening begins at 6:30 with dinner and a silent raffle. Tickets for the raffle cost $100, which includes a ticket to the drawing and dinner. Extra dinner tickets are available for $50. The Grand Prize is $3,000 which goes to the person or group who have the last number drawn. Out of the final five numbers, the group can split the final jackpot any way they want to. There are 20 additional cash prizes with a total of $4,200 available. Proceeds to Benefit YSU Athletic Scholarship Fund.

Penguin Club 6th Annual Jamboree
Proceeds to Benefit YSU Athletic Scholarship Fund
The Georgetown Banquet Center
5945 South Ave.
Boardman, OH
Nov. 14, 2002

SILENT AUCTION PRIZE INFORMATION
There are numerous outstanding prizes again at this year's Jamboree. Some of the prizes:
Cleveland Browns vs. Carolina Panthers tickets
Cleveland Browns vs. Indianapolis Colts tickets
Cleveland Browns vs. Atlanta Falcons tickets
Jewelry from Adamas
Penguin Club Shirt, Hat, Sweater
Hilton Head Condo
Professional Sports Memorabilia
YSU Football Helmet
YSU Football Jersey
Golf Packages to Youngstown Country Club and Reserve Run

RAFFLE INFORMATION
Tickets for the raffle cost $100, which includes a ticket to the drawing and dinner. Extra dinner tickets are available for $50. The Grand Prize is $3,000 which goes to the person or group who have the last number drawn. Out of the final five numbers, the group can split the final jackpot any way they want to. There are 20 additional cash prizes with a total of $4,200 available.

RAFFLE RULES
The first number drawn will receive $100. The 10th, 20th, 30th and 40th draws will receive $50. The 50th draw will receive $100. The 60th, 70th, 80th, 90th draw will receive $50. The 100th draw will receive $100. The 110th, 120th, 130th and 140th draw will receive $50. The 150th draw will receive $100. The 160th, 170th, 180th, and 190th draw will receive $50. After the 195th draw, the remaining ticket representatives will be called forward to negotiate the grand prize of $3,000. Based on their mutually agreed decision, the drawing will continue until an ultimate winner is determined or the cash is divided among the five ticket holders. Should a ticket not be represented, the drawing will continue until all tickets are represented.

SILENT AUCTION
Bid sheet items will be randomly pulled by the committee during the course of the Raffle. We encourage you to visit the bid sheets throughout the evening.

SIDE BOARD
The side board will follow the big board draws and the pay out will be 50 percent of receipts. Blocks are $10 each or 3 for $25.

Women's Basketball: YSU Hosts OGBM Legends Saturday  Posted Wednesday, November 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – The 2002-03 women’s basketball season tips off for Youngstown State when it hosts the Ohio Girls’ Basketball Magazine Legends in an exhibition game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, at 7 p.m. The Penguins and Legends squared off in an exhibition game last season and YSU came away with an 89-84 victory. Maggie Johnston scored a team-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor and drilled four 3-pointers.

YSU ENJOYS EXHIBITION SUCCESS
Over the past five preseasons, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success. The Penguins have won their last three exhibition games and four of the last five.


PENGUINS OPEN CAMPAIGN AT BOWLING GREEN
For the fourth straight year, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team will open its season against Bowling Green. The Penguins visit the Falcons, Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. at Anderson Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio.


DIGREGORIO BEGINS 20TH SEASON
Youngstown State Head Coach Ed DiGregorio is entering his 20th season at the helm of the YSU women’s basketball program. During his tenure, DiGregorio has amassed an overall record of 313-219, won five league championships, three tournament championships, made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament and coached four conference players of the year.


PENGUINS PICKED SIXTH IN HORIZON LEAGUE
After finishing tied for fourth during its inaugural season in the Horizon League, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team was picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League in poll of the league’s coaches, SID’s, and selected media.


PERUGINI EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Sophomore Jen Perugini, the 2002 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, was picked Second-Team Preseason All-Horizon League. Last year, Perugini averaged 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field.

WHO’S BACK
The Penguins return eight letterwinners and two starters from last season’s 12-16 team, which finished tied for fourth in the Horizon League with an 8-8 league mark. Returning for Youngstown State are starters Maggie Johnston and sophomore Jen Perugini. Other returning letterwinners include juniors Jessica Forsythe and Devin Novak, sophomore Barb Fabianova, Tara Fleming, and Melissa Tarrant.

YSU Volleyball Concludes Regular Season This Weekend  Posted Wednesday, November 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State volleyball team (8-20, 0-12 Horizon League) concludes its regular season with a visit to Robert Morris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. and two home league matches against Wright State, Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. and Butler, Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m.


Last Week
The Penguins dropped two league matches falling to UIC, 24-30, 17-30, 18-30, and Loyola, 22-30, 28-30, 14-30.


About Robert Morris
The Robert Morris volleyball team enters this week with an impressive 22-11 overall record and are coming off a 3-0 win over Sacred Heart. The Colonials, winners of their last six matches, have won 11 of their last 13 matches. Karla Barhorst leads the squad with 3.53 kills per game while Megan Bell is a close second with 3.49 kills per game. Katie Noble, who is averaging 2.78 kills per game, leads the squad with a .360 hitting percentage.


About Wright State

The Wright State volleyball team (15-12, 4-8 Horizon League), the 2002 Horizon League preseason favorite, are currently seventh in the Horizon League standings but are coming off a 3-0 victory over Oakland, which snapped a five-match losing streak. Tricia Naseman leads the Raiders and ranks third in the league with 4.11 kills per game. Setter Mandy Gels leads the Horizon League with 12.39 assists per game while Gretchen Busch is third in the league with 3.39 digs per game.


About Butler
The Butler volleyball squad (13-16, 6-6 Horizon League) is currently tied for fourth-place in the Horizon League standings with UIC. The Bulldogs are coming off two straight Horizon League wins over UIC, 3-2, and Wright State, 3-1. Keely Norris leads the squad and ranks third in the league with a .320 hitting percentage and ranks ninth with 0.90 blocks per game. Kali Carter owns a team-best 3.16 kills per game average and Kamy Peters ranks second in the Horizon League with 3.76 digs per game.


Up Next
The Penguins will compete in the first round of the 2002 Horizon League Volleyball Tournament, Nov. 22-24, in Green Bay, Wis., hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.


Buschur Continues Horizon League Lead
After averaging 1.33 blocks per game last week, junior Annie Buschur continued to remain atop the Horizon League leaders in blocks per game. Buschur is averaging a league-best 1.21 blocks per game.


Kennedy Looks To Horizon
Freshman Nickole Kennedy has really stepped up for the Penguins against Horizon League opponents. The 6-foot-1 right side hitter leads the squad with 3.10 kills per game against league foes.


Buschur Joins 600-300 Club
Junior Annie Buschur is on her way to becoming one of the top players in YSU history. The 6-foot middle hitter, who has recorded 638 career kills and 325 career blocks, is just the fifth player in school history to accumulate at least 600 kills and 300 blocks during a career.


Pasquinelli Now Sixth
In less than one full season with the Penguins’ volleyball program, freshman setter Angie Pasquinelli has moved into sixth-place on the YSU all-time assists chart with 850 career assists. She needs just 150 more to become the fifth player to reach 1,000 assists in one season and just the second freshman in school history to accomplish that feat.


Batton Movin’ Up
Senior Michele Batton, who ranks second in the league with 1.20 blocks per game and sixth with a .272 hitting percentage, just surpassed the 700 career kills plateau and now has 722. Batton is also continuing her climb up the YSU all-time blocks chart and now ranks ninth with 243 career blocks.


YSU Leads Horizon
Youngstown State has always taken great pride in its blocking ability and the 2002 season is another testiment to the Penguins’ hard work. Youngstown State currently leads the Horizon League with 2.62 team blocks per game and 277.5 total team blocks.


Drake Reaches 600
Senior Cameran Drake eclipsed the 600 career digs mark last week and has recorded 604 career digs.


Penguins On Horizon League Skid
Youngstown State is currently on a dubious kind of streak. The Penguins have lost 23 straight Horizon League volleyball matches and have won just one league match since joining the league in 2001.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Defeat Upstate (N.Y.), 88-82  Posted Saturday, November 9, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Senior Marlon Williamson led three Penguins scoring in double figures with 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor to lead the Youngstown State men's basketball team past Upstate (N.Y), 88-82, in an exhibition game at Beeghly Center.
Leading by five at halftime, the Penguins connected on eight of their first nine shots of the second half to jump out to a 17-point lead, 58-41 with 14:21 left in the game. Upstate (N.Y.), however, used a 12-2 run over the next three 3:07 to cut the Penguin lead to seven points, 60-53, with 11:14 remaining in the game.
Layups by junior college transfer Adam Baumann and Bill Mallernee pushed the YSU advantage back to 11 points, 64-53, with 10:15 to go, but Upstate continued to chisel away at the Penguins. Over the next two minutes, the Penguins turned the ball over three times, attempted just one field goal and allowed the visitors to cut the lead to three points, 67-64, with 7:29 remaining.
Penguin sophomore Doug Underwood, who poured in 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, scored the next four points for YSU to push its advantage to seven points, 71-64, with 7:06 left.
Youngstown State extended its lead to 13 points, 80-67, after a Jamel Porter layup, two free throws by Williamson and a three-point play by Khari McQueen. Porter also recorded a double-double for the Penguins with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Upstate again chewed the Penguin advantage to three points, 81-78, with 1:12 to go, but the Penguins used five free throws and a layup by TeJay Anderson to seal the victory.
For the game, the Penguins shot an impressive 52.6 percent from the floor, including 62.5 percent in the second half.
Youngstown State opens the 2002-03 season against Indiana State, Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. in Terre Haute, Ind.

Penguins Defeat Redbirds 24-17  Posted Saturday, November 9, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Normal, Ill.-- P.J. Mays rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns to help Youngstown State score 14 unanswered points in the second half and beat Illinois State 24-17 in the final home game for the Redbirds this season.

Illinois State, 5-5 overall, 3-3 in the Gateway, were led by Quincy Washington’s 73 yards on 23 carries, but an interception set up one touchdown and an on-side kick led to another in the third quarter as the Penguins, 6-4, 4-3 in the Gateway, came away with the victory. Three key fourth-down conversions led to YSU scores as the Penguins overcame a 17-10 deficit in the third quarter.

The Redbirds were first on the scoreboard when Stephen Carroll set a Hancock Stadium record with a career-long 56-yard field goal that put Illinois State ahead 3-0 with 5:45 left in the first quarter. It was the second longest field goal in Redbird history.

Sha-ron Edwards put the ‘Birds up 10-0 when he dove into the endzone from three yards out with 9:52 remaining in the first half to cap a drive highlighted by a 21-yard run by Washington. On the ensuing possession, the Penguins marched 72 yards on nine plays to cut the Illinois State lead to three, 10-7, on a four-yard run by P.J. Mays, his ninth rushing touchdown of the season.

With 1:09 remaining in the first half, Youngstown State decided to gamble on a fourth-down-and-four situation from the Redbird 42 yardline with four yards to go. The gamble paid off as the Penguins were able to tie the game, 10-10, on a 42-yard field goal by Jake Stewart with three seconds remaining.

On the first drive of the second half, the Redbirds went 58 yards on 10 plays to pull ahead 17-10 on a five-yard run up the middle by Washington with 10:08 left in the third quarter. It was Washington’s eighth rushing touchdown and the 15th of his career, which ranks sixth in the Illinois State record book.

Matt Mechling’s interception of a Mike Souza pass deep in Redbird territory gave the Penguins the ball back at ISU’s 10-yardline with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter. Youngstown State was able to punch it in four plays later on 4th-and-1 on a run by Mays to the left side to tie the game at 17.

A successful on-side kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff gave the Penguins the ball back in Redbird territory and Youngstown State again scored on fourth down, this time on a 34-yard pass from Aaron Marshall to Jerald Burley in the right corner of the end zone, to take the lead for the first time. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter as Mays and the YSU offensive line maintained possession most of the final period.

Men's Basketball Plays Exhibition Game On Saturday  Posted Friday, November 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State men’s basketball team plays an exhibition game against the Upstate New York Basketball All-Stars on Saturday night at the Beeghly Center. Admission to the 7 p.m. contest is free.
The Penguins, who are coming off their first year in the highly-competitive Horizon League, welcome five newcomers to the 2002-03 mix joining a cast of six returning players.
Returning from last season’s team are senior guard Marlon Williamson, junior forwards TeJay Anderson and Bill Mallernee and sophomores Doug Underwood, Khari McQueen and Brian Radakovich. Making their debuts on Saturday night are junior college transfers Adam Baumann and Jamel Porter along with freshmen Jonathan Mends, Andrew Jahnke and Derrick Harris. Also making their first appearances with the program are assistants Dolph Carroll and Ross Burns.
The Penguins have had success in exhibition play. YSU beat Argentina Select (118-82) in 2001, beat Team Alita (81-69) in 2000, defeated BC Honved (100-66) and Team Prestige (98-91) in 1999 beat Basketball Unlimited (110-74) and the Hungarian National Team (71-68) in 1998 and defeated BC ZTE Hungary (75-66) in 1997.
Youngstown State begins the regular season on Friday, Nov. 22, when the Penguins play at Indiana State. The Sycamores, who won the Missouri Valley Conference title in 2000-01, but finished with a 6-22 mark last year. YSU opens it home season on Tuesday, Feb. 26 against Slippery Rock.


Robic in His Fourth Season on the YSU Bench
Head Coach John Robic begins his fourth season as the basketball coach at Youngstown State. Entering his fourth year he has a 36-50 record as the Penguins’ head coach. Robic’s staff underwent some changes in the offseason with the additions of Dolph Carroll and Ross Burns to replaced Gary Grzesk and Andy Johnston. Carroll was the head coach at Yavapai Junior College while Burns was an assistant coach at Wagner. Back for his fourth year as an assistant coach is Eric Skeeters.

About Upstate Basketball
Upstate Basketball is a out of New York and is coached by Mickey Walker. The Upstate team lost to Rice 94-87 on Monday and lost to UNC-Greensboro 87-78 on Wednesday. They are scheduled to play at St. Bonaventure on Thursday.


YSU Basketball News and Notes
Of the current members on the squad, Marlon Williamson has played in the most games at 68. TeJay Anderson has played in 51 contests, making a team-high 33 starts, Doug Underwood and Brian Radakovich played in all 28 games last season with Underwood starting 23 games and Radakovich starting 18. Bill Mallernee has played in 27 games while Khari McQueen has played in 23. • In the preseason Horizon League Poll, UW-Milwaukee was tabbed the league favorite. YSU was picked a preseason ninth, however last year’s preseason ninth-place team Loyola advanced to the Horizon League Tournament Championship game. • Coach John Robic’s 36 victories rank as the fifth most by any coach in YSU history. • The Penguins won their final two home games of the 2001-02 season. • YSU is 17-9 at the Beeghly Center in the past two years.

Soccer: YSU Falls To Butler in First Round of Tournament  Posted Friday, November 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Milwaukee, Wis. -- The Youngstown State Soccer team dropped their match to Butler University, 7-0, in the first round of play in the Horizon League tournament on Thursday afternoon.
Butler got on the scoreboard early as Krista Rott scored her first of two goals 46 seconds into the match. Rott added her second goal at 17:36 off an assist from Kristin Drogell. Horizon League Player of the Year Amy Morrison scored the third goal of the game off an eight yard cross from Kristen Aaltonen at 27:18. Butler would add their fourth and final goal of the first half at 29:31 when Amy Pike scored from 12 yards out. Three different players added goals in the second half, scoring one goal each.
Butler outshot Youngstown State 29-1 and outcornered the Penguins 7-0. Freshman goalkeeper Caitlin Bestard recorded 14 saves for the Penguins.
The Horizon League Championship game is Sunday, Nov. 10 at noon at Engelmann Field on the UW-Milwaukee Campus.

Mays Tabbed Gateway Player of the Week  Posted Wednesday, November 6, 2002 by  ysupenguins
St. Louis, Mo. -- YSU senior tailback P.J. Mays was named the Gateway Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Southern Illinois. Joining Mays as conference player-of-the-week honorees were Indiana State linebacker Dietrich Lapsley and Western Illinois return specialist Reggie Gray.
Against the Salukis on Saturday, Mays set a school record with his fourth-career 200-plus yard game racking up 210 yards against the Salukis.

Bulldogs Shut Out Penguins in Horizon Soccer, Tourney Order Set  Posted Wednesday, November 6, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Butler's Amy Morrison scored two second-half goals to help lead Butler University to a 3-0 league win over the Youngstown State Women's soccer team on Sunday afternoon at Varsity Field.
Martha Gudiel got the Bulldogs on the board early as she headed in a
left-side cross from Deirdre Connor at the 6:15 mark. Morrison gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead at the 67:32 minute mark when she got the rebound off a shot by teammate Krista Rott. Morrison added her second goal of the game two minutes later at 68:10.
Butler outshot Youngstown State 42-0 and outcornered the Penguins 9-0. Freshman Caitlin Bestard recorded a season-best 18 saves for YSU. With the loss the Penguins fall to 1-18, 0-6 in the Horizon, while Butler improves to 13-5, 5-1 in the Horizon, with the win.
The Penguins will battle it out against Butler University again on Thursday, Nov. 7, in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament, which is hosted by UW-Milwaukee. The Penguins are the tournament's No. 7 seed, while the Bulldogs are seeded second.

2002 HORIZON LEAGUE SOCCER TOURNEY
#7 YSU vs. #2 Butler
#3 Detroit vs. #6 Green Bay
#4 Loyola vs. #5 Wright St.
Winner of 4 vs 5 meets #1 Milwaukee (1st Round Bye)

Football: Penguins Run to 21-9 Victory Over SIU  Posted Sunday, November 3, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Senior tailback P.J. Mays set a school-record with his fourth career 200-plus yard game and also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive year helping lead the Penguins to a 21-9 victory over Southern Illinois on Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium.
Mays finished the game with 210 yards ranking as the 11th-best single-game total in school history and now has 1,001 yards rushing on the season. As a team, YSU rushed for a season-high 376 yards as Mike Burns added a career-best 123 yards on the ground. The Penguins defense came up big holding the top scoring offense in Division I-AA to just nine points.
The Penguins (5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Gateway Football Conference) amassed 461 total yards while SIU (4-6 and 2-3) had 345 yards, including 188 on the ground playing without its leading rusher Mo Abdulqaadir. The Salukis came in averaging 41.7 points per game.
YSU took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Burns raced 44 yards for a score. In the second, SIU's Scott Everhart kicked a 32-yard field goal to close the gap to 7-3.
The Penguins got a break in the third with SIU driving trying to take the lead.
But on first-and-goal from the YSU seven, Russell Stuvaints forced a Courtney Abbott fumble and Waymann Peters recovered.
On the ensuing drive, the Penguins extended their lead to 14-3 on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Marshall to Jerald Burley. Marshall finished the game completing 6-of-10 passes for 85 yards and the touchdown.
SIU pulled within 14-9 with 6:05 when Brandon Robinson tossed a 20-yard halfback pass to Abbott for a score. It marked the second straight season that Robinson had thrown a halfback pass for a touchdown against the Penguins.
YSU answered again with a 4-play 77-yard drive that was all Mays. On the scoring march, he had runs of 59, one, three and a 14-yarder where he found the end zone with 3:45 remaining.
SIU was led by Robinson who had 98 yards rushing and 68 yards receiving. SIU quarterback Joel Sambursky was 12-of-27 for 137 yards on the afternoon.
The Penguins play their final road game of the 2002 season at Illinois State next Saturday. YSU has won two straight meetings against the Redbirds. Kickoff at Hancock Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Football: Mays, Schumacher, Tekac Named Team Captains  Posted Sunday, November 3, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State football coach Jon Heacock announced late Friday that senior tailback P.J. Mays (Youngstown, Ohio), senior tight end John Schumacher (Woodsfield, Ohio) and senior linebacker Jon Tekac (Pulaski Township, Pa.) have been selected as the team captains for the 2002 season.
Heacock had 17 of 18 seniors represent YSU as game captains during the first eight games of the season. On Sunday, the team voted for the 2002 captain designees with Mays, Schumacher and Tekac earning the honors.

Mays Remains on Payton Watch List  Posted Thursday, October 31, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State senior tailback P.J. Mays remains as one of 16 players who are in the hunt for the 2002 Walter Payton Award honoring the top offensive player in Division I-AA. He is the only offensive player from the Gateway Football Conference on the list.1
Through eight games this season, Mays has rushed for 791 yards on 172 carries and has scored seven touchdowns. Against Northern Iowa, he became the fifth player in school history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a career -- including playoff games. He is trying to become the first rusher -- and fourth in school history -- to have consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Tamron Smith in 1992 and 1993.
The "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" pages, which can be found at The Sports Network’s website (www.sportsnetwork.com) keep track of the quest for the 16th Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top player in Division I-AA football, and the Eighth Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in I-AA. The honors will be presented at the 16th annual I-AA College Football Awards in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Dec. 19. The Eddie Robinson Award, presented to I-AA’s top coach, and the Sports Network Cup, bestowed upon the nation’s best I-AA mid-major program will also be presented at that event.
The official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" lists will undergo one additional revision, just prior to the mailing of ballots to the media and I-AA sports information directors selected for the voting process on Nov. 25.

"Payton Watch" Candidates (Oct. 30)
Ari Confesor, WR/RS, Holy Cross
David Corley, QB, William & Mary
John Edwards, QB, Montana
*Bruce Eugene, QB, Grambling State
Ryan Fuqua, RB, Portland State
Chas Gessner, WR, Brown
Brett Gordon, QB, Villanova
Ryan Johnson, RB, Montana State
Robert Kent, QB, Jackson State
Stephan Lewis, RB, New Hampshire
P.J. Mays, RB, Youngstown State
Carl Morris, WR, Harvard
*Billy Napier, QB, Furman
Willie Ponder, WR, Southeast Missouri
Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois
Allen Suber, QB, Bethune-Cookman

*New to List

Diving: Smail, Leveto Lead Penguins to Victory at Clarion Invite, Qualify for Zones  Posted Wednesday, October 30, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Clarion, Pa. -- Senior Mandie Smail and sophomore Kayln Leveto both qualified for the NCAA Zone C Championships en route to victory at the Clarion Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
The duo dominated in both the one and three-meter events at the dual meet, defeating the hosting Golden Eagles 48-40.
In the one-meter competition, Smail earned the win with a score of 402.55. Leveto was a close second, finishing with a total of 399.05.
Leveto led the way in the three-meter event, finishing on top with 465.25. Smail finished right behind her in second with a 441.20.
The two qualified for the NCAA Zones in both events by surpassing the minimum scores of 370 in the one-meter and 420 in the three-meter.
The Penguins will continue their season on Friday against Ohio University in Beeghly Natatorium.

#9 WESTERN ILLINOIS DEFEATS #23 YOUNGSTOWN STATE, 19-0  Posted Saturday, October 26, 2002 by  ysupenguins
MACOMB, IL - Justin Langan converted all four field goal attempts and set three Western Illinois University records as No. 9 Western Illinois shut out No. 23 Youngstown State, 19-0.

The Leathernecks (7-1, 4-1 Gateway) took a 7-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Lemar Parrish with 4:06 left in the first quarter, and Langan converted all four field goal attempts, including 50, 53, and 34-yarders in the second quarter, and a 31-yarder in the third. His first of the day, a 50-yarder at the 9:08 mark in the second quarter, was his seventh consecutive field goal, surpassing Layne Bennett’s (1986-87) school record and a career-long. His next attempt, from 53 yards with 5:02 remaining in the quarter, established a new Hanson Field record and ranks as the third-longest field goal in school history. The previous Western Illinois record of three field goals in one game was held by seven different Leathernecks, including Langan who tallied three in two games this year.

The Penguins (4-4, 2-3 Gateway) were held to just 10 yards rushing, and threw for 219 yards on 17-of-30 passing. The Leathernecks completed 17-of-24 passes for 207 yards.

Mike Scifres broke his own school-record punting average, punting four times for 227 yards, an average of 56.8 yards per punt. The fifth attempt was snapped over Scifres’ head, but he was able to get the kick away. The kick unofficially traveled 74 yards, but was credited as a 40-yard team punt. Two of his punts sailed 64 yards and 60 yards, both into the wind.

Western’s Travis Glasford led all rushers with 56 yards on eight carries and Stacy Coleman led all receivers with six catches for 84 yards. Youngstown State’s Mike Burns rushed 15 times for 42 yards and Jerald Burley recorded five receptions for 79 yards.

Women's Basketball: Penguins Picked Sixth; Perugini Tabbed Second-Team Preseason All-League  Posted Friday, October 25, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. – The Youngstown State women's basketball team was predicted to finish sixth in the Horizon League in a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches, sports information director's and selected media, the Horizon League announced on Thursday.
The Penguins, who finished tied for fourth place with an 8-8 league mark last season, received 116 points. UW-Green Bay was picked to defend its 2001-02 regular season title with 231 points, while UW-Milwaukee finished second in the poll with 204.
Loyola (154), Cleveland State (143)and UIC (133) take up the third, fourth and fifth spots, respectively, ahead of YSU. Detroit, who finished third in the Horizon League a year ago, was picked seventh with 91 points while Butler and Wright State round out the poll at eighth and ninth with 52 and 46 points, respectively.
Youngstown State sophomore Jen Perugini, the 2002 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, was tabbed Second-Team Preseason All-Horizon League. The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game for the Penguins during her initial campaign in 2001-02.

2002-03 Horizon League Preseason Poll
Team 2001-02 Record
Overall/League Points
1. UW-Green Bay 24-7/15-1 231
2. UW-Milwaukee 20-8/14-2 204
3. Loyola 15-14/8-8 154
4. Cleveland State 13-15/7-9 143
5. UIC 15-15/6-10 133
6. Youngstown State 12-16/8-8 116
7. Detroit 16-14/9-7 91
8. Butler 3-26/1-15 52
9. Wright State 6-22/4-12 46

Preseason All-League First Team
Sara Boyer, UW-Green Bay, G, 5-9, Sr.
Jaysie Chambers, UIC, C/F, 6-2, Sr.
Erika Roudebush, Cleveland State, G, 5-8, Sr.
Maria Viall, UW-Milwaukee, C, 6-3, Jr.
Jessica Wilhite, UW-Milwaukee, G, 5-8, Sr.

Preseason All-League Second-Team
Nancy Bowden, Butler, G, 5-2, Jr.
Tracy Hoffman, Loyola, G, 5-7, Sr.
Kristy Loiselle, UW-Green Bay, G, 5-10, Sr.
Jen Perugini, Youngstown State, F, 6-2, So.
Tiffany Webb, Wright State, G, 5-10, So.

Football: Penguins Travel To WIU to Face No. 9 Leathernecks  Posted Friday, October 25, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The No. 23 Youngstown State football team travels to Macomb, Ill., on Saturday to play ninth-ranked Western Illinois in a key Gateway Football Conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:05 p.m. in Macomb.
The Penguins (4-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference) are coming off a 22-7 home loss to Northern Iowa while WIU (6-1 and 3-1) enters the contest after posting an impressive 52-21 victory over Indiana State last week. Saturday’s game is the final home game of the season for Western Illinois, which has not lost at home this year.
Against Northern Iowa last Saturday, YSU never got on track as it had a three-game winning streak snapped. UNI never trailed in the game and built a 16-0 advantage before the Penguins scored a touchdown in the third quarter. UNI placekicker Mackenzie Hoambrecker tied a conference record by kicking five field goals against the Penguins.
A trip to Macomb has never been easy for YSU. In nine trips, the Penguins have won just three times and the last Youngstown State victory at WIU came in 1982. YSU lost 24-10 at Hanson Field on its most recent visit in 2000.
Last season in Youngstown, the Penguins beat the Leathernecks 41-7. The 34-point margin of victory was the biggest in the series, which dates back to 1969 for YSU. In 17 overall meetings, the Penguins hold a 9-8 edge in the series.
YSU returns home for its 2002 Homecoming Game against Southern Illinois on Nov. 2. The Penguins beat the Salukis 31-7 last year, but SIU won at Stambaugh Stadium in 2000.

Coaching Capsules
YSU: Second-year Coach Jon Heacock (Muskingum, 1983) is 12-6 overall at Youngstown State. Heacock finished the 2001 season with an 8-3 record setting a school record for wins by a first-year mentor. He has spent eight of the past 11 years on the YSU coaching staff. He spent seven seasons in Youngstown from 1990 through 1996 before spending three years as the defensive coordinator at Indiana. He returned to YSU as the defensive coordinator in 2000 and took over as head coach in January 2001.
Western Illinois: Don Patterson (U.S. Military Academy, 1973) is in his fourth year at WIU. He owns a 27-13 mark as the coach of the Leathernecks. Prior to taking over at WIU in 1999, he was an assistant coach at Iowa from 1979 through 1998.

Western Illinois Scouting Report
Western Illinois has won all four home games this season and will play its Senior Day contest against YSU on Saturday. WIU is coming off a 52-21 victory over Indiana State on Saturday. In the game, quarterback Russ Michna threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns. WIU scored five touchdowns on offense, one on a blocked punt and one on an interception return.
The Leatherneck offense has been impressive averaging 39.1 points and 423.7 yards per game. Also, WIU holds a 33:04 to 26:40 advantage in time of possession. The defense has been stingy allowing 19.7 points per game, third best in the league.

Last Game Recap: Panthers 22, Penguins 7
Northern Iowa jumped out to a 16-0 first-half lead and never looked back in a 22-7 win over the Penguins.
YSU redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Marshall had a career-high 137 yards passing and tied his career best rushing for 49 yards, but it wasn’t enough. Marshall’s 37-yard touchdown pass to P.J. Mays in the third quarter were the only points for the Penguins in the contest. UNI’s Mackenzie Hoambrecker kicked a conference record-tying five field goals in the 15-point victory. The Panthers held YSU’s P.J. Mays to just 47 yards rushing on 17 attempts.
Mays did record his 40th touchdown of his career becoming just the third player in conference history to score 40-or-more touchdowns in a career. UNI’s offense outyarded YSU 342-241, had more plays 78-57 and owned the time of possession margin 34:22 to 25:38.


Penguins Hold Series 9-8 Edge
With a 41-7 victory last season over Western Illinois, the Penguins grabbed the lead in the overall series at 9-8. All-time in Macomb, Ill., site of Saturday’s game, the Penguins are 3-6.

Last Meeting: YSU 41, Western Illinois 7
The Penguins had their best performance against Western Illinois in school history beating the Leathernecks 41-7 at Stambaugh Stadium on Sept. 22, 2001 in a battle of top-seven teams.
Tailback P.J. Mays scored three touchdowns, quarterbacks Jeff Ryan and Colby Street each added rushing touchdowns and cornerback LeVar Greene returned an interception 23 yards in the victory. YSU led the game 34-0 before Western scored in the fourth quarter.
Western Illinois committed four turnovers in the game but still outgained the Penguins 319 to 260. The Leathernecks had 288 yards passing in the contest while YSU finished with 187 yards rushing.

Last Time in Macomb
In another battle of top-seven ranked teams Western Illinois earned a 24-10 victory over Youngstown State on Oct. 21, 2000 at Hanson Field.
Western took a 7-0 lead before YSU tied the game on a P.J. Mays touchdown run in the first quarter. However, the Leathernecks answered back on an 80-yard pass from wide receiver/reserve quarterback Frisman Jackson to Jammarl O’Neill.
Western led 17-7 at half before YSU pulled within a touchdown after a Jake Stewart 28-yard field goal. But with 9:34 left in the game Ryle Irish returned an interception 44 yards to seal the victory.

Aaron Marshall Suffers First Defeat
Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Marshall won his first three decisions as a starting quarterback before suffering his first loss to Northern Iowa last Saturday. Marshall played well in the game throwing for a career-high 137 yards and tying his career best with 49 yards rushing. He threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to P.J. Mays in the game.
Marshall is the first YSU quarterback to win his first three games as a starter since senior Nick Cochran won his first three games in 1992. Cochran’s first defeat also came in his fourth game. Cochran rebounded to win his next two outings.

Mays Scores 40th Touchdown
Senior tailback P.J. Mays became just the third player in Gateway Football Conference history to score at least 40 touchdowns in a career. Mays scored his 40th against Northern Iowa on Saturday when he took an Aaron Marshall pass and scored from 37 yards out. It marked Mays’ second career receiving touchdown to go along with 38 rushing scores. He joins two former Northern Iowa players -- Jeff Stovall (44) and Dedric Ward (43) -- as the only individuals in conference history with 40-or-more touchdowns.


Bracken Emerging in Secondary
Sophomore Mike Bracken had his interception streak snapped at three against Northern Iowa, but he made his presence known with a career-high 15 tackles. Bracken had seven solo stops and eight assists in the ballgame. His previous career best was eight against McNeese State which he set earlier this year. Bracken is one of just seven Penguins who have intercepted a pass in three straight games since 1990.

Looking to Create Turnovers
Against Northern Iowa, YSU had two turnovers and UNI had two turnovers snapping a three-game streak where the Penguins finished ahead in the turnover margin. After being a minus-six in turnover margin following the first two games, the Penguins are a plus-three on the year. YSU has forced 15 turnovers in the past four games. In 16 of the last 17 years (all but 1989), Youngstown State has had a plus in the turnover-margin department.
In four victories, YSU owns a plus-seven turnover advantage (14-7). In three defeats, YSU is at a minus-four disadvantage (7-3).

Penguins On October 26
This will be the ninth contest in YSU history on an Oct. 26. Here are YSU’s Oct. 26 results: 1940 vs. Tennessee Tech (W, 28-13); 1946 at Lebanon Valley (W, 20-6); North Texas State (L, 12-19); 1963 vs. Baldwin-Wallace (W, 16-14); 1968 vs. South Dakota State (L, 20-23); 1974 vs. Wayne State (W, 56-7); 1985 at Northern Iowa (L, 26-50); 1996 vs. Northwestern State (W, 24-14).


YSU Defense Tough to Pass On
This Saturday’s game between YSU and Western Illinois will be a battle of the best passing defense in the league against the best passing offense in the conference. The Penguins lead the Gateway allowing just 130.3 yards passing per game and rank ninth in the nation against the pass. WIU leads the Gateway averaging 260.0 yards per game through the air and is 19th in the nation. The Leathernecks are second in the nation in passing efficiency at 156.8 throwing 15 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.
Western is second in the conference and the country in scoring offense at 39.1 points per game. YSU is second in the league in scoring defense. Youngstown State leads the league in total defense allowing just 264.4 yards per game.


Schumacher Up For King Honor
Senior tight end John Schumacher is one of five YSU male students who is a finalist to become the 2002 Homecoming King. Schumacher was nominated by YSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Since 1991 Penguins to earn the honor are Tim Tyrrell, Ron Strollo and Jarritt Goode. The winner will be announced at halftime of the YSU-Southern Illinois game on Nov. 2.


P.J. Mays Eclipses 3,000-Yard Mark
Senior tailback P.J. Mays is the fifth player in school history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a career. Mays has 3,026 yards, including a playoff game. In regular-season games he has 2,987 yards rushing. He joins Tamron Smith, Paris Wicks, Robby Robson and Adrian Brown as the only Guins over the mark. He also has 11 100-plus yard games in his three-year career.

Penguins Continue Ranking Streak
Youngstown State has been ranked in the top 25 in both The Sports Network Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll for the past 51 weeks. The streak continues this week with a No. 23 ranking by the Sports Network.
The Penguins have been ranked weekly in both polls since the beginning of the 1999 season. Since joining the Gateway Football Conference in 1997, YSU has been ranked in 76 of 80 weekly, preseason and postseason polls. The last time the Penguins were unranked was in the final polls of the 1998 season.

Penguins vs. Ranked Teams
Since joining the Gateway Football Conference in 1997, the Penguins are 13-13 against Division I-AA ranked foes. The last ranked team that YSU defeated was Western Illinois in 2001. Since that time, YSU has dropped four straight to ranked opponents and is 0-2 against ranked foes in 2002.

Crowds Checking Out YSU
The last two home crowds for the Penguins have eclipsed the 18,000 mark with 18,699 attending the game against Northern Iowa on Oct. 19 and 18,879 attending the Oct. 5 game against Indiana State. The crowd against the Sycamores ranked as the eighth largest in school and Gateway Football Conference history. One big attraction that day was a "Pete the Penguin" bobblehead doll that was given to the first 7,500 fans who entered the gates. The crowd of 17,834 against Clarion in the season opener was the best home-opening-night crowd ever at Stambaugh Stadium. The crowd eclipsed the record of 17,759 set back in 2000 against Slippery Rock.


Up Next: Penguins Host Salukis
The Penguins play their annual Homecoming game against Southern Illinois on Nov. 2 at Stambaugh Stadium. YSU has won 10 straight Homecoming contests, including beating the Salukis in 1998. Last season, YSU defeated Illinois State 44-30 in the Homecoming game. The last time SIU visited Stambaugh Stadium, it rallied from a 20-0 fourth-quarter deficit to shock YSU 21-20 in 2000.

Cross Country: Schnitkey Sets School Record at NCAA Pre-Nationals  Posted Sunday, October 20, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Terre Haute, Ind. -- Youngstown State sophomore Emily Schnitkey shattered her own school record by 32 seconds by running a 6k time of 21:58.6 on the LaVern Gibson Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center on the campus of Indiana State University on Saturday afternoon.
The women finished 20th of 29 teams in the open race while Will Edwards led the men to a 33rd place finish against 35 of the top-ranked teams in the nation in the men's 8k blue race. Four women and three men set personal records at the meet.
Behind Schnitkey's 14th place time, sophomore Lindsay Wojciak ran a personal best time of 23:37.3 to earn 145th place. Co-captains Andrea Bardy and Lindsay Frontz finished third and fourth for the Penguins, running a 160th place time of 23:44.4 and a 183rd place time of 24:01.4 respectively. Freshman Katie Krupko rounded out the the top five with a personal best time of 24:16.2. Freshman Gina Mavrikis also had a personal record with a time of 24:37.8, finishing 225th.
After Edwards nearly missed his personal best time by just seven seconds by running a time of 25:39.0, the three of the next four men for the Penguins ran the best times of their careers. Junior Paul Robinette ran his personal best time and finished 159th with a time of 25:55.8 while Kurt Michaelis also topped his previous best by running a 166th place time of 26:00.2. Tony Orcena finished fourth for the team and 192nd overall running a time of 26:19.7. Behind Orcena, Nick Smith ran a personal best time of 26:20.0 and placed 193rd to conclude the scoring for the Penguins.
Bringham Young University dominated the women's open race by having each of their top five runners finish in the top seven overall while Stanford won the men's competition.
Head coach Brian Gorby was very pleased with his squads and said that the finishing numbers are deceiving.
"We didn't place that highly, but when you look at who we faced and just our numbers alone, we had an excellent day," he said.
The Penguin harriers continue their season in two weeks at the Horizon League Championships in Chicago.

Football: Penguins Fall to Northern Iowa, 22-7  Posted Sunday, October 20, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team (4-3 overall, 2-2 Gateway) was denied of its chance to take control of the Gateway Conference by falling to league rival Northern Iowa (4-3 overall, 1-2 Gateway) 22-7 as a crowd of 18,699 fans watched on Saturday evening at Stambaugh Stadium.
The visiting Panthers (4-3 overall and 1-2 in the Gateway) outrushed the Penguins (4-3 and 2-2) 220-104 and kept the YSU defense on the field by running 21 more offensive plays for the game. For the game, UNI had 342 total offensive yards on 78 plays and YSU netted 241 on 57.
For YSU, redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Marshall ran for a team-high 49 yards and passed for a career best 137 completing 10-of-23 passes.
But the Penguins fell behind and had to play catch-up the entire contest.
On YSU's second drive, senior tailback P.J. Mays fumbled for the first time of the season. After Matt Mitchell recovered Northern Iowa drove 26 yards on 10 plays for a 25-yard field goal, the first of five by Mackenzie Hoambrecker.
The YSU defense held the Panthers scoreless for the remainder of the first period, but the Penguins defense was scored upon in each of Northern Iowa's second-quarter possessions.
To start the second period, YSU fell victim to a 12-play 63-yard drive that ate up 5:10, ending with a 27-yard field goal by Hoambrecker.
Northern Iowa took control of the game after holding the Penguins to just a six-play drive on their second quarter offensive debut. Ben Sanderson took a 34-yard Kosta Karapetsas punt from his own 14-yard line and returned it 36 yards to give the Panthers good field position.
The Panthers continued their equal distribution of rushing and passing plays down to the YSU 7-yardline where quarterback Tom Petrie connected with Ryan Walter for the first touchdown of the game to put UNI in front 13-0. A Hoambrecker field goal from 44 yards ended the first half and gave the Panthers a 16-0 advantage.
In the third quarter, YSU closed the gap to 16-7 when Marshall improvised and tossed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Mays with 5:08 left.
Hoambrecker added a 21-yard field goal, which was set up by a 46-yard kickoff return by Ben Sanderson.
In the fourth, UNI chewed 5:54 off the clock that ended with 2:25 left in the game on a 23-yard field goal by Hoambrecker.
Head Coach Jon Heacock said the Panthers were solid up front and were better the at the overall fundamentals than the Penguins.
"They came in and blocked us and ran the ball and we didn't"
YSU will try to regroup by traveling to Macomb, Ill., to play at Western Illinois (6-1 and 3-1). The Leathernecks defeated Indiana State 52-21 on Saturday.

Swimming & Diving Begin Season  Posted Friday, October 18, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- After introducing 12 newcomers last season and recruiting six more for their 2002 campaign, the Youngstown State swimming and diving team is hoping to improve on its seventh place finish last season in the Horizon League by featuring a youthful, yet talented and experienced group.
Head coach Jackie Bak said that with the large group the sophomores having one season under their belts and senior leadership, the team possesses a solid mixture that should have a strong year.
At the head of the team, there is a mixture in itself in the team captains. Senior diver Mandie Smail will join two swimmers, classmate Katie Kohut and sophomore Erin Carter, as the elected leaders of the squad. Bak said the combinations youth and experience along with swimming and diving will be extremely beneficial.
“It’s a big plus for us having two seniors and a sophomore because it brings both youth and experience,” Bak said. “Having a diver and swimmers helps out too because we practice at different times and get feedback from both programs.”
Smail and Carter are both coming off of solid years in the pool. Last season, Smail finished third in both the one-meter and three-meter dives at the Horizon League Championship and qualified for the NCAA Region C Diving Zones. She also holds the school record in the one-meter dive. Carter was the team’s co-MVP and showed her versatility as a freshman, placing 14th in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke at the league meet.
Coming into the season, the Penguins are strong in every race, especially in the sprint freestyle, the backstroke, and the middle-distance freestyle.
In the sprint freestyle, lone-junior Lena Arens and sophomore Missy Wiese will look to continue their success from last season. Arens, a member of the YSU volleyball team, will step right from the court to the pool to lead the sprint group. Last season at the Horizon League meet, she placed 16th in the 100-yard sprint. Wiese came on strong in the second half last season and is expected to make a big impact in her sophomore campaign.
Joining Arens and Wiese in the sprints will be freshman Katy Malys. Malys, a Boardman native, has shown in practice that she is ready to contribute immediately and is set to play a significant role in the sprint freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly.
The backstroke will be one of the deeper events for the Penguins. Sophomores Megan Blazek and Michelle Von Duhn will be joined by the versatility of Carter, Malys, Jordan Dunn and April Gellatly, who can all compete in nearly every event.
In the freestyle distance events, Von Duhn will combine with Erika Gregos and freshman Lauren Connoly to head the Penguins. At last year’s league meet, Gregos and Von Duhn placed 19th and 20th respectively in the 1650-yard competition. Connolly has made the college transition quickly and is expected to contribute in her debut season.
Sophomore Danielle Blagg will anchor the breaststroke and will be partnered with Carter, Dunn, and sophomore Amanda Howard. In the butterfly, Gellatly and freshman Valerie Keim will lead the Penguins.
Bak has been very pleased with the team’s performance and enthusiasm in the offseason and is excited for the season to start.
“I’m the luckiest coach here because the team is reliable, supportive of one another, very coachable, they are willing to try new things, and they are training very hard,” she said.
The 2002 diving squad will feature two established competitors and two newcomers. Returning with Smail is sophomore Kalyn Leveto. Leveto came on strong at the end of last season, finishing fourth in the three-meter dive and eighth in the one-meter dive at the league meet. She also qualified for the NCAA Region C Diving Zones in both the one and three-meter events, finishing 33rd and 34rd, respectively. Joining Leveto and Smail will be freshman Becky Herman and YSU volleyball captain Cameron Drake.
Leveto and Smail will have to take charge of a team that lost four-year team MVP Brandi Goettsch, last season’s Horizon League Diver of the Year.
Head diving coach Nick Gavolas said that overcoming the loss of Goettsch will be a hard task, but he still anticipates having a successful season.
“We have some big shoes to fill with Brandi leaving, but I think Mandie and Kalyn are more than ready and able to step up,” he said. “I’m looking to go into the conference meet and win it.”
Both the swimming and diving teams will start their season tomorrow at the Bowling Green Relays. They will then return home for the first of seven meets to be held at the Beeghly Natatorium to compete against Marshall on Oct. 26. The team will take an 11-day training trip to Florida in January where they will compete in the International Hall of Fame Meet on Jan. 3. The Penguins will host the YSU Invitational on Feb. 9 to prepare for the Horizon League Championships, which will be held at Cleveland St. from Feb. 26 to March 1. The NCAA Zone Championships will be March 13-15 at Indiana University.

Cross Country: Edwards Named Horizon Athlete of the Week  Posted Wednesday, October 16, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State senior Will Edwards was named the Horizon League's Male Cross Country Athlete of the Week for the period ending Oct. 13 for his performance at the All-Ohio Championships, Horizon League Cross Country Contact Michael Ingberg announced Tuesday.
Edwards earned second-team All-Ohio honors at the meet on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, by running a 12th place 8k time of 26:19.0. He finished first for the Penguins for the fifth consecutive race, leading the team to a fourth place finish.

Football: Penguins Move Up In All Three Polls  Posted Wednesday, October 16, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- On the strength of a three-game winning streak, the Youngstown State football team moved up from 24th to 18th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and from 22nd to 17th in The Sports Network Poll and from 19th to 15th in the Pete's Power Poll index (Pete's is an index of play-off eligible schools). Montana remains No. 1 in all three polls.
The Penguins are one of five different Gateway Conference schools in the rankings. Western Illinois is 10th in both polls, Northern Iowa is 21st (TSN) and 23rd (Coaches), Western Kentucky is 25th in the Coaches Poll and Southern Illinois is 25th in The Sports Network rankings. The Youngstown State-Northern Iowa game at 4 p.m. is one of four matchups this Saturday between teams ranked in the top 25.

Youngstown St 24, Florida Atlantic 17  Posted Sunday, October 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
MIAMI (AP) -- P.J. Mays ran for two touchdowns as Youngstown State withstood a late rally to defeat Florida Atlantic 24-17 on Saturday.

After building a 24-3 halftime lead, Youngstown (4-2) bogged down on offense and was held scoreless in the second half.

The Owls (0-6) scored twice in the fourth quarter.

Their first touchdown came on a 15-yard run by Daveon Barron that made the score 24-10.

Late in the quarter, Florida Atlantic's Craig Roundtree blocked a Penguins punt and the Owls recovered at the YSU 38-yard line. Twelve plays later, quarterback Jared Allen scored on a 1-yard run to cut Youngstown's lead to 24-17 with 2:25 left in the game.

Youngstown ran out the clock on its ensuing possession to seal the win.

The Penguins scored on their opening offensive series, a 56-yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Mays for a 7-0 lead.

On Florida Atlantic's first possession, an interception by Mike Bracken put Youngstown at the Owls 31-yard line. Six plays later, Jake Stewart kicked a 32-yard field goal to make the score 10-0.

In the second quarter, Mays 11-yard touchdown run made the score 17-3. On their next possession, the Owls fumbled on a punt attempt and Mike Andrews returned it 7 yards for a touchdown.

Cross Country: Edwards, Schnitkey Earn All-Ohio Honors  Posted Saturday, October 12, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Senior Will Edwards and sophomore Emily Schnitkey earned second team All-Ohio honors as the Youngstown State men's cross country team finished fourth and the women finished 14th at the All-Ohio Championships held at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.
Edwards finished 12th with a time of 26:19.0 in the 8k competition earned and Schnitkey placed 11th, running a time of 18:49.2 in her 5k race.
Nick Buzek finished second for the men, completing the course in a time of 26:48.0. Co-captains Paul Robinette and Kurt Michaelis finished third and fourth for the Penguins and 29th and 30th overall, running times of 27:04.0 and 27:06.2, respectively. Tony Orcena finished 53rd with a time of 27:34.8 to round out the scoring for YSU.
Following Schnitkey's lead for the women was Andrea Bardy, who crossed the finish line second on the team and 65th overall with a time of 20:07.6. Behind Bardy, sophomore Lindsay Wojciak finished 91st with a time of 20:26.5. Freshman Katie Krupko finished fourth on the team for the first time in her career by running a time of 20:48.5. Junior Lindsay Frontz finished 135th to conclude the scoring with a time of 21:20.2.
After competing in their 39-team races, the men's record improves to 75-34 and the women's record moves to 53-44 on the season.
Ohio State won the men's competition by featuring a top five that had just a five second gap and place third through seventh. Toledo won it's first All-Ohio Championship on the women's side, placing three runners in the top five.
Schnitkey also placed 11th at last year's All-Ohio Championships and was named All-Ohio Freshman of the Year, running a time of 18:56.
The Penguin Harriers continue their season next Saturday at the Division I Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind. at 9:30 a.m.

Women's Golf: Penguins Fifth After Day One  Posted Saturday, October 12, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Richmond, Ky. -- Sophomore Gina Abbruzzino shot a 74 and is tied for fourth while the YSU women's golf team currently stands in fifth with a team score of 315 after one day at the Eastern Kentucky Fall Invitational at the Arlington Golf Course.
Lori Hatcher and Jenni Grossi both stand in the top 20 after firing rounds of 76 and 77, respectively. Hatcher is tied for 13th place while Grossi is tied for 20th.
Jenny Fleiner is tied for 64th after shooting and 88 and Nichole Hamstreet stands tied for 75th with a score of 91

Men's Basketball: Penguins Begin Workouts on Saturday  Posted Thursday, October 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team welcomes five new faces to the court on Saturday afternoon when the Penguins practice at the Beeghly Center. Participating in drills for the first time are junior college transfers forward Jamel Porter and center Adam Baumann who are joined by freshmen guards Derrick Harris, Jonathan Mends and Andrew Jahnke.
Returning for YSU from last year's team that participated in the Horizon League for the first time are senior guard Marlon Williamson, junior forwards TeJay Anderson and Bill Mallernee, sophomore forwards Brian Radakovich and Khari McQueen and sophomore guard Doug Underwood.
Head Coach John Robic, who enters his fourth season in charge of the Penguins, said he is anxious to take to the court for practices on Saturday.
"We are talented in certain positions," Robic said. "With a couple of players on the team, what they may not have in talent, they make up with in heart and hard work. We've had a great seven-week preseason and right now, I am just excited to get ready and get started."
Headlining the returning players are Anderson, Underwood and Radakovich. Anderson played in 20 games last season but led the team averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. Underwood scored 290 points -- an average of 10.7 per contest in his rookie campaign. Radakovich had a team-high 24 blocked shots and came on strong at the end of the season.
Williamson was the backup to Ryan Patton at the point-guard spot. Williamson played in 27 games and started at UW-Green Bay. He was second on the team in steals with 32. McQueen played in just three games and was medically redshirted after suffering a broken foot. Mallernee was a key bench player for YSU after starting the first seven games.
Playing with only one senior is a challenge, but Robic said everyone on the team is not concerned about a lack of experience in playing in the league.
"This group, as young as they are, have worked their tails off this preseason and are really excited about the start of practice this Saturday," he said.
The newcomers bring solid experiences to the program. Baumann, at 6-foot-8 was an honorable-mention NJCAA All-American and played for new YSU assistant coach Dolph Carroll at Yavapai Junior College the past two seasons. He averaged 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game last year.
Porter, a 6-7 forward, averaged 14.5 points and eight rebounds per game at Casper (Wyo.) College a season ago.
Mends will look to compete with Williamson for time at the point guard spot. At Carol City High School, in Miami, Fla., Mends was an all-county pick and averaged almost a double-double in points and assists his final two seasons. Harris set a Proctor Academy record for points with 1,017 as a 6-2 guard. His final campaign he averaged 20 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals per game. Rounding out the newcomers is Jahnke, a recruited walk-on. Jahnke was impressive last year averaging 24.3 points per game at Lincoln High School in Manitowoc, Wis. His point total of 558 eclipsed a school record that had stood since 1965.
With a more athletic team, Robic said the Penguins will look to get up and down the court more this season.
"We are going to play differently this season and I am excited about that," Robic said. "We are going to be a little bit more wide open offensively and add a little bit more pressure defensively. We have been meeting as a staff about setting a gameplan for how we are going to attack this season.
"There are a lot of positives to this coming season and I am anxious to see how some of our players perform."
The Penguins play their only exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 9 when they play host to the U.S.B.L. All-Stars. Tipoff for the game is set for 7 p.m. and is free to attend.

Women's Basketball: Penguins Begin Practice Saturday  Posted Wednesday, October 9, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – The foundation of success for the 2002-03 edition of the Youngstown State women’s basketball program is an amalgamation of youth, talent, a desire to win and a passion to play the game. Those attributes also perfectly describe the makeup of the Penguin basketball squad, which begins practice on Saturday, Oct. 12 and open the 2002-03 campaign against Bowling Green, Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. in Bowling Green, Ohio.
With the infusion of four freshmen to a squad with five sophomores, three juniors and just one senior, the Penguins will have nine players on the team with no more than one year of college basketball playing experience. At the same time, however, Youngstown State also returns nine letterwinners and three starters from a team that tied for fourth place in the Horizon League.
"I feel really good about this season," said Youngstown State Head Coach Ed DiGregorio, who is entering his 20th season at the helm of the Penguins. "Our players have dedicated themselves to working hard in the off-season to improve and showing what it takes to make our program the best it can be."
"We are younger than we were last season. Of the 13 players we have on our roster, nine of them are sophomores and freshmen."
"I also think we will be stronger than last season," DiGregorio said. "Several of our sophomores received a lot of playing time last year and our upperclassmen have each gained another year of experience. So I think the future of our program is really bright."
The backcourt is headed by a talented duo in returning starters junior Cathy Hanek and Maggie Johnston, who is the lone senior on the ballclub. Hanek and Johnston each appeared in 27 games and combined for 166 assists.
Johnston, a point guard, finished fourth on the team in scoring with 9.6 points per game while leading the squad with 3.4 assists per game. She also drilled 37 3-pointers, which was second on the team.
Hanek is slated to fill the slot at the shooting guard position but also has the capabilities to run the offense from the point. The Youngstown, Ohio, native finished second on the team and sixth in the Horizon League with a .363 3-point field goal percentage.
"We are fortunate to have two leaders like Cathy and Maggie in our backcourt," DiGregorio said. "They have been working really hard in the off-season and I’m anxious to see how much they have improved."
Another aspect about the guard position that impresses DiGregorio is the group’s versatility.
"We also have several players that can play both positions, so that creates some depth for us at the point and shooting guard."
Junior Devin Novak returns for her third season with the Penguins and is expected to see time at the shooting guard slot. Novak finished the season connecting on 36.4 percent of her 3-point attempts.
Sophomore Jessica Olmstead and freshmen Ashlee Russo and Aliyah Sabree will be vying for time at both guard positions.
The Penguins have a large void to fill at the small forward position with the departure of leading scorer Heather Harris, but DiGregorio feels he has the weapons to cover the loss. Sophomore Barb Fabianova, who played for the Slovak Republic Under-20 National Team this past summer, gained quality playing time last season as a freshman and averaged 6.3 points per game while sinking 34 3-pointers.
"Playing in Europe all summer is going to pay huge dividends for Barb," DiGregorio said. "She gained a ton of experience and played against some great competition so she should be ready to step up for us this year."
Novak could also see some time at the small forward.
"Devin is a terrific shooter and that is what we are going to need at that spot," said DiGregorio.
Youth is abundant at the power forward slot for the Penguins in 2002-03. Headlining the cast at the No. 4 position is 2002 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year Jen Perugini, who averaged 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season. Perugini collected a team-best 10 double-doubles and set the YSU freshman rebounding record at 239.
"Jen came right in and created an inside presence for us," DiGregorio said. "Her ability to rebound, score inside and play solid defense really solidified our post play."
Perugini, who led the League in rebounding, ranked third in the Horizon League with 1.15 blocks per game, 10th with a .483 field goal percentage and 16th in scoring.
Junior Jessica Forsythe, who finished the season with a .587 field goal percentage, is also expected to see action at power forward.
The Penguins also have some big shoes to fill at center with the graduation of Jenny Horner, who scored 9.8 points per game and collected 6.8 rebounds per game.
The concern on the low block is not a question of lack of talent but rather a lack of experience. Sophomore Tara Fleming appeared in 24 games, but averaged just 10.5 minutes per game, and is the most experienced center on the squad. Fleming, who tied a single-game school record with five blocks, averaged 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game last season.
Freshmen Michelle Holmes and Nicole Neila will also be vying for time at the post.
"We are fortunate to have three quality players at center," DiGregorio said. "They are all young but have loads of talent. Each will have to continue to get stronger and continue learning the college game."
Continually striving to improve the program, DiGregorio has slated a rugged schedule for the Penguins in 2002-03. Besides six Mid-American Conference opponents, the Penguins face four teams that earned trips to the NCAA Tournament, including at nationally-ranked Vanderbilt, at Kent State and Horizon League member UW-Green Bay. The Penguins also have a possible matchup with NCAA Tournament participant Harvard at the Vanderbilt Tournament. Youngstown State also visits Big Ten and in-state foe Ohio State on Dec. 20 in Columbus, Ohio.
"This is the type of schedule I like to play," DiGregorio said. "Our non-conference schedule is tough, but that is also a way to measure where you are when league play comes around. I want our players to be prepared when we are in the Horizon League portion of the schedule. We are not going to get better by not playing top-caliber teams during the non-conference. Playing quality teams is just going to make us better."
The Youngstown State women’s basketball team continues its "youth-movement" during the 2002-03 season with five sophomores and four freshmen. The Penguins, however, are dedicated to continuing their climb up the Horizon League standings with a young but talented group of players.
At the same time, the Penguins return nine letterwinners and three starters from last season’s squad, including the 2002 Horizon League Player of the Year Jen Perugini.
"I think this year could be a turning point for our program," DiGregorio said. "We have a group of young ladies that have the desire to return Youngstown State women’s basketball back to the top of the class. They have worked tirelessly in the off-season to improving their game and are dedicated to making YSU a championship-caliber program."

Lady Pens Golfers Win Golden Grizzly Invitational   Posted Wednesday, October 9, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Rochester, Mich. -- The Youngstown State women's golf team held off Grand Valley State on Tuesday to earn the team title at the Golden Grizzly Invitational hosted by Oakland University at Katke-Cousins Golf Course. The Penguins (334-336) beat the Lakers (345-326) by one stroke 670 to 671 after leading by 11 strokes following the first round.
Lori Hatcher was the top finisher for the women placing third with a 165 (80-85). Jennifer Grossi tied for seventh with a 168 (83-85), Gina Abruzzino was 10th carding a 169 (85-84), Nichole Hamstreet was 11th firing a 170 (88-82) and Elizabeth Sabatino placed 25th with a 180 (86-94).

Women's Golf: Penguins, Hatcher in First With 18 Holes Remaining  Posted Tuesday, October 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State women's golf team is leading the way at the Golden Grizzly Invitational at the Katke-Cousins Golf Course in Rochester, Mich. YSU posted a team score of 334 and has an 11 stroke lead with just 18 holes remaining.
Junior Lori Hatcher is leading the Penguins and is tied for first overall with Oakland University's Emily Minnich after shooting 39 on the front nine and 41 on the back for a combined eight-over total of 80.
Senior Jennifer Grossi is in fourth with an 83 and sophomore Gina Abrazzino is tied for sixth with a one-round score of 85. Elizabeth Sabatino and Nichole Hamstreet round out the scoring for the Penguins, shooting scores of 86 and 88, respectively.
Grand Valley State is in second at the competition with a team score of 345.
The second round will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

YSU Softballers Conclude a Terrific Fall Season  Posted Tuesday, October 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Columbus, Ohio -- The Youngstown State softball team concluded a successful fall season with a 12-4 record after going 3-3 at the Ohio Charity Classic hosted by Ohio State.
The Penguins defeated Bowling Green, 3-2, Wright State, 6-3, and Dayton, 4-2, while falling to Cleveland State, 12-3, Ohio, 4-3 and Ohio State, 1-0.
On the first day of competition, freshman Tiffany Patteson's 3-for-3 performance led the Penguins past the Falcons while senior Zetta Dumkrieger went 3-for-4 and Patteson went 2-for-4 in the loss to Ohio.
On Sunday, sophomore Char Kudlock picked up two hits against the Buckeyes, while Dumkrieger turned in another 2-for-4 outing against Wright State. Senior Steph Hartman picked up two wins for the Penguins against Bowling Green and Dayton while freshman Kelly Murphy notched the victory over the Raiders.
Against Dayton, Patteson and freshman Codi Bise each slapped two hits to lead YSU.
The Penguins open the 2003 season against Eastern Kentucky, March 1 at 1:30 p.m. at the University of Kentucky Softball Tournament.

Penguins Have Strong Showing in 31-16 Win Over ISU  Posted Sunday, October 6, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team (3-2, 2-1 in the Gateway) defeated Indiana State (2-4, 0-1 in the Gateway) 31-16 behind 250 rushing yards and a dominating defensive effort that forced five Sycamore turnovers and blocked a field goal on Saturday night at Stambaugh Stadium.
Senior P.J. Mays led the offensive attack with 176 yards on 30 carries and one-yard touchdown plunge and senior linebacker Justin Dellarose anchored the defense with seven tackles, one sack, two pass deflections, and a key forced fumble.
Senior Guy Mazard ignited the Penguin defense early with a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in the endzone on the first three Sycamore plays from scrimmage.
On ISU's first snap, Mazard worked his way into the Sycamore backfield and sacked Julian Reese causing the quarterback to fumble into the hands of Penguin linebacker Martin Stachowicz.
After a 39-yard punt by Kosta Karapetsas, ISU started it's second drive on it's own four yardline. On the second play of the drive, the Sycamore's fumbled a handoff and Mazard recovered the ball in the endzone for his first career touchdown and the first score for the Penguins.
The Sycamores got on the board early in the second quarter behind a 42-yard field goal by Mike Megyesi with 12:39 remaining before halftime, capping a 14 play drive that covered 41 yards.
After the Penguins failed to score on its first possession of the second quarter, the Sycamores took over on their own 10 with the momentum and began a 16 play drive that covered 61 yards down to the YSU 29. On a fourth and eight, Megyesi came back in to bring the score within one, but Stachowicz blocked his 47-yard attempt and the Sycamores never recovered.
Following the blocked field goal, the Penguins went on a 35-yard drive that led to a 40-yard Jake Stewart field goal at the end of the half and went up 10-3 at the break.
After forcing the Sycamores to punt the ball away on a three-and-out series to start the second half, the Penguins marched 51 yards on nine plays to the ISU one yard line to set up Mays' touchdown run with 9:00 remaining in the third quarter to take control of the game at 17-3.
Josiah Doby put the game out of reach for the Penguins with 9:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. After Mike Andrews recovered a fumbled punt return by Clythel Branson, YSU went on a five-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Doby finding pay dirt from nine yards out to make the score 24-3 in favor of the Penguins.
The Sycamores answered right back with their own scoring drive, going 62 yards on 10 plays. Reese found James Braden from 25 yards out with 6:17 remaining to move the score to 24-10.
Following their touchdwon, the Sycamores tried an onside kick that was recovered by John Schumacher on the ISU 43. Eight plays later, Doby found the endzone for the second time of the quarter on a 12-yard run.
Reese and Braden connected one more time for a score with 45 seconds to move the score to 31-16, but Schumacher recovered his second consecutive onside kick and all the waited were two kneel downs for the Penguin victory.
Doby finished with 39 yards on six carries for the Penguins, and freshman quarterback rushed for 33 yards on 14 carries and passed for 11, completing two passes in seven attempts.
Anthony Barone led the Penguins with eight tackles and four players finished with seven tackles.
Reese finished 21-of-35, throwing two touchdowns and one interception by Mike Bracken in the third quarter.
The Penguins continue their 2002 campaign next Saturday against Florida Atlantic at Pro Player Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins.

Basketball Season-Ticket Packages on Sale Now  Posted Friday, October 4, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State Athletic Ticket Office is now selling men's and women's basketball season-ticket packages, including an all-inclusive "Penguin Package" that features tickets to all men's and women's home games.
The "Penguin Package" includes tickets for all 12 regular-season home men's games and 13 women's games at the Beeghly Center. Packages are $128 for reserved seats and $96 for general admission. A "Men's Package" is available for $104 (reserved) and $78 (general admission) while a "Women's Package" is available for the same price. To purchase tickets, call the Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978.

Volleyball: Penguins Sweep Red Flash, 3-0  Posted Wednesday, October 2, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State volleyball team used an impressive .306 team hitting percentage to sweep St. Francis (Pa.), 30-16, 32-30, 30-24, and improve to 8-9 overall.
Junior Colleen Royer collected her 10th double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs while hitting at a .417 pace and lacing four service aces to lead the Penguins. Classmate Annie Buschur also pounded 12 kills with a .500 hitting percentage and sophomore Lori Lyman tallied 10 digs. Junior Beth Boscarelli led the Penguins defensively with a career-high 17 digs, including 12 in the third and final game.
Freshman Emily Turza led the Red Flash with 10 kills.
YSU returns to Horizon League action against UW-Milwaukee, Friday, Oct. 4, at 8 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wis.

Football: YSU Coaching Staff Names Players of the Week  Posted Wednesday, October 2, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- For the third consecutive week, senior linebacker Jon Tekac has been named YSU's Defensive Player of the Game for his effort against SMS. Tekac was also selected as the Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Junior tailback Josiah Doby was selected as the team's offensive player of the game and junior placekicker Jake Stewart was named the special teams player of the game.
Tekac has 10 total tackles, an interception and a forced fumble and fumble recovery when he ripped the ball out of Zach Dechant's arms. Tekac's return of the fumble for a touchdown was negated by a penalty on the return. Doby had 92 yards rushing, including a 61-yard scoring run in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Stewart booted a 46-yarder for his first field goal of the season.
Senior tight end Dennis Dlugosz was tabbed as the Penguins' Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Game. Senior defensive tackle Guy Mazard earned two awards being named the Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Player of the Game and earning honors as the Haines Family Player of the Game by YSU's radio broadcast crew.
Earning scout-team honors was junior quarterback Luis Gonzalez on offense, freshman cornerback Jason Perry on defense and freshman defensive back Quentin Humphries on special teams

Penguins Prevent SMS Comeback in 24-17 Thriller  Posted Sunday, September 29, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Springfield, Mo. -- The Youngstown State football team built a 17-point lead over SMS by forcing five turnovers and playing smashmouth Penguin Football, before the defense stopped SMS twice deep in YSU territory in the late stages of the fourth quarter in a 24-17 victory at a sundrenched Plaster Field on Saturday afternoon.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Marshall was victorious in his debut as Youngstown State (2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Gateway) scored 17 points in the third quarter on touchdown runs by Josiah Doby and Mike Burns and added a 46-yard field goal by Jake Stewart. But SMS (3-2 and 0-1) scored 10 points in the first five minutes of the fourth period before the YSU defense rose to the occasion with two big fourth-down stops in Penguin territory.
After building a 24-7advantage through three quarters, SMS' Kaila Williams scooped up a Burns fumble and rumbled 52 yards for a touchdown and with 10:08 remaining Brian Long's 48-yard field goal brought the Bears within a touchdown.
Youngstown State's defense came up big in the fourth as the offensive productivity declined. Trailing 24-17, SMS moved to the YSU 14-yard line, but Zach Dechant was tackled inches shy of a first down by Martin Stachowicz.
SMS had one last shot to drive and tie the game, but on fourth-and-8 Michael White's pass to Dechant was for only six yards to move the ball to the YSU 21. The Penguins ran two plays to end the game and snap a two-game losing streak.
With the wind in the third quarter, YSU took the opening kickoff and four plays later found the end zone when Doby burst through the left side and scored on a 61-yard run. Later in the period, Burns capped a 6-play 43-yard drive that was set up by a Sherod Holmes interception with a two-yard score. With five seconds remaining, Stewart made his first field goal of the season putting the Penguins in front 24-7.
After a scoreless first quarter, Marshall threw his first career touchdown pass -- which was also his first career completion -- to sophomore Philip Larmon. The 10-yard touchdown toss capped an impressive 14-play 59-yard drive that ate 7:10 off the clock.
The Penguins forced their second turnover of the game when senior Jon Tekac stripped the ball away from Zach Dechant. But two plays following the turnover, SMS' Darryl Robinson picked off a pass and returned it 67 yards to tie the game at seven.
Marshall, who was YSU's third different starting quarterback in as many games, had 30 yards rushing on 18 carries and completed 2-of-5 passes for a touchdown and an interception and a total of 17 yards. His first completion was for a touchdown while his second, a seven-yard pass to Chris DiMauro, set up Burns' two-yard score.
Mays, Doby and Burns each carried the ball at least eight times. Mays was the top gainer of the three with 95 yards on 20 carries. Doby had 93 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown while Burns had eight carries for 22 yards and a score.
For the game, the Penguins had 261 yards of total offense -- 244 of which came on the ground. SMS finished with 234 yards, including 164 yards passing. YSU held a huge advantage in time of possession, holding the ball for 36:13 compared to just 23:47 for the Bears. The victory improved YSU to 7-0 all-time against SMS with five games being decided by a touchdown or less.
The Penguins return home for the first time in four weekends when they play host to Indiana State next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. YSU is 10-1 all-time against the Sycamores, including a 35-21 win at ISU last season.

Cross Country: Personal Records, Schnitkey Lead Penguin Harriers at Iona  Posted Sunday, September 29, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Six out of the top seven men had personal records behind Will Edwards en route to an 11th place finish and Emily Schnitkey led the women for the third straight race to a 15th place finish at the Iona Meet of Champions Saturday morning.
Edwards led the men for the third consecutive race to a 15th place finish, running a time of 25:48.0. Schnitkey finished 42nd for the women with a time of 22:50.6
Behind Edwards, the next six runners had personal 8k bests for the men. Paul Robinette finished 49th with a time of 26:08.4 while Kurt Michaelis ran a time of 26:10.3 to place 53rd. Nick Buzek ran a time of 26:31.6 and Nick Smith rounded out the top five, which featured a gap of just 56 seconds, with a time of 26:44.6. Completing the string of personal bests were Chris Hine and Nick Kruse.
Andrea Bardy was the second Penguin to cross the finish line on the women's side, finishing 87th with a time of 23:34.0. Lindsay Wojciak came in 125th place with a time of 24:06.0 and Lindsay Frontz finished 132nd with a time of 24:14.1. Freshman Katie Krupko rounded out the top five for YSU, placing 180th with a time of 25:20.6.
The men's record moved to 37-14 while the women are 24-21 for the season.
The Iona men won their own meet, finishing first out of the 26 teams on the men's side. Missouri's women's squad won the 25-team women's 6k race.
The Penguin Harriers continue their season on Friday at the Notre Dame Invitational.

Volleyball: Vikings Outlast Penguins In Five Games  Posted Saturday, September 28, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Despite 17 kills from junior Annie Buschur and Colleen Royer, the Youngstown State volleyball team (7-9, 0-1 Horizon League) lost its Horizon League opener to Cleveland State (12-3, 1-0 Horizon League) in a five-game thriller, 30-20, 22-30, 26-30, 30-24, 13-15, Friday night at Beeghly Center. Royer also recorded a double-double with 14 digs while Buschur added six blocks and a .364 hitting percentage.
Cleveland State's Michelle Iafigliola recorded a double-double with 21 kills and 12 digs and led three other Vikings with at least 10 kills. Sophomore Jamie Bouyer nailed 16 kills with a .325 hitting percentage while Alisa Hatcher tallied 12 kills, 15 digs and five aces and setter Kelly Crain slammed 11 kills with a .526 hitting percentage and 50 assists.
Youngstown State freshman Nickole Kennedy also ripped 16 kills while classmate Angie Pasquinelli added a double-double with 51 assists and 17 digs.
The Penguins host St. Francis (Pa.), Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center while the Vikings visit UW-Green Bay, Friday, Oct. 4, at 8 p.m.

Football: Penguins Look To Rebound, Remain Perfect vs. SMS  Posted Friday, September 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State football team will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak when the Penguins travel to Springfield, Mo., to play at Southwest Missouri State on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff for the Gateway Football Conference’s television game of the week is 2:37 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Penguins (1-2 overall and 0-1 in the Gateway) are coming off a tough 13-7 loss at Western Kentucky last Saturday. YSU led 7-3 in the second quarter before the Hilltoppers scored the contest’s final 10 points. The loss marked the first time since joining the league that Youngstown State did not win its conference opener.
Now, the Penguins will try to keep another successful streak alive when they play at SMS (3-1 and 0-0) on Saturday. In six all-time meetings, Youngstown State has never lost to the Bears, including three wins at Plaster Field. In last year’s contest the Penguins forced six turnovers in a 41-20 victory.
This year, SMS is 3-1 with wins over East Central, Hampton and SE Missouri State and a loss at Division I Kansas. The Bears have been one of the Gateway’s hottest teams since playing the Penguins last October. Since that time, SMS has won seven of eight games.
Following the conclusion of the SMS game, Youngstown State returns home to face Indiana State on Oct. 5.

Coaching Capsules
YSU: Second-year Coach Jon Heacock (Muskingum, 1983) is 9-5 overall at Youngstown State. Heacock finished the 2001 season with an 8-3 record setting a school record for wins by a first-year mentor. He has spent eight of the past 11 years on the YSU coaching staff. He spent seven seasons in Youngstown from 1990 through 1996 before spending three years as the defensive coordinator at Indiana. He returned to YSU as the defensive coordinator in 2000 and took over as head coach in January 2001.
SMS: Randy Ball (Truman State, 1973) is in his fourth season as the head coach of SMS and in his 13th year as a head coach. Ball was the head coach at Western Illinois from 1990 through 1998. In his four years at SMS he is 19-18 and is 83-59-1 as a head coach.

SMS Scouting Report
SMS enters the game having won seven of its last eight contests dating back to last season. This year, the Bears are 3-1 and the contest against the Penguins is their Gateway Conference opener. The Bears also bring a four-game home winning streak into the contest.
SMS is coming off a 28-21 victory over instate rival SE Missouri State and is off to its best start since a 5-1 mark to open the 1996 campaign.
Against SEMO, quarterback Mike White made his first career start as did tailback Zach Dechant. Dechant scored four touchdowns against SEMO last Saturday.

Penguins Perfect Against SMS
In six previous meetings, the Penguins have never lost to SMS. In fact, YSU has beaten the Bears six straight years. Youngstown State has won all three games in Springfield by a combined total of 17 points.

Last Game Recap: Hilltoppers 13, Penguins 7
Western Kentucky held the Penguins rushing attack to 83 yards and forced three key turnovers in a 13-7 victory. YSU turned the ball over once on the WKU one-yard line and had a pass intercepted in the end zone for a touchback.
WKU jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a 36-yard field goal by Peter Martinez. But the Penguins took a 7-3 advantage in the second quarter on a two-yard run by P.J. Mays. Later in the quarter, WKU took a 10-7 lead on a Jason Michael touchdown run. In the third quarter, the Hilltoppers took a 13-7 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Martinez.
YSU had two scoring opportunities slip away -- one in the second quarter and one in the fourth. In the second, YSU had a first-and-goal at the WKU four, but quarterback Justin Green mishandled a snap from center and WKU recovered at the one. In the fourth, Colby Street threw an interception in the end zone ending another scoring threat.


2001 YSU-SMS Game Recap: Penguins 41, Bears 20
The Penguins took advantage of six turnovers to earn a 41-20 victory over SMS in 2001. YSU scored 14 first-quarter points and held a 21-13 edge at halftime. YSU opened the game up in the third quarter scoring three touchdowns in less than five minutes and never looked back. Tailback P.J. Mays had one of the best games of his career rushing for 218 yards and scoring three touchdowns. YSU had 393 yards rushing in the game against SMS.


Last Time Held to Less Than 100 Yards Rushing Twice
In the past two games against McNeese State and Western Kentucky, the Penguins have been held to less than 100 yards rushing in each game (83 against WKU and 86 against McNeese). The last time, YSU had consecutive contests without rushing for more than 100 yards as a team was in 1995. YSU was held to 80 yards rushing by Buffalo and Illinois State to 91 yards at the conclusion of the season.


Penguins Look to Avoid 1-3 Start
Youngstown State will be looking to avoid a 1-3 start to the season with a victory on Saturday at SMS. The last time the Penguins began a season 1-3 was in 1995. Prior to that the last 1-3 start was in 1988.


Slow Start Not a Major Problem
Two of the last four times the Penguins began a year with a 1-2 mark, the squad rebounded and advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs. In 1989 and 1987, YSU won its fourth game of the year and won seven of its last eight regular-season games to earn a berth in the postseason. In 1987, YSU shared the Ohio Valley title.

YSU Hasn’t Lost Three In A Row Since the End of the 1998 Season
The Penguins have not lost three consecutive games since the 1998 season. Since 1990, Youngstown State has lost three straight games only twice -- in 1995 and 1998. Since Nov. 14, 1998, YSU is 10-1 following a loss -- including season openers after losing the final games of 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Pickoff Artists Needed
Last season, the Penguins defense intercepted 14 passes, but of the five players who intercepted a pass last year, only Anthony Barone and Guy Mazard return. Barone and Mazard each had one interception. Only four players on the defensive side -- Barone, Mazard, Justin Dellarose (2000) and Russell Stuvaints (1999) -- have interceptions in their YSU careers. The Penguins have not intercepted a pass since the second quarter against Elon last season marking 18 quarters without a pick.


Another Family Weekend
For the second consecutive weekend the Penguins are part of a Family or Parents Weekend. Last Saturday, YSU was part of WKU’s Parents Weekend and this Saturday is part of SW Missouri State’s Family Weekend. When YSU travels to Western Illinois on Oct. 26, it will be part of the Leatherecks’ Family Weekend.


Looking to Create Turnovers
Last season was the 13th straight year that YSU had a positive turnover margin finishing the year with a plus-7 total. In 16 of the last 17 years (all but 1989), YSU has had a plus in the turnover-margin department. After the first three games, YSU is at a minus-six turnover margin. In 2000, the Penguins had eight turnovers through the first three games, just like this season. However, the squad had forced 12 to have a plus-four advantage.


Penguins On September 28
This will be the eighth contest in school history on a Sept. 28. Here are YSU’s Sept. 28 results: 1940 at Ohio (L, 0-13), 1947 vs. Baldwin-Wallace (W, 26-6), 1957 vs. Tennessee Tech (L, 7-12), 1963 at Susquehana (L, 7-12), 1985 vs. Eastern Kentucky (L, 29-36), 1991 vs. Northeastern (W, 59-7), 1996 vs. Clarion (W, 51-10).


First Road Trip For Many
Against Western Kentucky last Saturday, YSU had 21 players make the travel squad for the first time as a member of the football team. Also 13 players made their Gateway Conference debuts in the game.

Penguins Continue Ranking Streak
Youngstown State has been ranked in the top 25 in both The Sports Network Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll for the past 47 weeks. The streak continues this week with a 21st and 22nd ranking.
The Penguins have been ranked weekly in both polls since the beginning of the 1999 season. Since joining the Gateway Football Conference in 1997, YSU has been ranked in 72 of 76 weekly, preseason and postseason polls. The last time the Penguins were unranked was the final polls of the 1998 season.

Tackling Tekac
In all three games this season, senior linebacker Jon Tekac has had stellar numbers producing 40 tackles -- an average of 13.3 tackles per game. Tekac recorded 13 tackles vs. Clarion, 15 vs. McNeese State and 12 at Western Kentucky. Last season, Tekac had only one double-digit tackle game.


T.J. Peterson Bursts on Scene
Freshman wide receiver T.J. Peterson had two big receptions against Western Kentucky. Peterson had receptions of 39 and 23 yards against the Hilltoppers. Also, Peterson had a grab for 18 yards against McNeese State.


Green Makes First Career Start
Senior quarterback Justin Green made his first career start against Western Kentucky last Saturday. Green performed well at times completing 7-of-17 passes for 109 yards. On his first possession, YSU moved close enough to attempt a field goal and in the second quarter the Penguins scored a touchdown and drove to the WKU four, before a fumble gave the ball back to the Hilltoppers.

Up Next: Penguins Return Home
The Penguins return to Youngstown to play host to Indiana State on Saturday, Oct. 5. Last season, YSU defeated Indiana State 35-21 in Terre Haute, Ind. The Penguins lead the all-time series with the Sycamores by a margin of 10-1. ISU’s only win in the series was 13-6 in Youngstown in 1995. The Penguins will be trying to avoid their first consecutive home losses since dropping games to Buffalo and Illinois State at the end of the 1995 campaign.

Baseball: Winter practice Begins & Alumni Weekend Set  Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball team will celebrate its fourth annual alumni weekend on Oct. 19-20, Head Coach Mike Florak announced on Monday.
The weekend will feature a tailgate party in the lawn on the north side of Beeghly Center and the annual alumni game at Cafaro Field in Niles, Ohio.
The tailgating festivities begin at noon on Saturday, Oct. 19, and will continue until the 4 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium for the Gateway Conference matchup between YSU and Northern Iowa.
On Sunday, the alumni game will begin at Cafaro Field, the home of the Penguins and the Cleveland Indians Class-A affiliate Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Immediately following will be game seven of the team's Intersquad World Series.
The Penguins began fall practice on Sept. 9. Practices are open to the public and are usually from 2:45-5:45 on weekdays.
The 2003 squad will feature 12 recruits and new assistant coach Mark Thomas, a former YSU standout who played over two years in the Montreal Expos minor-league system.

2003 Recruiting Class

Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Hometown/High School
Justin Thomas 6-2 195 LHP Oregon, OH/Oregon Clay
Brian Boone 6-4 215 RHP-1B Pickerington, OH/Pickerington
Justin Banks 5-10 185 INF Steubenville, OH/Steubenville
J.D. Hannan 5-8 165 OF Toronto, OH/Toronto
Eric Scaffer 6-3 180 LHP Akron, OH/Garfield
Gary Hinkson 6-2 180 OF Hermitage, PA/Hickory
Brandon Caipen 5-11 170 OF-C Tallmadge, OH/Tallmadge
Charles Schultz 5-11 175 INF-P Columbus, OH/Thomas Worthington
Kevin Libeg 6-4 190 RHP Hubbard, OH/Hubbard
Ryan Vaughn 5-11 170 C Boardman, OH/Boardman
Rich Ranells 6-0 190 INF Mayfield, OH/Mayfield
J.J. Newman 5-9 165 INF Wheeling, WV/Wheeling Park

Baseball: Brumit Named Rolaids Relief Man in NY-Penn League  Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Former Youngstown State standout pitcher Matt Brumit was recently named the top closer in the New York-Penn League for the 2002 season by leading the Staten Island Yankees to the league championship.
After posting a 1-2 record with 22 saves and a 2.21 ERA for the season, Brumit closed out each of the Yankees' four playoff wins.
The closer led the league in saves, converting 22 of 24 opportunities, and in appearances with 33. Both stats broke club records and his 22 saves was just two shy of the league record.
Brumit also won the award in August by recording nine saves and posting a 1-0 record for the month.
The former Penguin pitched against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Cleveland Indians Class A minor-league affiliate, on July 21 and recorded his tenth save of the season, giving up one hit in one inning.
The Yankees drafted Brumit in the 44th round in the 2002 draft.
In his career at YSU, Brumit went 10-14 with a 6.05 ERA. He ranks tied for fifth in games started with 27 and fourth in appearances with 52 in school history.

Penguins Drop Gateway Opener at WKU, 13-7  Posted Sunday, September 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Bowling Green, Ky. -- The Youngstown State football team dropped their Gateway Football Conference opener 13-7 to Western Kentucky at L.T. Smith Stadium on Saturday night in Bowling Green, Ky.
The Penguins (1-2 overall and 0-1 in the Gateway) led 7-3 in the first half, before the Hilltoppers (2-2 and 1-1) scored the final 10 points of the contest. YSU committed three costly turnovers, including two fourth-quarter interceptions that thwarted a comeback bid.
In the second quarter, YSU trailed 3-0 before mounting a 10-play 73-yard drive that produced the a score. Senior tailback P.J. Mays scored on a two-yard run with 11:31 remaining before the half to put the Penguins in front 7-3.
Before the end of the first half, WKU took a 10-7 advantage on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Jason Michael. But the Penguins answered right back.
Green and Mays teamed up to move the Penguins to a first-and-goal situation on the WKU four-yard line in the final two minutes of the half. But Green mishandled a snap by center Nick Roberts and WKUs' Antonio Thomas recovered at the one. On the drive, Green completed a 12-yard pass to Josiah Doby and a 25-yard strike to Shawn Carlson while Mays had 39 yards rushing on five carries.
In the third quarter, Western Kentucky added a 27-yard field goal by Peter Martinez to go in front 13-7. Martinez had kicked a 36-yarder in the first quarter to put the Hilltoppers in front 3-0.
The Penguins tried to mount a rally in the final stanza behind senior quarterbacks Colby Street and Green. Street moved the Penguins to the WKU 20 behind passes to T.J. Peterson (39 yards) and Chris DiMauro (14 yards). But after a three-yard loss by Mays, Street's pass intended for Jerald Burley was intercepted by Thomas in the end zone.
A last-chance drive ended when Green was intercepted by Jeremy Chandler with 2:19 left.
For the game, Green completed 7-of-17 passes for 109 yards and had one interception. Street was 3-of-5 for 76 yards and one pick. Together the two combined to complete 10-of-22 passes for 185 yards. WKU's Michael was 7-of-11 for 70 yards.
Mays led the Penguins on the ground with 92 yards on 29 carries and the lone touchdown. Jon Frazier had 18 rushes for a game-best 112 yards. WKU outrushed YSU 213-83 and held 283-268 edge in the total yards category. Jon Tekac again led the Penguin defense with 12 total tackles.
Youngstown State remains on the road to play at SW Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff for the Gateway Conference's TV Game of the Week is 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The Penguins have defeated the Bears in all six previous meetings.

Volleyball: Penguins Take Two Matches at N.Y. Tournament  Posted Sunday, September 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Niagara University, N.Y. -- The Youngstown State volleyball team defeated Niagara 30-24, 32-30, 30-23 on Saturday night after beating Stony Brook 30-19, 30-21, 30-24 earlier in the day and improve to 3-0 in the Western New York Holiday Inn Invitational and are now 7-6 overall. The Penguins conclude tournament play at Buffalo on Sunday at 11 a.m.
In the match victory over Stony Brook, the Penguins hit .443 while holding the Brook to a .169 percentage and were led by Collen Royer who had 13 kills and Nichole Kennedy who had 12. In the win over Niagara, Royer and Anie Buschar had 12 kills each and Kennedy added 11.

Volleyball: Batton Ranked 15th Nationally In Blocks  Posted Friday, September 20, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State senior Michele Batton has made a smooth transition from outside to middle hitter for the Penguin volleyball program. As a matter of fact, Batton has become one of the top middle in the nation. The 6-foot-4 Wintersville, Ohio, native currently ranks 15th in the country with 1.60 blocks per game in the latest statistics released by the NCAA.
Batton, who leads the Horizon League in blocks per game, has collected 67 total blocks, 10 solo blocks and 57 block assists, in 42 games played. She is also averaging 1.52 kills per game while ranking sixth in the league with a .301 hitting percentage.

Pregame Tailgate Party Set for FAU Football Game  Posted Friday, September 20, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Office of Alumni Relations and the Penguin Club have teamed up to provide YSU football fans with a tailgate party prior to the Youngstown State-Florida Atlantic football game on Oct. 12 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Fla.
The tailgate party is set to begin at 4 p.m. and lead right up to the kickoff of the 7 p.m. contest between the Penguins and Owls.
The cost of the gathering is $20 per person and reservations are required. Reservations can be made by calling the YSU Office of Alumni Relations at (330) 941-3497.
Also, tickets for the contest are available from the YSU Ticket Office for $15 each. Penguins fans can purchase tickets by calling (330) 941-1YSU.
The night prior to the contest at 7 p.m., both groups are planning on a gathering at the team hotel in Plantation, Fla.
Other events for the week include an alumni gathering in Orlando on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the Wyndham Resort & Spa, in the Palm Beach Area on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Crown Plaza Ocean Front Hotel.

Orlando Area Alumni
Wednesday, Oct. 9
6-8 p.m. at the Wyndham Resort & Spa
1900 Lake Buena Vista Dr.
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Cost is $10 per person

This casual, come-as-you-are party is intended for all alumni and friends in the Orlando area. We look forward to great conversations and reminiscing about YSU as we present a current "tour" of the campus. Plenty of food and great YSU hospitality will be available to all who attend - and of course the first drink is on us. Your RSVP is needed for the event.

Palm Beach Area Alumni
Thursday, Oct. 10
6-8 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Ocean Front
3200 Ocean Drive
Singer Island, Fla.
Cost is $10 per person

We would never forget all of our alumni and friends in the Palm Beach area. Join us as we prepare to cheer the Penguins on to victory. We will have plenty of information and pictures of YSU - there has been so much change! Plenty of food and drink will be available for all alumni and friends who attend. Your RSVP is needed for the event.

Pre-Game Party
Friday, Oct. 11
7-10 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel
1200 South Pine Island Road
Plantation, Fla.
No Admission Fee

This party is intended for all YSU alumni and friends from near and far. No formal program will occur - just join us in the hotel lounge and lobby area. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. Your RSVP will help us plan for the event. Wear your red and white and be ready to cheer the Penguins on to victory.

YSU vs. Florida Atlantic Tailgate Party
Saturday, Oct. 12
4-7 p.m. at Pro Player Stadium
Miami, Fla.
Cost is $20 per person

Make sure you do not miss this tailgate extravaganza featuring a great time, plenty of food and assorted beverages. The cost is only $20 per person. We must receive your RSVP and check by Oct. 3 due to catering constraints. Tailgate tickets, maps and general information about this function will be mailed upon receipt of confirmation. We apologize that walk-ins cannot be accommodated for this function.

For more information or to make a reservation, please contact the YSU Office of Alumni Relations at (330) 941-2497. Or if you would like to send a check please send it to: YSU Alumni Relations, One University Plaza, Youngstown OH 44555

Volleyball: Royer Leads YSU To Fourth-Place Finish At UMKC Classic  Posted Sunday, September 15, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Kansas City, Mo. -- Youngstown State junior colleen Royer was named to the All-Tournament Team at the UMKC Kangaroo Classic after leading the Penguins (4-6) to a fourth-place finish and a 1-3 record. In four matches, Royer pounded 65 kills with 62 digs for an average of 3.71 kills and 3.65 digs per game.
The 6-foot- outside hitter paced the Penguins with 15 kills and 22 digs in a five game win over Duquesne, 30-12, 26-30, 16-30, 30-27, 15-5. Four other Penguins recorded at least 10 kills, including freshman Nickole Kennedy with a career-high 12 , senior Michele Batton with 11, and junior Annie Buschur and sophomore Lori Lyman each with 10. Batton also recorded a double-double with 12 bocks with a .647 hitting percentage.
Royer continued her offensive assault against Iowa State with another double-double with 18 kills and 10 digs but the Penguins hit a mere .070 as a team and fell to the Cyclones, 30-28, 17-30, 19-30, 23-30.
Against UMKC, Kennedy tied a career-high with 12 kills and was the only Penguin to reach double-figures in kills while Buschur recorded nine kills.
The Penguins visit Canisius, Friday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. as part of the Western New York-Holiday Inn Volleyball Invitational.

Soccer: Penguins Lose Home Opener in OT  Posted Saturday, September 14, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- IUPUI’s Tara Latella scored two goals, including one in overtime, to lift the Jaguars to a 2-1 victory over the Youngstown State Women’s Soccer team on Friday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.
Freshman Maura Patton gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead going into halftime when she scored her fourth career goal at 33:30 off an assist from junior Kara White. Latella scored her first goal to tie the game at 67:29.
The Jaguars outshot the Penguins 29-14 and outcornered YSU 8-2. Freshman goalkeeper Caitlin Bestard recorded 17 saves for the Penguins. With the loss, YSU drops to 1-3 on the season. IUPUI improves to 2-4 with the win.
The Penguins return to action on Sunday, September 15 when they play at Robert Morris University at 3 p.m.

Penguin Soccer, Softball Teams To Raise Money For Cancer Research  Posted Friday, September 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio - For the second consecutive season, the Youngstown State soccer and softball programs will utilize their athletic abilities to benefit the fight against cancer.
For each goal the YSU women's soccer team scores during the 2002 season, $190.00 per goal will be donated to the Mahoning County Chapter of the American Cancer Society (ACS). Currently, the Penguins have raised $3,040 in pledges. Last season, the Penguins raised more than $1,500 for the ACS. The Penguins look to increase their pledge total when they host IUPUI, Friday, Sept. 13, at 4 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
"Fighting cancer is an on-going battle," said YSU Head Soccer Coach Liz Bartley. "We feel privileged to help play a part in the effort to stop this disease."
The Youngstown State softball team, along with eight other Division I softball programs from the state of Ohio, will participate in the second annual Ohio Collegiate Charity Classic benefiting the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Oct. 5-6 at Fred Beekman Park at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The other Ohio schools include Bowling Green, Cleveland State, Dayton, Kent State, Ohio University, Ohio State, Toledo, and Wright State.
"We are very honored to play in this tournament and help fight the battle against this terrible disease," said Youngstown State Head Softball Coach Christy Cameron. "Breast cancer is a disease which affects many people throughout the state of Ohio, our nation, and the world and we want to help find a cure."
According to the Stephanie Spielman Fund website (www.jamesline.com/output/spielmanfm.htm), research shows breast cancer continues to be the second leading cause of death among women in America. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime and if detected in the earliest stages, the cure rate is 90 percent or higher.
Stefanie Spielman and her husband, former All-Pro NFL linebacker and OSU standout, Chris Spielman, established the Stefanie Spielman Fund. The couple pledged to raise $1 million for breast cancer research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University. The goal has been
surpassed, but the Spielman's continue the fight against breast cancer.
Last year, the tournament was held in Akron and $5,500 was donated to breast cancer research. A venue conflict required the event to be held in Columbus this year. Concessions will be available and bleacher seating is limited. Admission to the event will be a $5 donation and all proceeds go directly to the charity. Notably, all of the umpires for this event are donating their time.

Women's Basketball: Buckeyes, Vandy Highlight 2002-03 Schedule  Posted Tuesday, September 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – A non-conference match-up with in-state foe Ohio State, a possible contest against nationally-ranked Vanderbilt and four NCAA Tournament participants highlight the 2002-03 Youngstown State women's basketball schedule, Head Coach Ed DiGregorio announced on Monday.
"This is probably one of the toughest schedule we've ever had," said DiGregorio, who is entering his 20th at the helm of the Penguins. "We love to play tough non-conference schedules. It helps make our kids better players and prepares them for the league. It also helps our young players adjust to the college game."
For the fourth time in five seasons, the Penguins open the season against Bowling Green, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons are the first of six Mid-American Conference schools on 2002-03 slate. Other MAC schools on the Penguins' schedule include Central Michigan (Nov. 30), Toledo (Dec. 7), at NCAA Tournament participant Kent State (Dec. 15), Buffalo (Dec. 18) and Akron (Dec. 22).
YSU, which is slated to play 13 regular-season games in Beeghly Center, hosts Niagara, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m. before heading to Nashville, Tenn., for the Vanderbilt Tournament Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The Penguins face Central Michigan on the first day and either the Commodores or NCAA-qualifier Harvard on second day.
The Penguins return home to face Robert Morris on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. before three straight contests against MAC institutions - Toledo, at Kent State, and Buffalo.
For just the second time in school history, Youngstown State will take on Ohio State. The Penguins and Buckeyes will face off on Friday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio.
Youngstown State opens Horizon League play at home against Loyola, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m. and visits IPFW in a rare late-January non-league tilt, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m.
The Penguins will close out the season with its only two-game league homestand against Detroit (Feb. 27) and UIC (March 1) before heading to the Horizon League Tournament, March 5-9, in Green Bay, Wis.

Men's Basketball: YSU Announces 2002-03 Basketball Schedule  Posted Tuesday, September 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State men's basketball coach John Robic announced a 2002-03 men's basketball schedule that gives the Penguins an opportunity to play 15 home games.
The Penguins play 13 regular-season home contests plus an exhibition game (Nov. 9 against a USBL (N.Y.) All-Star Team) at the Beeghly Center. YSU will also have a chance to play host to a first-round Horizon League Tournament game on March 4, if it finishes fourth, fifth or sixth in conference play under the new postseason format.
Robic said he and his staff worked on a schedule that was challenging and was a good fit geographically for the squad.
"This year's schedule gives us a good balance of regional teams that we should be able to compete with in preparation for our tough Horizon League schedule," Robic said. "We are excited about playing 14 home games at the newly-renovated Beeghly Center and it will give our fans the chance to see some very competitive basketball."
Over the course of six months, the Beeghly Center has had $2.5 million in refurbishing done to the building and a new $150,000 state-of-the-art sound system has been installed in the arena.
YSU opens on the road at Indiana State on Nov. 22, then plays four of the next five games at home. Sandwiched between two-game homestands is a road contest at St. Francis (Pa.)
Two members of the Mid-American Conference -- Buffalo and Toledo -- will visit the Beeghly Center marking the first time since the 1991-92 season that two schools from that conference will play in Youngstown in the same year.
Outside of league play, YSU has games at former Mid-Con rivals UMKC and Oakland and a contest at Atlantic 10 member Duquesne. YSU plays host to Niagara for the first time in two years and makes its first-ever trip to IPFW in February.
YSU begins Horizon League action on Jan. 2 at Loyola (Chicago). The league slate is highlighted by three straight home games against Detroit (Jan. 23), UIC (Jan. 25) and UW-Green Bay (Jan. 29).
The Horizon League tournament has also changed for this season. The first rounds featuring the fourth through ninth-place finishers will be played a campus sites, giving the Penguins a shot to host their first postseason game since 1995. The remaining rounds of the tournament will be played at either Milwaukee, Wis., or the site of the highest-remaining seed.
In 2001-02, the Penguins played 12 games at the Beeghly Center and had a four-game road trip during the early portion of the schedule. YSU played five of its first six games on the road. In league play, YSU had a stretch of four consecutive that were played away from Beeghly.
"The travel for our student-athletes will be much easier this year and we have only one back-to-back Horizon League road series, which comes at the end of the season," Robic said.
In other scheduling news: Robic said for the 2003-04 season the Penguins already have a game scheduled at the University of Pittsburgh in the new Petersen Events Center. The Panthers advanced to the Sweet 16 last season and have been tabbed as top-five team entering the 2002-03 campaign.

Football: Cowboys Corral Penguins 28-13  Posted Sunday, September 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The McNeese State football team excelled in every aspect of the game as they scored on offense, defense, and special teams to defeat Youngstown State 28-13 on Saturday night at Stambaugh Stadium.
Senior tailback P.J. Mays led YSU (1-1) in both rushing and receiving, running 21 times for 90 yards and catching five passes for 73.
After punting on its first possession, McNeese State (2-0) scored on its next two to take an early 14-0 lead. With 6:48 remaining in the first quarter, junior B.J. Sams ran for 25 yards on a reverse to find the end zone for the Cowboys first score.
After a Penguin punt, quarterback Scott Pendarvis broke several tackles to avoid being sacked and hit Jermaine Martin on the right side for a 28-yard touchdown completion to round out the first-half scoring.
In the opening minutes of the third quarter, McNeese forced a YSU punt after just three plays. Youngstown State punter Kosta Karapetsas kicked to the McNeese State 19 where Sams outraced everyone en route to an 81-yard touchdown return giving the Cowboys a 21-0 lead.
Mays finally broke up the shutout with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter with a two-yard scamper to cap an eight-play, 60-yard drive.
McNeese State struck back in the fourth quarter as YSU was gaining momentum. Roderick Royal intercepted a Luis Gonzalez pass and returned it 20-yards to the end zone for a 28-7 lead.
Darius Peterson scored with 1:13 remaining in the game for the Penguins on a one-yard rush to finish the scoring.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Jon Heacock expressed some positives on the game. He said the defense played well after the first quarter and was basically beaten by the big play against a team that showed championship characteristics.
"They are a playoff caliber team in game two of the season and reality says we are not," he said. "But it's not time to cash in the chips yet."
Youngstown State used three quarterbacks in the game. Colby Street got the starting call and Gonzalez first appeared in the game early in the second quarter. Both Street and Gonzalez took snaps in the second half and senior Justin Green took over on the last series for the Penguins and led the team to the endzone. Street went 5-of-10 for 88 yards and Gonzalez passed for 104 yards and an interception while going 7-for-15 and Green finished going 2-of-3 for 26 yards. Mays also threw a pass on a halfback option.
After the game, Heacock said that the quarterback situation was now wide open.
"We've got an issue at quarterback," he said. "We need to find a quarterback to spread things out and move this team."
Senior tight end John Schumacher caught two passes for 56 yards with a long of 48 and Jerald Burley was on the receiving end of two passes for 36 yards in his return from an ankle injury. He also had a 42-yard kickoff return.
Leading McNeese State's 190-yard rushing effort was Vick King who had a game-high 98 yards. Pedarvis was 12-of-20 for 122 yards and a touchdown.
For the game, YSU had 304 total yards of offense, while McNeese had 312. YSU passed for 218 and rushed for 86 while the Cowboys threw for 122 and rushed for 190.
YSU has next weekend off before opening Gateway Football Conference play at Western Kentucky on Sept. 21. McNeese State plays at Division I Louisiana-Monroe next Saturday.

Cross Country: Edwards, Schnitkey Lead Penguins at Penn State  Posted Sunday, September 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Senior Will Edwards finished sixth while sophomore Emily Schnitkey placed 10th as the Youngstown State men's cross country team finished fourth and the women's squad came in sixth at the Spiked Shoe Invitational held at Penn State University on Saturday morning.
The men ran a total time of 2:20:07 to finish above 16 teams in the 20 team race while the women totaled 1:56:28 to go 12-5 in their 18 team competition.
Following Edwards' time of 26:30 on the 5.2 mile track was sophomore Nick Buzek, who finished 26th with a time of 27:27. Junior captain Kurt Michaelis finished just six seconds behind him to earn the 29th spot. Junior Paul Robinette finished 34th with a 27:39 and freshman Nick Kruse placed 50th with a time of 27:58 in his first collegiate race to round out the men's squad that featured a 1:28 gap between their top five runners.
For the women, Schnitkey finished with a time of 22:32, just two seconds above her school-record mark in the 6k that she set last year. Captains Andrea Bardy and Lindsay Frontz followed Schnitkey, finishing 20th with a time of 23:07 and 46th with a time of 23:52 respectively. Sophomore Lindsay Wojciak came in 50th, running a time of 23:55 and freshman Katie Krupko finished fifth for the Penguins and 106th overall with a time of 25:02.
Oklahoma State finished first on the men's side and Penn State won the women's race.
Head Coach Brian Gorby was very pleased with his runners' performance. According to Gorby, the men were aiming to finish in the top five and the women were shooting for a top 10 place.
"We hit all of our team goals through tremendous teamwork and toughness," he said. "We grew a lot today."
The Penguins continue their 2002 campaign at the Malone Invitational in Canton, Ohio on Friday, Sept. 20.

Soccer: Penguins Hammer Hornets 14-0  Posted Thursday, September 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Dover, Del -- Freshman Maura Patton and sophomore Hannah Lawther scored three goals each to lead Youngstown State to a school-record setting 14-0 win over Delaware State on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The three goals each by Patton and Lawther tie the school mark for goals scored in a game, while the 14 goals scored by YSU eclipsed the previous school mark of eight scored against Hiram in 1997. The Penguins added eight assists to set another school best.
Sophomore Cerid Irvine added two goals in the first half, while freshmen Katie Deprey and Brianne Kochunas each added their first career goals in the second half. Also scoring for the Penguins were sophomore Diane Fellabaum and seniors Rachel Wilds, Lauren Roseman, and Kate McHugh.
Junior Kara White and sophomore Kim Jugenheimer each had two assists.
The Penguins outshot the Hornets 31-1 and outcornered Delaware State 3-1. Freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Jennings recorded her first shutout of her career.
Youngstown State improves their record to 1-1 on the season. The Penguins last win was on September 1, 2001 defeating Canisius 3-1.
YSU returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Louisville at 7 p.m.

Harriers to Begin Season at Spiked Shoe Invitational   Posted Wednesday, September 4, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Both the Youngstown State men's and women's cross country teams are scheduled to begin their 2002 campaigns on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Spiked Shoe Invitational held at Penn State University.
The women’s race will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature a 6,000-meter course on the university’s Blue Golf Course. The 5.2-mile men’s competition will take place on the Blue and White Golf Course with the start on Atherton Street across from the Recreation Hall at 10:45 a. m.
After a summer that focused on building a strong base by completing distance workouts, the Penguin harriers are looking to make an immediate impact.
Junior Paul Robinette said, "We've done the training and it'll show in the race."
The 2002 men's squad will be led by captains Kurt Michaelis and Robinette and lone senior Will Edwards. They are shooting for a top three finish at their first meet.
On the women's side, Lindsay Frontz and Andrea Bardy will return as team captains and will be joined by Emily Schnitkey, the 2002 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year. According to Bardy, the women are shooting to finish in the top half of the field and will work on closing the gap between their top five runners at the Spiked Shoe Invitational.
The Penguins' next meet will be Friday, Sept. 20, at the Malone Invitational.

Volleyball: YSU Comes Back To Beat NC State In Five  Posted Monday, September 2, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Boca Raton, Fla. -- The Youngstown State volleyball team (1-2) pulled off one of the programs greatest comeback with a five-game come-from-behind victory over North Carolina State (0-4), 21-30, 28-30, 30-25, 30-20, and 15-13, Saturday at the FAU Radisson Classic.
The Penguins dropped the first two games of the match but rallied to win the last three behind solid offensive performances by juniors Colleen Royer and Annie Buschur, sophomore Lori Lyman and senior Michele Batton. All four players pounded at least 10 kills, led by Lyman's 16 kills and .323 hitting percentage. Royer recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs, while Buschur collected 14 kills and seven blocks and Batton drilled 12 kills with a .550hitting percentage.
YSU pasted the Wolfpack with a .632 hitting percentage, led by Lyman's four kills in game five. In the final three games, the Penguins hit.325, .371 and .632, respectively, while NC State's hitting percentage dropped from .367 in game one to .026 in game two, .175 in game three and .031 in game four. NC State also turned in a great offensive performance in game five with a .667 hitting percentage.
Youngstown State set the match into a fifth and deciding game by continuing its dramatic comeback. NC State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and held the Penguins down 8-4 early on. YSU, however, continued to gain momentum and quickly cut the lead down to one point, 8-7. After two lead changes and two ties, YSU took the lead 15-12 after kills by Pounders and Batton and never looked back and won the game 30-20.
The Penguins snapped an eight-game losing streak in game three with a 30-25 win. Youngstown State jumped out to an early 7-2 advantage, but NC State quickly got back into the game by scoring three straight points to cut the lead to 7-5. The Wolfpack tied the game at 10-10. The two teams battled back and forth with 12 ties and seven lead changes found themselves tied at 25-25. The Penguins, who hit .325 in game three, rattled off the last five points of the game.
In the first game, the Wolfpack used a dominant offensive attack to take control of the game. NC State hit an impressive .367 compared to YSU's .132. The Penguins also gave up five points with five service errors.
The Penguins jumped out to an early 6-4 in the second game only to see that lead disappear as the Wolfpack scored five of the next six points to take a 9-7 lead. YSU charged back to take a 15-12 advantage, but the Wolfpack rallied with five straight points to retake the lead for good, 17-15.YSU, however, did not fold. Trailing, 29-24, the Penguins fought off four game points to cut the deficit to one point, 29-28, before the Wolfpack sealed the game with a kill.
Sophomore Melanie Pounders paced the Penguins with 16 digs while senior Cameran Drake finished with 14 and junior Beth Boscarelli added 11digs and 32 assists. Freshman Angie Pasquinelli dished out 29 assists.
For the tournament, Lyman, who was selected to the All-Tournament Team, averaged 2.5 kills per game with a .279 hitting percentage.
YSU faces Toledo, Friday, Sept. 6, at 5 p.m. at the Toledo Rocket Volleyball Classic.

Soccer: Penguins Drop Season Opener to Radford in OT  Posted Monday, September 2, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Radford, Va. -- The Youngstown State Women's Soccer team dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Radford University on Sunday afternoon at Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium.
After a scoreless first half, Radford's Jevne Reid gave the Highlanders a 1-0 lead in the 69th minute. The lead was short lived as YSU's sophomore Lauren Ausmundson scored her first career goal two minutes later.
Radford's Kara Ramer scored the game winning goal in the 97th minute, improving their record to 2-0. Youngstown State drops to 0-1.
The Highlanders outshot the Penguins 17-5 and outcornerd YSU 11-1. Freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Jennings collected eight saves.
The Penguins return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Delaware State at 1 p.m.

Volleyball: Penguins Drop Season Opener To FAU In Four Games  Posted Sunday, September 1, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Boca Raton, Fla. -- The Youngstown State volleyball team was unable to capitalize on 24 Florida Atlantic service errors and dropped its 2002season opener to the Owls in four games, 30-26, 17-30, 29-31, and 26-30, Friday at the FAU Radisson Classic.
In game one, the Penguins stormed ahead 14-7 after junior Beth Bocscarelli laced four service aces. The Penguins also took advantage of five FAU serving errors to help push their lead to 25-14. The Owls, however, did not fold and cut the YSU lead to three, 29-26, by scoring 12 of the next 16points. Freshman Nickole Kennedy gave the Penguins the game, 30-26, with her second kill of the game.
The Owls took charge of the second game with an early 7-4 lead and never looked back. FAU extended its lead to 14-6, but
the Penguins rallied to cut the deficit to 16-12 after senior Michele Batton tallied a kill and a block assist. The Owls, however, outscored the Penguins, 14-5, to win game two, 30-17. Florida Atlantic took advantage of poor Penguin hitting and capitalize on its own .312 game-two hitting percentage. YSU hit a -.160 in game two.
The Penguins squandered a 10-point lead, 21-11, in game three and lost 31-29 to trail the Owls two games to one. With the Penguins owning a 10-point advantage, the Owls countered with an impressive offensive attack to score seven of the next nine
points and cut the deficit to five points, 23-18. The Penguins extended their lead to 25-19 after a kill by sophomore Lori Lyman. FAU, though, scored the next five points and fought off two YSU game points to pull out the victory.
In the final game, the Penguins again spoiled an early 15-10 lead as the Owls hit an impressive .395 in the final game to seal the victory.
Junior Annie Buschur led the Penguins with 10 kills while Lyman and Melanie Pounders each finished with eight kills apiece. Boscarelli dished out 21 assists while freshman Angie Pasquinelli tallied 13 assists.
Youngstown State faces Minnesota and N.C. State, Saturday, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.

Football: Penguins Open With 27-14 Win Over Clarion  Posted Friday, August 30, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The largest crowd to ever watch a home opener in Stambaugh Stadium history saw the eighth-ranked Youngstown State football team begin its 2002 campaign with a 27-14 victory over Clarion.
The Penguins outrushed the Golden Eagles 300 yards to 127 and never trailed as 17,834 fans watched the opener.
Leading the offensive attack for YSU was Walter Payton Award hopeful tailback P.J. Mays, who rushed for two touchdowns and 174 yards on 26 carries with a 73-yard run in the first quarter.
Junior tailback Josiah Doby ran five times for 129 yards and scored on a 53-yard scamper with no time remaining in the first perioud.
Colby Street went 3-for-7 with a touchdown and an interception, connecting with John Schumacher on a 26-yard scoring strike.
Jon Tekac had 13 tackles, two sacks and five tackles behind the line of scrimmage to head the defense for the Penguins. Martin Stachowicz forced the only turnover, recovering fumbled Clarion snap in the first quarter.
Despite the victory over a veteran Golden Eagle squad, Coach Jon Heacock was displeased with the overall performance of the team.
"We turned the ball over, we had careless penalties, and we had kicking game errors," he said. "They came out and played championship football, and Youngstown State did not."
Robert Walker returned the opening kickoff 78 yards to the YSU 19 for Clarion, but the fumble by Adam Almashy ended the opening drive in just two plays.
With 5:34 remaining in the first quarter, the Penguins got the ball on their own 22 yard line and started their first scoring drive. After running for four yards, Mays ran 73 yards to the Clarion one yard line to set up his one yard plunge on the next play.
The Penguins' second scoring drive started at their own 32 with 2:27 left in the opening period and was capped by Doby's 53-yard touchdown run.
Following a 66-yard punt return by Jake Godec, the Penguins increased their lead to 20 after Street threw a bullet to Schumacher over the middle on the first play of the drive from 26-yards out.
On Clarion's first drive of the second half, Brandon Sweeney rushed for 47 yards on two carries and scored from seven yards out to give the Golden Eagles their first points of the contest.
Coming in for the injured Colby Street, who had a minor injury to his non-throwing (left) hand, Luis Gonzalez and the Penguins struck back on a 10-play, 58-yard drive, ending with an 18-yard scoring run by Mays.
Kareem Shelton had an 11-yard touchdown rush for Clarion with 14:03 left in the game to finish the scoring.
Next Saturday, the Penguins take on 11th-ranked McNeese St. at Stambaugh Stadium at 7 p.m.

Penguins Open 2002 Campaign At Home Against Clarion  Posted Tuesday, August 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The eighth-ranked Youngstown State football team begins the 2002 season at Stambaugh Stadium against Clarion on Thursday, August 29. The Penguins and Golden Eagles kickoff their 2002 seasons at 7:30 p.m.
This is the second consecutive year that YSU and Clarion have met. Last season, the Penguins scored 37 first-half points in a 44-0 victory. Senior tailback P.J. Mays scored on a 77-yard run on the first play of the game for the Penguins. Mays added an 83-yard scoring run -- the longest in stadium history -- to highlight an impressive night. In five all-time meetings, YSU has won all the games by a total score of 239-23.
The game marks the first contest on the new Sprinturf surface that was installed on Beede Field over the summer. YSU and Montana are the only two Division I-AA programs to play games on the Sprinturf surface. Since 1982, the Penguins had played home games on AstroTurf.
YSU finished the 2001 season with an 8-3 overall record, but did not qualify for the I-AA playoffs. Clarion was 4-7 a year ago with four losses coming by six points or less.
Nine days from Thursday, the Penguins face a stiff test against No. 11 and defending Southland Conference Champion McNeese State. The game is a rematch of the 1997 National Championship game in which YSU won 10-9.

Coaches Capsules
YSU: Second-year Coach Jon Heacock (Muskingum, 1983) leads the Penguins into their season opener against Clarion. Heacock finished the 2001 season with an 8-3 record setting a school record for wins by a first-year mentor. He has spent eight of the past 11 years on the YSU coaching staff. He spent seven seasons in Youngstown from 1990 through 1996 before spending three years as the defensive coordinator at Indiana. He returned to YSU as the defensive coordinator in 2000 and took over as head coach in January 2001.
Clarion: Malen Luke was a former Penguin assistant under Bill Narduzzi in 1984 and 1985. A former teacher at Canfield High School, he is 41-46 in nine seasons at Clarion and is 78-67 in 14 years as a head coach. He spent six seasons at Defiance prior to coming to Clarion.

Clarion Scouting Report
Clarion returns 19 starters from last year’s 4-7 team. Leading the way offensively are quarterback Adam Almashy and tailback Robert Walker. Almashy was 78-of-201 passing for 1,173 yards last season. Walker had 504 yards rushing and scored a team-high 10 touchdowns. The Eagles return eight offensive starters.
On defense, 10 starters are back for Clarion. However, returning defensive back Jhermel Goss is out for the season with a knee injury. Troy Bowers, who sat out last season, returns after recording 20 tackles for losses and eight sacks. Also, second-leading tackler Korey Eppinette returns. Last year, the Golden Eagles finished fifth in the Western Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.


YSU-Clarion Connections
• YSU offensive lineman Nick Roberts and Clarion tailback Chris Roberts are brothers. Chris was a member of the 2000 Penguins squad before transferring.
• Clarion head coach Malen Luke was an assistant for the Penguins in 1984 and 1985 for Bill Narduzzi.
• YSU Assistant Coach Don Houser coached at Clarion in 2000.


Last Year Penguins Rolled
In last season’s 44-0 victory, P.J. Mays rushed for 180 yards on just nine carries and had touchdown runs of 77 and 83 yards. Darius Peterson had 111 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns as well. YSU scored three first-quarter touchdowns and added 17 points in the second quarter for a 37-0 advantage. YSU finished with 541 total yards, including 451 on the ground.


These Guys Are Strong
One aspect of the Youngstown State football program that has improved is the strength and conditioning of the Penguins. Strength Coach Todd Burkey has worked hard with this year’s upperclassmen since last November.
Since that time, YSU has set 11 position records and four overall school marks. Defensive lineman Guy Mazard set a school record with a 347-pound power clean, Nick Roberts holds the school standard in the incline press, 410 pounds, wide receiver Jerald Burley has a school-best 39.5 vertical jump and defensive back Jake Godec and tailback Darius Peterson are tied for the school record with a 4.33 40-yard dash time.


Strength Crunching Numbers
Here is a breakdown by the numbers of the strength of the Penguins: 14 players squat more than 500 pounds, 10 players have cleaned more than 300 pounds, 17 players have power cleaned more than 285 pounds and 15 Penguins have benched more than 350 pounds. As a team, YSU averages a squat of 415 pounds, cleans 250 pounds, bench press 310 pounds and have a vertical jump of 29 inches.


Those 40 Times Are Quick
A look at the top 10 40-yard dash times of the Penguin non-true freshmen. (Times in seconds)
1. Darius Peterson, TB, 4.33
1. Jake Godec, CB, 4.33
3. Waymann Peters, CB, 4.35
4. Damian Wright, WR, 4.45
5. Russell Stuvaints, LB, 4.47
6. Scott Thiessen, FS, 4.48
6. Jerald Burley, WR, 4.48
8. Matt Rycraft, WR, 4.49
9. Anthony Barone, FS, 4.50
10. P.J. Mays, TB, 4.57


I-Do Tailback Duo
July was a busy month for Penguin tailbacks off the field. P.J. Mays and Josiah Doby both tied the knot -- Mays in Youngstown and Doby in California. Mays was married on July 6 in Youngstown while Doby was married on July 20 in Lywood, Calif.

Sprinturf at Beede Field
This season the Penguins will play on a new surface at Beede Field in Stambaugh Stadium. Beginning in May, Sprinturf was installed replacing the AstroTurf surface that the Penguins had played on since moving into the stadium in 1982. From 1982 through 1990, YSU played on AstroTurf which was replaced prior to the 1991 campaign. The Penguins played 11 seasons on that AstroTurf.
YSU and Montana are the only two Division I-AA schools who play home football games on Sprinturf. In the Gateway Football Conference, SMS, Southern Illinois, Indiana State and Illinois State all play on similar surfaces.

Penguins Bring National Ranking Streak Into Season
Youngstown State has been ranked in the top 25 in both The Sports Network Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll for the past 42 weeks.
The Penguins have been ranked weekly in both polls since the beginning of the 1999 season. Since joining the Gateway Football Conference in 1997, YSU has been ranked in 67 of 71 weekly, preseason and postseason polls. Currently, Youngstown State is ranked eighth by the Sports Network. The last time the Penguins were unranked was the final month of the 1998 season.


Mays Ranks Highly in School, Conference Records
Entering his final year, senior tailback P.J. Mays ranks fifth in career rushing touchdowns (31), fifth in touchdowns scored (32) and 13th in rushing at 2,227 yards in the Gateway Conference. Mays is 12 total touchdowns behind Northern Iowa’s Jeff Stovall (1993-96) and 11 rushing touchdowns behind Stovall for the league’s career marks.


Penguins In August
August has been a highly successful month for the YSU football team. In four August tilts the Penguins are a perfect 4-0. In 2001, YSU beat Lock Haven 38-7, in 2000 the Penguins beat Slippery Rock 24-10, in 1997 YSU defeated Slippery Rock again 33-9 and in the first August game in 1996 beat Wofford 28-0. All four games were at Stambaugh. This is the second August 29 game in school history and ties as the second earliest season opener in school history.

YSU In Season Openers
The last six years YSU has opened their season with a win. Dating back to 1996, YSU has won six consecutive season openers. The last defeat in a campaign curtain raiser was at Kent State in 1995. In 20 years at Stambaugh Stadium, YSU has lost its first home game of the year five times. Since 1989, YSU is 12-0-1 in a home opener. All-time in season openers, the Penguins are 34-25-2.

Home Sweet Home
The Penguins have had tremendous success at Stambaugh Stadium since the building opened for the 1982 season. All-time at Stambaugh, the Penguins are 102-31-1. In 2001, YSU won its 100th game at the Stadium beating Southwest Missouri State. Since 1996, 34-7 and since 1989, the Penguins are 79-16-1.

Guins Garner Preseason Accolades
Four Penguins will try to turn preseason accolades into some postseason hardware throughout the 2002 season.
Senior tailback P.J. Mays is preseason first-team All-American and All-Conference pick. Senior kick returner Jerald Burley is a preseason Honorable-Mention All-American and a first-team All-Gateway pick.
Linebacker Russell Stuvaints was a preseason All-Gateway Honorable-Mention selection and offensive tackle Nick Roberts was an All-American in Street & Smith.

New Faces on Coaching Staff
There are three new faces on the Youngstown State coaching staff this season. Defensive ends coach Terrell Williams, tight ends coach Brian White and linebackers assistant Russ Houser are new to the program. White is a familiar face around the football offices having played at YSU in the early 1990’s.

Looking to Create Turnovers
Last season, Youngstown State had a turnover margin of plus-7 making it the 13th straight season the Penguins have come out on the positive side of the turnover margin. In 16 of the last 17 years (all but 1989), YSU has had a plus in the turnover-margin department.


Pickoff Artists Needed
Last season, the Penguins defense intercepted 14 passes, but of the five players who intercepted a pass last year, only Anthony Barone and Guy Mazard return. Barone and Mazard each had one interception. Only four players on the defensive side -- Barone, Mazard, Justin Dellarose (2000) and Russell Stuvaints (1999) -- have interceptions in their YSU careers.


Coaches Second Year
In school history there has been no clear indication how Head Coach Jon Heacock’s second season will go. Of the four previous coaches before him, two have improved, one had the same record and another had a worse season. Both Jim Tressel (2-9/8-4) and Rey Dempsey (4-6/8-2) improved, Dwight Beede (4-5/4-5) remained the same and Bill Narduzzi (5-4/4-6) had a worse record.


Ryan Express Out, Street Paves Way
A lot of attention will be on YSU’s quarterback this season as Colby Street takes over for four-year starter Jeff Ryan. Street will have some big shoes to fill because Ryan is YSU’s career record holder for touchdown passes (50), quarterback rushing yardage (1,872), total offensive yards (8,098), total offensive plays (1,374) and touchdowns responsible for (67).


Street’s Other Start
Senior quarterback Colby Street will make his second career start at quarterback when the Penguins open up the season against Clarion on Thursday night.
Street started against Illinois State on Oct. 7, 2000 and played the first quarter before being replaced by Jeff Ryan. In his only start, Street was 3-of-10 for 38 yards and threw a nine-yard touchdown pass. He left the game with YSU leading 7-6 after one quarter. The Penguins won the game 14-12 rallying from a 12-7 deficit behind Ryan.


Mays on Payton Award List
Senior tailback P.J. Mays is one of 16 offensive players in Division I-AA to make the Preseason Walter Payton Award Watch List, which was released on Monday.
Joining Mays on the preseason list are David Corley, QB, William & Mary; John Edwards, QB, Montana; Chas Gessner, WR, Brown; Michael Hayes, WR, Southern; C.J. Hudson, RB, Eastern Kentucky; Ryan Johnson, RB, Montana State; Robert Kent, QB, Jackson State; Tom Koutsos, RB, Southern Illinois; Stephan Lewis, RB, New Hampshire; Cecil Moore, WR, East Tennessee State; Carl Morris, WR, Harvard; Rondy Rogers, RB, Jacksonville State; Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois; Allen Suber, QB, Bethune-Cookman and Juston Wood, QB, Portland State.

New Looks Abound at YSU
Visitors to Stambaugh Stadium will not only see new turf but plenty of changes around campus. Most visibly at Stambaugh Stadium, the facade of the stands near the field is painted red and black, YSU will wear new home red jerseys, a new sign has been erected behind the scoreboard, a new wind screen lines a new fence behind the north end zone, the Athletic Jermaine Hopkins Academic Center has been refurbished and just south of the stadium, the lobbies of the Beeghly Center have been redone. Also YSU has a new radio home in Clear Channel.

Mays Over 1,000 Yards Last Season, 2,000 For Career
Senior tailback P.J. Mays turned in the 16th 1,000-plus yard rushing season in school history last year. Mays became just the 12th player in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards with 1,446 yards.
In his 23-game career, Mays has rushed for 2,227 yards on 411 carries and has scored 31 touchdowns. He has seven 100-plus yard games in his two-year career.


Where Are the Close Games?
Last season, the Penguins were pretty much a feast or famine ballclub as far as the final score. YSU won its eight games by an average of 39.9 to 12.4. The Penguins lost their three contests by an average of 30.7 to 16.3.
In the eight wins, YSU scored 31-or-more points in each game. YSU has won its last 17 games when scoring more than 30 points.
Only one game was decided by 10 points last year, marking the first time in school history that every games final score owned a double-figure final margin.
Prior to 2001, YSU had played 17 games in the last three years decided by a touchdown or less.


YSU Scored Almost Every way
Youngstown State scored almost every imaginable way last season. The Penguins twice blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown -- against Lock Haven and Western Kentucky; returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Lock Haven; returned a fumble for a touchdown against Clarion; returned an interception for a score against Western Illinois and returned a punt for a touchdown against Illinois State. YSU also scored via a safety, field goal and the more conventional rushing and passing touchdowns.


Up Next: YSU Plays Host to Southland Champ McNeese State
The Penguins play 11th-ranked McNeese State on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Stambaugh Stadium. The contest is the first meeting between the two schools since playing each other in the 1997 National Championship Game in Chattanooga, Tenn. That afternoon the Penguins won 10-9 in a tightly-contested affair. The Cowboys have visited Stambaugh Stadium once before in 1994, a 28-8 Penguin victory.
In the all-time series, YSU leads 2-1 with its only loss coming in 1995 at McNeese. YSU plays at McNeese in the 2004 season

Soccer: YSU Opens 2002 Season This Weekend  Posted Tuesday, August 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- This season fourth-year Head Coach Elizabeth Bartley returns 14 players and welcomes eight newcomers on her 2002 soccer squad.
Coming off a 1-19 record from last season, Bartley said she looks for a lot of leadership from her juniors and seniors as Youngstown State enters its second season as members of the Horizon League. "I think we are going to be a lot more comfortable in the Horizon League," Bartley said. "I think everyone saw us in our last game against Butler and will remember that when we decide to play, we’re really not that far off, we are right there."
The Penguins will also be playing on a new surface at Stambaugh Stadium. Sprinturf was installed on Beede Field over the summer. Bartley said playing on Sprinturf will slow the game down. "It will make it more true to soccer, like playing on grass, and will help us with controlling the ball."
Bartley’s first task will be filling the gap at goalkeeper, which has been voided by the graduation of four-year starter Christine Handte. Freshmen Catilin Bestard (Sarnia, Ontario) and Jennifer Jennings (Warren, Ohio) will split the goalkeeping duties.
"Each goalkeeper will play a major role in direction from the backline."
YSU returns six midfielders from last season. Leading YSU at the position are seniors Lauren Roseman and Rachel Wilds. Last season, Roseman started in 19 matches and scored two goals.
Along with the seniors is a more experienced group of sophomores, which include Cerid Irvine, who appeared in all 20 contests and scored two goals, Lauren Ausmundson, Diane Fellabaum and Kim Jugenheimer. Newcomers Jessica Yarter (Wellsburgh, W.Va.) and Erin Moehle (Medina, Ohio) are expected to contribute immediately to control the middle.
The Penguins will have senior veteran Jessica Tait and sophomore Hannah Lawther leading the scoring attack. Tait started all 20 matches last season, attempting 13 shots. Lawther, who started in 17 games, was ranked second on the team in goals blasting four. Joining Tait and Lawther is newcomer Katie Deprey (Green Bay, Wis.).
Returning on defense is senior Kate McHugh and junior Kara White. Last season White, who started 19 games, was the Penguins leading scorer with five goals. "We are thinking about switching some things up on defense this year, depending on some injuries and status of people coming back," Bartley said.
YSU should be solid in the backfield with junior Katie Bollinger, sophomore Casey Dick, and newcomer Maura Patton (Medina, Ohio).
"We are going to have a relatively young defense, so we are looking to change our system of play," Bartley said. "When we are talking about tactical decisions, we are trying to hold the ball longer rather than just kicking it away and constantly being on the defensive end."
The Penguins are scheduled to play a total of 19 regular-season matches, including eight at Stambaugh Stadium. Youngstown State opens its season on Sunday, September 1, at Radford. The Penguins have 12 non-league opponents on the schedule, including a tournament at the Univeristy of Arizona on October 4.
The six-match Horizon League slate begins with a September 20 contest, at home, against UW-Milwaukee. The 2002 Horizon League Tournament is scheduled to be played Nov. 7-8 at UW-Milwaukee. The quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be played at Uihlein Soccer Park. The championship match will be played Sunday, Nov. 10, at Engelmann Field on the UWM campus.

Mays on Preliminary Payton Award Watch List  Posted Monday, August 26, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Philadelphia, Pa. -- Youngstown State senior tailback P.J. Mays is one of 16 Walter Payton Award Hopefuls The Sports Network released on Monday. Mays begins his quest to try and become the 16th Walter Payton Award winner on Thursday when the Penguins play host Clarion at 7:30 p.m.
The honors will be presented at the 16th annual I-AA College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 19 in Chattanooga, Tenn., on the eve of the 2002 I-AA National Championship.
Five players who appeared on last year's final Walter Payton Award ballot are among this year's initial pool of 16 Payton candidates. Brown wide receiver Chas Gessner, Eastern Kentucky running back C.J. Hudson, Montana State running back Ryan Johnson, New Hampshire running back Stephan Lewis, and Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo are each returnees to the Payton Watch list. Romo, a two-time finalist for the Payton, finished 10th in voting last season and is the leading vote-getter among returnees. Villanova's Brian Westbrook, the NCAA's all-time all-purpose yards leader and a third-round draft pick of the NFL Philadelphia Eagles, won the 2001 Walter Payton Award.
The official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" lists will undergo three revisions prior to the mailing of ballots on Nov. 25. The first revisions will be announced Oct. 2, the second Oct. 30, and the third just prior to the mailing of ballots. The ballots will be mailed to the media and I-AA sports information directors selected for the voting process on Nov. 25, and will be due Monday, Dec. 2. The top three finalists (in terms of votes received) for the Walter Payton Award will be invited to attend the presentation in Chattanooga, Tenn., with the winner of that Award not announced until the event.
The following are the 16 current members of the "Payton Watch" lists, with additional information on each player, as well as history and facts about each of the I-AA awards, available at www.sportsnetwork.com.

"Payton Watch" Candidates (August 26)
David Corley, QB, William & Mary
John Edwards, QB, Montana
Chas Gessner, WR, Brown
Michael Hayes, WR, Southern
C.J. Hudson, RB, Eastern Kentucky
Ryan Johnson, RB, Montana State
Robert Kent, QB, Jackson State
Tom Koutsos, RB, Southern Illinois
Stephan Lewis, RB, New Hampshire
P.J. Mays, RB, Youngstown State
Cecil Moore, WR, East Tennessee State
Carl Morris, WR, Harvard
Rondy Rogers, RB, Jacksonville State
Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois
Allen Suber, QB, Bethune-Cookman
Juston Wood, QB, Portland State

Lady Pen's Volleyball Picked 7th in Horizon Preseason Poll  Posted Monday, August 26, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, IN-Expect another intense battle for the Horizon League Volleyball Championship.

At least that’s what a poll of the League’s coaches is predicting with Wright State narrowly edging 2001 regular season champion Loyola by one point and 2001 tournament champion UW-Milwaukee by two as the pre-season favorite.

The Raiders, who will be seeking their first Horizon League Championship, earned 44 points (three first place votes, three second place votes and a third place vote). Loyola took second place, garnering 43 points, including two for first place, four for second place and one for third place. UW-Milwaukee (42), which earned bids to the NCAA Tournament the last four years, captured the remaining three first place votes to go along with a second place vote and three third place votes to finish third.

The battle among the remaining teams should also be intense with UW-Green Bay (28) selected as the pick to finish fourth followed by Butler (25) and Illinois-Chicago (21). Cleveland State (14) and Youngstown State (7) complete the contingent.

The vote-by-vote breakdown:

*School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Total
1) Wright State 3 3 1 — — — — 44
2) Loyola 2 4 1 — — — — 43
3) UW-Milwaukee 3 1 3 — — — — 42
4) UW-Green Bay — — 1 5 1 — — 28
5) Butler — — 1 3 2 1 — 25
6) UIC — — 1 — 4 2 — 21
7) Cleveland State — — — — 1 5 1 14
8) Youngstown State — — — — — — 7 7

Football: Penguins End Camp With Special Teams Scrimmage  Posted Thursday, August 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State kicking specialists had their time to shine on Wednesday during a Special Teams scrimmage at Stambaugh Stadium, and all participants earned high marks from Head Coach Jon Heacock for their performances.
Senior punter Kosta Karapetsas averaged 39.6 yards on 12 kicks and freshman Joe Bishop averaged 36.5 yards on 13 punts. Bishop had the longest punt of the scrimmage at 56 yards with Karapetsas booming kicks of 53 and 52 yards, respectively.
Heacock said the punting game is solid with Karapetsas, a returning starter from last season, and Bishop, a highly-touted newcomer, at the position.
"This is a great position to be in having those two kick so well," Heacock said. "We will keep evaluating that position and both players had a solid day. Our kickers have been competing everyday in camp and it has been a back-and-forth battle. Competition improves everybody. I thought today's scrimmage was very positive in a lot of aspects."
On field goals, junior placekicker Jake Stewart made 7-of-11 attempts, including a long of 43 yards. Bishop was 6-of-10 on field-goal tries, including a long of 34 yards. Stewart's 21 points helped lead the White team to a 21-18 scrimmage win.
The workout also featured three fake punts and three fake field goals. One fake field goal worked with a 29-yard pass from holder Aaron Marshall to Shawn Carlson. Senior offensive tackle Andy DeNiro had a highlight on the day blocking a Bishop field-goal attempt and sophomore long snapper Andrew Mosier recovered a fumbled return by Jake Godec.
Following the scrimmage, the Penguins ended two-a-day camp with the "Cover the Field" drill. YSU has Thursday off before beginning game week preparations for the August 29 season opener against Clarion.

Football: Red Wins Scrimmage 13-0  Posted Wednesday, August 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Senior tailback P.J. Mays rushed for 81 yards on eight carries and scored on a five-yard touchdown run while junior placekicker Jake Stewart made field goals of 31 and 41 yards as the Red squad -- comprised of YSU's top unit -- defeated the White squad in a rehearsal scrimmage at Stambuagh Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Mays, who rushed for 87 yards in the first scrimmage, had runs of 13, 15, 16, and 24 yards to highlight all offensive performers. Junior tailback Josiah Doby had 57 yards and Darius Peterson had 44.
YSU's three quarterbacks of Luis Gonzalez, Colby Street, and Justin Green combined to complete 13 of 33 passes with one interception. Gonzalez was 7-of-17 with one interception for 63 yards, Street was 4-of-10 for 29 yards, and Green was 2-of-6 for eight yards.
Second-year Head Coach Jon Heacock said that the team improved from the first scrimmage, but still had work to do before the season opener against Clarion on August 29.
"We lined up better today than the first scrimmage," he said. "We weren't running around like we don't know what we're doing. The best thing a football team can do is not beat themslevs and that is what we did today. We beat ourselves on both sides of the ball and that's disappointing because we have been working hard."
About the quarterback race, Heacock said Street, who has started one game at quarterback in his four-year career, would be the Penguins' starter nine days from now on the season opener.
Street, who took the majority of the snaps at the scrimmage with the Red squad, said that being named the possible starter adds to his confidence, but he wasn't going to ease up in practice.
"I'm still going to go out and work as hard as I can. We have a lot of good quarterbacks on this team and I can't consider myself the starter yet."
On the defensive side of the ball, freshman cornerback Tyler Morton had a game high eight tackles for the White squad. Sophomore strong safety Mike Bracken had the only interception of the scrimmage on a slant pattern and returned it for 29 yards. Redshirt freshman linebacker Joe Juby recovered a fumble that he forced. Russell Stuvaints led the team with three tackles for losses.
Today's scrimmage featured four eight-minute quarters with some special teams work. Tomorrow, the Penguins will practice in shells in the morning and hold a kicking scrimmage at 3:30 p.m. in Stambaugh Stadium.

Football: Penguins to Hold Second Scrimmage  Posted Monday, August 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team will hold its second jersey scrimmage of fall camp on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. The second jersey scrimmage of the fall will have the defense wearing Red jersey's with the offense wearing white. The scrimmage is open to the media and the public. Following the scrimmage, the student-athletes, department personnel and coaching staff will attend the annual Steak Fry in North Lima, Ohio.

Football: Kollar, Sefner Join Penguins Broadcast Team  Posted Monday, August 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Former Youngstown State All-American offensive tackle Todd Kollar will join WYFX's gameday television broadcasts as a color analyst and former Penguin radio announcer Steve Sefner will handle home sideline radio duties for the upcoming season, the YSU Athletic Department announced on Monday.
Kollar, was a member of the Youngstown State football program from 1994 through 1997. He was a starting offensive tackle in 1997 as the Penguins finished the year 13-2 and won their fourth NCAA Division I-AA National Championship.
Kollar began his YSU career as a defensive lineman before moving to the offensive side of the ball prior to the 1996 season. In 1996, he started all 11 games at offensive tackle as YSU had 3,503 total offensive yards and 2,144 yards on the ground.
In 1997, Kollar was named an All-American for his role in starting all 15 games on the Penguins' offensive line. He earned All-America honors from the Walter Camp Foundation, was second-team All-American by The Associated Press and a third-team selection by the SportsNetwork. He was a first-team All-Gateway Football Conference pick as well in 1997.
Following his YSU career, Kollar signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills.
Sefner, who was the radio play-by-play voice for YSU football in 1989, recently concluded an eight-season run as the play-by-play voice for Kent State football, men's basketball and Olympic sports. Sefner was a full-time member of the KSU athletic department beginning in 1997 as a marketing associate and in 2000 he was promoted to Marketing Coordinator. He also hosted KSU's weekly coaches television shows. He was recently the voice of the Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team which advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2002 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament.
In 1993-94 he was the play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Thunderbolts arena football team. He also worked as a sports reporter and anchor for WAKC-TV and WWWE Radio after working as the voice of the Penguins in 1989.
Sefner, who also taught for five years at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting, earned his bachelor's degree from the Columbia School of Broadcasting in 1987.
Both broadcast personalities will make their 2002 debut on Thursday, August 29 when the Penguins play host to Clarion at Stambaugh Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Penguins Ink Lockmiller To Softball Letter  Posted Monday, August 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Ashley Lockmiller (Bradner, Ohio/Lakota), a transfer from Owens Community College, has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and softball career at Youngstown State, Head Coach Christy Cameron announced on Monday.
"We are extremely pleased to add Ashley to our roster," Cameron said. "She is a hard worker and has a great attitude."
Lockmiller, a sophomore pitcher, went 12-2 with a school-record 1.61 earned run average last season at Owens. She also finished second in the nation in strikeouts per inning and was selected to the Region XII All-Tournament Team.
"Ashley helps fill a big void for us," she added. "We lost two senior pitchers last season so it was important we get another quality arm. I think we did."
At Lakota High School, Lockmiller was an Honorable Mention All-Ohio selection during her senior season and was voted first-team All-Wood County, first-team all-conference, and first-team all-district. She holds 17 records at Lakota and guided her prep squad to a 20-4 mark as a junior and an 18-9 record as a senior.
Lockmiller is the seventh player to sign with the Penguins for the 2003 season. She joins Laura Amero (Boardman, Ohio), Cody Bise (Canal Winchester, Ohio), Lacy Bronson (Bowling Green, Ohio), Liz Holt (Galion, Ohio), Kelly Murphy (North Olmstead, Ohio), Tiffany Patteson (Guelph, Ontario) in the 2002 recruiting class.

Football: Defense Keeps Red Jerseys With 61-50 Win  Posted Thursday, August 15, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The YSU defense proved to be too much for the Youngstown State offense in the first jersey scrimmage of fall camp en route to maintaining the Red Jerseys in a 61-50 victory on Thursday night at Stambaugh Stadium.
Senior tailback P.J. Mays rushed for a game-high 87 yards on 15 carries and caught three passes for 31 yards. The offense scored via: a five-yard Mays touchdown run, a 16-yard pass from Aaron Marshall to T.J. Peterson, a 27-yard Jake Stewart field goal, a 35-yard pass from Justin Green to Marshall and a three-yard run by Marshall. The defense scored points on an interception by Jacob Koch, a 38-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Sherod Holmes and fumble recoveries by Wendell Parrish and Jon Tekac.
YSU Head Coach Jon Heacock said the scrimmage was well played with both the offense and the defense showing positive signs.
"There's a lot of young guys out there and I think they played really hard," Heacock said. "I think our attitude's been good. We've worked hard and we will have to grade the film tonight and see how the performance really was."
Heacock had special praise for the defense, which may be the Penguins' biggest strength entering the second week of two-a-days.
"For the most part that is a senior-oriented group and really they should shine," Heacock said. "They are going to have to play well and they are going to have to get better, and better and better for us to have success. With that group we have together up front that we should be a decent football team on defense but that will depend on how much better we get."
Youngstown State used three quarterbacks on the night, with senior Colby Street, Marshall and senior Justin Green all appearing under the center.
Green had the best numbers completing 7-of-8 passes for 86 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown strike to Marshall. Marshall was 6-of-12 for 49 yards while throwing one touchdown and one interception. Street was 10-of-22 for 92 yards. Junior transfer Luis Gonzalez sat out the scrimmage because of a back injury.
With three-or-more quarterbacks fighting for playing time, Heacock said, all have progressed well this fall.
"We'll evaluate the film tonight and see where we are," he said. "I thought we threw some good balls. We moved Aaron around a little bit. He's very athletic. Those guys had black jerseys on so we did do some of the things that they can do. Those are key guys that we have and we can't afford to go out and get them all banged up.
"I think our quarterbacks have done a good job. We are just going to continue to evaluate them and we are going to evaluate them from here on out. They've done a good job. They handled themselves well tonight."
The Penguins played the scrimmage with the services of tight end Mike Roberts, offensive lineman Ryan Jewell and strong safety Mike Bracken and wide receivers Cody Clark, Phil Larmon and Jerald Burley. All six players were held out because of injuries.
In other news, Heacock said redshirt freshman offensive lineman John Bartos III has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2002 season. Bartos, who redshirted last season, was YSU's No. 2 right tackle entering fall drills.
YSU resumes practice on Friday with a modified afternoon workout at 1 p.m. and is set to have a full two-hour practice at 3 p.m. The Penguins are exactly two weeks from the season opener against Clarion on Thursday, August 29.

Volleyball: Penguin Spikers Report; Photo Day Wednesday  Posted Tuesday, August 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State volleyball team reported to fall camp Sunday and began its two-week, two-a-day sessions on Monday in the auxiliary gyms in Stambaugh Stadium. The Penguins will also hold its annual photo day, Wednesday, August 14, at 1 p.m.
The Penguins will hold three scrimmages during double-sessions, Saturday, August 17, at 2 p.m., Tuesday, August 20, at 2 p.m. and Friday, August 23, at 2 p.m.
Youngstown State opens the 2002 season against Florida Atlantic, Friday, August 30, at 3 p.m. at the Florida Atlantic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. The Penguins will also face national-power Minnesota and North Carolina State, Saturday, August 31, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.

Cross Country: Penguin Harriers Announce 2002 Schedule  Posted Tuesday, August 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State Men's and Women's Cross Country teams will face a challenging schedule for the 2002 campaign, Coach Brian Gorby announced on Monday.
The Penguins will compete in six meets prior to the Nov. 2 Horizon League Championships held in Chicago, Ill. YSU begins the 2002 season on Sept. 7 at the Penn State University Spiked Shoe Invitational.
Other meets the Penguins will be contending in will be the Malone Invitational in Canton, Ohio, the Iona Meet of Champions in Iona, N.Y., the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind., the All Ohio Championship in Delaware, Ohio, and the Division I Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind.
Following the Horizon League Championships, YSU will compete at the Great Lakes Regional hosted by Purdue University. The 2002 NCAA Championships will be held on Nov. 25 at Indiana State.
The 2002 edition of the men's squad is coming off of a third-place finish at the Horizon League Championships last season. Returning runners are senior Jim Tatarka who finished 12th at the league meet, and juniors Matt Paullin and Tony Orcena who placed 15th and 22nd respectively.
The women will be anchored by last year's Horizon League Cross Country Female Newcomer of the Year Emily Schnitkey. At last year's league meet, she finished seventh overall with a personal-record time to earn the award and first-team all-conference honors. Schnitkey returns this year in her sophomore campaign to improve upon the fifth place finish the women had at the championship last season.

Football: YSU Hoots N' Hollers for Contact; Penguins Ranked Eighth  Posted Monday, August 12, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team had its first full-pads practice of fall camp on Monday morning beginning with the bi-annual Hoot N' Holler at Stambaugh Stadium. While the Penguins were hard at work on the practice field, the SportsNetwork Preseason Top 25 Poll was released and YSU was tabbed eighth.
Coach Jon Heacock said he was pleased everyone brought a strong attitude to the field for the first full-pad practice. YSU had six practices in shoulder pads, helmets and shorts prior to Monday's full-go workout.
"Everyone practiced really hard today and that is a plus," Heacock said. "So far everyone has had a good attitude and has worked really hard. Today marks the start of real football and not touch football. We are now tackling, blocking, getting off blocks and running around pretty good."
The Penguins worked out for two hours on Monday morning at Stambaugh Stadium in full pads. At the Hoot N' Holler, freshman tailback Justin Reams scored twice, including a scoring run on his first-ever Hoot N' Holler carry. Other notable performances were by senior tailback P.J. Mays who scored once and sophomore Matt Rycraft scored by flipping across the scoring line. On Monday afternoon, the Penguins are scheduled to workout at the grass field at the YSU Track and Field Complex.
The Hoot N' Holler is YSU's way of welcoming full-contact drills. The drill is set up with a field that is setup 10 yards long by 10 yards wide. Five members of the offensive unit have three plays to score against four to five members of the defensive unit.
The SportsNetwork Preseason Top 25 Poll was released Monday with defending national champion Montana garnering 79 of 87 first-place votes. Appalachian State was tabbed second behind defending Gateway Football Conference champion Northern Iowa. The Penguins, who finished ranked 15th a year ago, begin this season's poll ranked eighth.
McNeese State, which visits Stambaugh Stadium on Sept. 7 is ranked 11th and Western Kentucky, who was tied with YSU for second in the Gateway last season is 18. YSU plays at WKU on Sept. 28.

SportsNetwork Preseason Top 25 Poll

Team 2001 Record Points
1. Montana (79) 15-1 2,093
2. Appalachian State 9-4 1,838
3. Northern Iowa 11-3 1,769
4. Eastern Illinois (4) 9-2 1,641
5. Georgia Southern (3) 12-2 1,588
6. Lehigh (1) 11-1 1,499
7. Furman (3) 12-3 1,476
8. Youngstown State 8-3 1,283
9. William & Mary 8-4 1,195
10. Grambling State 10-1 1,182
11. McNeese State 8-4 1,026
12. Sam Houston State 10-3 996
13. Maine 9-3 983
14. Eastern Kentucky 8-2 929
15. Hofstra 9-3 924
16. Florida A&M 7-4 916
17. Portland State 7-4 786
18. Western Kentucky 8-4 766
19. Northwestern State 8-4 596
20. Montana State 5-6 461
21. Northern Arizona 8-4 389
22. Delaware 4-6 335
23. Harvard 9-0 245
24. Jacksonville State 5-6 227
25. Hampton 7-4 190

Penguins' veterans ready for action   Posted Friday, August 9, 2002 by  ysupenguins

The team will hold fitness testing today at Stambaugh Stadium.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — There is just something about having the veterans in camp that ignites the atmosphere for Youngstown State football.

The veterans reported to camp Wednesday, coming together for the first time at the annual YSU photo day at Stambaugh Stadium.

YSU second-year head coach Jon Heacock said he was pleased to see that his veteran players appeared to be in good shape.

"We'll see tomorrow how good of shape they are in," Heacock said.

The Penguins will hold their pre-camp fitness tests at 12:45 p.m. today at the stadium.

Three players failed to report. All were freshmen who were redshirted last season.

Couldn't make it

Scott Good a defensive back from Sweeny, Texas and Rob Davis, an offensive guard from Lisbon and brother of starting tackle Josh Davis, are both academically ineligible. Defensive back Matt Estes of Niles McKinley, who was listed in the team's three-deep depth chart after spring practice, called Heacock this week to say that he wouldn't be back.



All 11 of the returning starters, six on defense and five on offense, are back and so are the top prospects to fill the open positions on both sides of the football.

Nick Roberts, a Champion High graduate, and a junior starting right guard is ready to go.

Roberts (6-0, 303) was named to one preseason All-American team and is come off a great season.

"We're excited to be back and we are all ready to go," Roberts said.

"Everyone has had a great summer including the O-line," he added. "We all stayed together all summer long to work out and everybody dropped some weight and added some strength and quickness."

Senior offensive tackle Andy DeNiro, a Cardinal Mooney product, said the summer program went well.

"This was one of the best summers we've had since I've been here," he said. "Everybody has improved themselves and if we can develop some young kids to help out we should be OK."

Street ready to play

Senior quarterback prospect Colby Street, who missed most of the spring drills to concentrate on academics, is back and ready to go.

"It feels real good to be back with these guys full time," Street said. "The coaches only let me work out on weekends in the spring, but we've got everything taken care of now."

Street is one of five prospects vying for the starting quarterback position, left vacated when four-year starter Jeff Ryan graduated this spring.

"The competition back there should really be outstanding," Street said.

Defensively the prospects are even better, at least on the defensive line and at linebacker, where a host of returning veterans are back.

Players like Matt Mechling, Guy Mazard and Martin Stachowicz, all seniors, return to the defensive front.

Mechling missed several games due to injury last year and is looking forward to a big senior year.

"I went absolutely nuts last year when I wasn't able to play; I just couldn't handle it," Mechling said. "I feel 100 percent healthy this year."

Mazard, the 6-2, 295 pound tackle from Miami, Fla., feels the seniors must be the leaders on this team.

"I stayed here all summer and didn't go back home," he said. "We all worked very hard because we knew we had a lot coming back on the line and we just wanted to get better."

Stachowicz, a 6-2, 240 pound three-year letterman at defensive end, says not to worry about the defensive front.

"The D-line will be okay," he said. "With what we've got returning, we'll be pretty good as long as we continue to improve."

Senior linebacker Jon Tekac of New Wilmington is beginning his fourth year as a starter and said one of the team's most important goals this year is to win the Gateway Conference.

"This will be like back in 1991 when we first won a national championship," he said. "That's what it will feel like when we finally win a Gateway title."

Barone heads secondary

The defensive secondary has only one returning starter, senior Anthony Barone of Cardinal Mooney.

"We've got some good people returning, guys who have been here a while and know the system," Barone said. "We aren't going to be that weak back there."

Barone said that he's glad to be back in camp.

"I'm not saying that I'm excited about two-a-day workouts, but I'm excited about getting started again," he said.

After going through fitness testing on Thursday, the full team will begin two-a-day workouts on Friday at 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Stambaugh. They will begin contact drills on Aug. 12 when the annual "Hoot 'N Holler" drill will be conducted at 8:30 a.m.

The team's first jersey scrimmage will be Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.

mollica@vindy.com

Penguins Prepare for Fall Camp  Posted Saturday, August 3, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The 2002 newcomers on the Youngstown State football team are scheduled to report for fall camp on 5 p.m. Sunday, for physicals, equipment pickup and dorm check-in. The group checks into the YSU dorms at 5 and has physicals and equipment check out at 7 on Sunday evening.
The group includes 20 new faces that hold their first workouts of the fall on Monday on YSU's new Sprinturf surface in Stambaugh Stadium. The first practice is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. with the second workout of the day at 1:45 p.m. On Tuesday, the group practices at 8:30 a.m. and again at 3 p.m.
The returning players report on Wednesday, August 7 at 11 a.m. for physicals and testing. The annual media/photo day will be held at Stambaugh Stadium beginning at 5:15 p.m. for the media and 5:45 p.m. for the public.
The first entire-team practice will be Thursday, August 8 at 12:45 p.m. with the first full-pad practice on Monday, August 12.
Just a reminder, Coach Jon Heacock's first weekly Penguin Club Press Luncheon of the year will be held on Tuesday, August 27 at the DeBartolo Club in Stambaugh Stadium.

Fall Practice Schedule

Day Date Time
Monday August 5 (Newcomer Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
Tuesday August 6 (Newcomer Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
Wednesday August 7 (Photo Day) 5:45 p.m.
Thursday August 8 (Practice) 12:45 p.m.
Friday August 9 (Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Saturday August 10 (Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Sunday August 11 (Practice) 1:30 p.m.
Monday August 12 (First Pad Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Tuesday August 13 (Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Wednesday August 14 (Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Thursday August 15 (Practice/Scrimmage) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Friday August 16 (Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Saturday August 17 (Practice) 8:30 a.m.
Sunday August 18 (Practice) 1:30 p.m.
Monday August 19 (Practice) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Tuesday August 20 (Practice/Scrimmage) 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Wednesday August 21 (Practice/Kick Scrimmage) 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Football: YSU Media/Photo Day Set for August 7  Posted Wednesday, July 31, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team will hold its annual Football Media and Photo Day on Wednesday, August 7 at Stambaugh Stadium at 5:45 p.m. The event is open to media (at 5:15 p.m.) and the public (5:45 p.m.).
At approximately 6 p.m., members of the 2002 YSU football team will have group photographs taken by class and by position. After the 7 p.m., the squad will have their annual team picture taken.
Fans are invited to get photos and autographs of their favorite players at the event. On sale will be 2002 YSU Football Media Guides ($5) and 2002 Gateway Football Conference Media Guides will be available for purchase.
The YSU Athletic Ticket Office will also remain open until 7 p.m. on Wednesday to sale season and single-game tickets. Season-ticket packages are $72 for reserved and $48 for general admission. Single-game prices are $12 for reserved and $8 for general admission.

Collins Tabbed Women's Basketball Assistant Coach  Posted Wednesday, July 31, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Dorothy Collins, Youngstown State women’s basketball all-time leading scorer with 2,324 career points, has been named assistant women’s basketball coach, YSU Head Coach Ed DiGregorio announced on Wednesday. Collins, formerly Bowers, replaces Liz Grzesk, who accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dorothy back to the Youngstown State women’s basketball program,” said DiGregorio, who is entering his 20th season at YSU. “She will be a no-nonsense coach and that is what you need in coaching.
“I think the young ladies in our program will take to her and she will be able to teach them the game very well.”
“I’m excited,” Collins said. “I think it’s going to be a challenging and fun position, especially going through the program as a player.
“Being able to come back to program and work with the forwards and centers is an attractive aspect of the position and I look forward to helping those kids develop as college basketball players.”
Prior to joining the Penguin coaching staff, Collins served as a coordinator in the YSU Center for Student Progress since 2000 and a campus supervisor for Student Field Experiences since 1999.
Collins, who starred for the Penguins from 1984-88, most recently served as a volunteer head coach at the Youngstown YMCA since 1997 and was also an assistant coach at Calvary Christian Academy from 1996-98. Collins also served as a camp coach for Pro-Star Basketball Camp in Youngstown from 1996-98.
The 1988 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, Collins owns the YSU single-season scoring record with 783 points during the 1987-88 season and ranks second all-time with 1,083 career rebounds.
A two-time first-team All-OVC selection in 1987 and 1988 and a second-team All-OVC choice in 1986, Collins still holds five YSU career records, including points scored (2,324), highest field goal percentage (.544), most field goals made (977), most field goals attempted (1,796), and most free throws attempted (545). She also ranks second in several career categories including most rebounds (1,083), scoring average (21.5), and free throws made (370).
Collins, who earned bachelor’s degree in comprehensive business education from YSU in 1990 and a master’s degree in education from YSU in 1994, will begin her new duties on Aug. 5.

Baseball: Cox Part of Hays Team to Play in NBC World Series  Posted Wednesday, July 31, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Wichita, Kan. -- Youngstown State catcher Adam Cox will participate in the National Baseball Congress World Series as part of the Hays (Kan.) Larks squad beginning on Tuesday.
The Larks enter the NBC World Series as the tournament's second seed after posting a 35-11 record and winning the Jayhawk League for the second consecutive season. They open tournament play on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita against the winner of Sunday night's Wichita (Kan.) Angels-Springfield (Mo.) Slashers contest.
In the regular season for the Larks, Cox had a .291 batting average with 34 hits in 117 at bats. He scored 25 runs, had 15 RBI, 21 walks and five stolen bases. His 10 doubles rank second on the team.
Cox (Dayton, Ohio) completed his sophomore season with the Penguins this past spring. For YSU in 2002, he had .254 batting average, while producing team highs with 12 doubles, 18 walks, 30 RBI and four home runs.
If Hays wins on Tuesday night, it plays on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. If the Larks lose Tuesday, they will play sometime on August 3, as part of the 'Round the Clock weekend that features 16 games beginning Friday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m. and goes continuously through sometime Sunday, August 4.
The 2002 World Series, a 41-team double elimination tournament, is scheduled for July 28 through Aug. 11. The tournament is made up of teams who play in the National Alliance of Collegiate Summer Baseball.
The Hays team features players from Wichita State, Notre Dame, Duquesne, Missouri, Baylor, Dayton and the College of Charleston.

Collins Tabbed Women's Basketball Assistant Coach  Posted Wednesday, July 31, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Dorothy Collins, Youngstown State women’s basketball all-time leading scorer with 2,324 career points, has been named assistant women’s basketball coach, YSU Head Coach Ed DiGregorio announced on Wednesday. Collins, formerly Bowers, replaces Liz Grzesk, who accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dorothy back to the Youngstown State women’s basketball program,” said DiGregorio, who is entering his 20th season at YSU. “She will be a no-nonsense coach and that is what you need in coaching.
“I think the young ladies in our program will take to her and she will be able to teach them the game very well.”
“I’m excited,” Collins said. “I think it’s going to be a challenging and fun position, especially going through the program as a player.
“Being able to come back to program and work with the forwards and centers is an attractive aspect of the position and I look forward to helping those kids develop as college basketball players.”
Prior to joining the Penguin coaching staff, Collins served as a coordinator in the YSU Center for Student Progress since 2000 and a campus supervisor for Student Field Experiences since 1999.
Collins, who starred for the Penguins from 1984-88, most recently served as a volunteer head coach at the Youngstown YMCA since 1997 and was also an assistant coach at Calvary Christian Academy from 1996-98. Collins also served as a camp coach for Pro-Star Basketball Camp in Youngstown from 1996-98.
The 1988 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, Collins owns the YSU single-season scoring record with 783 points during the 1987-88 season and ranks second all-time with 1,083 career rebounds.
A two-time first-team All-OVC selection in 1987 and 1988 and a second-team All-OVC choice in 1986, Collins still holds five YSU career records, including points scored (2,324), highest field goal percentage (.544), most field goals made (977), most field goals attempted (1,796), and most free throws attempted (545). She also ranks second in several career categories including most rebounds (1,083), scoring average (21.5), and free throws made (370).
Collins, who earned bachelor’s degree in comprehensive business education from YSU in 1990 and a master’s degree in education from YSU in 1994, will begin her new duties on Aug. 5.

Football: Individual Game Tickets On Sale August 1  Posted Tuesday, July 30, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Individual game tickets for the 2002 football season go on sale on August 1 at the Youngstown State Ticket Office. The ticket office, located in Stambaugh Stadium is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or can be contacted by calling (330) 742-1978. Season ticket packages for the upcoming season can still be purchased up to the first game.
Reserved tickets are $12 while general admission tickets are $8. Reserved seats are available in sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in the West Stands and 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 in the East Stands. General Admission sections are in sections 1 and 7 of the West Stands.

Baseball: Cox Part of Hays Team to Play in NBC World Series  Posted Sunday, July 28, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Wichita, Kan. -- Youngstown State catcher Adam Cox will participate in the National Baseball Congress World Series as part of the Hays (Kan.) Larks squad beginning on Tuesday.
The Larks enter the NBC World Series as the tournament's second seed after posting a 35-11 record and winning the Jayhawk League for the second consecutive season. They open tournament play on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita against the winner of Sunday night's Wichita (Kan.) Angels-Springfield (Mo.) Slashers contest.
In the regular season for the Larks, Cox had a .291 batting average with 34 hits in 117 at bats. He scored 25 runs, had 15 RBI, 21 walks and five stolen bases. His 10 doubles rank second on the team.
Cox (Dayton, Ohio) completed his sophomore season with the Penguins this past spring. For YSU in 2002, he had .254 batting average, while producing team highs with 12 doubles, 18 walks, 30 RBI and four home runs.
If Hays wins on Tuesday night, it plays on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. If the Larks lose Tuesday, they will play sometime on August 3, as part of the 'Round the Clock weekend that features 16 games beginning Friday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m. and goes continuously through sometime Sunday, August 4.
The 2002 World Series, a 41-team double elimination tournament, is scheduled for July 28 through Aug. 11. The tournament is made up of teams who play in the National Alliance of Collegiate Summer Baseball.
The Hays team features players from Wichita State, Notre Dame, Duquesne, Missouri, Baylor, Dayton and the College of Charleston.

Gateway Tabs Penguins Second, Mays, Burley and Stuvaints Selected All-Conference Team  Posted Thursday, July 25, 2002 by  ysupenguins
St. Louis, Mo. -- The Youngstown State football team was picked second behind 2001 Gateway Football Conference Champion Northern Iowa in the conference preseason balloting by coaches, Sports Information Directors and selected media representatives, the league announced on Thursday.
The Penguins, who were 8-3 last year and tied Western Kentucky for second in the league with a 5-2 record, received five first-place votes and tallied 213 points. The Panthers, who advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoff semifinals had 242 points and picked up 24 of 32 first-place votes. Western Kentucky was third, Western Illinois fourth, SMS fifth, Illinois State sixth, Indiana State seventh and Southern Illinois was eighth.
Since joining the league in 1997, YSU has been selected in the preseason poll to finish first once (1998), second once (2001) and third four times (1997, 1999 and 2000). Only in 1997 (3rd) and 2001 (t-2nd) did the Penguins finish where they were picked in the preseason poll.
Representing YSU on the preseason all-conference team are senior tailback P.J. Mays and senior kick return specialist Jerald Burley. Mays was the 2001 Gateway Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Burley was a 2001 first-team all-conference pick. Senior linebacker Russell Stuvaints was a preseason honorable-mention league selection.
In other news, YSU junior offensive guard Nick Roberts was named a preseason All-American in Street & Smith's Annual Football publication. While Roberts was a All-America pick, Mays was named the Gateway's top offensive player.

2002 Gateway Preseason Poll

Team (First-Place Votes)
Points

Northern Iowa (24)
242

Youngstown State (5)
213

Western Kentucky (2)
191

Western Illinois
160

Southwest Missouri State (1)
132

Illinois State
91

Indiana State
68

Southern Illinois
55



2002 Gateway Football Conference Preseason Team
Offense
QB - Julian Reese, INS, 6-3, 205, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.
RB - Tom Koutsos, SIU, 5-11, 210, Sr., Oswego, Ill.
RB - P.J. Mays, YSU, 5-9, 208, Sr., Youngstown, Ohio
WR - Mark Marcos, SMS, 5-11, 175, Sr., Glendale, Ariz.
WR - Vito Golson, ILS, 6-3, 197, Sr., St. Petersburg, Fla.
TE- Nathan Schurman, SMS, 6-3, 245, Jr., St. Joseph, Mo.
OL- Buster Ashley, WKU, 6-4, 290, So., Owensboro, Ky.
OL - Eric Bowman, INS, 6-3, 295, Sr., The Woodlands, Texas
OL - Chris Price, WKU, 6-0, 290, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.
OL - Chad Setterstrom, UNI, 6-3, 303, Sr., Northfield, Minn.
OL - Daniel Withrow, WKU, 6-3, 285, Jr., Bowling Green, Ky.
PK- Mackenzie Hoambrecker, UNI, 6-0, 202, Sr., Davenport, Iowa

Defense
DL - Richard Harris, INS, 6-3, 270, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.
DL - Robert Hamre, UNI, 6-4, 295, Sr., Bloomfield, Iowa
DL - Mike O’Brien, WIU, 6-3, 275, Jr., Aledo, Ill.
DL - Patrick Reynolds, WKU, 6-3, 250, Sr., Bowling Green, Ky.
LB - Sherrod Coates, WKU, 6-2, 225, Sr., Boynton Beach, Fla.
LB - Erik Dandy, WKU, 6-0, 205, Jr., Mansfield, Ohio
LB - Lee Russell, WIU, 6-0, 225, Jr., Davenport, Iowa
DB - Carlos Banks, SMS, 5-10, 180, Jr., Arlington, Texas
DB - Dennis Butler, ILS, 5-9, 180, Sr., Chicago, Ill.
DB - Terrance Miles, INS, 5-8, 165, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.
DB - Alexis Moreland, SIU, 6-1, 200, So., Sarasota, Fla.
DB - Daryl Warren, SMS, 6-1, 210, Jr., Long Beach, Calif.
P - Mike Scifres, WIU, 6-2, 230, Sr., Norco, La.
RS - Jerald Burley, YSU, 5-10, 170, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Honorable Mention (listed on at least 20% of the ballots):
QB Tom Petrie, Northern Iowa; RB Adam Benge, Northern Iowa; TE Ryan
McAllister, Southern Illinois; OL Crockett Ladd, SMS; OL Ben Deike, Northern
Iowa; DL Terrell Morgan, Northern Iowa; LB Boomer Grigsby, Illinois State;
LB Jason McWilliams, Western Illinois; DB Ryle Irish, Western Illinois; DB
Derrick Corker, Southern Illinois; LB Russell Stuvaints, Youngstown State

Labatte Tabbed Assistant Soccer Coach   Posted Tuesday, July 23, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Chris Labatte has been named assistant women’s soccer coach at Youngstown State University, Head Coach Liz Bartley announced on Tuesday.
“Chris brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience, both in the U.S. and internationally, to our program,” Bartley said. “He knows the game very well and will be able to develop our players from a team standpoint and on an individual basis.”
Prior to joining the YSU staff, Labatte served as a professional trainer and coach since 2000 at MVP Soccer in Struthers, Ohio, where he evaluated players in game situations and designed and implemented sessions to improve team development.
From 1998-2000 Labatte was the Boys Head Coach for the U-15, U-16, U-17 Peninsula United Football Club in Newport News, Va., and led the U-16 squad to a division championship with an 8-0-2 record.
Labatte, who played for two seasons at the College of Charleston from 1988-89, played internationally from 1995-98 and was a member of the U.S. Army National Team in 1994.
Labatte, who earned an Associate’s of Liberal Arts Degree fro St. Leo University in 1999 and a United State Soccer Federation National ‘D’ License in 2000, is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in computer science at Youngstown State.

2002 YSU Hall-of-Fame Inducties Selected  Posted Monday, July 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Six new members of the Youngstown State University Athletics Hall of Fame will be inducting prior to YSU's Homecoming football game against Southern Illinois on Nov. 2, the Athletic Department announced on Monday.
The six members -- the smallest in school history -- to make up the class of 2002 are former baseball standout Mike Zaluski (1974-77), former football players Sam Pagano (1951-54), Archie Herring (1987-1990) and All-American Dave Roberts (1989-92), former women's basketball standout and assistant coach Diane McFadden, formerly Rappach (1988-92) and longtime contributor Sam Colucci, who died in 1998.
Zaluski, an outfielder, finished with a .325 career batting average playing four seasons at YSU. In 1977, the Penguins finished 26-8 while he hit .333. He had a career-high .336 in 1976. His 59 career stolen bases are third all-time at YSU while he also finished with 138 career hits.
Pagano was a team captain in 1954 and in his three years with the program, YSU was 20-12-2 overall, including a 7-1 mark in 1953 and a 7-2 mark in 1954.
Herring, a tailback, ranks first in school history in career kickoff return yards, third in school history in all-purpose yards and is 14th in career rushing yardage . Herring was a senior of the 1990 team that completed a perfect 11-0 regular season before losing to Central Florida in the opening round of the playoffs. In 1988, he led the nation in kickoff return yards. He currently resides in Greensboro, N.C.
Roberts, a cornerback, was a first-team All-American in 1992. Roberts still holds the school career record for punt-return average, and ranks second with 28 pass breakups and 22 interceptions. He tied the school mark for interceptions in a season with nine in 1992. He currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Colucci will be honored as a contributor for his countless hours of work and contributions to the YSU Athletic Department. Colucci served on the Penguin Club Board of Trustees and was also honored as a Penguin of the Year. He helped begin the Bill Dailey Golf Outing at Avalon Lakes Golf Course and worked to help the YSU football team have a practice facility in the late 1970's and early 1980's before the development of Stambaugh Stadium.
McFadden (Rappach) had a standout career and still ranks as the school's all-time leader in 3-pointers made at 198. She ranks 11th in school history with 1,198 points scored and in her four seasons, the Penguins were 74-37 overall, including a 24-4 mark in 1990-91. For her career, she averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. She currently ranks third in school history in career steals (275) and career assists (503). She was an assistant coach with the Penguins from 1997-98 through the 2001-02 campaign.
The six members of the 18th YSU Hall of Fame class bring the number of inductees to 178. Of those 178 inductees, 76 are former football players or coaches. The 2002 class of six is the smallest group to be inducted into the YSU Hall since its inception in 1985.

Volleyball: Only Two Starters Return To Lead Talented, Youthful Squad In 2002   Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- Youngstown State Head Coach Joe Conroy does not like to use the phrase “a rebuilding year,” but the 11th-year mentor finds himself in a precarious situation entering the 2002 volleyball season.
The main reason for his uncertainty is the fact the Penguins return just two starters from last season’s squad - the fewest returning starters for YSU since the 1996 season when the Penguins returned just one.
Although the Penguins lost four starters, including former Penguins Melissa Lyczkowski, Kristen Meech and Rebecca Sylak, Conroy, an eternal optimist, sees an abundance of talent in his youthful squad.
“I think whenever you lose quality players it affects your program,” Conroy said. “But I believe we have loads of talent on this team and we will be very competitive.”
Along with four new starters in the lineup, a new rule/player is being introduced to the collegiate game in 2002. The libero (pronounced “luh-BEAR-oe”) is a designated back-row player; can replace any player in the back row without counting as a substitution; and there is no limit to libero substitutions.
“The implementation of the libero will be very beneficial for us,” Conroy said. “Not only will we be able to utilize one of our best passers more often, some of our front row players will have periods of rest during the match.”
The new Penguin lineup will quickly become veteran with a challenging 2002 slate ahead of them. Conroy scheduled three NCAA Tournament participants, and teams from the ACC, Big Ten and Big XII to go along with YSU rugged Horizon League slate. The Penguins, who open the season Aug. 29 at the Florida Atlantic Tournament, must also play their first 14 matches on the road.
After four outstanding seasons under former Penguin Melissa Lyczkowski, YSU’s all-time assists leader with 4,820, the reigns of the Penguins’ offense will be in someone else’s hands, literally.
Junior Beth Boscarelli is the lone returning setter on the roster but will be joined newcomer Angie Pasquinelli.
Untested but talented, Boscarelli averaged 1.38 assists per game last season, which was second on the team.
“Beth is really coming into her own as a player,” Conroy said. “She has outstanding instinct and athletic ability and I am excited to see her in a leadership role on the court.”
A solid defensive player, Boscarelli, a 2002 team captain, averaged 1.77 digs per game in 2001.
Pasquinelli, a 5-foot-6 freshman, was a second-team all-state selection as a senior and a two-time first-team all-district choice.
“Angie has the tools to be a great collegiate setter,” Conroy said. “Coupled with Beth, we have two very athletic and talented setters who I think will drive each other to make the team better.”
In years past, the composition of the Penguins’ outside hitters have always been of experience, talent and depth. While the talent and depth at the position do not raise any concerns for Conroy, the experience level is not one he is accustomed to.
Junior Colleen Royer, one of YSU’s two returning starters, is the only player with significant player experience at the outside. Royer led the Penguins with 2.83 digs per game and finished second on the squad with 2.99 kills per game.
“Colleen is definitely going to be one of our top guns this season,” Conroy said. “She has been working really hard in the offseason and keeps improving every time she steps on the court.”
Joining Royer on the outside will be senior Cameran Drake, a 2002 team captain, sophomore Melanie Pounders and freshman Abby Ettenhofer. Drake and Pounders combined for 78 kills last season while Ettenhofer was named her conference’s player of the year as a senior.
Even though the Penguins must recoup the loss of all-time blocks leader and 1,000-kill club member Kristen Meech, Youngstown State should be solid in the middle.
Junior Annie Buschur, the second of two returning starters, heads the cast in the middle. The 6-foot native of New Weston, Ohio, was second on the team with 1.08 blocks per game and ranks 10th all-time with 197 career blocks in just two seasons.
“Annie has become a dominant blocker for us,” Conroy said. “She is a fierce competitor and a defensive stalwart at the net.”
Shoring up the middle is 6-foot-4 middle hitter Michele Batton, who is making the transition after three seasons at outside hitter. Batton, who earned second-team all-conference honors as a freshman, set the school’s freshman kills record with 358 during the 1999 season but has been hampered by injuries the last two years.
“I think the move to the middle will be an easy adjustment for Michele,” Conroy said. “She came her as a middle and we moved her to the outside her first season. Michele has a lot of talent and her 6-foot-4 frame at the net will give opponents some trouble.”
Freshman Katie Shea, from East Aurora, N.Y., will also see action in the middle. Shea was a two-time all-conference selection.
Another position that has an abundance of untapped talent and must recover from a loss to graduation is at the opposite or right side hitter. The Penguins must fill the void left when Rebecca Sylak, who finished her career fourth on YSU’s all-time kills chart with 1,096 kills, graduated. Penciled in the lineup are sophomore Lori Lyman and freshman Nickole Kennedy.
Lyman, who appeared in 26 matches last season, displayed outstanding defensive and serving skills with 105 digs and 31 aces.
Kennedy, a 6-foot-1 native of Sunbury, Ohio, was an Honorable Mention all-state and first-team all-district selection as a senior.
“Lori and Nickole are both extremely talented volleyball players,” Conroy said. “They are also inexperienced so the more action they see the better they will become.”
The libero, the new position instituted by the NCAA for the 2002 season, will profoundly affect the match strategy of the Penguins this season.
“With the addition of the libero, we should be more fundamentally sound defensively and more accurately passing the ball to our setter to run our offense,” said Conroy.
Senior Gabby Ferrell, who joined the program as a walk-on, senior Lena Arens and Drake are slated to see action at the new position.
“Gabby, Lena and Cameran have each displayed solid defensive and passing skills that will help us in the back row,” said Conroy.

Football: Former Penguin Dick Hartzell Added to YSU Radio Broadcasts  Posted Monday, July 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Former Youngstown State placekicker Dick Hartzell will join play-by-play veteran Bob Hannon on Penguin football broadcasts this season as the color analyst, the YSU Athletic Department announced on Monday.
Hartzell -- who is the founder of Jump Stretch Bands which are used by YSU student-athletes, the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Lakers and various other professional, collegiate and high school teams -- played for YSU in the early 1960's and was the high school coach for YSU Head Coach Jon Heacock at West Branch High School in the 1970's.
Hartzell brings a wealth of broadcast experience to the booth for the Penguins. He has done numerous high school games and the past two seasons provided analysis for YSU's same-day tape-delayed home television broadcasts, which aired on area cable outlets.
Hannon and Hartzell can be heard on gamedays on WNIO 1390 AM and WBBG FM 106.1 in Youngstown.
In his YSU career from 1960-63 under head coach Dwight Beede, Hartzell scored 87 points for the Penguins as a placekicker. He converted 60-of-83 point-after attempts and made nine field goals. YSU finished 6-2 in 1960, 4-4-1 in 1961, 6-3 in 1962 and 5-4-1 in 1963.
As a coach at West Branch High School in Beloit, Ohio, Hartzell was the head coach for seven seasons (1972-78) compiling a 49-19-1 record. Prior to taking over at West Branch he was the head coach at Struthers High School for two years. After leaving West Branch in 1978, Hartzell turned to developing his Jump Stretch Bands and received a U.S. Patent in 1983.
His Jump Stretch Fitness Center is located at 603 N. Meridian Road in Youngstown.

YSU Televised Twice as Part Of Gateway Football Package  Posted Friday, July 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Two Youngstown State football games will be televised during the 2002 season as part of the package by the Gateway Football Conference.
The Penguins will have their Sept. 28 contest at Southwest Missouri State televised. Kickoff for the contest was originally scheduled for 8 p.m. (EDT), but has been changed to 2:30 p.m. (EDT) to accommodate for television. YSU's home game against Northern Iowa on Oct. 19 will be broadcast as well. The game time will not change for the Penguins-Panthers contest and will be the first televised Gateway home game for Youngstown State since UNI's last visit in 2000.
Other games selected for the Gateway package include Western Illinois at Western Kentucky (Sept. 14), Illinois State at Western Kentucky (Nov. 2) and Indiana State at Southern Illinois (Nov. 9). YSU and Western Kentucky are the only two Gateway teams who are to be televised twice.
Also, the Penguins' Sept. 21 contest at Western Kentucky will be broadcast live on Channel 21 WFMJ-TV. And each Penguin home game will be broadcast on a same-day tape-delayed basis on WYFX Fox 17/62.
As of July 3, only YSU's road games at Florida Atlantic, at Western Illinois and at Illinois State are not slated for television broadcasts.
Every game of the 2002 YSU football season will broadcast on Clear Channel Radio Youngstown on stations WBBG 106.1 FM and 1390 AM WNIO.

Football: Mays, Burley Earn SportsNetwork Preseason Honors  Posted Tuesday, July 2, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Hatboro, Pa. -- The Youngstown State football team placed two members on the preseason Sports Network All-America team, with senior tailback P.J. Mays being named to the first-team and senior return specialist Jerald Burley earning honorable-mention honors, the sports service announced on Tuesday.
Mays, who was the Gateway Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Year in 2001, rushed for 1,446 yards as a junior and scored 22 touchdowns -- including 21 rushing scores. He had three 200-plus-yard games and had more than 150 yards rushing on six occasions. His total set a school regular-season only mark and his 131.5 yards per game set a school mark for all games.
Burley finished 2001 ranked in the top 25 in both punt returns and kickoff returns. Last year, he returned 17 punts for 289 yards, an average of 17.0 per return, and one touchdown. He had 12 kickoff returns for an average of 25.5 per attempt.
In the annual preseason position rankings by the Sports Network, Mays was listed as the top running back in Division I-AA, Burley was tabbed as the third-best kick returner and senior linebacker Russell Stuvaints was named as the 15th best linebacker in Division I-AA.
The Penguins open fall camp on Sunday, August 4, when freshman report. The upperclassmen report on Wednesday, August 7, with physicals, testing and media day. YSU opens the season against Clarion on Thursday, August 29.

Penguin Power Named Best I-AA Football Program  Posted Thursday, June 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
YSU Sports Information
26 Jun 2002

Youngstown - The 2001 edition of Penguin Power, the gameday pro-
gram for Youngstown State University football games, has been
judged as the year's best Division I-AA Football Program, by the
College Sports Information Directors of America.

Penguin Power, a production of the YSU Sports Information and
Marketing Offices, placed first in the Division I-AA competition
ahead of second-place Villanova University. Florida Atlantic Uni-
versity won the best program cover award. The YSU program is
printed by Allegra Print and Imaging in Youngstown.

Each year, the CoSIDA organization judges and ranks publications
done by Sports Information Offices throughout the country. The
Division I-AA football program contest was coordinated by B.B.
Branton of Sewanee University.

Track & Field: Schnitkey Places 16th At Junior Nationals   Posted Thursday, June 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Palo Alto, Calif. – Youngstown State freshman Emily Schnitkey finished in 16th-place in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:58.16 at the U.S.A. Track and Field Junior National Championships hosted by Stanford University.
Lindsay Zinn from Purdue won the event with a time of 16:37.72.

48Student-Athletes Named To Horizon League Honor Roll   Posted Friday, June 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. – Forty-eight Youngstown State University student-athletes have been named to the 2001-02 Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.
Candidates for the Academic Honor Roll must meet three criteria in order to qualify: 1) participate in at least one of the Horizon League’s 18 sports; 2) must have completed at least three semesters as a full-time student at the same member institution; and 3) must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25.
YSU’s women’s cross country team and volleyball team each placed six athletes on the honor roll while baseball, men’s cross country, soccer, and women’s track and field each landed five student-athletes on the honor roll.
The following is a sport-by-sport breakdown of YSU student athletes named to the Honor Roll: Baseball (Adam Cox, Ty Furino, Jim Kutchel, Jim Lipinski, and Corey Ohalek); women’s basketball (Jenny Horner, Maggie Johnston, Allison Metro, and Devin Novak); men’s cross country (Kurt Michaelis, Tony Orcena, Jeremy Riehm, Will Edwards, and Chris Hine); women’s cross country (Andrea Bardy, Beth Hochstetler, Leslie Johnson, Kelly Leonard, Jen Moore, and Melissa Ruffner); men’s golf (David Johnstone and Jonah Karzmer); women’s soccer (Sarah Bartholomew, Katie Bollinger, Megan Gibson, Lauren Roseman, Rachel Wilds); softball (Joleen Estok); women’s swimming and diving (Lena Arens, Brandi Goettsch and Kathryn Kohut); men’s tennis (Kyle Kestner); women’s tennis (Leslie Banks and Alyson Finamore); men’s track and field (Kurt Michaelis, Tony Orcena, and Jeremy Riehm); women’s track and field (Andrea Bardy, Beth Hochstetler, Leslie Johnson, Kelly Leonard and Melissa Ruffner); volleyball (Lena Arens, Michele Batton, Annie Buschur, Cameran Drake, Melissa Lyczkowski and Kristen Meech).

Track & Field: Schnitkey To Run At USA Track and Field Junior Nationals   Posted Thursday, June 20, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State freshman Emily Schnitkey will represent YSU at the U.S.A. Track and Field Junior National Championships in the women’s 5,000-meter run, Friday, June 21, at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
Schnitkey, the 2001 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, turned in an outstanding rookie campaign and set a number of school records during her first season of intercollegiate competition, including the 1,500-meter run in 4:39, the mile-run in 5:03, the 5,000-meter run in 17:21, the steeplechase in 11:27, and the 6,000-meter run in cross country with a time of 22:30.
“It is exciting to have such a talented and hard working young lady competing at such a prestigious event while representing Youngstown State University,” Head Coach Brian Gorby said. “The experience that she is gaining will be a tremendous positive for her future progression at the national level.”
Schnitkey, who was also named the 2001 Ohio Freshman of the Year, is ranked sixth of the out of a field of 16 based on time. If Schnitkey finishes in the top two, she will be eligible to compete in the women’s 5,000-meter run for Team USA in the Junior World Championships, July 16, in Kingston, Jamaica

Football: Former Penguin Tim Johnson to Play in World Bowl  Posted Monday, June 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Rhein, Germany -- Former Youngstown State All-American linebacker Tim Johnson will play in NFL Europe's World Bowl next Saturday (June 22) when his Rhein Fire team plays the Berlin Thunder in World Bowl X in Düsseldorf, Germany at Noon (Eastern Time) on Fox.
The Fire ended the regular season with a 7-3 mark while Berlin enters the game after posting a 6-4 mark. In 10 games, Johnson, a starter at outside linebacker, has a team-high 57 tackles, including 36 unassisted stops. He has seven pass breakups, two sacks and an interception.

Men's Basketball: Ross Burns Joins YSU Staff as Assistant Coach  Posted Saturday, June 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State men's basketball Coach John Robic announced on Friday the addition of Ross Burns to the men's basketball coaching staff as an assistant.
Burns, a former player under Robic at UMass, spent the past two years at Wagner College as an assistant coach on Dereck Whittenberg's staff.
Robic said having Burns join the Penguins coaching staff will be very beneficial to the staff and student-athletes.
"Ross brings a lot of the same qualities as when Derek Kellogg was here as an assistant," Robic said. "Ross did a great job at Wagner and earned some invaluable experience from Coach Whittenberg. Also, now with the rule changes in NCAA basketball, he can actively recruit for us.
"He is a former walk-on at UMass and he is a similar coach as he was as a player, so he will do a great job here. He is a very good up-and-coming coach."
For the Seahawks, his responsibilities included running practices, film exchange, scouting, player development, team travel, compliance and academic supervision. In addition, he was the camp director for the Dereck Whittenberg Basketball School.
Burns is relatively new to the basketball coaching profession. His two-year stint at Wagner followed a position he held at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., in Boston, Mass. He worked with the top producing team in private client services for the company.
In addition to his work at Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., Burns gained experience as a basketball product manager for Pinnacle Sport Systems, where he developed training and promotional tapes, gained experience in scouting and recruiting and served as a management team liaison. He also spent several summers as a coach and camp counselor at the Five-Star Basketball Camp, doing the same at the John Calipari/Bruiser Flint Basketball School.
A 1999 graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the native of Greenfield, Mass., received his BA in Psychology and Education with a minor in economics. He was a four-year letterwinner on the
UMass basketball team as well as being an athletic honor roll student and was a member of the 1996 Final Four Team. He also played with former Penguin Rafael Cruz for two seasons at UMass.

Baseball: Pitcher Matt Brumit Selected by Yankees  Posted Wednesday, June 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State senior right-handed pitcher Matt Brumit (Tallmadge, Ohio) was selected by the New York Yankees in the 44th round (1,323 overall pick) on the second day of the Major League First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.
Brumit, a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, finished his senior year with a 4-5 record and a 4.15 earned-run average. He appeared in 13 games, making 11 starts and throwing two complete games, including a one-hit shutout against Cleveland State on April 20. That was the first one-hitter fired by a Penguin pitcher since 1994 and his performance earned him Horizon League Pitcher-of-the-Week honors after also picking up a win over league foe Detroit. On the year, Brumit had 60.2 innings pitched and struck out 60 while walking just 13. Opponents hit .277 against him in 2002.
For his YSU career, he ranked tied for fifth in games started at 27 and appearances with 52 in YSU baseball history. In his four seasons he posted a 10-14 record with a 6.05 ERA. In 183 innings pitched, he struck out 174 while throwing three complete games, including two as a senior. His junior season he threw a career-high 74 innings and struck out 63 in 16 appearances, 13 of which were starts. As a sophomore he was 5-2 making 17 appearances, 14 of which were in relief.
Brumit's selection marks the fourth consecutive year the Penguins have had a player picked in the Player Draft. In 2001, pitcher Brad Hennessey was a first-round selection by the San Francisco Giants, in 2000, pitcher Mike Abdalla was a 40th round pick by the Kansas City Royals and in 1999, outfielder Mark Thomas was a 21st round selection by the Montreal Expos.

YSU QB Slot Still Open  Posted Wednesday, June 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
By David Devereux (Jambar)

Jeff Ryan is the Penguins all-time leader in total yards and touchdown passes. With a record 42 career starts, to YSU football faithful it might seem he has been the quarterback of the team, forever.

Forever, however, ended last season, as did the Penguins season and playoff chances in a heartbreaking 38-24 loss to Marshall in Huntington, W.Va.

The Penguins must now turn the reigns of their offense over to a new starting quarterback.

According to YSU Head Coach Jon Heacock, there are four candidates right now and each of them will have a shot.

"It's an open competition", said Heacock, who guided the Penguins to an 8-3 record in his first season as head coach last year. "There will always be changes, anyone can emerge as a player."

The four quarterbacks competing for the starting job are Colby Street, Aaron Marshall, Justin Green, and Louis Gonzalez.

Street, a 6'3" 230-pound senior, is the most experienced returning quarterback on the Penguins' roster. Last season, Street passed for 194 yards and rushed for 286 yards as a backup to Ryan and contributed on the Penguins' special teams.

"Colby has been around awhile, he is going to help us somewhere," said Heacock.

"He missed some time in the spring but he is been working hard and conditioning and he's put himself back in the position to compete."

Aaron Marshall is the brother of Willis Marshall, who played for the Penguins from 94-97 and currently plays Arena Football.

Aaron Marshall was a standout high school player from Detroit and red-shirted as a freshman for the Penguins last season. He took most of the snaps for the Penguins in the spring.

"He's a young player who played scout team for us last season," said Heacock. "He ran the offense for 20 days! He is a very talented and skilled football player."

Heacock says two other quarterbacks will be given a look, Green, a senior who transferred from Bethany College last season and Gonzalez, who is an incoming transfer from the University of Cincinnati.

Whoever winds up the starter will take over an offense that compiled over 270 rushing yards per game last season and features the returning Gateway Conference Player of the Year, senior tailback P.J. Mays.

They will also join a list of Penguins quarterbacks that includes former NFL players, Ron Jaworski and Cliff Stoudt, along with Ray Isaac, Dave Cochrane, Mark Brungard, and Demond Tidwell, who led the Penguins to National Championships in the 90s.

The Penguins' players are lifting weights and conditioning with Todd Burkey, strength and conditioning coach, as a part of voluntary summer workouts, said Heacock.

The official date for freshman and first year players to report is August 4, while the returning players will join the team August 6, which begins two-a-days and official team practice.

Fatmen looking for home  Posted Wednesday, June 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
With the month drawing to a close , no one knows for sure where the throw team will practice. This is not the first time the team has been forced to move its practice field.

The throw team (otherwise known as "fatmen"), a part of track and field consisting of shot put, discus, and hammer throwers, practices off Bryson Street behind Ursuline High School during its season. This practice field will be turned into a parking lot this summer for students who live in Lyden and Cafaro houses, according to Ron Strollo, associate director of athletics.

There is another parking lot located beside the throw teams practice field on the corner of Madison Avenue and Bryson Street. Ed Wilson, throw coach, said he has never seen this parking lot full, and doesn't understand the need for more parking in that particular location. The practice field is located one block from the dorms.

According to Strollo, the practice field on Bryson was never meant to be permanent. He said when the pads for the field were constructed they were meant to be moved. Wilson said he doesn't understand how they will move concrete pads.

Wilson said he has been looking for a permanent place to practice since he started coaching here five years ago. He said he looked at property the university owns by Liberty High School, but was told he could not use that property for security reasons.

He also said he looked at a place behind the Wick Avenue parking deck, but was told it would infringe upon the softball field.

Wilson said, "It's not only a few athletes it affects, it's a ripple effect. It affects the students, which affects the population, which affects the faculty, which affects the university."

Title IX, a federal law that requires schools to give men and women equal athletic opportunities, may apply to this situation. If the team has nowhere to practice in the fall, the university may violate this federal law. If the university violates Title IX, all federal funding to the university would stop immediately.

According to Strollo, finding a place for the throw team to practice is a common problem among universities located within cities. He said it would take three to four years before a permanent practice field is found.

Dan O' Connell, associate director of athletics, said that he has found a place for the team to practice in the fall but was unable to disclose the location. He said he is trying to find a place that the team can practice for more than just a few years.

Wilson said that the athletic department has not considered ordering any of the equipment necessary to move the practice field. He said that this would affect his recruitment for next year because there is no place to practice. "I can't lie to people I recruit," he said.

Lauren Girdler, sophomore, said that the situation is frustrating. "I just want somewhere to practice," she said.

Christina Campana, junior, said that putting a parking lot where the throw teams practice field is, is like making a parking lot out of the football field. She said the university needs more parking lots, but not at the cost of an athletic facility.

By Elizabeth Ingrao
Jambar

Stoudt, Zordich Set As Guest 2002 Football Camp Coaches   Posted Thursday, May 30, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Former Youngstown State quarterback and two-time Super Bowl Champion Cliff Stoudt and former NFL standout Mike Zordich will serve as guest coaches at the 2002 Youngstown State QB/WR/DB Skills Camp, Wednesday, June 12, at Stambaugh Stadium, Head Coach Jon Heacock announced on Thursday.
Stoudt was a four-year letterwinner at Youngstown State (1973-76) and finished his career as the Penguins’ all-time leader in total offense with 5,459 yards and second all-time leading passer with 4,387 passing yards. Stoudt now ranks fifth in total yards and sixth in passing yards.
A fifth-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1977 NFL draft, Stoudt was part of two Super Bowl Championship teams with the Steelers and served as a back up to Hall-of-Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw. In 1983, Stoudt earned the starting quarterback position and led the Steelers to a 10-6 record and an AFC Central Division Championship.
In 1984, Stoudt signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL and led the Stallions to a two-year record of 29-11. He was also a second-team All-USFL selection in 1984 and 1985. In two seasons in the USFL, Stoudt threw 62 touchdown passes, including 36 in 1985.
He rejoined the NFL in 1986 and spent three seasons with the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals. In 1989, Stoudt served as a back up to Dan Marion with the Miami Dolphins and joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1990. Stoudt ended his career with the Cowboys in 1991.
Zordich, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, was a 12-year veteran of the NFL and played with the New York Jets (1987-88), the Arizona Cardinals (1989-93) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1994-98).
In 1996 and 1997, Zordich was voted by his teammates as the Eagles Unsung Hero and led the team with four interceptions during the 1996 campaign.
During the 1994 and 1995 seasons, Zordich was selected to the All-Madden Team by former NFL head coach, and CBS and FOX football analyst John Madden.
Zordich, a ninth-round selection by the San Diego Chargers in the 1986 NFL Draft, was a four-year letterwinner at Penn State and was a member of the Nittany Lions’ 1982 National Championship squad. Zordich, a consensus All-American after his senior season, finished his collegiate career as the school’s 12th all-time leading tackler with 201 career stops.
The cost of the skills camp is $20.00 with a check-in at 8:30 a.m. The camp will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The deadline for registration is Friday, June 7.
For more information, please call the football office at (330) 742-3478.

Football: Former Penguin Hightower Joins Arena's Indiana Firebirds  Posted Monday, May 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Former all-conference Youngstown State strong safety Bruce Hightower signed to join the Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League as a member of the organizations four-player practice squad.
Hightower, who played at YSU from 1998 through 2001, was a first-team All-Gateway performer in 2001 as the Penguins finished 8-3. He was a three-year starter for Youngstown State and joins a Firebird team that is 3-3 in the AFL's Central Division. Indianapolis has eight games remaining in the 2002 regular season.

Penguins baseballers fall 1-0 in a classic pitching dual  Posted Thursday, May 23, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Senior Jeff Steele scored an unearned run in the top of the ninth inning to give Butler a 1-0 victory over Youngstown State in the opening round of the Horizon League Tournament at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, May 23. The win boosted the Bulldogs to 33-21 on the season and into a second round match against UW-Milwaukee on Friday, May 24.

Steele led off the top of the ninth inning with a single to left field, and he advanced to second base on a single by junior Paul Beck. Then with one out, Youngstown State first baseman Jim Lipinski bobbled a ground ball by sophomore Ryan Nance and Steele scored from second base with the game's only run.

The ninth-inning tally ended a classic pitching dual between Butler's Pat Neshek and Youngstown State's Corey Ohalek. Neshek finished with six strikeouts and no walks, while Ohalek posted six strikeouts and one walk. The Bulldogs managed seven hits, while Youngstown State chalked up five.

The No. 3 seeded Penguins threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning when Kyle Smith led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Smith reached third on an infield ground out, but Neshek closed the inning with a strikeout.

In the ninth, Neshek retired the first two batters on two pitches, before yielding an infield single. He then finished the game with a ground ball to shortstop Jared Lowe for the final out. The win boosted Neshek to 4-6 on the season.

Butler and UW-Milwaukee will meet at 6:30 p.m. (EST) on Friday.

Phillips, Schlabach Earn Horizon League Honors  Posted Thursday, May 23, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State sophomore outfielder Kendall Schlabach was named to the Horizon League first-team while freshman outfielder Jim Phillips was named to the Horizon League's All-Newcomer team, the league announced on Wednesday.
Schlabach hit .384 during the regular season and was named to an all-conference first-team for the second consecutive year after being named first-team All Mid-Con in 2001. Phillips had a solid first season hitting .324, second-best on the team, including a .385 batting average in league action.

Twenty-One Student-Athletes Achieve 4.0 GPA During Spring Semester   Posted Thursday, May 23, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Continuing the tradition of academic excellence in Penguin athletics, 21 Youngstown State student-athletes completed the 2002 spring semester with a 4.0 grade point average, YSU Associate Director of Athletics Elaine Jacobs announced on Wednesday.
Four student-athletes – senior Kristen Meech (volleyball), junior Sarah Bartholomew (soccer), sophomore Emily Schnitkey (track and field/cross country) and freshman Julie Cole (track and field/cross country) – have earned cumulative 4.00 grade point averages through the 2002 spring semester.
Those student-athletes achieving a grade-point average of 4.00 during the spring semester include: Lena Arens (volleyball/swimming), Antulio Aroche (football), Bartholomew, Shawn Carlson (football), Cole, Jordan Dunn (swimming), Joleen Estok (softball), Greg Giannios (football), Jenny Grossi (women’s golf), Sean Guerriero (football), Christine Handte (soccer), Bruce Hightower (football), Jenny Horner (women’s basketball), Maggie Johnston (women’s basketball), Melissa Lyczkowski (volleyball), Stephanie Matasek (women’s golf), Meech, Tony Orcena (track and field/cross country), Jeff Ryan (football), Schnitkey, and Steve Valley (football).
The YSU women’s basketball team finished the semester with a department-best 3.22 grade point average while the swimming and diving, volleyball and women’s golf team each ended the semester with a 3.18 grade point average. The women’s cross-country team collected a 3.17 team g.p.a.
Of the 309 YSU student-athletes, 132 or 43 percent own a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or greater while 155 or 50 percent earned a semester grade point average of 3.00 or greater.

Men's Basketball: It's Official...Dolph Carroll Joins YSU Coaching Staff as an Assistant  Posted Thursday, May 16, 2002 by  ysupenguins
As previously released by ysupenguins.com ... Youngstown State men's basketball coach John Robic announced on Thursday that Dolph Carroll, former head coach at Yavapai Junior College, has joined the Penguins' program as an assistant coach.
Robic said he and Carroll have had a long-time coaching relationship and knows that Carroll will add a lot to the Youngstown State program.
"This really helps us to have Dolph be able to join our coaching staff," Robic said. "I have had a professional relationship with him for almost 18 years and I have had the chance to get to know him very well during that period of time. He brings a lot of game experience to our bench and he will work hard in developing a relationship with our players and help in the recruiting process."
Carroll was the head coach of a successful Yavapai Junior College program for the past 12 seasons. Last year, Carroll earned Co-ACCAC Coach-of-the-Year Honors for the squad's effort. He was only the third head coach in Yavapai's history.
Carroll said he is excited with the chance to join the Youngstown State coaching staff and work with Robic and assistant Eric Skeeters.
"I am very happy to be here," Carroll said. "This is a great opportunity to work with John and be a part of the Youngstown State basketball program and the Horizon League."
Carroll will join Yavapai forward Adam Baumann who signed a National Letter of Intent to play at YSU earlier this month. The 6-8, 235-pound Baumann averaged 18.8 points and 11.3 rebounds for the Roughriders last year.
Prior to becoming the head coach at Yavapai in 1989, he was an assistant coach at Northern Arizona, associate head coach at Gordon College in Massachusetts, an assistant coach at Oral Roberts and an assistant coach at Kansas.
He began his coaching career after a successful stint as a player. He was drafted in 1980 by the Phoenix Suns after playing two seasons at Kansas. After a brief stint with the Suns, he was a player-coach in France for a year before returning to Kansas as an assistant. Carroll played for two seasons at Yavapai before transferring to Kansas.
Dolph and his wife Darcy have three sons, Trevor, Casey and Spencer.

Youngstown State Announces New Radio Partner  Posted Wednesday, May 15, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – The Youngstown State University Athletic Department awarded the radio broadcast rights of its football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and coaches shows to Clear Channel Radio Youngstown. The joint announcement was made on Wednesday by Rick Love, Associate Director of Athletics at YSU, and William E. Kelly, Jr., Vice-President/Market Manager Clear Channel Radio Youngstown.
“We at YSU are very excited about this partnership with Clear Channel,” Love said. “Their commitment to the community is evident on a daily basis and the expertise Clear Channel has in sports broadcasts will enhance our team’s presence to the Penguin fans in this region.”
Penguins football games will be aired live on WBBG 106.1 FM and 1390 WNIO-AM. Penguins men’s and selected women’s basketball will be broadcast live on 1390 WNIO-AM, while the “Jon Heacock Show” and the “John Robic Show” will air throughout the football and basketball seasons on 1390 WNIO-AM.
“Clear Channel is proud to be the exclusive radio home of YSU football and basketball,” Kelly said. “The Penguins are the heart of this community and this new relationship will enable fans to follow YSU on a daily basis on all of Clear Channel’s staions.”
WYTV News Channel 33 Sports Director Bob Hannon will return for his 12th season as the “Voice” of Penguin Football to call the play-by-play. While WYFX/WKBN TV Sports Director Robb Schmidt will join the Penguins broadcast team to handle the play-by-play duties for YSU basketball. Hannon will also host the Heacock Radio Show, while Schmidt will anchor the Robic Radio Show. The terms of the radio contract are for four years beginning this fall with the 2002 football campaign.
YSU kicks off the 2002 season, under second-year head coach Jon Heacock, on Thursday, August 29 at 7:30 p.m. against Clarion at Stambaugh Stadium.

Nineteen Penguin Student-Athletes To Graduate May 18   Posted Wednesday, May 15, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – Nineteen Youngstown State University student-athletes will participate in commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 18, at the Beeghly Center, the YSU Athletics Department announced on Wednesday.
Student-athletes receiving their diplomas this spring include Antulio Aroche (football), Aren Barbee (swimming and diving), Sean Guerriero (football), Christine Handte (soccer), Bruce Hightower (football), Jenny Horner (women’s basketball), Kyle Kestner (men’s tennis), Zach Krichbaum (men’s golf), Kelly Leonard (women’ track and field), Stephanie Matasek (women’s golf), Allison Metro (women’s basketball), Dave Purins (men’s track and field), Jeff Ryan (football), Courtney Schuller (swimming and diving), Bob Sivik (football), Rebecca Sylak (volleyball), Dave Tesniarz (football), Montrial Thomas (football), and Steve Valley (football).

Cunningham, Harris Take Honors at League Meet  Posted Saturday, May 11, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State sprinter Jeanna Cunningham was named the Outstanding Women's Running Performer as the Penguins women's track and field team placed third at the Horizon League Championships on Friday. Youngstown State's Eugene Harris earned Outstanding Running Newcomer after taking home the 200-meter dash title in a meet record time of 21.46 and winning the 100-meter dash in 10.73.
On the women's side, UW-Milwaukee earned the title with a 188, while Detroit was second with a 150 and YSU was third with a 136. On the men's side, UWM won the title with a score of 179. YSU was fifth with 64 points.

Robic Hires Caroll as Men's Assistant Basketball Coach  Posted Friday, May 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
YSU will soon announce the hiring of Dolph Carroll as YSU's new assistant coach. Caroll, is a longtime friend and former assiciate of coach Robics. Caroll come from Yavapai College...along with Robic's newest recruit Adam Baumann, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound center for the "Roughrider's".

Carroll is only the third person to head the men's basketball position at Yavapai College. Carroll, captain of the Roughriders in 1977 and 1978, has been at the helm since 1989. Prior, he served as assistant coach for Northern Arizona University basketball program during the 1987-88 season. Preceding NAU, Carroll was associate head coach at Gordon in Massachusetts, and assistant coach at Oral Roberts University.

He was a two year letterman for the nationally known University of Kansas program from 1978 to 1980, and graduated from that school with a bachelor's degree in public relations.

In addition, Carroll served as an assistant coach for the Kansas Jayhawks from 1981 through 1984. Carroll was drafted by the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association in June of 1980, and after a brief stint with the team, continued his career as a player-coach in France.
Carroll and his wife Darcy have three sons, Trevor, Casey, and Spencer.

Outdoor Track & Field: Women Hold Second-Place After First Day of League Championships  Posted Friday, May 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, IN - The Youngstown State University outdoor track and field women's team is in second-place with 21 points after day-one of the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Thursday. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is positioned at first with 68 points while Butler and Detroit Mercy are also slated in second-place with 21 points.
Emily Schnitkey placed second in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 11:27.12 and took fourth in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 37:14.51. In the long jump event, Lissette Alamo marked a third-place jump of 18'03. Delores Gaines ranked fifth in the javelin throw with a measure of 98'08 while Christina Campana placed seventh, 95'03, and Danielle Sexton placed eighth, 95'02.
The YSU men's team are in sixth place after the first day of competition.

Softball: Hartman’s Gem Eliminates Wright State   Posted Friday, May 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Dayton, Ohio – Youngstown State junior Steph Hartman tossed a three-hitter with five strikeouts as the Penguin softball team (11-31) shutout Wright State (11-26), 5-0, in an elimination game at the 2002 Horizon League Softball Tournament. The victory marks YSU’s first softball tournament win since the 1994 season.
The Penguins jumped in front by scoring an unearned run in the top of the third inning. Steph Hartman lead off with a walk and advanced to third on Char Kudlock’s double to left-center field. After Erin Moore, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, lined out, Zetta Dumkrieger reached on an error, which plated Hartman and moved Kudlock to third, and advanced to second.
The Penguins added another run in the top of the fifth inning on Amanda Berry’s run-scoring single to left field that plated Moore. Berry went 2-for-4 with a run batted in.
Youngstown State put the game out of reach with three more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Kudlock lead off the inning with a walked and advanced to second on Moore’s infield single. After advancing to third on an error by the catcher, Kudlock scored on Dumkrieger’s single to left-center field. Moore also scored after an error by the shortstop and Dumkrieger advanced to second.
Berry’s infield single moved Dumkrieger to third and a double steal plated Dumkrieger with the Penguins’ fifth run.
The Penguins face UW-Green Bay game in an elimination contest at 1:30 p.m.

Softball: Berry Named Second-Team All-Horizon League   Posted Wednesday, May 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. – Youngstown State sophomore Amanda Berry (Lorain, Ohio) was named second-team All-Horizon League, the league announced on Wednesday.
Berry, who was a second-team All-Mid-Continent Conference selection in 2001, leads the Penguins and ranks 11th in the league with a .328 batting average while she ranks tied for second with three triples and tied for sixth with 10 doubles. Berry also ranks tied for ninth in the Horizon League with a .484 slugging percentage.
YSU faces regular-season co-champion UIC in the first round of the 2002 Horizon League Softball Tournament, Thursday, at 9 a.m. in Dayton, Ohio.

Sprinturf Replacement of Beede Field To Begin on Wednesday  Posted Tuesday, May 7, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio -- The Youngstown State University Athletic Department announced on Tuesday that installation of Sprinturf will begin immediately to replace the current Astroturf surface of Beede Field in Stambaugh Stadium, home of the YSU football and soccer programs. The project, which will be completed in early June to allow for use during various summer youth camps, begins on Wednesday with the removal of the current surface.
Sprinturf, based out of Conshohocken, Pa., was selected by a committee comprised of members of the YSU Facilities Department and the Athletic Department. John Hyden, Director of Facilities, said Associate Athletic Director Dan O'Connell, soccer coach Liz Bartley and assistant football coach John Klacik helped in the selection process.
Youngstown State Athletic Director Ron Strollo said Sprinturf provides Youngstown State students and student-athletes one of the highest quality and safest playing surfaces that is available. On an annual basis, Stambaugh Stadium is home to the YSU football and soccer programs and plays host to high school football games, numerous YSU intramural events and Health and Physical Education classes.
"We are very excited to have Sprinturf work with us on this project," Strollo said. "This was a very extensive process that started almost five months ago when we first looked into the status of our Beede Field turf. After an examination of the field and discussing the situation with our student-athletes and coaching staffs, we felt this was the proper time for a new surface to be installed.
"This would have been our 12th year of playing intercollegiate athletics and intramurals on our current Astroturf and, although we have worked hard to maintain its durability and have had great success on the field, look forward to having a new surface everyone on campus can take advantage of."
The Astroturf surface that will be replaced in Stambaugh Stadium was installed in March 1991. The 1991 installation replaced the original surface that was in place when the Stadium opened in 1982.
Through careful planning, the funding for the project comes from a reserve plant fund dedicated solely for the replacement of the stadium’s Astroturf, Strollo said.
Recently, Sprinturf installed the University of Montana's surface at Washington-Grizzly Stadium prior to the 2001 season. Also, Canton Central Catholic High School and various high schools in Pennsylvania now play on Sprinturf.
Graphically, the Penguin logo will remain at midfield, however the new surface will have the word Penguins in red outlined in white in both end zones. The word Penguins will be red and outlined in white. Yellow lines will be used to outline the soccer boundaries. Also, the part of the stadium just north of the East stands will be covered with Sprinturf.
Hyden said the current turf will be removed first before any installation of the new surface begins. He said a drainage layer about a third-of-an-inch thick will be laid and then the turf will be installed. After the entire green surface is in place, the cosmetic work will begin.
YSU becomes the fourth Gateway Football Conference school in the past two seasons to install a new playing surface.
For more information on the surface refer to www.sprinturf.com

Football: Murgatroyd Leaves for Head Job at Urbana   Posted Tuesday, May 7, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Tribune Chronicle


YOUNGSTOWN - Youngstown State University's football team is looking for an outside linebackers coach to replace Todd Murgatroyd, who left the program Monday to become head coach at Urbana University.

Murgatroyd coached at YSU last season after spending the previous six seasons at Kent State University. He was KSU's outside linebackers coach and director of football operations in 2000. Prior to then, he coached tight ends and kickers.
Urbana is a NAIA institution located about 30 miles west of Columbus

''Anytime one of your guys leaves and gets an opportunity to help himself, it speaks highly of the quality of the guys on our staff that one was chosen to be the head coach at Urbana University,'' YSU coach Jon Heacock said.

Heacock hopes to find a replacement for Murgatroyd soon.

''It's important to get somebody in here,'' Heacock said. ''We have some young coaches in our program right now, and everyone in America seems to be calling.''

Before joining the Kent State staff in 1994, Murgatroyd was at the University of Hawaii for four years.

A native of Lore City, Ohio, Murgatroyd was a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee from 1988-89. Prior to joining the Volunteers' staff, he spent the 1986 and '87 seasons at Youngstown State as a graduate assistant.

Murgatroyd earned his bachelor's degree in education from West Liberty State College in 1986. At West Liberty, he was a three-year letterwinner as a defensive back. In 1983, he led the nation in interception return yards.

Baseball: Kendall Schlabach Named League Player of the Week  Posted Tuesday, May 7, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State sophomore outfielder Kendall Schlabach was named the Horizon League Baseball Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday. Joining Schlabach as the league's pitcher of the week is UW-Milwaukee's Quitin Oldenburg.
In six games last week, Schlabach hit .520 (13-of-25) as the Penguins went 4-2 and swept a four-game series from Wright State. Starting all six games in centerfield, he had a team-high 13 hits, five runs scored and eight RBI to raise his average to 29 points to .386. He has a 10-game hitting streak and in league play is batting .413.

Softball: Penguins To Face Top-Seed UIC At League Tournament   Posted Monday, May 6, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – The eighth-seeded Youngstown State softball team (10-30, 1-13) will face top-seeded UIC (38-20, 12-2), Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m. in the first round of the 2002 Horizon League Softball Tournament in Dayton, Ohio.
The Penguins and Flames met twice during the regular season and split the league doubleheader. The Flames defeated the Penguins, 9-0, in the opener, but YSU upset UIC, 4-3, in the nightcap.
UIC earned a share of the 2002 Horizon League regular season championship by sweeping Loyola, which earned the No. 2 seed, 6-1, and 3-1, and UW-Green Bay, 7-0, and 8-1, during the final weekend of league play.
The Flames enter the tournament winners of their last four while YSU has dropped 11 straight contests.
Leading the Penguins is sophomore Amanda Berry, who ranks 11th in the Horizon League with a .328 batting average. Her 10 doubles are tied for fifth in the league while she owns the ninth-best league slugging percentage at .484.
Junior Steph Hartman is the Penguins top hurler with a 6-17 record and a 2.88 earned run average. In 46.1 innings pitched against Horizon League opponents, Hartman has struck out 19 and walked just two.
The Flames own the league’s top batting average at .298 and best earned run average at 2.42.
UIC has three of the top 10 leading hitter with senior Jen Tiffany posting a league second-best .390 batting average while Edel Leyden leads the league with 15 home runs, 59 runs scored, is third in the circuit with 53 runs batted and fourth with a batting average of .374.
Alison Aguilar is the Flames top hurler with a 19-9 record and a 1.90 earned run average, which is second in the league. In 184.2 innings pitched, Aguilar has struck out 136 batters and has walked 90.

Baseball: Penguins Sweep Wright State With 10-9 Win  Posted Sunday, May 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Dayton, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team earned its first Horizon League four-game sweep beating Wright State 10-9 on Sunday at Nischwitz Stadium to take all four contests from the Raiders.
The Penguins (15-21 overall and 10-6 in the Horizon League) led 10-7 entering the ninth before Wright State (15-29 overall and 7-12) cut the deficit to 10-9 but Paul Yates got the final out to record his third save of the season and lift YSU to the sweep.
On Sunday, Jim Lipinski and Kendall Schlabach led the Penguins' offense with three hits each. Lipinski, Schlabach and Kyle Smith each scored twice as Lipinski finished with four RBI and belted a home run. For the game, YSU had 13 hits.
Chris Dennis pitched four innings for YSU allowing five hits and five runs, but just one was earned. Todd Tscherne allowed two runs -- one earned -- in two innings while James Swearengen pitched two scoreless innings striking out three. Yates pitched the ninth allowing two runs on two hits and a walk but struck out two.
Wright State's Chris Tuttle and Nick Shields had three hits each.
The Penguins are off for final exams until playing their final league series of the season against UW-Milwaukee next Friday at 1 p.m. at Cafaro Field. The series will be a matchup of the conference's second and third-place teams

Men's Basketball: Penguins Sign Arizona Juco Standout Adam Baumann  Posted Friday, May 3, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Men's Basketball Coach John Robic announced on Wednesday that Adam Baumann, a 6-8, 235-pound forward from Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz., has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for the Penguins.
Baumann (pronounced BOW-man) was a first-team all-region, first-team all-conference and honorable-mention Junior College All-American last year at Yavapai. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at Youngstown State.
Robic said Baumann is a key addition to the Penguins' front line.
"Adam brings us a true low-post player who has the ability to score inside and be strong around the basket," Robic said. "It is refreshing that he sees himself as a true low-post player and he will take advantage of the opportunity to play next year. He is also a solid student who is interested in attaining a business degree at YSU."
This past season at Yavapai, Baumann averaged 18.4 points and 11.5 rebounds at Yavapai. Other schools that showed interest in Baumann following a strong sophomore year were Wright State, Pacific and Eastern Washington.
A native of Scottsdale, Ariz. who ironically graduated from Horizon High School, Baumann set the school two-year career record for free throws made (255) and rebounds (655). His 655 rebounds were 151 more than the No. 2 leading rebounder. He ranked third in career scoring with 983 points, tied for second averaging 16.9 points per game and was eighth in career field-goal percentage at 55.7 percent. In his first year he earned second-team all-region honors.
Baumann joins a group of three student-athletes who previously signed at Youngstown State. He joins Jamal Porter (a 6-7 forward from Casper College), Jonathan Mends (a 5-11 guard from Carol City High School in Miami, Fla.) and Derrick Harris (6-2 guard from Proctor Academy in Andover, Mass. ) as members of the 2001-02 signing class.
Robic said he is anxious to bring the four players and is looking forward to the 2002-03 campaign.
"Adam rounds out our class and I look forward to coaching the incoming players and am looking forward to getting things started for next year."

Volleyball: Minnesota, NC State, UW-Milwaukee Highlight 2002 Volleyball Slate   Posted Thursday, May 2, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Three NCAA Tournament teams and members of the ACC, Big Ten and Big XII highlight a demanding schedule for the 2002 Youngstown State volleyball team, Head Coach Joe Conroy announced on Thursday.
“We definitely have a tougher schedule this season,” said Conroy, who is entering his 11th season at YSU. “After heading into the Horizon League for the first time last season and seeing how strong the league is, we need to prepare better by playing tougher opponents in our non-league matches. This schedule allows us to do that.”
Youngstown State, which plays its first 14 matches on the road, opens the season at the Florida Atlantic Classic, August 30-31, in Boca Raton, Fla. The Penguins face the host Florida Atlantic Owls to open the tournament on Friday and Minnesota, a second-round NCAA Tournament participant in 2001, and Atlantic Coast Conference member North Carolina State on Saturday.
For the next three weeks, the Penguins are involved in three tournaments, including the Toledo Rocket Volleyball Classic, September 6-7, the UMCK Kangaroo Classic, September 13-14, and the Western New York-Holiday Inn Volleyball Invitational, September 21-22. At Toledo, YSU faces Toledo, Jacksonville State and Chicago State while the Penguins take on Winthrop, Duquesne, Big XII member Iowa State and UMKC in Kansas City, Mo.
Stony Brook, Niagara and Buffalo will be YSU’s opponents at the Western New York Invitational.
Prior to beginning its Horizon League slate, the Penguins visit Big East member West Virginia, September 24, for their 14th straight away contest.
Youngstown State, which only has eight home matches, opens league play with its home opener against Cleveland State, September 27, at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center.
The Penguins continue non-league action weeknight visit from St. Francis (Pa.) on October 1, at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center.
YSU first league road-trip is to “America’s Dairyland” with matches against NCAA Tournament participant UW-Milwaukee, October 4 at 8 p.m., and UW-Green Bay, October 5 at 5 p.m. The Panthers went 20-8 last season and won the Horizon League Tournament Championship to earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
YSU returns home to face defending league-champion Loyola (Chicago), who went 20-9 last season, on October 11 at 7 p.m. and UIC on October 12 at 2 p.m.
The Penguins round out the first half of league play at Butler on October 18 and Wright State, which won 21 matches last season, on October 19.
In the second half of league action, YSU visits Cleveland State, October 25, hosts UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee, November 1 and November 2, respectively. The Penguins are on the road for three straight contests at UIC, November 8, Loyola (Chicago), November 9, and Robert Morris, who was also an NCAA Tournament participant, on November 13.
YSU closes out regular season play at home against Wright State on November 15 and Butler on November 16. Both matches are at Beeghly Center.
The 2002 Horizon League Tournament is November 22-24, hosted by UW-Green Bay in Green Bay, Wis.
“We have really elevated our strength of schedule, in my opinion,” said Conroy. “Hopefully, our strong non-league schedule will prime our young players for the Horizon League.”

Penguins vs. Buckeyes to be Televised on ONN  Posted Wednesday, May 1, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball team looks to snap a three-game losing streak tonight when the Penguins play at Ohio State. The first pitch at Bill Davis Stadium is set for 6:35 p.m. in a game broadcast by the Ohio News Network.
The Penguins (12-20) are coming off an 11-5 loss to Kent State on Tuesday night at Cafaro Field. In the contest, Youngstown State trailed 9-0 before scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth.
The Buckeyes (25-13-1) won the final two games of a Big Ten series against Purdue to snap a previous three-game losing streak. Since April 7, OSU is just 7-7 in its last 14 games. Ohio State has lost four straight non-conference games and hasn’t beaten a non-Big Ten foe since March 23.

Crummey, Goettsch Earn Vindicator Athlete-of-the-Year Honors  Posted Tuesday, April 30, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State senior football player Pat Crummey and senior women's diver Brandi Goettsch will be honored as the 2002 Vindicator Athletes of the Year on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kilcawley Center on the YSU campus.
Crummey, who was a first-team All-American, becomes the 11th football player -- in 15 years -- to be named the Male Athlete of the Year and joins Mike Cummings (1988) as the only other offensive lineman to win the award. Goettsch, who was named the Horizon League's Diver of the Year in 2002 and was a two-time Mid-Continent Conference Diver of the Year, becomes the first member of the Women’s Swimming & Diving program to earn The Vindicator’s annual honor.


Pat Crummey, 2002 Vindicator Athlete of the Year

Crummey caps off an impressive season and a tremendous career at Youngstown State by being selected as the 2002 Vindicator Male Athlete of the Year.
Crummey, who late last month signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants, of the NFL, is the only player in school history to be selected as the team’s offensive lineman of the year in consecutive seasons.
A native of Van Wert, Ohio, Crummey earned first-team All-America honors by The Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation, the Sports Network and the All-American Football Foundation. He was tabbed an honorable-mention All-American selection by the Football Gazette.
In his final three years, Crummey started 37 of 38 games as an offensive tackle for the Penguins, an impressive feat after beginning his career at YSU as a defensive lineman. After his move to offense, the Penguins posted a 29-9 mark in his final three years.
A four-time letterwinner, he was the anchor of an impressive offensive line this past season. In earning the team’s Jim Zdelar Big Mac Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year Award and first-team All-Gateway Football Conference honors, he started all 11 games protect Jeff Ryan’s blindside.
As a group, the Penguins tied the school record averaging 33.5 points per game offensively, averaged a school-record 280.5 yards rushing per game and averaged a school-record 407.1 yards per game.
Following season he was named a National Strength & Conditioning All-American Athlete and during the year he earned team offensive lineman of the game honors against Lock Haven and Northern Iowa for the 8-3 Penguins.
As a junior in 2000, Crummey started every game for the first time in his career, in helping the Penguins to the playoffs. YSU lost in the first round to Richmond and finished with a 9-3 record.
Crummey was named first-team All-Gateway Football Conference his junior year and for the first time won the Jim Zdelar Big Mac Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year Award, which is presented to the team’s top offensive lineman. Also, four times in 12 games, Crummey earned the team’s offensive lineman-of-the-game honor.
He moved over to the offensive side of the ball following his first season and it turned out to be a good decision.
As a sophomore in 1999, Crummey helped the Penguins, who were 12-3, advance to the NCAA Division I-AA title game against Georgia Southern.
Crummey started every game but of the 15 contests the Penguins played in 1999. The only game he did not start in his final three years was the senior-day game against Southwest Missouri State.
He played on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive lineman as a true freshman. Crummey appeared in all 11 games and recorded 23 total tackles as Youngstown State finished the season 6-5.
Pat, a graduate of Van Wert High School where he was an all-conference pick and team captain on the defensive side of the ball, owns a cumulative 2.93 grade-point average at YSU. His parents are George and Janet Crummey.



Brandi Goettsch, 2002 Vindicator Female Athlete of the Year

Not even a change in league’s could keep senior women’s diver Brandi Goettsch from being named the top performer.
Goettsch who earned Female Diver-of-the-Year honors twice in the Mid-Continent Conference was named the 2002 Horizon League Diver of the Year in March and has been chosen as the 2002 Vindicator Female Athlete of the Year.
Goettsch, a native of Hubbard, Ohio, becomes the first member of the Women’s Swimming & Diving program to earn The Vindicator’s annual honor.
In her four years at Youngstown State, she was a four-time NCAA Zone Qualifier, four-time team MVP, earned four letters, was a three-time conference diver of the year and was a two-time team captain. She set and reset YSU Diving records 16 times and has had numerous first and second-place finishes.
In 2001-02, Goettsch won the Horizon League three-meter diving title and placed second in the one-meter event. At her fourth NCAA Zone Diving Meet, she placed 18th in the three-meter competition and 20th in the one meter.
At the league meet in March, she won the three-meter event with a score of 458.05 and was second in the one-meter competition with a score of 271.10.
In the competition at the Zone meet, Goettsch scored a 396.85 in the three-meter and a 228.45 in the one-meter competition.
During her senior campaign, she was named the league’s diver of the week and was team captain for the the second straight year.
As a junior, she placed first in the three-meter competition with a Mid-Con record score of 492.20 and was fourth in the one-meter at 370.10.
In the Zone meet her score of 218.35 in the one-meter dive placed her 17th while she placed 19th in the three-meter competition with a 220.60.
As a sophomore, Goettsch won the one-meter Mid-Con title and placed second in the three meters. Goettsch had a score of 374.9 in the one meter and a 436.1 in the three meter.
She placed 28th at the NCAA Zone C three-meter diving competition with a score of 203.75 and was 30th in the one meter with a score of 158.2.
Goettsch became the first Penguin to qualify for the Zone meet in the one and three-meter dives during the 1999-2000 season. Twice during the season she was named the Mid-Con’s Athlete of the Week.
As a freshman in 1998-99, Goettsch burst on the Youngstown State scene winning the Mid-Con Championships in the one-meter and three-meter competitions and earned conference Diver-of-the-Year honors. She finished with a 406.00 in the one meter and a 464.2 in the three meters. Goettsch also picked up Blue Grass Mountain Conference Diver-of-the-Year accolades winning the one and three meters at that meet.
That season, she became the first YSU Women’s Diver to compete in the Zone meet, the qualifying stage for the NCAA Championships. She placed 19th at the Zone meet in the one meter with a 182.85.
In her collegiate debut in a meet against Buffalo she set school marks with scores of 246.62 on the one-meter dive and a 252.07 on the three-meter dive.
While excelling on the platform, Goettsch has also had success in the classroom. A graduate of Liberty High School, Goettsch has a 3.6 cumulative grade-point average in Education. She is a four-time academic all-conference selection.
Brandi’s parents are James and Patricia Goettsch.

Outdoor Track & Field: Moore sets 800-meter Record at Baldwin Wallace  Posted Monday, April 29, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Berea - Youngstown State University women's outdoor track and field senior Jen Moore ran a school-record time of 2:14.5 in the 800-meter run to place second at the Baldwin Wallace Invitational, Saturday. The record was previously held by former YSU athlete Becky Rudzik with a time of 2:14.98, set in 1993.
Moore led the women's team team in an impressive showing Saturday as personal-best times went down across the board for the Penguin athletes. Head Coach Brian Gorby estimates that 10 to 14 athletes ran their fastest times to date.
The women's 4x100-meter relay team of Leslie Johnson, Jeanna Cunningham, Aaliyah Gillespie and Janae Stephens earned a win for the Penguins with a time of 48.64.
In the sprint events, Jeanna Cunningham ran a time of 12.3 to place fifth in the 100-meter dash while Aaliyah Gillespie placed 12th with a time of 12.8. In the 400-meter dash, Janae Stephens placed third with a time of 57.6 and Leslie Johnson placed sixth in 58.7. Lindsay Frontz finished fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:15.5 while Rachel Albert finished 11th with a time of 2:20.8.
Kelly Leonard ran to a third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.4 and also placed sixth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:05.5. Also in the 100-meter hurdles, Aaliyah Gillespie finished third with a time of 14.4.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Andrea Bardy recorded a ninth-place time of 11:50.8 and Lindsay Wojciak earned 10th place for her time of 11:54.10.
Lori Griffen jumped to a mark of 5'4 in the high jump to place third overall. In the shot put, Delores Gaines threw a measure of 41'00 3/4 to place eighth while Beth Hochstetler's throw of 39'00 1/2 was good enough for 18th place.
The men's team also competed Saturday at the Baldwin Wallace Invitational.
In the 100-meter dash, Edwin Jackson placed sixth with a time of 10.8. Tim Tatarka ran a time of 1:55.9 in the 800-meter run to place sixth while Dan Cuesta placed 21st with a time of 1:58.5. Tatarka also competed in the 1,500-meter run and placed third with a time of 3:56.9. Jarrod Davis threw a mark of 43'00 1/4 to place 21st in the shot put.
The YSU men's and women's outdoor track and field will compete Friday at the Cardinal Track and Field Invitational, hosted by Stanford University, and Sunday at the Jesse Owens Classic in Columbus.

Men’s Tennis: Banks Named Horizon League Newcomer of the Year  Posted Sunday, April 28, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Freshman Seth Banks (Ada, Ohio/Ada ) became the first Youngstown State player to earn the Horizon League’s Newcomer of the Year honors and was also named to the 2002 All-Horizon first team, the league announced on Friday.
Banks posted an overall No. 1 singles record of 7-7 and 2-3 in league play. He was also 7-7 overall and 2-3 in league play at No. 1 doubles. Joining Banks on the All-Horizon first team are Butler’s Brandon Currie and Jimmy Borendame, UW-Green Bay’s Robert Shamelikian, and Wright State’s Chad Camper and Chad Derry.

Baseball: Penguins Win Series Opener at Butler, 5-2 in 10 Innings  Posted Saturday, April 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- The Youngstown State baseball team pulled out a dramatic 5-2 victory in 10 innings over Butler on Friday afternoon at Bulldog Park to take game one of the four-game Horizon League series.
The Penguins (12-17 overall and 6-4 in the Horizon League) tied the game 2-2 in the top of the ninth on a one-out double by Clint Ford and scored three times in the 10th on a two-run double by Jim Phillips and a single by Ross Buttle. The Bulldogs (23-17 and 5-8) led 2-1 after the second inning and starter Pat Neshak held Youngstown State to just five hits in eight innings. But the Penguins tagged reliever Corey Kugle (2-3) with the loss scoring once in the top of the ninth and three times in the 10th.
Three YSU pitchers combined to allow just seven hits in the 10 innings. Jonathan Smart, who pitched seven innings against Cleveland State in his last outing, tossed a career-high 7.1 innings against Butler. Smart allowed five hits and two runs -- one earned -- while walking four and striking out two. However, he left the game in the bottom of the eighth trailing 2-1. Mike Abdalla (1-1) earned the victory pitching 1.2 innings and Yates earned his second save of the year pitching the 10th.
YSU took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Kendall Schlabach singled, stole second and scored on a double by Jim Lipinski. In the second, the Bulldogs scored twice with two outs and had the lead until the ninth inning.
In the Penguin ninth, Kyle Penrod reached on an error with one out to start the rally. Kyle Smith pinch ran for Penrod and promptly stole second. Clint Ford doubled to left center plating the tying run in Smith. In the bottom of the ninth, Butler had runners at first and third with no outs before Abdalla worked out of the jam.
In the 10th, Ty Furino opened the inning singling to right and stoled second. After Tim Stacey struck out, Lipinski was intentionally walked. Furino and Lipinski moved up when Adam Cox grounded out to third. Phillips followed with a double to right center scoring Furino and Lipinski and Buttle, who entered the game in the ninth, hit a single that scored Phillips and knocked Kugle from the game.
The Penguins and Bulldogs play two seven-inning games on Saturday at Bulldog Park. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.

Crummey signs with Giants  Posted Wednesday, April 24, 2002 by  ysupenguins

The offensive tackle is optimistic of his chances and will report to a mini-camp in New
JerseyThursday.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN -- Pat Crummey will get the opportunity to continue his football career and, he hopes, earn a spot on the roster of the New York Giants.

Crummey, a senior at Youngstown State, signed a free-agent contract with the Giants and will report to the NFL team's mini-camp in New Jersey on Thursday.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive tackle thinks his chances of making it with the Giants are pretty good.

"They called me Sunday night," Crummey said. "They were one of the teams who had a good look at me in workouts last month.

"I know that they drafted only one offensive lineman, and that they need help at that position, so I'm excited about the chances," he added.

Background

Crummey began his career at YSU as a defensive lineman; as a freshman, he played in 11 games and recorded 23 tackles, including two for losses.

Before his sophomore season, then-head coach Jim Tressel asked Crummey to switch to the offensive line.



He started in all 15 games that season, and helped lead the Penguins to the NCAA Division I-AA national championship game.

Crummey started every game his junior and senior seasons as well, earning All-American honors in both seasons as well as being named to the Gateway Conference all-star teams.

John Klacic, Crummey's offensive line coach at YSU, praised the efforts of his standout tackle.

"Pat can be as good as he wants to be, he has that much talent," Klacic said.

Potential

Tressel, who coached Crummey in his first three seasons before leaving to take the coaching job at Ohio State, said that Crummey was probably one of the few players at YSU who could have played at the Big Ten school.

Crummey said he doesn't know what will happen this week at the mini-camp.

"But I'm going there to give my all and do my best and we'll see what happens after that," he said.

Baseball: Matt Brumit Earns League Pitcher-of-the-Week Honors  Posted Tuesday, April 23, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State senior right-handed pitcher Matt Brumit was named the Horizon League's Pitcher of the Week while UW-Milwaukee senior third baseman Steve Guden was named the Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday.
Brumit went 2-0 last week in as many appearances, allowing one run (0.82 ERA) on four hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched. He hurled his first career shutout with a one-hit gem in YSU's 7-0 victory over Cleveland State in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. Brumit surrendered a single to the second batter of the game and retired the final 20 batters in the seven-inning contest. He struck out seven and did not allow a walk facing just one batter over the minimum.
On Wednesday against Detroit, Brumit pitched four innings in relief to earn the victory. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out six to earn his first win of the season.
The Penguins return to action today at 3 when they play host to Duquesne at Cafaro Field.

Men's Basketball: Patton Named YSU's Most Valuable Player  Posted Monday, April 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State senior guard Ryan Patton was named the 2001-02 Dom Rosselli Most Valuable Player for the men's basketball team at the annual awards banquet, which was held on Sunday in the Chestnut Room at the Kilcawley Center on the YSU campus.
Patton, who finished ranked in the top five in career assists in his four-year career, also earned the Jeff Covington Leading Scorer Award and the Assists Leader Award. Patton averaged 14.6 points per game and had 141 assists on the season to lead the team and the Horizon League.
Sophomore TeJay Anderson earned the Leo Mogus Leading Rebounder Award averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. Senior Rafael Cruz took home the Free-Throw Percentage Award shooting 86 percent from the line.
Sophomore Bill Mallernee, who sat out the 2000-01 season after transferring to YSU, was named the Penguin Club's Most Improved Player. Freshman Doug Underwood picked up the Most Productive Player Award while fellow frosh Brian Radakovich earned the Tony Vivo Hustle Award. Radakovich also earned the Four Square Club's Scholar-Athlete Award.
Senior Stephen Flores earned the Bill Dailey Leadership Award and junior Marlon Williamson earned a Coach's Award.

Baseball: YSU's Brumit, Ohalek Combine to Stymie Vikes 7-0, 7-1  Posted Saturday, April 20, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- Youngstown State senior pitcher Matt Brumit and junior lefty Corey Ohalek each tossed impressive seven-inning complete games on Saturday as the Penguins swept a doubleheader from Cleveland State, 7-0 and 7-1 at Cafaro Field.
In game one, Brumit tossed a one-hit gem and retired the final 20 batters of the game after allowing a one-out single in the first inning to CSU's Doug Besozzi. In game two, YSU (11-15 overall and 5-3 in the Horizon League) scored five runs in the first and Ohalek struck out six batters and scattered six hits while allowing just one run in seven innings.
Brumit used 90 pitches for his first complete game of the year and his second league win of the week after pitching four innings in a win against Detroit on Wednesday. Ohalek had his first official complete game -- he tossed a 10-inning complete game against UIC in a game that is still under protest on April 6 -- throwing 83 pitchers. YSU will look to Jonathan Smart on Sunday when the Penguins and Vikings (8-21 and 3-3) complete their four-game series at 1 p.m. at Cafaro Field.
While Brumit, who struck out seven en route to facing one batter over the minimum, kept the Vikings hitters at bay, YSU scored two runs in the first taking advantage of three Cleveland State errors. Leading 3-0 in the fourth, YSU scored four runs in the inning highlighted by Tim Stacey's team-high fourth home run of the year. Stacey drilled a Matt Kaltenbach 2-0 pitch over the batting cage beyond left field. The Penguins added another run when reliever Luke Smrdel hit Clint Ford with the bases loaded.
In game two, YSU jumped on CSU's Brian Beaumier early for five runs in the first inning. Ty Furino and Kendall Schlabach opened the inning with singles and a walk by Adam Cox loaded the bases. Jim Lipinski picked up an RBI forcing Furino home after he was hit by a pitch. Jim Phillips followed with a two-run double and Ford had an RBI with a one-out single. James Swearengen added a sacrifice fly to put YSU in front 5-0 after one inning.
YSU added two runs in the bottom of the fifth when Lipinski doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Speas. Phillips, who singled following Lipinski's double scored on an error by Tom Allen.
Cleveland State's only run of the day came in the top of the sixth. Keith McLeod singled with one out and after Ohalek retired Ernest Simpson on a fly out, Dominic Erney hit a fly ball to right that Kyle Penrod had for a moment before the ground knocked the ball out of his glove and Schlabach had apparently caught the ball on the carom. However, it was ruled the ball hit the ground and Erney's double scored McLeod for the lone CSU run of the afternoon.

Women's Tennis: Penguins Defeat Detroit , 5-2  Posted Saturday, April 20, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Detroit, MI -- The Youngstown State Women's Tennis team won their third straight match and improved to 10-8 on the season and 5-3 in the Horizon League with a 5-2 win over Detroit Mercy on Saturday afternoon.
In singles action, at No. 1 Detroit's Vicki Parker defeated Leslie Banks 6-4, 7-6, at No. 2 Heather Hagood beat Andrea Buter 6-4, 6-2, at No. 3 Annie Marino picked up a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Renee Kuzava, at No. 4 Jenn Meister beat Bianca Savarino 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 5 spot Jenny Vodhanel defeated Mandy Perzanowski 6-1, 6-1, and at No. 6 Alyson Finamore beat Jodie Back 6-2, 6-2.
In doubles play, the Titans won the points winning at the No. 1 and 2 spots. At No. 1 Parker/Savarino defeated Banks/Marino, 8-4, at No. 2 Buter/Perzanowski beat Meister/Hagood, 8-4, and at No. 3 YSU's J.Vodhanel/M.Vodhanel defeated Kuzava/Back, 8-2.
The Penguins return to action on Monday, April 22, when they play host to Akron at 3 p.m.

Women's Basketball: Fabianova Picked To Play For Slovak National Team  Posted Friday, April 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State freshman Barb Fabianova has been selected to play for the Slovak Republic Under-20 National Team, YSU Head Coach Ed DiGregorio announced on Friday.
“This is a outstanding opportunity for Barb,” said DiGregorio, who is entering his 20th season at YSU. “She is working hard and I think playing against that type of competition will just make her better heading into next season.”
Fabianova, who played in 23 games with 11 starts last season, is honored by her selection.
“It is a tremendous honor for me to chosen to play on my national team,” said Fabianova. “I think anybody would be honored.”
“This is also a great opportunity for me to play against some great competition. It will give me a chance to continue playing throughout the summer and hopefully help prepare me for the next year.”
Fabianova averaged 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while connecting on 32.1 percent from the behind the 3-point line. She scored a career-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including six 3-pointers, against IPFW on Jan. 31, 2002.

Volleyball: Boscarelli, Drake Named YSU Volleyball Captains   Posted Friday, April 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State junior Beth Boscarelli (Cleveland, Ohio) and senior Cameran Drake (Kittanning, Pa.) have been named team captains for the 2002 YSU volleyball season after a vote by their teammates, Head Coach Joe Conroy announced on Friday.
“I am very pleased with the selection of Cameran and Beth as our new team captains,” said Conroy. “Both have displayed excellent leadership qualities during their years here at YSU and I’m happy their teammates recognized that.”
Drake, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, is a two-year letterwinner and has recorded 392 career digs.
Boscarelli, a 5-foot-8 setter, finished second on the team last season with 1.39 assists per game and tallied 1.57 digs per game.

Baseball: Penguins Sweep Doubleheader from Detroit  Posted Wednesday, April 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team swept a doubleheader from Detroit at Cafaro Field on Wednesday beating the Titans 10-2 in game one and 8-5 in the second game.
The Penguins (9-14 overall and 3-2 in the Horizon League) scored seven runs in the first three innings of game one -- including four in the first -- and took advantage of a solid Jonathan Smart relief effort for the eight-run win. In game two, YSU scored twice in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie and added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to earn the twinbill sweep over the Titans (6-18 and 2-4).
Youngstown's day began shaky when in the first inning of game one, starting pitcher Frank Santore lasted only the first inning after taking a line drive off Brian Wilson's bat in the face. Santore stayed in the game to strike out Zak Voit before leaving the contest with a non-displaced fracture in his jaw and could be out for three weeks.
YSU answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning and Smart had his best outing of the season allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five in five innings. Offensively in game one, Kyle Penrod had three hits and scored two runs while Kendall Schlabach. Jim Lipinski and Ty Furino had two hits each. Detroit's Juston Davenport had three hits to lead the Titans' seven-hit attack. In first game, YSU committed three errors while Detroit had four.
In game two, Detroit scored first when Matt Corbett reached on a one-out single and Tim Poley belted a two-run two-out homer to right field. YSU answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Schlabach opened the frame with single and scored on a fielder's choice by Jim Lipinski. With two outs, Adam Cox belted his second home run of the year over the left-field fence to put YSU ahead 3-2.
The Titans tied the game in the second when Voit scored on a throwing error by Lipinski who tried to throw to second on a ground ball.
In the third, YSU went in front 4-3 when Lipinski singled home Furino, but Detroit tied the game in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Tim Andrzejak. But the Penguins took the lead for good in the sixth on an RBI groundout by Clint Ford and an RBI double by James Swearengen. UDM threatened in the seventh when Corbett scored on a single by Roger Wechter with two outs, but Matt Brumit retired Poley on a grounder to third to end the inning.
In the eighth, YSU added two insurance runs when Jim Phillips walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Clint Ford and scored on a single to left by Swearengen. Swearengen scored the Penguins' final run on a wild pitch by Jason Lukasik.
In the ninth, Clint Ford took over for Brumit (1-3) who earned the win pitching four innings of three-hit one-run relief -- while striking out six -- of starter Corey Ohalek. Ford allowed the tying to make it to the plate allowing two single but Wechter fly out to left to end the ballgame.
The Penguins return to Horizon League action on Friday night at 7 when the play host to Cleveland State at Cafaro Field. The Penguins and Vikings play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Women’s Golf: Penguins Finish Second At YSU Invitational   Posted Wednesday, April 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Warren, Ohio – Despite freshman Gina Abbruzino’s medallist round of 72, the Youngstown State women’s golf team finished second at the YSU Invitational at Avalon South Golf Course. The Penguins, who shot a team-round of 306, finished one shot behind St. Francis (Pa.), which finished with a 305. Cleveland State finished with a team-score of 423.
Senior Stephanie Matasek tied for second with a round of 75 while Nichole Hamstreet finished seventh with a score of 79 and Jenny Grossi shot an 80 to finish in eighth place.

Volleyball: Penguins Sign Three To Letters of Intent   Posted Wednesday, April 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State volleyball Head Coach Joe Conroy has announced Abby Ettenhofer (Hebron, Ohio), Nickole Kennedy (Sunbury, Ohio), and Katie Shea (East Aurora, N.Y.) have all signed national letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at Youngstown State University.
“We are very pleased to have Abby, Nickole and Katie join our program,” said Conroy. “All three have the size, strength and athletic ability to make an impact early in their career."
Ettenhofer, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter/outside hitter, was named Honorable Mention All-Ohio in Division II and Central District Co-Player of the Year. A three-year letterwinner at Lakewood High School, Ettenhofer garnered player of the year and first-team All-Buckeye Athletic Conference honors as a senior.
Kennedy, a 6-foot-1 right side hitter, also earned Honorable Mention All-Ohio honors last season and was tabbed first-team all-district. Kennedy, who finished her senior campaign with a .510 hitting percentage, led Big Walnut High School to the regional semifinals in 2001 and the state semifinals in 2000.
Shea, a 6-foot-2 middle hitter, was a two-time all-conference selection and was named team captain as a senior at East Aurora High School.
Ettenhofer, Kennedy and Shea join Angie Pasquinelli (Toledo, Ohio), who signed during the early signing period in November, in the 2002-03 recruiting class.
“This is an outstanding recruiting class,” said Conroy. “We lost three outstanding seniors this past season, but fortunately, we were able to fill those shoes with quality student-athletes.”

Horizon League Upholds UIC's Baseball Protest Of April 6th Contest Against Penguins  Posted Tuesday, April 16, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Penguin's Lose Win! The game will be finished only if outcome affects either team's seeding in Horizon League Tournament.


Chicago, Ill. - The Horizon League announced on Monday afternoon, that the University of Illinois at Chicago baseball team's protest of Youngstown State's 3-2 victory over the Flames in Game Two of their doubleheader on April 6th will be upheld.

The play in question occurred with one out in the bottom of the eighth as the Flames held a 2-0 lead over the Penguins. Youngstown State second baseman Ty Furino reached base on a throwing error by UIC third baseman Nelson Gord. Furino attempted to advance to second base on the throwing error, and his progress was impeded by first base umpire, Greg Patoray.

Furino was thrown out at second base by UIC first baseman Mike Lorenzo, but later was awarded the base due to the umpire's interference. Furino advanced to third on a ground out by Kendall Schlabach and scored on a double by YSU catcher Adam Cox. Flames' starting pitcher Wes Gilliam then issued a RBI single by Jim Lipinski to knot the game up at 2-apiece and the Penguins went on to win the game in the bottom of the tenth inning.

The Horizon League's ruling will take the loss away from UIC and will move their record to 23-6 on the season. The game will be finished from the play in question, only if it will affect the seeding of either team in the Horizon League tournament, which will be held from May 23rd-26th, hosted by Cleveland State. No formal date has been announced.

Women’s Tennis: Penguins Down UW-Milwaukee, 7-0  Posted Monday, April 15, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Boardman, Ohio -- The Youngstown State Women’s Tennis team improved their Horizon League record to 4-3 and their overall record to 8-8 after defeating UW-Milwaukee on Saturday night at the Boardman Tennis Center.
In singles action, at No. 1 Leslie Banks defeated Tammie Spiel, 6-0, 7-5, at No. 2 Heather Hagood beat Molly Caulk 6-2, 6-0, at the No. 3 spot Annie Marino won against Cassie Kuranz 6-1, 6-1, at No. 4 Sarah Rothenberg beat Megan Brown 7-5, 6-3, (10-4), at No. 5 Jenn Meister defeated Julie Heling, 6-1, 6-4, and at the No. 6 spot Jenny Vodhanel beat Shauna Jansen, 6-1, 6-0.
In doubles play, Banks/Marino defeated Spiel/Caulk, 8-1, at No. 2 Meister/Hagood beat Kuranz/Brown, 8-2, and at No. 3 Rothenberg/J.Vodhanel defeated Heling/Jansen, 8-0.
The Penguins return to action on Wednesday, April 17, when they play at Duquesne at 3 p.m.

Softball: Butler Sweeps Penguins, 10-2, 3-1   Posted Monday, April 15, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Canfield, Ohio – Butler’s Melissa Benter tossed two complete-games to lead the Bulldogs (10-14, 3-1 Horizon League) to a doubleheader sweep of Youngstown State (8-19, 1-3 Horizon League), 10-2, and 3-1 on Monday afternoon at McCune Park.
In the opener, the Penguins led, 2-0 after five innings on Lacey Reichert’s two-run double to left field.
Butler, however, exploded for 10 runs on nine hits in the top of the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. After YSU’s Steph Hartman retired the first batter in the sixth, Butler pounded out five consecutive hits to take a 3-2 lead. After a fielder’s choice and an error, the Bulldogs collected four straight hits and scored seven more times capped by a three-run home run by Cameo Wrasse.
Benter, who tossed four innings of no-hit ball, scattered just five hits in the opener.
Butler picked up right where it left off in the first game by posting two runs in the first inning off of YSU starter Be Cicero. Wrasse doubled home Andrea Keech, who reached on a fielder’s choice, and Jamie Bradley, who singled.
The Penguins, who left eight runners on base in the nightcap, got on the board in the top of the fifth inning after sophomore Amber Smith knocked in Char Kudlock, who went 2-for-4, with a single to center field.
Butler answered with an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory.
Bender tossed another gem scattering seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks while Cicero scattered nine hits with one strikeout.
YSU visits Robert Morris, Wednesday, April 17, at 3 p.m. in Moon Township, Pa.

Outdoor Track & Field: Michaelis, Schnitkey continue to set records at All-Ohio Championships  Posted Monday, April 15, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Columbus - Members of the Youngstown State University men's and women's outdoor track and field teams competed at the All-Ohio Championships, Saturday.
On the women's side, Jeanna Cunningham ran a personal-best time of 25.47 to place 10th in the 200-meter dash while Janae Stephens finished 15th in 26.10. Stephens also placed seventh in the 400-meter dash with a seventh-place time of 58.47. In the 1,500-meter run, Lindsay Frontz ran a time of 4:51 to place 11th while Lindsay Wojciak finished 16th with a time of 4:57.71. Emily Schnitkey ran a time of 17:59.23 to finish fourth in the 5,000-meter run and Andrea Bardy placed fifth in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 39:46.90.
In the throws, Danielle Sexton launched a mark of 91'02 to place 12th in the javelin throw and Delores Gaines measured a mark of 40'05 1/2 in the shot put to place 16th.
On the men's side, Dan Cuesta ran a time of 1:59.79 in the 800-meter run to finish 21st while Jon Krezcezowski finished 27th in 2:06.64. In the 5,000-meter run, Jeremy Riehm ran a time of 15:34 to finish seventh. Adam Belmonte took 11th in the 10,000-meter run, 34:31.51, and Chris Hine took 12th, 35:27.47.
In the triple jump, Anwaa Martin jumped to a marl of 40'02 3/4 to place 10th.
The YSU men's and women's track and field teams will compete at the Penn Relays, Thursday through Saturday, in Philadelphia, Pa., and also at the Baldwin Wallace Invitational, Saturday, in Berea.

Football: White Team Picks Up 3-0 Win in 30th Annual Spring Game  Posted Friday, April 12, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Jake Stewart kicked a 27-yard field goal for the lone offense as the White team beat the Red Squad 3-0 on Friday night at Stambaugh Stadium. The three points ties for the lowest scoring Spring Game in the 30 years of the event.
Stewart's field goal came just 12 minutes into the 70-minute contest and was on the first possession of the game. Junior quarterback Matt Crivello orchestrated a 15-play 40-yard drive to earn the field goal, which proved to be the only points of the evening.
YSU Head Coach Jon Heacock said it is difficult for the offense in a game where team's are put together in two days and have players working on the same unit.
"I thought our kids played hard and had some fun and the coaches had some fun, that's what it is all about," Heacock said. "I think for the most part we didn't get anybody banged up and that is really important.
"Defense in these kind of things always has the advantage. I did the game plans and there were only certain things they could do on certain downs, and we just wanted to get a look at fundamentals and make sure all the kids got the opportunity to do what they do."
Junior Josiah Doby had a game-high 53 rushing yards on 11 carries to lead the Red team. For the White squad, P.J. Mays had 31 yards on six attempts.
YSU played all four quarterbacks in the game. Colby Street was 2-of-7 for 15 yards for the White Team and Justin Green was 3-of-8 fopr 23 yards with one interception for the Red team. Quarterbacks Aaron Marshall and Crivello played for both teams. Crivello combined to go 4-of-12 for 28 yards while starting for the White Team. Marshall was 8-of-17 for 62 yards and two interceptions.
Punter Kosta Karapetsas averaged 44.5 yards on four punts while Ryan Martino averaged 30.7 yards on three kicks.
The Penguins return to practice on Saturday at 10:15 a.m. and will practice on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. to conclude spring drills.

Softball: Penguins Sign Murphy To Letter of Intent   Posted Friday, April 12, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – Kelly Murphy, a right-handed pitcher for North Olmstead, Ohio, has signed a national letter of intent to continue her academic and softball career at Youngstown State University, Head Coach Christy Cameron announced on Friday.
“We are very please to have a quality player like Kelly join our program,” said Cameron. “She is a talented player, owns a strong work ethic and is constantly striving for improvement.”
So far during her senior season, Murphy owns a 3-1 record and recently tossed a perfect game with 20 strikeouts.
Last summer with the Ohio Emeralds, Murphy finished 20-8 with eight saves and a 0.48 earned run average. She recorded 218 strikeouts and just 19 walks in 146 innings pitched while her opponents hit a mere .143 against her.
“Kelly has several pitches and throws each one effectively,” said Cameron. “She changes speed very well and keeps hitters off balance."
Murphy is the fifth player to sign with the Penguins for the 2002-03 school year. She joins Laura Amero, Codi Bise, Liz Holt and Tiffany Patteson, who all signed in November, in the 2003 recruiting class.

YSU Men's Basketball inks forward   Posted Thursday, April 11, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State men's basketball team took advantage of the first day of the college basketball late signing period. The Penguins received a letter of intent from Jamel Porter, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound redshirt forward from Casper College in Casper, Wyo. Porter, who will be a junior next season, is originally from Paterson, N.J.

The signing period ends in mid-May. Porter joins other class of 2002-03 signees - guards Jonathan Mends (Miami, Fla.) and Derrick Harris (Cambridge, Mass.), who inked in the early signing period.
Porter, who led Casper with 14 points and 7.2 rebounds last year, said he felt comfortable around YSU coach John Robic and assistant Eric Skeeters. St. Bonaventure, Nicholls State, Wagner and Baylor were other schools interested in Porter.

''I had a lot of schools recruit me, but I really felt comfortable around the (YSU) coaching staff. It was a beautiful campus and a place where I felt comfortable,'' Porter said.

Porter was a National Junior College Athletic Association First-Team, All-Region IX selection. Region IX includes junior colleges from Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Montana.

Last season was Porter's first full season at Casper. He broke his leg to end his first year, which led to him being redshirted. He also broke his foot to hamper his second year.

''I had a lot of good people around me to keep me positive. I was also staying in shape this summer,'' Porter said. ''It was something that I wasn't going to let a broken leg end my career. It was motivation for me.''

He's going to take that motivation into next YSU season. The Penguins went 5-23 last season in the first season in the Horizon League.

''I'm going to help the team any way I can, whether it's putting in a bucket or rebounding,'' Porter said.

He'll also have some family and friends to watch him at Beeghly Center. Porter said he has some aunts and cousins in Pittsburgh. Also, he said his parents, sister and other family and friends will travel from Paterson to see him play.

The Penguins have one more scholarship available for next season.

Football: Seniors Pick Rosters for Spring Game, Nick Roberts No. 1 Pick  Posted Wednesday, April 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Junior offensive guard Nick Roberts was the first selection in the 2002 Red-White Spring Game Player Draft at the Bob Dove Luncheon that was held at the DeBartolo Stadium Club on Wednesday. The 30th Annual Red-White Spring Game will be played on Friday at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Roberts was the first pick by the Red Team, who was represented by seniors Russell Stuvaints, Justin Dellarose and John Schumacher. The White Squad was represented at the draft by Jon Tekac, Anthony Barone, Kosta Karapetsas and Andy DeNiro.
Second-year coach (and Draft Commissioner) Jon Heacock said the Spring Game, which was a scrimmage in his first year last Spring, is a chance to earn some bragging rights for the players.
"This is night for them to have fun and go out and play," Heacock said. "It gives them the opportunity to compete against each other and they can go out and play ball with the lights on. Friday night looks like it is going to be a great night."
As of Wednesday, according to Commissioner Heacock no changes in the rosters were scheduled to be made.
The game will feature two 35-minute halves with a five-minute halftime. The final five minutes of the half and of the game will follow normal clock procedures and a 25-second clock will be in effect the entire game. Special teams will be utilized during the contest.
At the quarterback spot, senior Justin Green will play for the Red team while senior Colby Street is a member of the White Squad. Redshirt freshman Aaron Marshall will play for the Red team in the first half and White squad in the second half. Junior Matt Crivello will play for the White team in the first half and the Red Squad in the second.
Seniors on the Red team include, Stuvaints, Dellarose, Martin Stachowicz, Green, Schumacher, Jerald Burley and Matt Mechling. Seniors on the White squad are Tekac, Barone, Brandon Byers, Street, DeNiro, Tim Frost, Dennis Dlugosz and P.J. Mays.

Bak Helps Lead US To Fina World Swimming Championship   Posted Tuesday, April 9, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Moscow, Russia – Youngstown State Head Swimming and Diving Coach Jackie Bak, an assistant manager for the 2002 U.S. Short Course World Championship Team, helped guide Team USA to the 2002 Fina World Swimming Championship.
Bak helped the Americans rewrite the record books with three world records, seven American records and 26 medals, despite bringing just 26 athletes.
Bak, who is beginning her fourth year as head coach of YSU’s swimming and diving team, has been involved with USA Swimming since taking a position as business manager with USA Swimming’s National Team Division in 1998. Bak also has worked with the National Distance Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was a part of the National Distance Team staff in 2001.
Currently Bak is in her second year as head coach for Penguin Swimming, an USA Swimming club.

Baseball: Penguins/UIC Split Again  Posted Sunday, April 7, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team won the first game of their doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Cafaro Field rallying from a three-run deficit with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pullout a 6-4 win over Illinois-Chicago. In game two, UIC took advantage of five Penguin errors and had 12 hits in a 11-5 victory.
YSU (8-11 overall and 2-2 in the Horizon League) trailed 4-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning with one out when Tim Stacey singled down the right field line. Jim Lipinski singled to right center and Stacey advanced to third. Adam Cox had an RBI single to second and Stacy scored. The rally kept going when Mark Nightingale reached on a fielder's choice to second, and Lipinski advanced to third. Kyle Penrod had an RBI single to left field, advancing Nightingale to third, and Clint Ford’s RBI single down the left field line tied the game at 4-4. Ross Buttle came in to pinch hit and walked, advancing Ford to second and Penrod to third. Schlabach singled to right field, scoring Ford and Penrod to give the Penguins the 6-4 victory.
Frank Santore pitched a seven-inning complete game allowing four runs -- three earned, while scattering 10 hits and striking out one.
In game two, the Flames scored three runs in the second, four in the sixth, three in the eighth, and one run in the ninth against four YSU pitchers. Freshman Chris Dennis suffered his first loss of the season, allowing three runs -- one earned -- in 3.2 innings pitched. Also pitching for the Penguins was Paul Yates, Mike Abdalla, and Jonathan Smart.
UIC’s Ryan Gehring (4-0) pitched 8.2 innings, scattering 10 hits and allowing five runs while striking out two.
The Penguin’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when James Swearengen scored on an RBI groundout. Kendall Schlabach and Jim Lipiniski each had three hits to lead YSU, while UIC’s Andy Deahl had three hits for the Flame.
The Penguins return to action on Wednesday, April 10, when they play at Kent State at 3 p.m.

Outdoor Track & Field: Gaines marks hammer throw record  Posted Sunday, April 7, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Kent - Youngstown State University outdoor track and field athlete Delores Gaines improved the school record in the hammer throw with a sixth-place mark of 150'07 at the Kent State University Icebreaker Open, Saturday. The previous record was set at 147'04 during last year's outdoor season.
Jeanna Cunningham earned double first-place finishes for the Penguins with times of 12.50 in the 100-meter dash and 25.75 in the 200-meter dash. Emily Schnitkey won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:44.71 while Rachael Albert placed fifth, 5:00.13, and Lindsay Wojciak sixth, 5:01.03. In the 800-meter run, Lindsay Frontz earned second place with a time of 2:19.04 while Schnitkey finished fourth in 2:23.05.
In the hurdles, Aaliyah Gillespie placed third in the 100-meter high hurdles, 14.89, while Kelly Leonard finished fifth, 15.12. In the 400-meter hurdles, Leonard ran a time of 1:09.39 to place second while Gillespie finished sixth with a time of 1:19.49.
Lissette Alamo jumped to a second-place mark of 17'05 1/4 in the long jump while Laura Schatz marked a measure of 5'02 1/4 to place fourth in the high jump.
In the discus throw, Beth Hochstetler threw a fifth-place mark of 134'02. In the javelin throw, Christina Campana recorded a personal-best launch of 108'09 to finish fourth overall.
On the men's side, Eugene Harris sprinted to a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.89 while Edwin Jackson placed seventh in 11.26. Tim Tatarka ran a time of 1:56.88 and placed fourth in the 800-meter run.
Jarrod Davis recorded a throw of 131'10 in the discus to finish fourth and also placed sixth in the hammer throw with a measure of 129'05.
The YSU men's and women's outdoor track and field teams will compete at the All Ohio Championships Friday and Saturday in Columbus and the Tennessee Sea Ray Relays, Wednesday through Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.

YSU Ends UIC's 12 Game Win Streak with Split  Posted Saturday, April 6, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio - Youngstown State's Kendall Schlabach's single in the bottom of the tenth inning capped off a three-run rally as the Penguins broke the UIC's 11-game winning streak with a 3-2 extra-inning victory in the second game of their doubleheader at Cafaro Field on Saturday afternoon.

UIC took home the victory in the opening game as senior right hander Larry Banks (Cicero, Ill./Nazareth) tossed a complete-game shutout as the Flames picked up the 7-0 victory. Banks struck out six batters and allowed five hits to improve his record to 6-1 on the season.

With the split, UIC moves to 18-4 on the season and 1-1 in Horizon League action, while Youngstown State takes its record to 7-10 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Senior southpaw Wes Gilliam (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood) was on cruise control for UIC as he held Youngstown State scoreless throughout the first 7 1/3 innings, while allowing five hits as the Flames held a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.

Gilliam and the Flames, however, ran into trouble in that frame as Youngstown State second baseman Ty Furino reached base on a throwing error by UIC third baseman Nelson Gord (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove). Furino attempted to advance to second base on the throwing error, and his progress was impeded by first base umpire, Greg Patoray.

Furino was thrown out at second base by UIC first baseman Mike Lorenzo (Lockport, Ill./Providence0, but later was awarded the base due to the umpire's interference. Furino advanced to third on a ground out by Schlabach and scored on a double by YSU catcher Adam Cox. Gilliam then issued a RBI single by Jim Lipinski to knot the game up at 2-apiece.

Freshman reliever Bill Bernabei (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) came on in relief of Gilliam and retired Mark Nightingale to end the eighth inning and struck out the side in the ninth inning.

Youngstown State pinch hitter Kyle Penrod opened the bottom of the tenth with a single off Bernabei and advanced to second when Lorenzo was unable to handle a Bernabei pickoff attempt. Furino advanced Penrod to third with a sacrifice bunt, which set the stage for Schlabach's heroics.

Junior right fielder Curtis Granderson (Lynwood, Ill./T.F. South) was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI to lead the Flames, while Lorenzo and shortstop Mike Bruszer (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) each picked up two hits for UIC.

Youngstown State's Corey Ohalek pitched all 10 innings to earn his third win of the season, while Bernabei (1-1) was saddled with the loss for UIC.

In game one, senior center fielder John Rosner (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Flames to the 7-0 victory.

Bruszer also enjoyed a solid game offensively for UIC, as the sophomore shortstop was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while teammates Lorenzo and Granderson also notched two hits during the contest.

Both teams will square off again on Sunday afternoon for another doubleheader that will begin at 11:00 AM (CST).



2002 UIC Baseball
Illinois-Chicago at Youngstown State (Game 2)
Apr 06, 2002 at Niles, Ohio (Cafaro Field)

Illinois-Chicago 2 (18-4,1-1 HORIZON)

Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
Bryan Russo 2b............ 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 3
Mike Bruszer ss........... 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 4
Mike Hughes lf............ 3 1 1 0 1 0 2 0
Curtis Granderson rf...... 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 0
John Rosner cf............ 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 0
Andy Deahl dh............. 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Mike Lorenzo 1b........... 4 0 2 0 0 1 12 0
Nelson Gord 3b............ 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
Kevin Nelson c............ 4 0 0 0 0 1 11 0
Wes Gilliam p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Bill Bernabei p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Totals.................... 35 2 9 2 2 4 28 12


Youngstown State 3 (7-10,1-1 HORIZON)

Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
Furino 2b................. 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 2
Schlabach cf.............. 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 0
Cox c..................... 4 1 1 1 0 1 4 0
Lipinski 1b............... 4 0 2 1 0 2 13 1
Nightingale dh............ 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Ford 3b................... 4 0 1 0 0 3 1 6
Stacey lf................. 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 0
Swearengen ss............. 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 5
Phillips rf............... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Penrod ph................. 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Ohalek p.................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
Totals.................... 36 3 9 3 0 10 30 19



Score by innings: R H E
-----------------------------------------------
Illinois-Chicago 200 000 000 0 - 2 9 3
Youngstown State 000 000 020 1 - 3 9 0
-----------------------------------------------

Note: 1 out, 1 runner(s) LOB when the game ended.

E - Mike Lorenzo, Nelson Gord 2.
DP - UIC 1, Penguins 1. LOB - UIC 5, Penguins 7.
2B - Mike Hughes, Cox. 3B - C. Granderso.
SB - M. Bruszer, C. Granderso.
SH - Furino, Schlabach.

Illinois-Chicago IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
Wes Gilliam......... 7.2 7 2 0 0 7 30 31
Bill Bernabei....... 1.2 2 1 0 0 3 6 7


Youngstown State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
Ohalek.............. 10.0 9 2 2 2 4 35 37



Win - Ohalek 3-3. Loss - B. Bernabei 1-1. Save - None.
Umpires - Home:Rob Mancz 1st:Greg Patoray 3rd:Dale Kever
Start: 3:30 Time: 2:40 Attendance: 150
-----------------------------------------------------------


Play-by-play
--------------------------------------------------------------
2002 UIC Baseball
Illinois-Chicago at Youngstown State (Game 2)
Apr 06, 2002 at Niles, Ohio (Cafaro Field)


Score by innings: R H E
-----------------------------------------------
Illinois-Chicago 200 000 000 0 - 2 9 3
Youngstown State 000 000 020 1 - 3 9 0
-----------------------------------------------

Football: Defense Cools Off Offense to Win Second Scrimmage, 41-31  Posted Saturday, April 6, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State football team battled cold weather for 80 minutes on Saturday and the defense came away with another scrimmage win beating the offense 41-31 on Saturday morning at Stambaugh Stadium.
The defense, which forced eight turnovers during the first scrimmage, caused three on Saturday. On the first play of the scrimmage, Vince Scalmato recovered a fumble hand-off exchange between Aaron Marshall and Mike Burns. Sophomore Mike Bracken and junior Waymann Peters each had interceptions. For the offense, Darius Peterson scored on a four-yard touchdown run and Jake Stewart converted two-of-three field goals making kicks from 29 and 20 yards and missing from 49 into a steady north wind.
Head Coach Jon Heacock said the Penguins were more intense during Saturday's chilly workout then in the previous scrimmage.
"I think we played better today," Heacock said. "We took better care of the ball. Again three is three too many but we took better care of the ball. The players came out and concentrated today. It's 32 degrees out here and I thought we played hard and we ran hard. I thought there was a lot of improvement, but we are still a long ways from where we have to go though.
"We are a young group. We make some young mistakes, and we made some mistakes today, but the effort today and attitude was better and our kids responded and that is what Youngstown Football is all about."
YSU's quarterbacks, which wore black jerseys and were not allowed to take part in any contact, showed improvement in all aspects.
Redshirt Freshman Aaron Marshall completed 9-of-15 passes for 77 yards, but threw the two interceptions. Senior Justin Green was 1-of-3 for five yards and junior Matt Crivello was 2-of-2 for 37 yards while completing a scrimmage-long 28-yard pass to Alexander Bailey. Senior Colby Street participated in the scrimmage, but did not attempt a pass.
Junior Josiah Doby had a scrimmage high 64 yards rushing on 16 carries. Walter Wright had the longest run of the day with a 43-yard rush on his lone carry of the scrimmage. Peterson had eight attempts for 28 yards, P.J. Mays had nine rushes for 14 yards, Mike Burns had four attempts for 14 yards and Aaron Pruitt had seven carries for 12 yards.
Doby, Shawn Carlson, Peterson and John Schumacher each had two receptions.
On the injury front, Burns suffered a sprained left foot, Scalmato and junior offensive tackle Josh Davis each sprained their right ankle.
The Penguins return to the field on Monday at 3 p.m. in the final week of spring workouts. The Spring Game Draft will be held Wednesday at noon in the DeBartolo Stadium Club with the 30th annual Spring Game set for Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m.

Baseball: Penguins-Flames Will Play Doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday  Posted Friday, April 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball game against Illinois-Chicago on Friday was postponed because of inclement weather at Cafaro Field in Niles. The team's will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and another doubleheader at noon on Sunday.

Softball: Penguins Game For Saturday Against Canisius Postponed  Posted Friday, April 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State softball game against Canisius scheduled for Saturday at McCune Park has been postponed because of inclement weather. No makeup date has been set.

Today's Penguins-Flames Baseball Game Start Time Moved to 3 p.m.  Posted Friday, April 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball team will play host to Illinois-Chicago in the Horizon League opener for both teams on Friday at Cafaro Field. The game, which was scheduled to start at 1 p.m., has been moved back to 3 p.m. YSU and the Flames play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at Noon and a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Soccer: YSU To Host Spring Fling Tournament   Posted Thursday, April 4, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State Soccer team will host a Spring Fling 7-A-Side Tournament on Sunday, April 7, starting at 10 a.m.
The teams participating are Slippery Rock, Muskingum, St. Vincent, Malone, Oberlin, Wheeling Jesuit and Case Western Reserve.
The Penguins will kick off their first of two morning games beginning at 10:30 a.m. against Case Western Reserve and their second at 11:00 against Oberlin. They resume play in the afternoon at 12:30 p.m.against Wheeling Jesuit with a game following at 1:00 vs.Muskingum.
The semi-final game will be held at 2:15 p.m.concluding with the championship game at 3 p.m.

Football: YSU to Hold Bob Dove/Spring Game Draft Luncheon  Posted Wednesday, April 3, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – The Youngstown State football team will hold a Bob Dove/Spring Game Draft Luncheon on Wednesday, April 10 at noon in the DeBartolo Stadium Club. The public and the media are invited to attend the event.
At the event, lunch will be served and fans can watch the selection of the Red and White rosters during a draft for the 30th Annual Red-White Spring Game held at Stambaugh Stadium on Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. Following the draft, Coach Jon Heacock and selected YSU seniors will be available at a press conference to offer insights on this spring’s workouts and the upcoming spring game.
The cost for Penguin Club members is $5 while for non-members the price is $6. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the YSU Sports Information Office at (330) 742-7292.

YSU Track & Field to host throws competition  Posted Wednesday, April 3, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown - The Youngstown State University outdoor track and field teams will host a throws-only Collegiate Open and Masters Competition from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20.
Individuals can enter via e-mail at shotputdoc@aol.com. The entry fee is $5.00 per individual and will be accepted up to the day of the competition. A rain date is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21.

SO ... get out there and toss a few. Help support the team!!

Outdoor Track and Field: YSU set records at Raleigh Relays  Posted Saturday, March 30, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Raleigh, N.C. - The Youngstown State University men's and women's outdoor track and field teams set three school records at the North Carolina State University Raleigh Relays, Saturday.
In the men's events, Kurt Michaelis set a new school record in the 800-meter run with a sixth-place time of 1:50.42. His time beats former YSU track and field athlete Paul Carter's previous record time of 1:50.60.
Michaelis also helped to lead YSU's 4x1,500-meter relay team of Nick Smith, Tim Tatarka and Paul Robinette to a record-breaking ninth-place time of 15:01. The old record was set in 1999 with a time of 16:10.91.
The women's 4x800-meter relay team of Lindsay Frontz, Lindsay Wojciak, Rachel Albert and Emily Schnitkey also had a record-breaking weekend, recording a time of 9:24.12, which improves the previous record time of 9:32.62.
In other women's events, Frontz ran a personal-best time of 1:00.83 to place 95th in the 400-meter run while Leslie Johnson ran a time of 1:01.45 to place 108th. In the 5,000-meter run, Schnitkey placed 78th with a time of 18:45.83 and Andrea Bardy finished 92nd, 19:10.53, and Wojciak placed 97th, 19:28.38.
In the men's steeplechase, Robinette finished with an impressive time of 9:28. Tony Orcena placed 13th in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 31:31.34 while Jeremy Riehm finished 30th in 32:11.40. Eugene Harris ran a time of 11.03 to place 52nd in the 100-meter dash.
The YSU outdoor track and field teams will compete at the Kent State Icebreaker, Saturday.

Football: Defense Forces Eight Turnovers in 53-41 Scrimmage Win  Posted Saturday, March 30, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State defense forced eight turnovers -- five interceptions and three fumbles -- en route to a 53-41 victory over the offense in the first jersey scrimmage of the spring on Friday at Stambaugh Stadium.
The offense took the first possession of the game 80 yards in 12 plays and scored its lone touchdown on an 18-yard quarterback draw by redshirt quarterback Aaron Marshall. After that, the offense converted just one field goal the rest of the scrimmage.
The defense stepped up time-and-time again during the nearly two-hour scrimmage. Waymann Peters, Russell Stuvaints, Scott Thiessen, Jake Godec and Jon Tekac all had interceptions while Martin Stachowicz, Mike Bracken and Matt Estes each had fumble recoveries.
YSU second-year Head Coach Jon Heacock was not pleased with the outcome of the first scrimmage, which was the seventh workout of spring ball.
"I think today was unacceptable," Heacock said. "What I just watched today is unacceptable. I'm responsible for it. We turned the ball over eight times, we're not running to the football on defense. That is unacceptable. I don't know if it has been the spring ball and the way we had practices. The on-and-off-again days. I don't know what it is but we are going to get it figured out and get it straightened out."
Junior Jake Stewart converted one-of-four field-goal attempts on a windy afternoon. Stewart missed a 42-yard kick into the wind while missing from 44 yards and 50 yards with the wind. He converted a 48-yarder with the win.
In the quarterback battle, Marshall was the only Penguin to lead a touchdown-scoring drive. For the scrimmage, Marshall was 5-of-14 for 84 yards and threw three of the five interceptions. He ran the ball 13 times for 15 yards. Senior Colby Street completed 3-of-8 passes for 15 yards and one interception while rushing for nine yards on 10 attempts, senior Justin Green completed 6-of-7 passes for 60 yards and an interception while junior college transfer Matt Crivello was 4-of-11 for 27 yards. Green rushed for 12 yards on five carries while Crivello had 12 yards on three attempts.
Heacock said the thing that bothered him the most with the performance of all four quarterbacks was the way the group put the ball on the ground throught the scrimmage. Heacock said their were problems with handoffs and the center-quarterback exchanges throughout the scrimmage.
"Those players are young folks and I don’t expect them to come out and set the world on fire except I expect them to take care of the ball and do some things," Heacock said. "We've got to figure out what we can and cannot do. We've got a lot of work to do with this football team."
Junior Darius Peterson came on strong at the end of the scrimmage for a high 47 yards on nine carries. Peterson had the longest run of the day, 28 yards late in the workout. Junior P.J. Mays had just two carries for 13 yards while Mike Burns had 11 attempts for 42 yards and Josiah Doby had 13 rushes for 35 yards.
On the injury front, senior defensive lineman Matt Mechling sat out the scrimmage with a sprained ankle. During the scrimmage, defensive lineman Matt Briggs suffered a sprained ankle while offensive linemen Brent Stiener and Norris Kennedy and fullback Chris DiMauro each sprained knees.
The Penguins return to practice on Monday at Stambaugh Stadium at 3 p.m.

Football: First Scrimmage Set for Friday at Stambaugh Stadium  Posted Friday, March 29, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State football team will hold its first scrimmage of the spring season on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium on Friday. The Penguins practiced on the Beede Field turf on Wednesday and Thursday after having Tuesday's practice postponed because of weather.

Penguins Drop Hard-Fought 8-7 Decision at Miami (Ohio)  Posted Friday, March 29, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Oxford, Ohio -- In a darkness shortened contest the Miami baseball team crept past visiting Youngstown State (6-8) 8-7 at McKie Field at Hayden Park on Thursday afternoon. The 3-hour, 15-minute contest featured five lead changes, three ties and 10 errors.
With one out on the eighth, the Penguins failed to turn the double play on Ryan Edginton's ground ball, scoring Mike Galloway to give Miami the 8-7 victory. Both teams attempted to start the ninth inning but the night sky kept the game from going the full nine innings.
The Penquins didn't take long to score as leadoff batter Ty Furino launched a sophomore Justin Farina pitch off the scoreboard in left-center field, giving his team an early 1-0 advantage. The round-tripper was the first ball to be hit off the new scoreboard in left field at Miami's new McKie Field.
In the bottom half of the first inning, junior Mike Galloway came to the plate with men on first and second, and unconventionally drove both men home to give the RedHawks a 2-1 lead. Galloway reached when the first baseman failed to catch the throw, and the ball continued into right field. He advanced to second when Youngstown State's right fielder fumbled the ball, resulting in two errors on the same play.
Youngstown State knotted the game at 2-2 in the second inning when Mark Nightingale got to first after a throwing error to lead off the frame. Nightingale continued to second on ground out and was directed to home plate on a James Swearengen single up the middle. Miami took its second lead of the contest 3-2 when sophomore Ryan Edginton belted his second home run of the season in the bottom half of the frame.
In the third inning the Penguins took a 4-3 edge with two runs off Farina. A lead off double to right field was shortlived when Adam Cox attempted to lay down a bunt that freshman first baseman Paul Frietch fielded and threw to third to catch the lead runner. Momentarily out of trouble, Farina walked the next batter and then allowed Clint Ford to slap a single up the middle to score Cox from second. Three batters later, after a fielder's choice and an error on the second baseman, Jim Phillips drew a base on balls with the bases juiced to score Jim Lipinski.
Junior Adam Keel entered the game in relief in the fourth inning, and held the Penguins scoreless for the next two innings to allow Miami a chance at tying the game in the fifth stanza. Freshman John Slone opened the bottom half of the fifth with a single, and advanced to second base on a throwing error by the Penquins' catcher. Slone continued his romp around the diamond advancing to third on a wild pitch, and scored Miami's fourth run on a Galloway sacrifice fly out to center field.
Youngstown State quickly regained the lead in the sixth inning when it scarred Keel for one run, and another score in the seventh frame. Fortunately for the Miami faithful, the RedHawks weren't finished swinging the aluminum as they tallied two runs in the bottom of the seventh to knot the game once again, this time at six apiece.
With darkness quickly setting in Miami coach Tracy Smith sent in senior reliever Shawn Landis in the eighth inning. Kendall Schlabach ripped Landis' third pitch to deep left-center field to open the frame with a lead-off double. Schlabach moved to third on successful sacrifice bunt and scored the go-ahead run when Lipinski singled to right-center field.
Facing an 7-6 deficit in the bottom of the eighth and darkness quickly creeping over the field, the RedHawks put together a two-run rally to clinch the victory 8-7. For the second time in the contest, Slone led off with a single, followed this time by a Galloway walk. Junior Michael Carlin laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance both runners, bringing junior David Cook to the plate. The Penguins intentionally walked
Cook to load the bases and switched pitchers, shifting Ford from third base to the mound. Junior Andi Scheidt took advantage of his only plate appearance by drawing the base on balls to score the game-tying run, Slone from third base. With one out on the ticker, the Penguins failed to turn the double play on Edginton's ground play, scoring Galloway to give Miami the 8-7 victory.
Both teams attempted to start the ninth inning but the night sky kept the game from going the full nine innings. One day after picking up his first save of the season, Landis worked the eighth inning to earn his first victory of the season. Credited with the loss for Youngstown State was Mike Abdalla after giving up two earned runs in 0.2 innings.
The Penguins are next in action on Tuesday, April 2 when they play at Akron. YSU was supposed to play a doubleheader at IPFW on Friday and had games against Valparaiso and IPFW scheduled for Saturday but those contests have been canceled because of poor field conditions in Fort Wayne.

YSU Softball Game Versus Canisius Postponed; YSU VP To Throw Out First Pitch  Posted Thursday, March 28, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State softball game against Canisius schedule for Friday, March 29, has been postponed until Saturday, April 6, at noon.
The Penguins host Kent State in a doubleheader, Tuesday, April 2, at 2 p.m. at McCune Park in Canfield, Ohio.
Dr. Cynthia Anderson, YSU Vice-President for Student Affairs, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the Golden Flashes.

Softball: Berry Named Horizon League Player of the Week  Posted Tuesday, March 26, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. – Youngstown State sophomore Amanda Berry (Lorain, Ohio) was named the Horizon League Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday.
Last week, Berry, who leads the Penguins with a .389 batting average, led the Penguins to a 3-2 record at the George Mason Patriot Classic while hitting .471 with a double and two triples.
Berry turned in a 3-for-4 performance in a 4-3 win over St. Peter’s with a two triples and a double and went 2-for-4 in a 2-1 win over Norfolk State.

Football: Hoot-N-Holler On Hold Because of Weather  Posted Monday, March 25, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State football team's first full-contact practice of the spring and the bi-annual Hoot-N-Holler have been postponed because of inclement weather in the Mahoning Valley. The Penguins were scheduled to practice at 2:30 this afternoon. Hoot-N-Holler will be rescheduled on a day-to-day basis within the next week.

Baseball: Penguins Postpone Niagara Game Set for Wednesday  Posted Monday, March 25, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball game schedule on Wednesday afternoon at Cafaro Field against Niagara has been postponed because of snow. The contest may be made up at a later date, Head Coach Mike Florak announced.
While Wednesday's game is canceled, YSU's game at Ohio, which was slated for Tuesday at 3 p.m. has been pushed back to Wednesday. The Penguins are also scheduled to play at Toledo on Thursday.

Baseball: Penguins Win Third Straight, Beat Akron 5-1  Posted Saturday, March 23, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Niles, Ohio -- Six Youngstown State pitchers combined to allow just four hits and the Penguins score twice in the third and three times in the fifth for their third straight win in a 5-1 triumph over Akron.
YSU pitchers Matt Brumit, Corey Ohalek, Jonathan Smart, Paul Yates, Mike Abdalla and Clint Ford scattered four hits, struck out 14, allowed an unearned run and walked just three. With the win, the Penguins (6-6) have won three consecutive contests, all home games and have won six of their last eight games.
Offensively, Kendall Schlabach, Ty Furino and Jim Phillips had two hits each as the Penguins had nine hits in the contest. Phillips and Schlabach each scored twice while Furino and Adam Cox picked up RBIs.
In the second inning, Phillips walked and advanced to third on single by Schlabach. Furino doubled inside the right field line scoring Phillips with Schlabach moving to third. After Cox walked and Jim Lipinski struck out, Schlabach scored on a passed ball to make the score 2-0.
In the fifth, Phillips opened the inning with his second double of the year and Schlabach followed with a bunt single. Furino walked to load the bases then Cox fly out to right scoring Phillips. With YSU ahead 3-0, Schlabach scored on a wild pitch while Furino advanced to second. With two outs, Furino raced home from second on a passed ball to put the Penguins ahead 5-0.
Ohlaek (2-2) earned the win pitching the third and fourth innings while striking out two and allowing one hit. Brumit started and in two innings struck out three allowing one hit. Smart pitched two innings striking out two. Yates, Abdalla and Ford pitched one inning each. Yates gave up the only run while striking out two. Abdalla struck out two of the three batters he faced and Ford struck out three of the four batters he faced in the ninth. Akron's Ben McCauley (2-2) suffered the loss allowing two runs, one earned, in three innings.
YSU returns to the diamond on Tuesday when it plays at Ohio. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

Football: Friday’s Spring Workout Postponed, Practice Schedule Changes  Posted Friday, March 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- For the second straight day, the Youngstown State football team’s spring workout was postponed because of inclement weather. With the cancellation of Friday’s practice, YSU will still have 14 practice dates between Sunday and April 12, the night of the annual Red-White Spring Game.
On Saturday, YSU has pushed the start of practice back from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. Sunday’s 3:15 p.m workout will go on as scheduled for the first workout in full pads. The bi-annual Hoot-N-Holler is slated for Monday at 3:15 p.m. YSU was orginally scheduled to have Monday off, but will participate in the first day of full contact. After Monday, practices will resume as normal with workouts on Tuesday, Wednesday and a scrimmage on Friday of next week.

Penguin Football Hires NC A&T's Williams  Posted Tuesday, March 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
There will be new face on the sidelines starting tomorrow. Coach Heacock announced the hiring of Terrell Williams from N. Carolina A&T. Williams replaces George Small, our first-year linebackers coach. It is not clear what position Williams will hold at this point.

Terrell Williams had 4 seasons as the Aggies defensive line coach. During his first two seasons, the Aggie defensive line has accounted for 65 sacks and 137 tackles for loss. In the April 2001 edition of the American Football Monthly Magazine, coach Williams’ article on coaching defensive tackles was published.

Williams is a graduate of Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, CA. After graduating high school, he went on to become an all-conference defensive lineman at West Los Angeles Junior College. In 1995, Williams signed a scholarship to play at East Carolina University. In two seasons as a nose guard at ECU, the Pirates compiled a 17-6 record and won the 1995 Liberty Bowl defeating Stanford University.

In 1997 Williams began his coaching career working with current NFL defensive tackles Rod Coleman (Oakland Raiders) and Norris McCleary (Kansas City Chiefs) at East Carolina. In 1998 he was the defensive line coach at Fort Scott Junior College in Kansas. In the spring of 1998, Williams became the first and only member in his family to earn a college degree, graduating with a BS in Communications from East Carolina. He also had the opportunity to participate in the Jacksonville Jaguars Minority Coaching Fellowship Program in 1999. Along with his defensive line responsibilities he also serves as the Pro liaison for the Aggies.

Football: Penguins Open Spring Football Season on Wednesday  Posted Tuesday, March 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State football team begins its 15-practice spring period on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium The Penguins are slated to be in pads for the first time this spring on Saturday, March 23 at 9:30 a.m. The annual spring game will be held on Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh.
The first scrimmage of the spring is set for Friday, March 29 with the second jersey scrimmage on Saturday, April 6. This spring, YSU’s roster features 73 student-athletes. Of the 73 players, 18 are seniors, 19 are juniors, 16 are sophomores and 20 are redshirt freshmen.
One of the biggest battles among the squad this spring will be at the quarterback position. Four-year starter Jeff Ryan is gone while redshirt freshman Aaron Marshall, senior Colby Street, junior college transfer Matt Crivello and senior transfer Justin Green set to vie for playing time this spring. Street will concentrate on academics during the mid-week practices and take part in drills on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.
The Penguins' strongest position on offense will be the tailback spot with the returns of senior P.J. Mays and juniors Mike Burns, Darius Peterson and Josiah Doby. Mays was named the Gateway Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Year last season rushing for 1,446 yards. At fullback, Mike Roberts returns and Chris DiMauro, who has spent his first two years on defense, moves over to offense.
On the offensive line, junior guard Nick Roberts, senior tackle Andy DeNiro and junior tackle Josh Davis return after seeing a lot of playing time last season. Junior Steve Durbin and junior college transfer Will Sanders are in contention for the starting center spot. At left guard Brent Steiner is at the top of the depth chart ahead of three other players entering spring drills.
The tight end position is strong with returning starters Dennis Dlugosz and John Schumacher. The receiving corps returns top receiver Jerald Burley with three newcomers -- Damian Wright, Todd Frank and Alexander Bailey added to the mix. YSU will be without Phil Larmon this spring who will sit out drills after offseason shoulder surgery.
On defense, YSU is strong up front and in the linebacking spots. In their 3-4 scheme, the Penguins have returning starters Matt Mechling, Guy Mazard and Martin Stachowicz all up front. Also, Matt Briggs, Nate Baston and Wendell Parrish return after seeing playing time and starting on various occasions last year. Joining the group is senior West Virginia transfer Tim Frost.
At the linebacker position, YSU is solid as well with Justin Dellarose, Jon Tekac, Yancey Marcum and Brandon Byers returning. Tekac finished the 2001 season tied for the team lead with 69 tackles. A group of eight inexperienced players will be trying to earn playing time at linebacker this spring.
The secondary will undergo changes from last season with the loss of three of four starters, including mainstays LeVar Greene and Bruce Hightower. Anthony Barone returns at free safety and will be joined in the secondary by Russell Stuvaints who will convert from linebacker to strong safety. Stepping in at the cornerback spots are Waymann Peters and Jake Godec. Mike Bracken also returns experience at strong safety and junior college transfer Scott Thiessen will battle for a spot. Junior Pat Reece and redshirt freshmen Matt Estes, Pete Perry and Scott Good will be looking to make an impact.
In the special teams department, YSU returns both kicking specialist and an all-conference return specialist in Burley from last season. Two-year placekicker Jake Stewart and senior punter Kosta Karapetsas are back. The transition this spring for Stewart will be working with Karapetsas who replaces Steve Valley as the team's holder on place kicks. Burley was a first-team all-conference return specialist last year and Barone will help return punts.

Four Penguins Earn NSCA All-America Honors  Posted Tuesday, March 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Colorado Springs, Colo. -- The Youngstown State Athletic Department had four student-athletes named to the 2002 National Strength and Conditioning Association All-Americans, the NSCA announced recently.
Named to the All-America team from Youngstown State were football players Pat Crummey and Bruce Hightower, women's basketball player Monica Vicarel and softball pitcher Be Cicero. Overall, 184 athletes from 84 colleges and universities were recognized.

Outdoor Track & Field: YSU Opens season at Florida State  Posted Monday, March 18, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Youngstown State University men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams opened their season at the Florida State University Snow Bird Invitational, Saturday.
Picking up right where they left off in the outdoor season, 12 athletes recorded personal-best performances at the two-day event.
Emily Schnitkey placed fifth in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:49.56 while Lindsay Wojciak finished ninth, 4:53.67, and Lindsay Frontz finished 13th, 5:00.47. Schnitkey also ran a time of 18:16 in the 5,000-meter run while Andrea Bardy ran a time of 19:07 and Frontz a time of 19:08.
In the 100-meter dash, Jeanna Cunningham placed ninth with a time of 12.48. Janae Stephens placed 16th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.30 and also placed 13th in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.83.
Aaliyah Gillespie finished seventh in the 100-meter hurdles, 14.99, while Kelly Leonard finished 10th, 15.41.
In the field events, Delores Gaines marked a throw of 135’10 in the discus and Laura Schatz placed fourth in the high jump with a measure of 5’02 ½. Christina Campana finished 12th in the hammer throw with a mark of 134'08 while Gaines placed 13th, 133'01, and Danielle Sexton placed 15th, 131'02.
In the men’s competition, Eugene Harris finished seventh in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.81. In the 1,500-meter run Tim Tatarka ran a time of 3:58.14 to place third and Paul Robinette placed seventh with a time of 4:04.02. Kurt Michaelis finished third in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14:59 and Tony Orcena placed fifth with a time of 15:16.91.
The YSU outdoor track and field teams will compete March 29 and 30 at the North Carolina State Raleigh Relays.

Baseball: Penguins Split Doubleheader at Morehead State  Posted Sunday, March 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Morehead, Ky. -- The Youngstown State baseball team suffered a tough 6-4 loss in game one of a doubleheader at Morehead State on Saturday, but in game two, the Penguins bounced back behind two home runs and five RBI by Tim Stacey for a 10-7 victory.
In the second game, Stacey hit a two-run homer in the first and a two-run shot in the seventh. He also had an RBI single and walked once scoring three times.
YSU (3-5) scored three times in the first but the Eagles answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. The Penguins scored four runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to take an 8-3 lead. Morehead State (7-7) scored two runs in the fifth and sixth to pull within 8-7. But Stacey's blast in the seventh gave the Penguins some breathing room.
Frank Santore (1-1) pitched four innings to earn the victory. Mike Abdalla pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn his first save of the season. Jim Lipinski also had three hits as well for Youngstown State.
In game one, MSU's Jon Childers belted a one-out homer off Paul Yates in the bottom of the eighth for the 6-4 win. Youngstown State had a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the fifth before the Eagles tied the game. In the eighth, Will Renaker hit a one out double and after being replaced by pinch runner Roy Gentry, Childers belted his walk-off blast.
On the mound for the Penguins in game one, Matt Brumit started and pitched four innings allowing just one run while striking out six. Corey Ohalek pitched 3.1 innings before giving way to Yates with one out in the eighth. MSU's Marshall Reece picked up the win pitching three scorless innings.
The teams conclude the three-game series with a single game set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Softball: Penguins Win Last Three At Rebel Games  Posted Sunday, March 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Orlando, Fla. -- The Youngstown State softball team improve to 5-7 after winning its last three contests at the Rebel Games. The Penguin defeated IPFW, 3-1, Colgate, 5-4, and Dartmouth, 7-6.
Against the Mastodons, junior Zetta Dumkrieger belted a two-run home run in the top of the third inning to lift the Penguins to the victory. Sophomore Amber Smith smacked two singles while freshman Char Kudlock scored twice for the Penguins.
In the game against Colgate, Youngstown State scored four times in the top of the first and added an insurance run in the top of the fifth to squeeze past the Raiders.
Kudlock led off the game with a double and later scored on Dumkrieger's RBI single. Smith walked to plate freshman Erin Moore, who also walked.
Senior Be Cicero's ground out scored Dumkrieger while sophomore Jenn Hartman's single drove in classmate Amanda Berry, who walked.
In their Rebel Games finale, the Penguins spotted Dartmouth two runs in the top of the first inning but quickly countered with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
With runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the first, Berry belted a two-run double to tie the game, 2-2. After Smith singled and freshman Kiisha Warfield walked to load the bases, Berry scored on a sacrifice fly by Jenn Hartman. junior Allison Pfaff drilled a double to score Smith.
The Penguins extended their lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the third after a bases-loaded walk to Moore plated Hartman.
After Dartmouth plated two runs in the top half of the fourth, Smith, who went 2-for-4 against Dartmouth, singled and scored on Pfaff's sacrifice fly to give the Penguins a two-run advantage, 6-4.
YSU added another run in the bottom of the fifth to give the Penguins a 7-4 lead.
Dartmouth scored twice more in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-6, but junior Steph Hartman buckled down and to preserve her fifth victory of the season.
Youngstown State faces Rider, Friday, March 22, at 4 p.m. at the George Mason Patriot Classic.

Baseball: Lipinski's Homer in 11th Lifts YSU Past WVSC, 5-3  Posted Friday, March 15, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Institute, W.Va. -- Sophomore Jim Lipinski belted a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning to lift the Youngstown State baseball team to its second straight victory beating West Virginia State 5-3.
The Penguins (2-4) led 3-2 into the bottom of the ninth before a solo home run with no outs by the Yellow Jackets (2-5) tied the game and forced extra innings. In the 10th, YSU third baseman Clint Ford made his first career pitching appearance relieving Mike Abdalla and pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn the win.
Lipinski homered twice on the afternoon include his go-ahead two-run shot in the 11th. In the 11th, Kyle Penrod led off with a single before Lipinski jacked his third home run of the year and second of the game. Tim Stacey also homered for Youngstown State.
YSU used six pitches in the contest. Chris Dennis started allowing one hit in four scoreless innings of work. Todd Tscherne threw 1.2 innings, Andrew Daly pitched an inning, Paul Yates pitched 1.2 innings and Abdalla pitched 1.2 innings.
The Penguins return to action on Saturday when they play a doubleheader at Morehead State.

Women's Golf: Penguins Beat Ball State in Dual by 22 Strokes  Posted Wednesday, March 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Bradenton, Fla. -- The Youngstown State women's golf team defeated Ball State in a dual meet on Tuesday afternoon in Bradenton, Fla., winning the dual by 22 strokes.
YSU finished with a 337 while Ball State had a total of 359. Leading the way for the Penguins was Nichole Hamstreet who had the top round with an 82. YSU senior Stephanie Matasek shot an 83, Jennifer Grossi carded an 84, while Lori Hatcher and Gina Abruzzino each had rounds of 88.

Baseball: Penguins Pick Up First Win Beating Marshall 10-7  Posted Wednesday, March 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Huntington, W.Va. -- The Youngstown State baseball team jumped out to an early lead and was able to hang on for a 10-7 victory over Marshall University today at University Heights. The loss ended the Thundering Herd's five-game win streak and dropped their record to 7-7 on the year. YSU improved to 1-4 with the victory.
Youngstown State grabbed an early 5-0 lead after their first two times at the plate. Jim Lipinski hit a two-run home run in the first inning, and Ty Furino added a three-run blast in the second to give the Penguins a lead they would not relinquish.
"Youngstown State came out and pitched extremely well," head coach Dave Piepenbrink said. "They were able to capitalize on our mistakes and they did not make very many of their own."
Marshall's Matt White went batted two for four with a run scored and a RBI, while Aaron Amburgey went one for three at the plate with three RBI's.
Marshall rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to two. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Ryan Kobb singled to score Craig Dziedziejko. Amburgey followed with a double to left field to score Marty Rini and Homer Renshaw.
After closing within 6-5 in the seventh on Adam Fairman's two-run home run to center, Marshall was unable to stop the Penguins in the eighth, allowing four runs and YSU stretched the lead to 10-5.
The Thundering Herd added two in the bottom of the eighth but were unable to score in the ninth, giving the Penguins a 10-7 victory.
Rick Suter (0-4) pitched four innings, allowing five hits and five runs, in the loss. Jonathan Smart picked up the win for the Penguins.
Youngstown State returns to action on Thursday with a game at West Virginia State.

Softball: YSU Blanks Austin Peay, Loses to Colorado State  Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Orlando, Fla. -- The Youngstown State softball team split two games for the second consecutive day at the Rebel Games in Orlando beating Austin Peay 2-0 and suffering an 8-2 loss to Colorado State on Tuesday.
Against the Governors, the Penguins (2-4) scored runs on an Amanda Berry sacrifice fly and an RBI-single by Lacey Reichert in the third and fourth innings. YSU pitchers allowed just three hits in the contest. In the game against the Rams, Colorado State jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning and scored all eight runs in the first three frames. For the Penguins, Reichert's single scored Erin Moore and Jen Hartman scored on a base hit.

Softball: Penguins Gain Split On Day One of Rebel Games   Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Orlando, Fla. – Youngstown State junior Steph Hartman (1-2) tossed a complete-game two-hitter with three strikeouts to lead the Penguins (1-3) to their first victory of the season with a 2-1 win over Wagner at the Rebel Games. The Penguins also dropped a 5-3 decision to Yale earlier in the day.
Freshman Char Kudlock paced the Penguin offensive attack against Wagner with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double, and scored both YSU runs.
Against Yale, sophomore Amanda Berry went 2-of-4 with a double while classmate Jenn Hartman laced two singles and scored a run.
The Penguins led the Bulldogs, 3-2, after five innings but allowed a run in the sixth and two runs in the top of the seventh.
Youngstown State also stranded 10 runners on base.
YSU faces Austin Peay, Tuesday, at 10:40 a.m. and Colorado State at 2:20 p.m.

Baseball: Penguins Swept by College of Charleston,   Posted Sunday, March 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Charleston, S.C. -- A 15-hit attack wasn't enough for the Youngstown State baseball team on Sunday as the Penguins lost 19-6 at Patriot Points Park to the College of Charleston to conclude a three-game series sweep by the Cougars.
The Cougars knocked Penguin freshman starter Todd Tscherne out of the game before he could finish his first inning scoring six runs. The first six batters to face Tscherne all scored and four of the first six batters each recorded a base hit. In the third, the Cougars added more runs to go ahead 14-0. Jack Arroyo had a two-run triple and Jay McCown had a two-run double to highlight the eight-run third. After falling behind the Penguins outscored the Cougars 6-5 in the final six innings.
YSU (0-3) scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Clint Ford led off with a double and scored on a base hit by Tim Stacey. In the fifth, Jim Lipinksi singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to left field by Ford.
The College of Charleston (13-3) tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth off YSU reliever Mike Hosterman.
In the sixth, YSU scored twice on RBI fielder's choices by Kendall Schlabach and Ty Furino. Stacey, Mark Nightingale and Kyle Smith opened the inning with singles before Stacey and Nightingale each scored on the groundouts. In the bottom of the inning, the Cougars scored another run on an RBI-single by Mickey Torello.
Youngstown State added two runs in the eighth on an RBI single by Smith and Schlabach knocked in a run when he reached on an error.
The Cougars' Mike Rhue earned the victory pitching five innings and scattering eight hits. Rhue struck out six while walking just one batter.
Tscherne (0-1) lasted just two-thirds of an inning suffering the defeat. Also pitching for the Penguins were Andrew Daly (two innings), Hosterman (1.2 innings), Chris Dennis (1.2 innings) and Paul Yates (two innings).
Stacey and Lipinski had three hits each to lead YSU's 15-hit attack.
The Penguins begin a two-game series at Marshall on Monday at 3 p.m. YSU and the Thundering Herd also play on Tuesday.

Hennessey had non-cancerous tumor   Posted Friday, March 8, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Brad Hennessey, the Giants' first-round pick in last June's draft, is expected to be out until at least late May after a scare involving a tumor in his back.

Only after months of failed treatments and inconclusive tests did the Giants learn that Hennessey's back pain was caused by a quarter-sized tumor near his neck. The tumor proved to be non-cancerous.

Giants trainer Stan Conte said he wasn't sure how much time Hennessey, a righthander picked 21st overall last year out of Youngstown State, would be out until he heard from the surgeons who removed the tumor on Feb. 27. Conte said Hennessey would need only six-to-eight weeks to recover before beginning another six-to-eight weeks of rehab.

"This freaked us out," Conte said, "because we get used to torn rotator cuffs and torn cartilage and stuff that we think is serious, but we had never seen this before. We basically watched him day and night when he was here. Twenty-four hours a day we were worried about it."

Hennessey, 22, was the Mid-Continent co-pitcher of the year last season, going 6-5, 4.06 with 126 strikeouts in 89 innings. He signed for a $1,382,500 bonus and went 1-0, 2.38 in 34 innings for short-season Salem-Keizer. He ranks as the organization's No. 18 prospect.

Baseball: YSU-West Liberty State Postponed Until Thursday  Posted Wednesday, March 6, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball team's season-opener set for today against West Liberty State at Cafaro Field has been postponed because of wet grounds. The game has been rescheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m.

Indoor Track & Field: Michaelis, Smith record career-best times  Posted Sunday, March 3, 2002 by  ysupenguins
South Bend, Ind. - In the last meet of the season, YSU indoor track and field sophomore Kurt Michaelis and freshman Nick Smith both recorded career-best times at the Notre Dame Alex Wilson Invitational, Saturday.
Michaelis, trying to improve his NCAA Indoor Track and Field nationally qualifying time of 4:04.55 in the mile, ran a time of 4:03.95 to place third out of 33 runners. Michaelis' time in the mile currently ranks among the top 28 times in the nation. Monday, Michaelis will submit his declaration to the NCAA and will wait to see if he will advance to the Indoor Track and Field Championships, to be held March 8 and 9 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Smith ran a 15th-place time of 8:30.8 in the 3,000-meter, improving his personal best time by 28 seconds and nearly missing the YSU school record time, which is currently held at 8:28.75.
Freshman Emily Schnitkey also competed at the Alex Wilson Invitational and ran a time of 5:07.31.

Swimming & Diving: YSU Posts Solid Performances at League Meet  Posted Sunday, March 3, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Chicago, Ill. -- On day three of competition at the Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships at the UIC Natatorium, senior diver Brandi Goettsch was the top qualifier for Saturday's one-meter diving competition to highlight the day for the Penguins. Goettsch won the three-meter competition on Thursday.
After three days of competition, the Wright State Raiders held onto their lead in women's action, racking up 526.5 points to this point. UW-Green Bay held it's own, remaining in second place (478), while UW-Milwaukee (421.5) moved into third-place past Illinois-Chicago (308). Butler is sixth with 181 points.
The YSU 200-yard medley relay team placed seventh with a time of 1:59.55 and in the 800-yard freestyle relay, the Penguins also placed seventh with a time of 8:23.10. YSU's Erin Carter finished 14th in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.50) and was 14th in the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.99).
The Horizon League Championships conclude Saturday with the trials at 10:30 a.m. and the finals at 6 p.m.

Loyola Rolls Past Lady Pens, 76-60  Posted Thursday, February 28, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Loyola defended its home court to advance in the Horizon League Women's Basketball Tournament, knocking off Youngstown State, 76-60.

The Ramblers utilized runs of 10-0 and 9-0 to pull away from the Penguins in the second half. Guard Ciara Henderson engineered the onslaught, scoring 12 of her 18 points in the second half. Fellow backcourt mate Meskhenet Lands also finished with 18, including 6-of-7 from the field.

Youngstown State guard Maggie Johnston tied for top scoring honors with 18, 13 of which came in the second half.

Although Loyola burst out of the gates early, taking a 7-0 lead, Youngstown State bounced back with a 10-0 run of their own to capture its first lead of the game. Both teams traded baskets from that point on with the Penguins taking a 31-29 lead at the half.

Loyola completes Friday?s Semifinal bracket and will play No. 1 UW-Green Bay at 7:30 p.m. (CST). The Phoenix advanced to its eighth Tournament Semifinal in as many appearances after defeating Butler, 65-43.

No. 3 Detroit and No. 7 Illinois-Chicago will go head-to-head in the first Semifinal at 5:00 p.m. Detroit advanced following an 87-73 victory over No. 6 Cleveland State. UIC opened the Quarterfinal round with a 75-67 upset of No. 2 UW-Milwaukee.

2002 HORIZON LEAGUE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT


Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2002

No. 9 Butler 74, No. 8 Wright State 61


Thursday, February 28, 2002

No. 7 Illinois-Chicago 75, No. 2 UW-Milwaukee 67

No. 3 Detroit 87, No. 6 Cleveland State 73

No. 1 UW-Green Bay 65, No. 9 Butler 43

No. 4 Loyola 76, No. 5 Youngstown State 60


Friday, Mar. 1, 2002

No. 7 Illinois-Chicago vs. No. 3 Detroit, 5:00 p.m.

No. 1 UW-Green Bay vs. No. 4 Loyola, 7:30 p.m.


Sunday, Mar. 3, 2002

Championship, 2:00 p.m.

Michaelis Named Outstanding HorizonTrack Performer of the Year  Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Greencastle, Ind. - Youngstown State University indoor track and field sophomore Kurt Michaelis was named Horizon League Outstanding Indoor Track Performer of the Year to become the first YSU athlete to receive this award.
Michaelis, who has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the mile with a school-record time of 4:04.55, received the award Sunday at the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships. At the meet, Michaelis earned double wins to help lead the Penguins to a fourth place finish in the conference. He placed first in the 800-meter with a time of 1:53.63 and in the mile with a time of 4:08.70.
Earlier this season, Michaelis was named Horizon League Athlete of the Week for running a league-best time of 1:51.93 in the 800-meter run at the Kent State Tune-up.

Penguin Track Does Well. Ladies Fall From 1st in last 2 Events.  Posted Monday, February 25, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Greencastle, Ind. – The Youngstown State University women’s indoor track and field team finished second at the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday, while the men’s team placed fourth.
For the women it was a back-and-forth battle between Horizon League Indoor Track and Field champions Detroit, who pulled out the win during the last few events of the day. With only a five-point difference, the Titans won the title with a score of 122 while the Penguins placed second with 117 points and UW-Milwaukee finished third with 106.
In the men’s competition, Butler was the victor with 131 points while UW-Milwaukee placed second, 116, and Detroit finished third, 96. YSU rounded was fourth earning 86 points.
Receiving conference accolades was Jeanna Cunningham who earned Horizon League Female Newcomer-of-the-Year honors for her performances in the sprint events. In the 200-meter dash, Cunningham placed second with a time of 26.19 and anchored the winning 4x400-meter relay team to finish with a time of 3:58.18. She also finished third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.05.
The women won four events and picked up a majority of their points with consistent performances across the board. Kelly Leonard dominated the 60-meter hurdles with a first-place time of 9.01 while Laura Schatz jumped a winning mark in the high jump to earn top honors. In the field, Delores Gaines finished first in the weight throw and also placed third in the shot put event.
In the 400-meter dash, Janae Stephens placed second with a time of 58.67 while Alamo Lissette earned a second-place for her performance in the long jump event. Lissette also placed third in the triple jump.
Jen Moore ran a time of 2:59.44 to place fourth in the 1,000-meter run and also placed fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:16.90. Emily Schnitkey scored in two events for her sixth-place time of 5:10.06 in the mile and her fifth-place time of 10:22.26 in the 3,000-meter run.
On the men’s team, sprinter Eugene Harris earned double wins for the Penguins with times of 6.99 seconds in the 60-meter dash and 22.53 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Also in the 60-meter dash, Jerald Burley and Edwin Jackson rounded out third and second place with respective times of 7.04 and 7.09. Burley finished third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.25 and fourth in the long jump.
Kurt Michaelis was another athlete who earned a double win, placing first in the 800-meter run, 1:53.63, and the mile, 4:08.70. Tim Tatarka finished fourth in the 1,000-meter run, 2:29.87, and Michaelis finished fifth, 2:30.53.
Anwaa Martin recorded a third-place high jump mark and Adam Lewis placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.96.

Lady Pens Roll to 87-66 Win Over Wright St/  Posted Sunday, February 24, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State Penguins hit 16 of their frst 19 shots, including six of seven from three-point range, and shot 58 percent overall for the game in rolling to a 87-66 decision over Wright State in Horizon League women's basketball action at the Nutter Center Sunday afternoon.


YSU, with their hot start, jumped out to a 40-13 lead at the 9:10 mark of the first half and held a 51-30 halftime advantage as they ended the first 20 minutes at 61 percent. The Penguins then led by as many as 61-32 with 17:15 remaining before the Raiders chipped into the lead. WSU, however, could get no closer than 17 at 81-64 in the final minutes.


Freshman forward Angie Ott led all scorers as she had a career-high 24 points for Wright State (6-21, 4-12 Horizon), 16 of those coming in the second half, while freshman guard Tiffany Webb added 16. WSU shot 45 percent overall for the contest and hit 18 of 26 from the foul line.


Youngstown State (12-15, 8-8 Horizon) was paced by sophomore forward Heather Harris with 20, while freshman forward Jen Perugini added 17 and junior guard Maggie Johnston had 16.


Both teams now turn their attention to the Horizon League Tournament at Loyola's Joseph J. Gentile Center. Wright State, the #8 seed, will take on #9 seed Butler on Wednesday, February 27 at 8:00 Eastern time while Youngstown State, the #5 seed, will face #4 seed Loyola on Thursday, February 28 at 8:30 Eastern time.

Penguins Win on Senior Night, 78-71 Over IPFW  Posted Sunday, February 24, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team sent three seniors out victorious in their final home game on Saturday night as the Penguins defeated IPFW 78-71 at the Beeghly Center.
The game was the final home contest for seniors Rafael Cruz, Stephen Flores and Ryan Patton. In their last game at the Beeghly Center, the trio scored 28 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, had six assists and blocked four shots. On the night, YSU (5-22) blocked a season-high 10 shots against the Mastodons (7-20) on the way to winning two straight games for the first time this season.
TeJay Anderson blocked a career-high four shots and scored a season-best 19 points in the victory. Freshman Jimmy Moore had 13 points and a career-best four assists while Cruz scored 12, including making 8-of-11 attempts from the free-throw line.
Youngstown State led 65-52 with 5:57 remaining before the Mastodons made one final run. A layup by Jim Kessenich cut the defecit to 67-61 with 3:23 left.
Trailing 73-65, IPFW pulled within three at 74-71 on a layup by Deangelo Woodall with 22 seconds remaining. After the basket, Cruz made two foul shots to build the lead back up to five. After Nick Wise missed a 3-pointer, Anderson grabbed the rebound and quickly dished to Patton who was fouled. Patton made both free throws to seal the win.
In the first half, IPFW jumped out to an 11-point lead at 19-8, but YSU battled back eventually taking a five-point edge at 32-27. At halftime the Penguins led 34-33 after Doug Underwood made two free throws with one second left.
The Mastodons were led by freshman Terry Collins who scored a game-high 20 points. Also in double figures for IPFW were Kessenich with 14 and Wise with 10. Brad Noll grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
For the game, YSU shot 49.1 percent (26-of-53) while the Mastodons were 26-of-61 from the field (42.6 percent). IPFW made six 3-pointers, three by Collins and YSU made three. The Penguins had the advantage at the free-throw line making 23-of-34 attempts while the Mastodons were 13-of-24. Youngstown State outrebounded IPFW 40-38. Flores, Underwood and Anderson each finished with seven rebounds
The Penguins begin postseason play when they play UW-Green Bay on Friday night at 7 in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. IPFW concludes its season on Tuesday playing at UMKC.

Indoor Track & Field: YSU Competes at Horizon League Championships  Posted Friday, February 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State men's and women's track and field teams compete at their first Horizon League Championships on Saturday and Sunday in Greencastle, Ind., at DePauw University.
The event, hosted by Butler, begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at noon on Sunday. Five teams will compete for the championship on the men's side while seven participate on the women's side.
The YSU women have had a strong season and are considered one of the favorites.
Led by Delores Gaines and Jenna Cunningham the Penguins have 12 athletes who have had a top-five performance in the league this year.
Gaines has had a solid season and will compete for points in the shot put and the weight throw. Gaines, who was named the league's female athlete of the week following her performance at the Kent State meet, ranks second in the shot put and second in the weight throw.
Cunningham has the possibility to score points for the Penguins in three events. Cunningham owns the league's best time in the 200-meter dash, the 400-meter dash and the second-best time in the 60-meter dash.
Also adding point-scoring chances for the contingent are Laura Schatz, who is second in the high jump just behind Loyola's Laura Motyka; Jen Moore who has the third best time in the 800 meters and the 1,000 meters; Emily Schnitkey who has the fourth-best mark in the women's mile; Kelly Leonard is third in the 60-meter hurdles; and Lissette Alamo is fifth in the long jump.
As a team, YSU has the fourth-best 4x400-meter relay time and the third best distance medley relay mark, trailing Loyola and Butler.
On the men's side, sprinter Eugene Harris and distance runner Kurt Michaelis will lead the team.
Harris has the league's top time in the 60-meter dash (6.92 seconds) and the top mark in the 200 meters (22.13 seconds). Michaelis, who was named the league's athlete of the week on Thursday, has the top times in the 800 meters and the mile and is ranked second in the 1,000-meter run.
In the 60 meters, YSU has four of the top times in the mark, including runs by YSU football player Jerald Burley (7.17 seconds) and former Penguin football standout Bruce Hightower (7.23).
Also posting top five marks are Anwaa Martin in the high jump (fourth), Edwin Jackson in the 60-meter dash (fifth), Adam Lewis in the 60-meter hurdles (fourth), Tim Tatarka in the 800-meter run (second) and Nick Smith in the 800-meter run (fifth).
YSU has the fourth-best 4x400 relay time and the third-best distance medley relay mark.

Patton Gets 1,000th Point in 69-55 Win  Posted Friday, February 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- YSU Men's Basketball senior Ryan Patton scored his 1,000th career point as the Penguins snapped a 13-game losing streak beating UW-Green Bay 69-55 at the Beeghly Center on Thursday night.
Patton, who entered the game 12 points shy of 1,000, scored a team-high 17 points becoming the 28th player in YSU history to score more than 1,000 points a their career. With the win, YSU improves to 4-22 overall and 2-14 in the Horizon League, while in defeat, UW-Green Bay is now 6-19 and 3-11. The teams will be the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in the league tournament which begins Friday in Cleveland and play each other on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at the CSU Convocation Center.
Youngstown State did not trail in the game on the way to beating the Phoenix for the first time in seven tries in school history.
In the first half, YSU built a 26-14 lead with 5:51 remaining and held a 36-26 halftime advantage behind 10 points by Patton.
Patton's 3-pointer on the first bucket just 37 seconds into the second half gave him more than 1,000 points in his career and put the Penguins ahead by 13. The closest the Phoenix could get in the second half was 10 at 47-37 with 14:08 remaining.
For the Phoenix, Greg Babcock scored a game-high 23 points and DeVante Blanks scored 12 points. YSU had four players in double figures led by Patton's 17. TeJay Anderson scored 12, while Doug Underwood had 10 and Jimmy Moore added 10 and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. All nine Penguins scored in the contest.
For the game, YSU shot 49 percent (24-of-49) while UW-Green Bay was held to 38.1 percent (16-of-42) from the field. The Penguins made just three 3-pointers, but held the Phoenix to just two. Both teams shot well from the free-throw line. UW-Green Bay shot 87.5 percent (21-of-24) while YSU was 18-of-23 for 78.3 percent. The Guins outrebounded the Phoenix 31-22.
YSU plays its final regular season on Saturday when it plays host to IPFW. The game tips off at 7:35 p.m. and is the final home game for seniors Patton, Stephen Flores and Rafael Cruz. UWGB plays at Cleveland State on Saturday and concludes its regular season on Monday against UW-Milwaukee.

Lady Pen's Horner Named First-Team Verizon Academic All-District  Posted Thursday, February 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – Youngstown State senior Jenny Horner was named First-Team Verizon Academic All-District IV in a vote by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Horner, who owns a 3.91 grade point average in social work, is the first-ever YSU women’s basketball player to earn first-team All-District honors and the first player to earn All-District recognition since Lisa Rotunno was named to the second-team in 1999.
A 6-foot-2 center, Horner is averaging 10.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the floor.
On February 11, Horner, who ranks fifth in the league in rebounding, was named the Horizon League Player of the Week after averaging 20.5 points and eight rebounds per game. Horner posted a career-high 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the floor against Cleveland State to garner the award.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve and carry a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average.

YSU Softball Has New Home At McCune Park   Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – The Youngstown State University softball program will have a new venue to call home beginning with the 2002 season.
McCune Park, located on Shields Road in Canfield, Ohio, will be the new site of Penguin home softball games. YSU used to play its home games at Harrison Field on the east side of Youngstown, Ohio.
“McCune Park is a great facility,” said YSU Head Coach Christy Cameron. “With the many youth leagues in that area, we are hoping for a good following. We also hope playing at McCune Park can have a positive effect on both the community and our program.”
One feature that pleased Cameron was the lights at the fields.
“The advantage of playing at a facility with lights is being able to finish games, which may have been called due to darkness otherwise.”
The Penguins open the 2002 season against Stetson, March 10, at 1 p.m.
Youngstown State’s first home game at McCune Park is a doubleheader slated against Canisius on March 29 at 2 p.m.

Track & Field: Kent State Tune-Up Brings Out YSU’s ‘Personal Bests’  Posted Monday, February 18, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Kent, OH – The Youngstown State University men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams competed at the Kent State Tune-up, Saturday, where many athletes recorded both personal and career-best marks.
According to Head Coach Brian Gorby, nearly 70 percent of his athletes put forth their career-best performances at Kent’s indoor track facility.
Leading the way was Delores Gaines, who recorded two career-best throws in the field events. Her throw of 52’01 in the weight throw was good enough for third place while her throw of 43’03 in the shot place was good enough to place second.
Also for the women, Jeanna Cunningham ran a third-place time of 25.55 in the 200-meter dash and a second-place time of 58.00 in the 400-meter dash.
In the 800-meter run, Jen Moore placed third, 2:16.43, Emily Schnitkey finished fourth, 2:16.84, Lindsay Frontz came in sixth, 2:17.97, and Rachael Albert rounded out in seventh place, 2:20.13. In the mile run, Lindsay Wojciak recorded a seventh-place time of 5:18.24 while Katrina Drake finished 16th in 5:33.52. Kelly Leonard dominated the 55-meter hurdles with a winning time of 8.42.
In the women’s jumps, Laura Schatz leaped 5’03 ¼ to place fourth in the high jump. Lissette Alamo marked a measure of 17’10 ¼ to win the long jump event and also placed sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 33’10 ¾.
On the men’s side, Eugene Harris ran a time of 6.49 in the 55-meter dash to place third while Edwin Jackson and Gerald Burley tied for 14th place with times of 6.71. In the 200-meter run, Harris finished 10th, 22.66, Jackson finished 22nd, 23.28, and Burley placed 23rd, 23.30.
Kurt Michaelis placed second in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:51.93 while Tim Tatarka placed fourth, 1:52.87, and Nick Smith placed seventh, 1:55.14. In the mile, Paul Robinette ran a time of 4:20.49 to finish eighth and Tony Orcena ran a time of 4:22.24 to finish ninth.
The YSU men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams will compete Saturday and Sunday at the Horizon League Championships in Greencastle, Ind.

Women's Basketball: Horner Named Horizon League Player of the Week   Posted Monday, February 11, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State senior Jenny Horner has been named the Horizon League women's basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Sunday.
Horner led YSU to a 2-0 mark last week and propelled the Penguins into a tie for third place in the league standings. She averaged 20.5 points per game while shooting a blistering 64 percent from the field. She also average eight rebounds per game last week.
Against Cleveland State, Horner posted a career-high 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the floor and 5-of-5 from the line. She also hauled down eight boards. It marked the first time a YSU player scored 30 points in a game since Brianne Kenneally scored 31 against Akron last season.
In the 62-52 win over Butler, Horner connected on 4-of-6 from the floor for 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots.

Indoor Track and Field: Michaelis Qualifies for NCAAs  Posted Sunday, February 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. - Youngstown State University indoor track and field sophomore Kurt Michaelis has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in the mile event.
Michaelis recorded a provisionally qualifying and YSU record-breaking time of 4:04.55 at the Cannon IV meet, Saturday. His time was good enough to place fourth overall in the mile event.
According to indoor track and field Head Coach Brian Gorby, Michaelis' time puts him among the nation's top five runners in the mile.
This season, Michaelis has been setting and re-setting the school record in the mile. At the Kent State Central Collegiate meet, Michaelis knocked down the original record time to stand at 4:10.99.
Also this season, Michaelis set the record in the 1,000-meter run at the State Farm Games with a time of 2:30.32.

Lady Pens move into a tie for third place in Horizon  Posted Sunday, February 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team moved into a tie for third place in the Horizon League after posting a 62-52 victory against Butler University on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Penguins (11-12) put together back-to-back league victories for only the second time this season and are now only one win away from reaching the .500 percent mark.

More importantly, the Penguins are 7-5 in the Horizon League. Thanks to some help from Cleveland State, which upended Detroit Mercy 78-63 Saturday, YSU and Detroit are now deadlocked for third place.

At Detroit Monday: The Penguins and Detroit square off Monday night in a battle for third place in Detroit at 4:30 p.m.

Butler, which is having a nightmarish campaign, lost for the 13th straight time in league play and is 1-23 on the season.

Sophomore Heather Harris and freshman Jen Perugini led the way for the Penguins. Harris shot 6-of-10 from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, to lead all scorers with 18 points, while Perugini recorded her ninth double-double of the year with 16 points and 17 rebounds. She also had three blocked shots and three assists in 39 minutes.

Senior Jen Horner was the third Penguin in double figures with 11 points, and she also added eight rebounds.

Sophomore Cathy Hanek, who has earned the role of defensive standout for the Penguins, did it again Saturday by holding the Bulldogs' top scorer, Nancy Bowden, to just two points on 0-for-7 shooting from the field.

"We played great defensively today," said YSU coach Ed DiGregorio. "But we weren't patient on offense. We need to take care of the ball better and take quality shots."



Lots of turnovers: The Penguins committed 23 turnovers, while Butler made 19. Still, DiGregorio was pleased.

"Jen Perugini really got back on track today, and Cathy Hanek played another great defensive game, holding their top scorer, Nancy Bowden, to just two points," he said.

The Penguins shot 42.6 percent from the field, hitting on 23-of-54 shots, and were 7-of-22 from 3-point range.

YSU outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-33. Perugini had seven offensive rebounds to go with 10 defensive as she had her second highest rebounding total of the season.

The Penguins trailed early in the contest as Butler jumped out to a 7-2 advantage. The Bulldogs last led with 13 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the half, 12-10, but Hanek hit a jump shot to tie the score and then Horner made a free throw to give YSU a 13-12 lead it would never relinquish.

Freshman Jessica Olmstead hit a 3-point goal with 7:38 remaining as YSU increased its lead to 21-16. The Penguins led 34-22 at halftime.

The Penguins quickly spurted out to a 43-26 lead over the first five minutes of the second half and led 49-33 with 11:37 remaining.

Bulldogs rally: Butler then made a brief comeback, scoring the next eight points and closing the gap to 49-41 with 8:44 left.

Perugini stopped the bleeding for the Penguins with a basket and they quickly pulled back to a 10-point lead. Butler got to within seven points, 57-50, with 2:11 left in the contest, but the Penguins allowed it only one more bucket the rest of the way.

Following the Detroit contest on Monday, the Penguins return home on Thursday to take part in a Valentine's Day doubleheader at Beeghly Center. The women will meet UW-Green Bay in the opener at 5:15 p.m. and the men will play Cleveland State in the second game at 7:35.

Football: Penguins Ink 20 on Signing Day   Posted Wednesday, February 6, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The Class Breakdown
By Year
Freshmen: 16; Junior College Transfers: 3 (Matt Crivello, Will Sanders, Scott Thiessen) Division I Transfer: Tim Frost (West Virginia)
By State
Ohio (10) Joe Bishop (Canton), Brandon Brown (Youngstown), Josh Cayson (Warren), Erik Claxon (Brunswick), Tim Frost (Youngstown), Marty Hutchinson (Newton Falls), Max King (West Farmington), Jamel Lee (Cleveland Heights), Luke Patrino (Dover), Patrick Walker (Bedford); Florida (4) Mike Andrews (Oldsmar), Tyler Morton (Palm Harbor), T.J. Peterson (Fort Lauderdale), Justin Reams (Miami); California (2) Matt Crivello (San Luis Obispo), Scott Thiessen (Modesto); New Jersey (1) Cody Clark; Pennsylvania (1) Demetrius Ison; Alabama (1) Will Sanders; New York (1) Kyle Smith

2002 Signees

Mike Andrews
Strong Safety/Linebacker • 6-2 • 185
Oldsmar, Fla. (East Lake High School)
High School: Andrews recorded 12 sacks and was the team leader in tackles for loss with 15 as a senior...was named first-team all-county and was the defensive MVP of an All Star game his senior year...was the team leader in total tackles...coach was Tommy Keeler...also played basketball and was a member of the track and field team...he made the honor roll every year. Personal: Parents are Michael and Jeanene Andrews...has three younger sisters (Ayanna, Aliyah, Athena)...academic interest is criminal justice.

Joe Bishop
Punter/Placekicker • 5-10 • 180
Louisville, Ohio (St. Thomas Aquinas H.S.)
High School: Bishop averaged 42.8 yards per punt and kicked the longest field goal in school history making a 54-yarder...he was 23-of-24 on extra-point kicks...kicked seven field goals, four of which were 47 yards or more...was a first-team All-Ohio District IV placekicker and an all-county punter and kicker...was squad’s special team’s player of the year as a junior and senior...80 percent of his kickoffs were touchbacks or reached the end zone...kicked a 63-yard field goal in practice...his coach was Joe Nohra...also played baseball. Personal: Parents are Ron and Sue Bishop...born Jan. 4, 1984...has a younger sister (Valerie).

Brandon Brown
Defensive End/Fullback • 6-1 • 240
Youngstown, Ohio (Ursuline High School)
High School: Brown was an All-Northeast Ohio selection and an All-Steel Valley Conference pick as a senior at Ursuline...during his final two years he tallied 29 sacks...was a second-team All-Steel Valley selection as a junior...that season was part of the 14-1 Fighting Irish squad that won the Division IV state title...head coach was Jim Vivo. Personal: Parents are Kevin Logan and Traphena Brown...born May 16, 1984...has two brothers (Tremaine and Justin) and a sister (Ralaina)...academic interest is criminal justice.

Josh Cayson
Running back • 5-10 • 170
Warren, Ohio (Warren JFK High School)
High School: Cayson rushed for 1,784 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior season at Warren JFK...he also caught 17 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown...his 30 touchdowns set a single-season school record...also set school single-season yardage mark...he was a first-team All-Ohio selection, first-team all-district and all-county while being nominated for the Trumbull County Player-of-the-Year award...team’s offensive player of the year...his high school coach was Tony Napolet...he transferred to JFK for his senior year after attending Warren Harding...he had a kickoff return average of 19.6 per return...the Eagles finished with a 10-2 mark last fall...four-year letterwinner in track. Personal: Parents are Robert and Karen Cayson...born June 11, 1983...has an older brother (Robert) and two sisters (Sonia and Tina).

Cody Clark
Wide Receiver • 5-10 • 168
Easthampton, N.J. (Holy Cross High School)
High School: Clark was a first-team all-conference selection and a second-team all-county pick as a senior...his team finished 9-2 his senior year...he caught 28 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns last fall...his team finished 10-2 his junior campaign...he had 36 catches for 620 yards receiving and scored six touchdowns...as a sophomore his team was the Liberty Division Champions posting an 8-3 mark...he had 16 receptions for 236 yards and three touchdowns...finished with 13 touchdown receptions, 80 receptions and 1,365 yards in his high school career...high school coach was Tom Maderia...also played baseball and participated in track and field...he was the starting centerfielder for his high school team as a sophomore and junior and in 1999 he participated in the Baseball AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla. and was named MVP...competed in the long jump during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. Personal: Parents are Bobby and Maria Clark...born March 21, 1984...has a younger brother, Kyle...academic interest is mathematics.

Erik Claxon
Offensive Tackle • 6-7 • 325
Brusnwick, Ohio (St. Edward High School)
High School: Claxon was an honorable-mention all-state performer as a senior at St. Edward...he was an all-county pick, selected all-district and was nominated to play in the North-South All-Star Game...he did not allow a sack during the 2001 season...team finished the season 11-1 and tied the 1975 team for the best winning percentage in St. Edward history...team broke a total of 12 offensive school records...lost to Warren Harding in playoffs....high school coach was John Gibbons. Personal: Parents are Jeff and Karen Claxon...has two younger sisters (Megan and Nicole)...born Oct. 26, 1983...wears a size 17 shoe.

Matt Crivello
Quarterback • 6-2 • 195
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
(Cabrillo Junior College/San Luis Obispo H.S.)
Cabrillo JC: Crivello played nine games as a sophomore completing 107-of-201 passes for 1,160 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions at Cabrillo in Aptos, Calif...as a freshman played in 10 games, starting five...he completed 96-of-179 passes for 1,115 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions...played in 19 games in his two-year career...in his career, he completed 203-of-380 passes for 2,275 yards and 15 touchdowns...juco coach was Steve Cox. High School: At San Luis Obispo High School, was a starter as a junior and a senior...as a senior he led the team to a 12-3 mark and an appearance in the Division Championship Game...he was named first-team all-league, all-county, offensive and team MVP...set school marks for passing yards, passing completions, completion percentage and tied the record for touchdown passes...as a junior team went 11-3...high school coach was Vic Echlund...also played basketball and baseball. Personal: Parents are John and Kathy Crivello...born August 8, 1981...has a brother, Jonathan. He is currently enrolled at YSU.

Tim Frost
Defensive Lineman • 6-4 • 265
Youngstown, Ohio
(West Virginia/Ursuline High School)
West Virginia: Played tight end for West Virginia...played five games for the Mountaineers during the 2001 season...caught one pass for six yards...his catch came in WVU’s victory over Kent State...during the 2000 season, played in 12 games and had two receptions for 15 yards...both receptions came against Temple, a 14-yard grab and a one-yard touchdown catch...was a member of the Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll...played for Coaches Rich Rodriquez (2001) and Don Nehlan (2000)...did not participate in football at West Virginia in 1999. High School: At Ursuline High School was a talented two-way prep who gained most of his attention as a defensive end...as a senior had 12 sacks and 75 tackles...he also caught 25 passes for 312 yards and six touchdowns as a tight end...earned all-city, All-Northeast Ohio and all-state first-team recognition...selected to play in the Big 33 and Ohio North-South All-Star games...PrepStar all-regional team...played basketball and competed in track as well. Personal: Parents are Gary and Lynnette Frost...one of five children...born Oct. 28, 1980...majoring in communications. He is currently enrolled at YSU.

Marty Hutchinson
Linebacker • 6-5 • 195
Newton Falls, Ohio (Newton Falls High School)
High School: Hutchinson played tailback and free safety at Newton Falls, but will be a linebacker at YSU...as a senior, he was first-team All-Trumbull Athletic Conference, all-county, all-district and All-Division IV second-team all-state...Newton Falls was 6-4 his senior year...he was a team captain as a senior...rushed for 1,045 yards...on defense had 73 tackles and seven pass breakups...a three-year letterwinner and starter, and was a two-way starter his final two seasons...had 1,151 yards rushing as a junior...high school coach was Marc Bjelac...also played basketball and was a member of the 4x100-relay team that set a school record. Personal: Parents are Lee and Barbara Hutchinson...born August 5, 1983...has two older brothers (Joshua and Andrew) and an older sister (Lauren)...academic interest is geography.

Demetrius "Deke" Ison
Tailback • 6-0 • 205
Jackson Center, Pa. (Lakeview High School)
High School: Ison had a record-setting career and senior season at Lakeview High School...in his career, he rushed for 4,004 yards and scored 45 touchdowns...he set a school and French Creek Valley Conference record for rushing yards in a season and career rushing...as a senior he ran for 2,273 yards on 367 carries and had 27 touchdowns...he had a 31-carry 349-yard performance and a 48-attempt 328-yard outing his senior year...he was a second-team all-state and first-team all-conference pick...he was named the Class A all-state running back by the Pennsylvania Football News and was the Sharon Herald Player of the Year...as a junior, he ran for 1,205 yards on 197 carries and scored 14 touchdowns in just eight games...he ran for 306 yards against Mercer on 26 carries and ran for more than 100 in five games...was a fullback his first two seasons for the Sailors...named team captain as a junior and senior...played linebacker his first three years earning All-FCVC accolades as a junior...he scored two touchdowns as a freshman and as a sophomore...he has been clocked in the 40-yard dash between 4.43 and 4.48 seconds...high school coach his final two years was Dan York...he also wrestles and runs track. Personal: Deke was raised in the home of Mary Holland, who has helped raise more than 90 children in her lifetime...Deke has an older brother, Craig...born Oct. 9, 1983.

Max King
Tight End • 6-2 • 223
West Farmington, Ohio (Champion High School)
High School: King had 43 receptions for 560 yards and four touchdowns as a senior to earn first-team All-TAC 8 honors as a receiver...made 92 tackles, had 18.5 sacks and forced five fumbles and was named first-team All-Trumbull County, first-team All-Northeast Ohio and first-team All-Ohio as a linebacker...his junior year, he caught 17 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns...he was named first-team All-Trumbull county, first-team All TAC-8 and honorable mention as a tight end...coach was Greg Lazzari...was also a two-year letterwinner in baseball. Personal: Parents are Walter and Janice King...has an older brother (Jerry) and a younger sister (Courtney)...born Dec. 10, 1983...academic interest is computer science.

Jamel Lee
Defensive Line/Offensive Line • 6-3 • 301
Cleveland Heights, Ohio (St. Peter Chanel H.S.)
High School: Lee earned all-state Honorable-Mention honors as a senior...was named as one of the Spring Ohio Future Stars Top 100 football players...St. Peter Chanel won the Division V State Championship with a 15-0 record...it was the school’s first state title...team defeated Marion Pleasant 44-27 in the finals...coach was Bill Powers...also played basketball and participated in track and field. Personal: Parents are Edward and Barbara Lee...born Oct. 21, 1983...has an older sister (Shavonn)...academic interest is communications.

Tyler Morton
Defensive Back • 5-11 • 190
Palm Harbor, Fla. (East Lake High School)
High School: Morton was a first-team All-Pinellas County and first-team All-PCAC selection as a defensive back...he was also a North Pinellas County All-Star and an All-Suncoast pick...recorded 67 solo tackles and had three interceptions...also played offense and had a yards per catch average of 23...head coach was Tommy Keeler...as a sophomore was a first-team all-county pick on offense...in 2001 competed at the USATF World Championships as a hurdler and placed 12th...was state AAU and state USATF gold medalist in 1999 and 2000 in the 110-high hurdles. Personal: Parents are Craig and Marybeth Morton...born July 30, 1984...academic interests are exercise science and criminal justice.

Luke Patrino
Defensive Back • 5-10 • 180
Dover, Ohio (Dover High School)
High School: Patrino was a standout two-way prep at Dover High School...in 2001, he was a second-team All-Ohio running back by The Associated Press and was the AP’s Eastern District Offensive Player of the Year...he was the Region 11 Player of the Year and the East Central League’s Player of the Year...had 1,675 all-purpose yards as a senior...selected to play in the Ohio North-South All-Star Game...was a two-time all-conference selection and a two-time MVP of the Dover-New Philadelphia Game...coach was Dan Ifft...also competes in track. Personal: Parents are Vince and Margaret Patrino...born Nov. 10, 1983...has an older sister (Monica).

T.J. Peterson
Wide Receiver • 6-2 • 180
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas H.S.)
High School: Peterson had 21 receptions for 310 yards and had 174 yards rushing and two touchdowns as a senior...he was an all-county selection and was his team’s second-leading receiver...as a junior had eight receptions for 81 yards and three touchdowns...a two-year letterwinner...coach was George Smith...a track standout, he participates in the long jump and the sprint events. Personal: Father is Troy Peterson...born Dec. 5, 1983...has a sister (Maya)...academic interest is law and business.

Justin Reams
Running back • 5-11 • 180
Miami, Fla. (Coral Reef High School)
High School: Reams was named the team’s MVP in 2000 as a running back...was second-team all-county selection in 1999...his high school coach was Ernest Perkins...he participated in the triple jump and long jump for the track and field team and was a two-time first-team all-county and all-regional champion in both events...finished third at the state meet in the long jump. Personal: Parents are John and Damaris Reams...born Feb. 25, 1984...has a brother (Julian)...academic interest is industrial design.

Will Sanders
Offensive Lineman • 6-1 • 286
Weaver, Ala. (West Hills Junior College/Weaver High School)
West Hills JC: Sanders was a two-year starter on the offensive line for West Hills Junior College, located in Coalinga, Calif....as a sophomore he was a unanimous all-conference selection as a center and was an all-region pick...excelled in the classroom earning first-team Academic All-American honors and was named the Team’s Academic Champion...was a starter at guard as a freshman..head coach was Mark Gritton...earned his degree in three semesters. High School: Honorable-Mention All-County as an offensive guard his senior year...was a four-year starter as a guard and a middle linebacker...was a team captain as a senior. Personal: Parents Michael Sanders Cynthia White...born March 16, 1980...has an older brother (Mike)...has an older sister (Pamela Vincent)...academic interest education. He is currently enrolled at YSU.

Kyle Smith
Wide Receiver • 6-0 • 160
Hamburg, N.Y. (St. Francis High School)
High School: Smith was a four-year starter at St. Francis...as a senior, he earned first-team all-state honors, was a first-team All-Western New York selection and was a first-team All-Catholic league honoree...showed his versatility by playing wide receiver and defensive back, returning punts and holding on all place kicks...was co-recipient of the James Lofton Award as the most outstanding receiver in Western New York...became the all-time leading receiver in Western New York and school history with 124 career receptions...is the school record holder for receptions in a season with 56 and receptions in a game with 14...set a school record for career receiving yardage with 1,764 yards...as a senior had 52 receptions for 822 yards and seven touchdowns...broke six school records...helped lead St. Francis to consecutive league championships...coach was Jerry Smith...also earned three letters in track. Personal: Parents are A.J. and Susan Smith...his father A.J. is the Assistant General Manager and the Director of Pro Personnel for the San Diego Chargers...A.J. was part of the Buffalo Bills’ organization for 14 seasons, and was the director of pro personnel for his last eight years...Kyle has an older sister (Andrea)...born Oct. 15, 1984.

Scott Thiessen
Free Safety • 6-2 • 190
Modesto, Calif.
(Modesto Junior College/Johansen H.S.)
Modesto JC: Thiessen was a first-team all-conference pick after recording 80 tackles his sophomore season...earned first-team Academic and Honorable-Mention All-America honors...was named a team captain and earned the team’s defensive MVP award...he had two interceptions...as a freshman he had six interceptions ranking him in the top five in California...recorded 86 tackles his first year...a two-year starter he helped Modesto to a 16-6 two-season mark...as a senior, the team was 9-2 posting the third-best record in school history...finished ranked ninth in the nation...coach was Sam Young. High School: Two-year starter at Johansen High School...was a team captain as a senior...also played baseball. Personal: Parents are Steve and Barbara...born June 1, 1982...older brother Mike Thiessen was the quarterback at the U.S. Air Force Academy from 1997-2000...also has a younger sister (Melissa) ...academic interest special education. He is currently enrolled at YSU.

Patrick Walker
Defensive End • 6-5 • 250
Bedford, Ohio (St. Peter Chanel H.S.)
High School: Walker was named second-team all-state and first-team all-league as a senior at St. Peter Chanel...St. Peter Chanel won the Division V State Championship with a 15-0 record...it was the school’s first state title...team defeated Marion Pleasant 44-27 in the finals...as a junior was all-league and Honorable-Mention all-state...three-year letterwinner...coach was Bill Powers...also is a two time letterwinner in track and field competing in the shot put. Personal: Parents are Robert and Christine Walker...has a sister (Michelle)...born Sept. 16, 1983...academic interest is criminal justice.

Football: Crummey, Greene Earn Walter Camp Honors  Posted Tuesday, February 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
New Haven, Conn. -- Senior offensive tackle Pat Crummey and senior defensive back LeVar Greene were named to the 2001 Walter Camp I-AA All-America team which was released recently.
Crummey was also named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, The Associated Press and The Sports Network and an Honorable-Mention All-American by the Football Gazette. Greene was a first-team pick by the Sports Network and Football Gazette and a second-team Associated Press selection. The Penguins were one of eight teams to have two or more players selected to the All-America team.

Baseball: League Title Game at Jacobs Field  Posted Saturday, February 2, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Cleveland, Ohio -- The final three days of the Horizon League Baseball Tournament will be played at Jacobs Field, home of the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland State University, the host for the seven-team tournament announced on Friday.
The league and Cleveland State, in cooperation with the Indians, will play will play the final three days of the conference's postseason tournament at the big-league park, May 24-26. The first two days of the double-elimination tournament will take place at CSU's new home park, Mills Field, in Strongsville, May 22-23.

Bak to attend 2002 Short Course World Championships in Moscow  Posted Friday, February 1, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown - Youngstown State University head swimming coach Jackie Bak has been selected to travel to Moscow, Russia, as an assistant manager with the 2002 Short Course World Championship Team, March 27 to April 7.
Bak will be accompanying a team of 26 athletes and four coaches. Among the athletes she will be coaching are 13 Olympic medallists from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, three 2001 world champions and several members of the 2001 Goodwill Games and World University Games teams.
Bak, who his in her third year as head coach of YSU’s swimming and diving team, has been involved with USA Swimming since taking a position as business manager with USA Swimming’s National Team Division in 1998. Bak also has worked with the National Distance Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was a part of the National Distance Team staff in 2001. Currently Bak is in her second year as head coach for Penguin Swimming, an USA Swimming club.

Fabianova Leads Lady Pens Past IPFW, 81-62  Posted Thursday, January 31, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Freshman Barbora Fabianova scored a career-high 22 points with six 3-pointers to lead the Youngstown State women's basketball team (9-11) past IPFW (4-18), 81-62, in a non-league tilt on Thursday in Beeghly Center.
After jumping out to a 7-3 lead with 18:14 to go in the first half, Youngstown State allowed the Mastodons take control of the game with an 18-4 run over the next eight minutes to take a 21-11 lead.
IPFW extended its lead to 16 points, 27-11, with 8:15 remaining after Amy Meyer and Hilary Kulic each drilled 3-pointers.
After the teams traded baskets, IPFW led, 29-13, with 7:39 left. Youngstown State, however, regrouped to make a 20-2 run and retake the lead 33-31 with 1:32 before halftime. During that span, the Penguins, who shot a season-best 55.7 percent for the game, connected on eight of their next 11 shots to pull ahead.
IPFW, though, took a 36-33 lead into the locker room after a jumper by Courtney Nicley and a 3-pointer by Amy Gearlds.
The Mastodons scored the first four points of the second half to take a 40-33 advantage with 19:33 left in the game.
YSU charged back to take a 43-42 lead at the 16:04 mark after a Fabianova 3-pointer. After six more lead changes, the Penguins finally took control of the game after a Heather Harris lay up gave the Penguins a 51-50 lead with 13:30 left. YSU would never trail again.
Harris finished with 19 points, including 17 in the second half, while freshman Jen Perugini poured in 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor.
IPFW capitalized on several Penguins mistakes, converting 27 points of 27 YSU turnovers, including 20 points off 14 miscues in the first half.
Fabianova also lead the team with seven rebounds and dished out four assists while junior Maggie Johnston tallied a career-high nine assists.
Youngstown State returns to Horizon League action against UW-Milwaukee, Saturday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. (EST) in Milwaukee, Wis.

Women's Basketball: Johnston Hits For Career High In YSU Win  Posted Monday, January 28, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Youngstown State junior Maggie Johnston scored a career-high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Penguins (8-11, 5-4 Horizon League) past the University of Illinois-Chicago (11-10, 3-6 Horizon League), 77-62, on Monday evening at the Beeghly Center.
"Maggie (Johnston) really took control of the game for us," said YSU Head Coach Ed DiGregorio. "She controlled the tempo and hit some really big shots."
The Penguins and Flames battled back-and-forth for most of the first half that including nine lead changes.
Youngstown State led by six, 28-22, at the 8:53 mark after a Johnston 3-pointer, but the Flames scored the next seven points to take the lead, 29-28, with 7:01 remaining in the half. A three-point play by Zsuzsu Tarnai, and jumpers by Charissa Greene and Jaysie Chambers, who recorded a double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, gave UIC its last lead of the game.
"We played a great game tonight," said DiGregorio. "In our first game with UIC, our guards really stepped up. Tonight, our entire team came to play and we received great production from everybody."
Johnston drilled her third 3-pointer of the half to give the Penguins a 31-30 advantage with 6:51 left and YSU would never relinquish the lead.
UIC cut the lead down to one, 35-34, with 3:27 to go but a 3-pointer by Heather Harris, who poured in 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, a jumper by Jen Perugini and another jumper by Harris pushed the Penguin advantage to 40-34 with 1:23 to in the half. The Flames would not get any closer.
The Penguins shot a season-best 52.9 percent from the floor, nailed a season-best 11 3-pointers and shot 50 percent from behind the arc.
UIC connected on just 36.1 percent from the field, including just 29 percent in the second half.
Youngstown State hosts IPFW, Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. while UIC hosts UW-Milwaukee, Thursday at 8 p.m.

Track and Field: YSU Sets Three School Marks at Meet  Posted Saturday, January 26, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Kent, Ohio -- Three members of the Youngstown State men's and women's track and field team's set school records on Saturday at the Central Collegiate Conference Tournament.
Setting school marks were Kurt Michaelis in the mile with a time of 4:10.99 while finishing fifth, freshman Emily Schnitkey in the women's mile at 5:08.90 while finishing fifth and the women's distance medley relay team set a school mark with a time of 12:14 to finish third. The men placed 12th out of 13 teams while the women were ninth.
The men's distance medley relay team finished fifth in a time of 10:11, Eugene Harris was fifth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.96 seconds and Paul Robinette was 10th in the 5,000-meter run in a time of 15:02.
On the women's side, Kelly Leonard placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 9.2 seconds, Jeanna Cunningham was eighth in the 60-meter dash 7.98 seconds and fifth in the 400-meter run in a time of 58.38, Jen Moore was sixth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:17.66.

Lady Penguins Trounce Wright State, 87-61  Posted Thursday, January 24, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – The Youngstown State women’s basketball team (7-10, 4-3 Horizon League) shot a season-best 52.9 percent from the field and five players scored in double figures to lead the Penguins past Wright State (3-15, 1-6 Horizon League), 87-61, Thursday evening at Beeghly Center.
Sophomore Heather Harris, who led YSU with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor, and freshman Barbora Fabianova each drained three 3-pointers in the first half as the Penguins put the game away by shooting 62.5 percent (20-of-32) from the field before intermission. Harris was 5-of-5 from the field while Fabianova was 3-of-3 from the floor in the first stanza.
Youngstown State trailed, 13-12, with 12:59 to in the half then scorched the nets making 15 of their next 20 field goal attempts, including seven 3-pointers.
The Penguins also capitalized on Wright State’s mistakes, converting 18 points off 17 first-half Raider turnovers.
Fabianova finished the game with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and dished out four assists. Junior Maggie Johnston and senior Jenny Horner also poured in 11 points apiece and freshman Jen Perugini added 10 points.
Wright State freshman Tiffany Webb led the Raiders with 16 points while Jill Ransdell added 12 points.
For the game, Wright State shot 42.9 percent for the floor, including an impressive 52 percent in the first half. The Raiders also finished with 29 turnovers.
The Penguins host Loyola (Chicago), Saturday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center while Wright State hosts Butler at 1 p.m. in Dayton, Ohio.

Track & Field: Penguins Compete at Stan Lyons Meet  Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Men's runner Tony Orcena, women's triple jumper Laura Schatz and runner Lindsay Wojciak earned first-place finishes over the weekend at the Stan Lyons Open held at The National Institute for Fitness & Sport in Indianapolis.
Orcena finished first in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:21.21 finishing .01 ahead of Cumberland College's Jon Stien. Schatz earned the triple jump crown with a leap of 33 feet 6.5 inches (10.22 meters). Wojciak took top honors in the 5,000-meter run in a time of 20:03.54.
Other women's top five finishes include: Jeanna Cunningham third in the 60-meter dash, Janae Stephens fifth 60-meter dash, Cunningham fourth 200-meter dash, Stephens fifth 200-meter dash, Stephens fifth 400-meter dash, Jen Moore second 800-meter run, Emily Schnitkey fourth mile run, Lindsay Frontz fifth mile run, Schnitkey fifth 3,000-meter run, Aaliyah Gillespie fourth 60-meter hurdles, Schatz second high jump and Lissette Alamo second long jump.
Other men's top five finishers included, Eugene Harris third in 60-meter dash and Kurt Michaelis third in mile run.
Penguin track and field athletes will be in action again at the Central Collegiates on Saturday at Kent, Ohio.

Hot-Shooting Propels Flames Past Penguins  Posted Monday, January 21, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Chicago, Ill, - Four different players scored in double-figures for the University of Illinois at Chicago men's basketball team as the Flames earned the 85-69 Horizon League victory over Youngstown State at the UIC Pavilion on Monday afternoon.

Senior guard Jordan Kardos led the way for UIC with 18 points, including four three-pointers. The Flames also received solid efforts from senior center Thor Solverson (15 points), Jonathan Schneiderman (13 points, career-high 8 assists) and Cory Little (10 points).

"It's a really good win for us," UIC Head Coach Jimmy Collins said after the game. "We followed our gameplan and executed.

"We wanted to get the ball to Thor," Collins continued. "We knew he had the advantage inside and we wanted to take advantage of that."

Solverson opened the game with six straight points, which quickly opened up UIC's outside attack.

The Flames (12-8, 3-3 Horizon Leage) hit 6-of-6 three-pointers in the opening period and shot 73% from the field, closing the half on a 44-11 run to take a 25-point lead, 50-25, into intermission.

"Thor opened things up to start the game, then we just got things rolling," Kardos said.

UIC kept its potent outside attack going in the second half, finishing the game with a season-best 68% (11-for-16) three-point percentage. Kardos converted four of his six attempts while Schneiderman added three treys of his own.

Schneiderman and Martell Bailey did the distributing for UIC, as Bailey dished out nine assists while Scheiderman added a career-best eight helpers.

Ryan Patton scored a game-high 23 points for the Penguins (3-14, 1-6 Horizon League), while teammates Doug Underwood (13 points) and Bill Mallernee (12 points) each turned in solid performances.

The Flames, whose 12 wins is the most since the 1997-98 campaign, will be back in action on Saturday as they will host Butler at the UIC Pavilion at 3:00 PM.

Lady Penguins Beat UIC 64-56  Posted Thursday, January 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Chicago, Ill. -- Freshman Barbora Fabianova poured in a career-high 17 points as the Youngstown State women's basketball team (6-9, 3-2) held off Illinois-Chicago (10-8, 2-4), 64-56, on Thursday evening at the UIC Pavilion.
With the game tied, 19-19 with 5:18 remaining in the first half, YSU's Cathy Hanek and Heather Harris sparked a 12-0 run to take a 31-19 lead into halftime. Hanek drilled two free throws and a three-pointer while Harris nailed a three-pointer and a jumper. Fabianova extended the Penguin lead to 17 points with a three-pointer and a jumper to start the second half.
The Flames stormed back, mostly from the charity stripe, connecting on 16-of-19 free throws in the half.
Hanek came off the bench and scored 14 points while Harris finished with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor.
YSU visits UW-Green Bay, Monday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m. in Green Bay, Wis.

Men's Basketball: YSU Falls to Detroit 66-51  Posted Thursday, January 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Detroit's Greg Grays scored a career-high 34 points and the Youngstown State men's basketball team could not dig themselves out of a 25-6 at the start of the game losing 66-51 to the Titans on Thursday night at the Beeghly Center.
The Penguins (3-13 overall and 1-4 in the Horizon League) missed 12 of their first 13 shots of the game falling behind by 19. YSU cut the deficit to six in the second half, but Grays answered with a 3-pointer and Detroit (9-8 and 3-2) never looked back. Youngstown State suffered its third straight loss while UDM picked up its third consecutive win.
Grays became the second player to score more than 30 points against YSU this season scoring 17 points in each half to total 34. He was 11-of-14 from the field -- 5-of-8 from 3-point land -- and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. UDM's Terrel Riggs had 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the only other player in the game to score in double figures.
Senior Ryan Patton scored nine points and freshman Brian Radakovich had nine to lead YSU. Freshman Doug Underwood had six rebounds to lead the Penguins.
To start the game, YSU took a 2-0 lead on a layup by Radakovich but missed its next 11 shots to fall behind 25-6. During UDM's 25-4 run, Grays had 12 points. To close out the first half, YSU outscored the Titans 17-11 to trail 36-23 at the break.
YSU came out quick after halftime and pulled within 42-36 on a layup by TeJay Anderson with 13:12 left. But Grays drilled a 3-pointer, added two free throws following a Marlon Williamson miss and made another 3-pointer after a Radakovich turnover to put the Titans ahead 50-36.
For the game, YSU was held to just 30.4 percent shooting (14-of-46) while Detroit shot 50 percent (22-of-44). The Penguins were outrebounded 34-24. YSU was 20-of-21 from the free-throw line while Detroit was 15-of-23. Detroit made seven 3-pointers, five by Grays and YSU made three, two by Patton. The Titans played without Willie Green who was held out of the game with an injured left foot.
The Penguins begin a four-game road trip with a contest at Loyola on Saturday at 2 p.m. (EST). Detroit plays host to Cleveland State on Saturday in a game televised nationally by ESPN2 at 4 p.m.

Football: YSU Football Team Faces Challenging 2002 Schedule  Posted Thursday, January 17, 2002 by  ysupenguins
The 2002 Youngstown State football schedule features six home games, including contests against Southland Conference champion McNeese State and Gateway Football Conference champion, Northern Iowa, and five intriguing road games, as the Penguins released their schedule for the upcoming season on Thursday.
The six teams who will visit Stambaugh Stadium in the fall are Clarion (Aug. 29), McNeese State (Sept. 7), Indiana State (Oct. 5), Northern Iowa (Oct. 19), Southern Illinois (Nov. 2) and Samford (Nov. 23). The road tilts are at Western Kentucky (Sept. 21), at SW Missouri State (Sept. 28), at Florida Atlantic (Oct. 12), at Western Illinois (Oct. 26) and at Illinois State (Nov. 9). The 10 Division I-AA schools on the schedule have combined for 23 all-time playoff appearances.
"It is a great schedule with a lot of difficult games, but I am very excited about it," YSU Head Coach Jon Heacock, who will be in his second season, said. "It is obviously going to be very competitive, and I like that, and our team will like that. We have six quality home games with the additions of McNeese State, who was in the playoffs, and Samford, who was here in the playoffs in the early ‘90s. It is a very challenging schedule, but it is a great opportunity for us to do what we want to, we just have to go do it."
YSU opens the season against Clarion on Thursday, August 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles will be making their fourth trip to Youngstown in the last seven years. McNeese State, who was 8-4 and champions of the Southland Conference in 2001, visits Stambaugh Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, for a 7 p.m. game. The Cowboys and Penguins last played for the Division I-AA National Championship in 1997.
After an off week, Youngstown State travels to Bowling Green, Ky., to play Western Kentucky on Sept. 21. This is YSU’s first trip to L.T. Smith Stadium since 1990. On Sept. 28, the Penguins play SMS in Springfield, Mo. YSU is 3-0 all time at Plaster Field.
"It is nice to have the open date before we start conference play and I think that is important," Heacock said. "But all of our road challenges will be very tough. We play in some very difficult places. One of the biggest challenges for this team is how we handle ourselves on the road. We make some tough trips and play some good teams."
Youngstown State continues Gateway Conference action on Oct. 5 at home against Indiana State at 7 p.m. The Penguins play a non-conference game on Saturday, Oct. 12 at second-year Division I-AA school Florida Atlantic. This will be YSU’s second trip to Florida in four years.
Defending Gateway Champion Northern Iowa visits Youngstown on Saturday, Oct. 19 for a 4 p.m. game. The Panthers finished 11-3 last season losing to Montana in the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs. YSU returns to the road to play at Western Illinois on Oct. 26. The Penguins have not won in Macomb, Ill., since 1980.
The 62nd annual Homecoming game is set for Nov. 2 against Gateway member Southern Illinois at 4 p.m. YSU plays its final road game of the season on Nov. 9 against Illinois State. After an open week, the Penguins close out the regular season with a home game against Samford on Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs have made two previous trips to Youngstown, including the 1991 semifinal game which YSU won 10-0. The Division I-AA Playoffs start on Nov. 30.
The Penguins begin spring drills on Wednesday, March 20, with the Spring Game scheduled for Friday, April 12.
Football season-ticket packages are available by calling the Youngstown State ticket office at (330) 742-1Y

Perugini Breaks Top 10   Posted Wednesday, January 16, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. – Youngstown State freshman Jen Perugini has broken into the top 10 nationally in rebounds per game, according the to latest NCAA statistics.
The 6-foot-2 forward, who leads the Horizon League in rebounding, ranks ninth in the nation with 11.2 rebounds per game.
The native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, also leads the Penguins in scoring with 13 points per game and is shooting 51.2 percent from the floor, which is tied for fifth in the Horizon League.
Youngstown State visits Illinois-Chicago, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. in Chicago, Ill.

Meech Named Volleyball MVP  Posted Monday, January 14, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown – Senior Kristen Meech was named the 2001 Youngstown State volleyball Most Valuable Player after a vote by her teammates, YSU Head Coach Joe Conroy announced on Monday.
Meech, a 6-foot-2 middle hitter, led the Penguins with a .290 hitting percentage, 1.21 blocks per game, and was second with 275 kills and 2.86 kills per game. Meech also averaged 1.66 digs per game.
For her career, the 2001 third-team Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-American is Youngstown State’s all-time leader with 562 career blocks and fifth all-time with 1,055 career kills. She also finished third all-time with a .267 career hitting percentage.

Lady Ramblers Over Penguins  Posted Sunday, January 13, 2002 by  ysupenguins

Chicago, Ill. (January 13, 2002) -- Senior Lauren Sirus (Westchester, Ill.) scored 13 of her season-high 17 points in the first 5:21 as Loyola (8-7, 2-2 Horizon League) opened up a 21-point first half lead and coasted to an 81-68 victory over Youngstown State (5-9, 2-2) this afternoon at the Joseph J. Gentile Center.

Senior Beth Dilling (Orland Park, Ill.) scored the first five points of a game-opening 9-0 run as Loyola seized command from the opening tip. After Dilling's start, Sirus scored the Ramblers' next 13 points on a variety of inside moves to give LU an 18-8 advantage with 14:39 remaining. The lead fluctuated between eight and 12 points before a 7-0 Rambler run later in the half gave the hosts a 35-17 lead with 6:47 left and Loyola took a 48-27 lead into intermission. Loyola shot .500 (20-for-40) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, owned a 26-2 edge in points in the paint and notched 22 points off 13 Youngstown State turnovers.

The Ramblers opened the second half strong and took their largest lead of the game (54-27) on a three-pointer from freshman Ciara Henderson (Burlington, Ky.) with 17:36 left. Youngstown began to find an offensive rhythm at that point as Maggie Johnston and Jen Perugini began to heat up. The Penguins got as close as eight points in the final minute but never could get any closer.

In addition to Sirus, Henderson and Maggie Toczylowski (Florissant, Mo.) also reached double figures for LU. Henderson finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Toczylowski added 10 points and five rebounds. Johnston had a game-high 20 points to lead the Penguins but hit on only 8-of-22 field goal attempts. Perugini finished with 15 point and 10 rebounds.

Loyola returns to action on Thur., Jan. 17 when they take on Butler at 4:45 p.m. at the Gentile Center.

Women's Basketball: Penguins overTitans  Posted Friday, January 11, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Sophomore Heather Harris connected on 8-of-16 shooting from the field for a game-high 19 points to lead the Youngstown State women's basketball team (5-8, 2-1) past Detroit (6-7, 2-1), 66-57, on Thursday evening in Beeghly Center.
The Titans jumped out to an early 9-5 lead with 15:18 remaining in the first half, but the Penguins regained their composure to rattle off a 15-2 run to take a 20-11 advantage at the 10:18 mark. Youngstown State, after missing four of its first five shots, connected on six of its next eight attempts during that span.
Detroit cut the deficit to seven points, 20-13, on a Sara Crum lay up, but the Penguins extended its lead to 14 points, 27-13, after a jumper by senior Monica Vicarel, a lay up by senior Jen Horner and a three-pointer by freshman Barbora Fabianova.
Leading by 11, 36-25, at halftime, YSU surge to 15-point advantage, 38-25, after jumpers by Harris and junior Maggie Johnston with 18:01 left in the game.
The Titans whittled the Penguin lead to nine points, 47-38, with 8:32 remaining but back-to-back three-pointers by Fabianova pushed the Penguin lead back to 15, 53-38, with 7:53 left.
Detroit never gave up and cut the YSU lead to seven points, 59-52, with 1:21 left in the game after a 14-6 run.
YSU, however, made its last seven free throws to ice the game for the Penguins.
Youngstown State also put the clamps on Detroit's leading scorer, Michelle James, who finished with five points. James, who averaged 14.8 points per game, shot just 2-for-11 from the floor. For the game, Detroit shot 34.4 percent from the field while YSU connected on 40 percent of its field goal attempts.
For the Penguins, freshman Jen Perugini recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 12 points and 15 rebounds and Horner added 11 points.
Molly Peterman led Detroit with 12 points while Jennifer McGee and Nicole Anaejionu each scored 11 points off the bench.
YSU visits Loyola, Sunday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. while Detroit is at Cleveland State, Saturday, Jan. 12, at 2:30 p.m.

Women's Basketball: Perugini Ranks 12th Nationally  Posted Thursday, January 10, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown State freshman Jen Perugini continues her dominance on the glass as one of the top rebounders in the nation, according to the latest NCAA statistics.
The 6-foot-2 forward is tied for 12th in the nation and leads the Horizon with 10.9 rebounds per game. Perugini, who is averaging a double-double with 12.9 points per game, is collecting seven defensive rebounds per game while averaging 3.9 offensive boards per contest.
Perugini grabbed a career-high 23 caroms against Akron on Nov. 28, 2001, which still ranks nationally as the second-highest single-game rebounding output this season.

Men's Basketball: Moore, Patton Lead YSU Past WSU  Posted Saturday, January 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Freshman Jimmy Moore scored a game-high 25 points and senior guard Ryan Patton added 24 as the Youngstown State men's basketball team came from nine points down in the second half to earn a 87-80 victory over Wright State at the Beeghly Center on Saturday night.
The Penguins (3-9 overall and 1-1 in the Horizon League) snapped a four-game losing streak and beat the Raiders (8-4 and 1-1) for only the fifth time in 23 meetings. WSU was coming off a double-overtime win at No. 20 Butler

Football: YSU Places Eight on All-America Team  Posted Saturday, January 5, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Westmont, Ill. -- The Youngstown State football team placed eight players on the 2001 Football Gazette NCAA Division I-AA All-America team released on Saturday. Senior defensive back LeVar Greene was a first-team selection while seven student-athletes earned honorable-mention All-America honors.
Earning honorable-mention accolades for the second consecutive season was senior quarterback Jeff Ryan. Also picked as honorable-mention All-Americans were junior tailback P.J. Mays, senior offensive tackle Pat Crummey, senior center Dave Tesniarz, junior linebacker Russell Stuvaints, senior strong safety Bruce Hightower and junior return specialist Jerald Burley.

Women's Basketball: Penguin Comeback Falls Short  Posted Friday, January 4, 2002 by  ysupenguins
Cleveland, Ohio -- Trailing by as many as 21 points in the second half, the Youngstown State women's basketball team (3-8, 0-1) made a valiant comeback attempt, but dropped its Horizon League opener to Cleveland State (6-5, 2-0), 80-71, Thursday evening at the CSU Convocation Center.
With 8:44 remaining in the game, Youngstown State trailed the Vikings, 70-49. The Penguins, though, quickly whittled away at the Cleveland State lead. Junior Maggie Johnston, who finished with a career-high 20 points, buried two three-pointers and sophomore Devin Novak nailed two jumpers and two free throws as the Penguins outscored the Vikings, 12-3, over the next four minutes to cut the margin to 12 points, 73-61, with 4:55 to go.
Cleveland State extended its lead back to 14 points, 75-61, with 4:10 remaining, but the Penguins rallied to score the next 10 points on two free throws by freshman Tara Fleming, a three-pointer by Johnston, two jumpers by freshman Jen Perugini and a free throw by Novak to trim the lead to 75-71 with 49 seconds left. YSU, however, could not pull any closer.
In the first half, Youngstown State jumped out to an early 20-10 lead with 11:20 remaining in the first stanza, but allowed the Vikings back into the ball game with a 32-13 run to close out the half and trailed, 42-33, at the intermission.
Perugini poured in 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds in her first start after missing two games with an ankle injury while senior Jenny Horner and Novak each added 10 points.

Panthers Pound Youngstown State   Posted Wednesday, January 2, 2002 by  ysupenguins
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Ronnie Jones set a school record by making 10 three-point shots as UWM claimed an easy 77-55 win over Youngstown State in the Horizon League opener for both teams.

Jones scored a career-high 33 points as UWM (6-7, 1-0 Horizon League) led by as many 33 points en route to their first league-opening win since the 1995-96 season. The 22-point margin of victory is also the largest UWM has ever recorded on the road in league play. The Panthers will try to move to 2-0 in league play for the first time in school history Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center against UW-Green Bay.

UWM led 26-16 with 6:33 remaining in the first half before a 25-8 run that lasted early into the second half turned the game into a rout.

"We were really ready to play tonight," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "The first half was one of our better halves of basketball. I think our difficult non-conference schedule had something to do with that."

The Panthers had built a 26-10 advantage, but a dry spell of four minutes by UWM allowed Youngstown State to pull within 26-16. But, the Panthers again exploded to take control of the game. UWM scored eight straight points in the next two minutes to build a 34-16 edge. After Youngstown State broke a four-minute dry spell of and its own to cut the lead to 34-18, Jones hit his fourth three-point shot of the half to give the Panthers a 37-18 lead with 2:23 left in the half. Jones then hit two more threes in the final two minutes of the half, giving UWM a 43-22 lead at the halftime break. The Panthers then scored eight of the first 10 points of the half to clinch their first road win of the season.

"I thought the tempo played a role in the first half and it didn't let them back in the game in the second half," Pearl said.

Clay Tucker added 11 points and Justin Lettenberger pitched in with 10 for UWM.

UWM shot 57 percent in the first half and made 10-of-16 three-point shots. Jones made all seven of his field goal attempts in the half, including a perfect 6-of-6 from three-point range.

The Panthers used an 8-0 run midway through the first half to originally take some control of the game. UWM led 18-10 with just under 13 minutes remaining before Justin Lettenberger knocked in a free throw and jumper followed by a three from Jones and another jumped by Lettenberger to make it 26-10 with 10:20 remaining.

UWM got off to a good start offensively, jumping to an 8-0 advantage two minutes. The Panthers still led 13-6 six minutes into the contest behind eight points from Tucker and five points from Jones.

The Panthers return to action Saturday afternoon, hosting in-state rival UW-Green Bay at the Klotsche Center. The game tips off at 4 p.m. and will be televised on WMLW-TV 41.

25 Student-Athletes Post 4.00 GPAs in Fall  Posted Monday, December 31, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Twenty-five Youngstown State University student-athletes posted perfect 4.00 grade-point averages in the fall semester.
Posting 4.00 GPA’s were Matt Gnacinski, Jim Lipinski, Corey Ohalek and Todd Tsherne from the baseball team; Tanner Dunlap of the YSU football squad; track and field athletes Chris Hine, Tony Orcena, Jeremy Riehm, Christine Campana, Lori Griffin, Julie Cole, Emily Schnitkey and Beth Hochstetler; from the volleyball team Lena Arens, Debra Koenn, Kristen Meech and Michele Batton; from the women’s basketball team Jen Horner, Jen Perugini and Maggie Johnston; softball player Joleen Estok; swimmer Dawn Knight; and from the soccer team Sarah Bartholomew, Megan Gibson and Kate Gigliotti.
The YSU women’s volleyball team posted the highest-team GPA at 3.26. Overall, 51 percent (161 student-athletes) had a 3.0 grade-point average or higher.

Edwards, Meech Named Academic All-Horizon League   Posted Friday, December 21, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Indianapolis, Ind. – Youngstown State senior volleyball player Kristen Meech, a third-team Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-American, and junior men’s cross country runner Will Edwards were named to the Fall 2001 Academic All-Horizon League Team after a vote by the league’s Faculty Athletics Representatives and Sports Information Directors, the league announced on Thursday.
The Horizon League Academic All-League team honors student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or above with at least three complete semesters at the same institution and participate in a Horizon League-sponsored sport as a starter or important reserve.

Football: Crummey & Greene 1st Team All-Americans  Posted Monday, December 17, 2001 by  ysupenguins
YSU's Pat Crummey was named TSN's 1st team All-American & LeVar Greene was named 1st team defense. Congratulations to both!!!!! No Penguins on second or third team. I was surprised that PJ was not even mentioned.



First Team - Offense


Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Rocky Butler Hofstra QB Sr. 6-0 190
Jesse Chatman Eastern Washington RB Sr. 5-8 232
Brian Westbrook Villanova RB Sr. 5-9 205
Drew Amerson Cal State Northridge WR Jr. 6-0 170
Jonathon Cooper Sam Houston State WR Sr. 5-6 166
Keith Heinrich Sam Houston State TE Sr. 6-6 266
Pat Crummey Youngstown State OL Sr. 6-4 285
Donnie Littlejohn Furman OL Sr. 6-3 272
Chris Polinder Eastern Washington OL Sr. 6-1 290
Thatcher Szalay Montana OL Sr. 6-5 295
Dan Zorger Hofstra OL Sr. 6-2 273
Mackenzie Hoambrecker Northern Iowa K Jr. 6-0 196
Curtis DeLoatch North Carolina A&T RS So. 6-3 205



First Team - Defense


Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
D.J. Bleisath Tennessee Tech DL Jr. 6-5 255
Ryan Fletcher Hofstra DL Sr. 6-1 290
Josh Jeffries Appalachian State DL Jr. 6-2 265
Freddy Pesqueira Georgia Southern DL Jr. 6-1 250
Will Bouton Furman LB Sr. 6-2 233
Erik Dandy Western Kentucky LB So. 6-0 205
Derrick Lloyd James Madison LB Sr. 6-1 240
Adam Vogt Northern Iowa LB Sr. 6-4 229
Abdul Byron Lehigh DB Sr. 5-11 190
LeVar Greene Youngstown State DB Sr. 5-9 165
Vince Huntsberger Montana DB Sr. 5-11 195
Mel Mitchell Western Kentucky DB Sr. 6-1 205
Eddie Johnson Idaho State P Jr. 6-4 225

Second Team - Offense

Men's Basketball: Penguins Rally for 75-70 Win Over Kent State  Posted Sunday, December 16, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men’s basketball team overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to beat Kent State for the first time in 41 years winning 75-70 in front of a boisterous 3,168 fans at the Beeghly Center on Saturday night.
The Penguins (2-5) trailed 47-30 with 16:52 left in the game, but mounted a spirited rally with an 18-4 run to get back in the contest. YSU, which pulled within one point on five occasions in the second half, tied the game at 67 and took its first lead of the contest at 68-67 on a Ryan Patton free throw. It was Youngstown’s first victory over Kent State since Jan. 13, 1960 and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Golden Flashes (4-3).
After YSU grabbed a one-point lead with 2:59 left, Patton added two more free throws for a 70-67 advantage with 2:17 left. With 17 seconds left, freshman Doug Underwood made one of two foul shots to put YSU up four. Kent’s Anthony Wilkins followed with a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left making it a 71-70 score. Patton, who was 10-of-10 at the free-throw line, added two free throws with eight seconds left to give YSU a three-point cushion.
Following Patton’s free throws, Trevor Huffman missed a 3-pointer and freshman Jimmy Moore grabbed the rebound and was fouled with one second left. Moore made his two free throws for the final margin.
For the game, YSU was 27-of-55 from the field for 49.1 percent. The Penguins were 16-of-31 in the second half. Kent State shot 41 percent from the field making 25-of-61 shots. KSU outrebounded YSU 39-33 and made six 3-pointers to the Penguins’ three.
Patton had a game-high 22 points for YSU, Underwood added 17 and Flores had 15 points and eight rebounds. Moore also had eight rebounds for Youngstown. For Kent State, Andrew Mitchell had 14 points, Huffman finished with 12 and Eric Thomas scored 11.
Kent State, who had a 14-day layoff following its last outing on Dec. 1, played without freshman Nate Gerwig who was suspended for disciplinary reasons. However, the Penguins were shorthanded as well for the final 37 minutes of the game. Senior guard Rafael Cruz injured his right knee at the 16:38 mark in the first half and was carried off the court.
Kent built a 38-24 advantage in the first half and led by as many at 16 points. Patton made a jumper at the buzzer to pull YSU within 14 at the break. Youngstown outscored the Golden Flashes 51-32 in the second half.
The Penguins, who are 2-0 at the Beeghly Center, play host to Robert Morris on Wednesday night at 7.

Women’s Basketball: Perugini Ranks Nationally   Posted Saturday, December 15, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown State freshman Jen Perugini is among the top rebounders in the nation, according to the latest NCAA women’s basketball statistics.
The 6-foot-2 forward, who leads the Horizon League in rebounding, ranks fifth in the nation with 12.14 rebounds per game.
Perugini, who is averaging 13.2 points per game, also owns the nation’s highest single-game rebounding total when she grabbed 23 against Akron on Nov. 28.
Perugini collected five straight double-doubles to begin the season.

Volleyball: Meech Named Academic All-American  Posted Thursday, December 13, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Stamford, Conn. – Youngstown State senior Kristen Meech has been named Third-Team Verizon Academic All-American in a vote by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA).
Meech, YSU’s all-time career blocks leader with 562, carries a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 in elementary education and is the first YSU volleyball player to receive academic all-American honors.
Meech, who finished her career ranked fifth in YSU history with 1,055 career kills, is a two-time First-Team Verizon Academic All-District IV selection.
A two-time all-conference selection, Meech finished her senior season with 278 kills, 1.16 blocks per game and a .290 hitting percentage.

Men's Basketball: Patton Scores 20 in 79-65 Loss at Toledo  Posted Sunday, December 9, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Toledo, Ohio -- YSU senior guard Ryan Patton scored a season and game-high 20 points, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team could not overcome a hot shooting performance by Toledo as the Rockets beat the Penguins 79-65 at Savage Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Patton was one of three Penguins (1-5) in double figures, but Toledo (3-3) was impressive from the field shooting 65.4 percent, its highest single-game percentage since a 69-percent performance against Chicago State in December 1991. Freshman Doug Underwood scored 11 points and senior Stephen Flores had 10 for YSU, which has dropped four straight games.
Despite shooting just 45.3 percent in the game, the Penguins were in the contest until midway through the second half. Trailing 42-35 at halftime, YSU cut the deficit to 47-45 on an Underwood jumper and 49-47 one two Patton free throws with 14:10 remaining. But UT answered with an 18-5 run in a 8:17 to build a 67-52 advantage, with 5:53 left. The Rockets led by as many as 17 late in the game and never trailed in the contest.
Patton was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line as YSU shot 81.3 percent (13-16) while UT struggled shooting just 40 percent (6-15). The Penguins were 24-of-53 from the field while Toledo was 34-of-52. Youngstown State committed 18 turnovers while the Rockets had 15 and the teams tied with 28 rebounds. YSU made four 3-point field goals while Toledo converted five.
In seven meetings, Youngstown State is still winless against the Rockets.
The Penguins are next in action on Saturday, Dec. 15 against Kent State at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. as the Golden Flashes play in the Beeghly Center for the first-time ever and play in Youngstown for the first time since 1960.

Women's Basketball: Perugini Named Player of the Week  Posted Monday, December 3, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown State freshman Jen Perugini was named the Horizon League women’s basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
The 6-foot-2 forward averaged a double double with 14 points and 17 rebounds and shot 48-percent from the floor to lead the Penguins to a 1-1 record last week.
Perugini recorded a career-high 23 rebounds and scored 11 points in a 70-47 win over Akron (Nov. 28). Her 23 caroms ranks tied for the third-highest single-game total in Horizon League history and tied for the fourth-highest total in YSU history.
Against Chicago State, she poured in a career-high 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor with 11 boards.
For the season, Perugini, who leads the Horizon League in rebounding, is averaging 13 points and 15.3 rebounds per game. She has also recorded four straight double-doubles.

May's Gains Gateway Player-of-the-Year Award  Posted Wednesday, November 28, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown State junior tailback P.J. Mays was named the Gateway Football Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday. The Penguins, who finished the year 8-3 and finished third in the Gateway, had 11 players named to the all-conference teams.
Joining Mays on the first team were senior offensive tackle Pat Crummey, senior defensive back LeVar Greene, senior safety Bruce Hightower and junior return specialist Jerald Burley. Selected to the second-team were YSU senior quarterback Jeff Ryan, senior center Dave
Tesniarz and junior Russell Stuvaints. Earning Honorable-Mention accolades were sophomore placekicker Jake Stewart, senior linebacker Bob Sivik and senior defensive back Antulio Aroche.
Mays becomes the first Penguin to win Gateway Football Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year honors in school history. The only other players to be named as a league’s offensive player of the year were Trenton Lykes (1987) and Paris Wicks (1982) when YSU was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. The 11 players who were named to the
all-conference teams are a school record.
Mays has had one of the best regular season’s by a YSU running back in school history in 2001. He finished the year with 1,446 yards setting a school regular-season record for rushing yardage and his 131.5 yards per game average was the best in school history. He scored 22 total touchdowns which rank third in the nation and he has scored 132 points to average 12 points per game. He ranks 12th nationally in rushing yards per game.
Mays became the second player in YSU history to rush for more than 200 yards in three separate games this season. His last effort was a 201-yard three-touchdown performance against Marshall on Nov. 24. He also had a 226-yard effort against Lock Haven and a 218-yard performance against Southwest Missouri State. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in six games this season. He has scored touchdowns in nine of 11 games and had eight multi-touchdown games. He scored four rushing touchdowns against Indiana State, the first time a Penguin had four touchdowns -- and 26 points -- in a game since September 1992. His 83-yard run against Clarion is the third-longest rush in school history and is the longest in 20 years at Stambaugh Stadium.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Lose at DePaul 107-69  Posted Sunday, November 25, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Chicago, Ill. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team lost to DePaul on Sunday at Allstate Arena 107-69. Senior guard Ryan Patton led the Penguins with 17 points as YSU had four players finish in double figures.
Freshman Doug Underwood scored 14 points, freshman Brian Radakovich had 10 points and grabbed five rebounds, senior guard Rafael Cruz scored 10 points and senior forward Stephen Flores had nine points and had six rebounds as the Penguins dropped to 1-2. DePaul improves to 2-1.
Leading the way for the Blue Demons was Andre Brown who had 20 points. Imari Sawyer had 15 points, Sam Hoskin scored 14 and Lance Williams had 12 points and 14 rebounds. DePaul outrebounded the Penguins 43-32 and shot 66.2 percent from the field while YSU converted 34.6 percent of its shots.
Patton scored 12 of his team-high 17 points in the first half as the Penguins fell behind 50-33 at halftime. Brown scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the first 20 minutes.
The Penguins return to action on Thursday, Nov. 29 when they travel to Valparaiso, Ind., to play Valparaiso. Tipoff is set for 8:05 p.m.

Marshall 38 - YSU 24  Posted Sunday, November 25, 2001 by  ysupenguins
HUNTINGTON, West Virginia (Ticker) -- It was supposed to be a mere
tuneup for next week's Mid-American Conference championship game, but
No. 20 Marshall got more than it bargained for from a former Division I-AA
rival.

Cornerback Chris Crocker stopped Mike Burns on 4th-and-goal from the 1
with 2:31 remaining as the Thundering Herd held on for a 38-24 victory over
Youngstown State.

Marshall (10-1) sealed the win on Roberto Terrell's 76-yard interception
return for a touchdown with 11 seconds to play.

It was the first meeting between the teams since the early 1990s when they
played in the Division I-AA championship game three straight years.
Youngstown State won two of the three meetings.

The Thundering Herd have won 10 straight since a season-opening loss to
Florida and will face Toledo in the MAC title game. Marshall already has
accepted a bid to the GMAC/Mobile Alabama Bowl.

Byron Leftwich completed 25-of-35 passes for 208 yards and three
touchdowns, but was held 141 yards below his season average.

Youngstown State, one of only four teams to win at Marshall in the 10-year
history of the Thundering Herd's new stadium, took a 21-17 lead with 10
minutes left in the third quarter on a six-yard TD run by P.J. Mays. The
junior rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.

The Penguins (8-3), ranked sixth in Division I-AA and likely headed to the
playoff, made it 24-17 on Jake Stewart's 39-yard field goal with six minutes
left in the third.

But Marshall tied it on Brandon Carey's two-yard TD run with 2:49 left in the
period and took a 31-24 lead on Leftwich's 14-yard TD strike to Josh Davis
with 12:49 left in the contest.

After an exhange of punts, Youngstown State took over at its 29 with 8:14
left and put together a 13-play, 70-yard drive. Burns rushed for seven yards
on 1st-and-goal from the 9, but three more running plays gained just one yard.

Carey rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries for Marshall, which ran for 171
yards on 31 carries.

Jeff Ryan completed only 5-of-14 passes for 50 yards and an interception for
the Penguins, who faced their first Division I-A opponent of the season.

Leftwich tossed TD passes of 11 yards to Darius Watts and 20 yards to
Curtis Jones in the first half, helping the Thundering Herd open a 17-14 lead
at the break.

In his sixth season at Marshall, coach Bob Pruett improved to 68-10, tying
Cam Henderson for most wins in school history. Henderson went 68-45-5
from 1935-49.

Men's Basketball: YSU Begins Four-Game Road Journey at DePaul  Posted Friday, November 23, 2001 by  ysupenguins
The Matchup: Youngstown State (8-2) at Marshall (9-1)
Site: Huntington W.Va./Marshall Stadium (38,019/Astroturf)
Series Record: 4-4-1
Radio: Y-103 FM (102.9 FM) PBP: Bob Hannon; Color: John Batcho; Sidelines: Paul
McFadden
Television: WFMJ Channel 21 PBP: Dana Balash; Color: Pat Saunders; Sidelines: Mike
Achelson
Websites: www.ysu.edu/sports • www.herdzone.com
Live Internet Radio Broadcast: www.ysu.edu/sports/broadcastnow.htm

Penguins Renew Championship Rivalry With Marshall
The Youngstown State football team renews one of its biggest rivalries when it travels to
Huntington, W. Va., on Saturday to play Marshall. Kickoff for the game at Marshall
University Stadium, which will be broadcasted back to Youngstown on TV-21 WFMJ, is at
7 p.m.
The Penguins (8-2 overall) are ranked sixth in the latest Division I-AA polls and will have
their work cut out for them facing Marshall (9-1), the 20th-ranked team in Division I-A. The
Thundering Herd has won nine consecutive contests since losing the season opener at
then-No. 1 Florida. The contest is believed to be YSU’s first-ever against a ranked Division
I-A team.
Youngstown State is coming off an impressive performance beating Elon 45-7 on
Saturday. The Penguins had one of their best total offensive days in school history amassing
609 yards. That total ranks third in school history for yardage in a single game. The 45
points were a season high and marked the eighth time in 10 games that YSU had scored
more than 31 points in a game this year.
Marshall’s offense has been equally impressive this year. In eight of 10 games, the
Thundering Herd has scored 34-or-more points and have six 40-plus point scoring games.
MU ranks second in Division I in passing offense (356.2 yards per game) and third in total
offense (514 yards).
This is the first game between the two schools since the 1993 title game which YSU won
at Marshall, 17-5. Youngstown State and Marshall hooked up in the national title game in
1991 with the Penguins winning 25-17. In 1992, Marshall pulled out a 31-28 win in
Huntington. The Thundering Herd have posted an 87-5 record at home since Marshall
University Stadium opened in 1991 (the Herd are 41-1 since 1996). The Penguins are one of
just four teams who have left victorious winning in 1993. In fact, YSU has two victories in
the Stadium -- beating Boise State in the 1994 title game.

Tonight’s Coaches Capsules
Youngstown State: Jon Heacock (Muskingum, 1983) is in his first year as the Penguins’
head coach. He owns a 8-2 record through 10 games. Heacock was hired on Jan. 25, 2001
to take over for 15-year YSU Coach Jim Tressel. Heacock is no stranger to the
Youngstown State program having been an assistant coach at YSU for seven seasons since
1990. In 2000 and from 1992 through 1996 he was the Penguins’ defensive coordinator. He
was the defensive coordinator at Indiana from 1997 through 1999 before returning to YSU
prior to last season.
Marshall: Bob Pruett (Marshall, 1965) has an impressive 67-10 record in his sixth year
as the head coach at the school. In five of his first six seasons he guided the Thundering
Herd to 10-or-more wins. In 1996, he led MU to a 15-0 record and the Division I-AA
National Championship. He is one win shy of tying the school mark for career wins. He has
guided MU to five consecutive bowl games.

Last Game Recap: Penguins 45, Phoenix 7
The Youngstown State football team put together one of the most impressive total
offensive efforts in school history amassing 609 total yards in a 45-7 victory over Elon on
Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium. YSU finished the game with 364 yards rushing and 245
yards passing. YSU jumped out on top in the first quarter on two P.J. Mays touchdown runs
(24 and two yards). In the second quarter Mike Burns burst up the middle 44 yards for his
first career touchdown and Sean Guerriero caught a 13-yard touchdown pass just before the
half to put YSU on top 27-0. In the third, Jake Stewart kicked a 31-yard field goal, Eugene
Mintze caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Ryan and the Penguins blocked an Elon punt
for a safety to lead 38-0 after three periods. In the fourth, Elon scored on a 35-yard
touchdown run by Rashuad Palmer but YSU answered with an eight-yard scoring run by
Colby Street for the final margin.
Game Notes: Junior tailback P.J. Mays had 170 yards rushing and tailback Mike Burns
had 116 yards, the first 100-plus rushing yard game of his career. It marked the second time
this season YSU had more than one runner over 100 yards. Tight end Dennis Dlugosz
caught four passes for 135 yards, which marked the first better than 100 yards receiving
day since Elliott Giles against Montana on Nov. 27, 1999. Defensive Back LeVar Greene
tied the school mark for pass breakups in a season with on breakup. He now has 15
breakups this year. Darius Peterson blocked his second punt of the season. Quarterback
Jeff Ryan threw for 164 yards and moved into second place on the career school passing
yardage list. Ryan now has 6,176 yards passing in his four-year career. YSU scored 45
points, its highest output since scoring 50 against Clarion on Sept. 3, 1998. In the past two
games YSU has 52 first downs and has collected 1,116 yards. The contest marked the final
regular-season home game for 21 seniors. It was only the second victory on a Senior Day
since 1995.

Penguins-Herd Have Strong Past History
In the early 1990’s, the Marshall-Youngstown State game was for all the marbles in
Division I-AA. In 1991, 1992 and 1993 the school’s played for the I-AA title and from 1991
through 1997 they combined to win six (out of seven) I-AA National Championships.
Marshall won in 1992 and 1996 while the Penguins won in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997. On
Montana broke through in 1995 winning at Marshall.
In 1993, YSU won 17-5 in front of 29,218 fans at Marshall Stadium. In that game,
Tamron Smith had 109 yards rushing as the Penguins outrushed MU 220-49. YSU led 17-0
before a safety and field goal cut the deficit to 12. But with 5:14 remaining the Thundering
Herd had a fourth-and-goal at the one, only to be stopped by YSU.
In 1992, Marshall won 31-28 in a thrilling game before 31,304 fans that saw the Penguins
fall behind 28-0 only to rally and tie the game with 3:28 left. But Marshall’s Willy Merrick
kicked a 22-yard field goal with seven seconds left to pull out the win. Smith had 82 yards
rushing and scored three touchdowns. Nick Cochran threw for 256 yards for YSU.
The first championship battle came in 1991 when the two teams squared off at Allen E.
Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga. YSU scored 19 fourth-quarter points to win 25-17 and
earn the school’s first national title. Marshall led 17-6 at the end of the third quarter before
Ray Isaac threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Herb Williams to cut the deficit to 17-12.
Ryan Wood scored on a three-yard touchdown run with 7:09 remaining and Smith scored on
a five-yard run with 5:42 left to put the Penguins in front 25-17. Marshall drove to the
Penguins’ 28-yard line in the closing seconds but a Michael Payton pass to the end zone
was incomplete.
YSU-MU Tidbits: Smith’s three-touchdown 18-point game is a stadium record by an
opponent against Marshall since Marshall Stadium opened in 1991...Penguin senior
defensive tackle Todd Blackwell was a freshman at Marshall in 1998 before transferring to
Youngstown State...current YSU assistant coaches Trent Boykin and Pete Rekstis and
Athletic Director Ron Strollo played in the title games in the early 1990s. YSU Head Coach
Jon Heacock was the defensive coordinator of all three squads that played against Marshall
for the national titles...YSU is 2-3 all-time in Huntington.

Marshall Thundering Herd Scouting Report
Marshall has one of the best passing offenses in the nation led by junior quarterback
Byron Leftwich. The Thundering Herd rank second in the country in passing offense and
third in total offense. Leftwich ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency (167.55) and
second in total offense (356 yards) trailing only Florida’s Rex Grossman. MU receiver
Darius Watts averages 7.9 receptions per game -- fourth best in the nation -- and 129.2
receiving yards per game -- third best in the county.
While the Thundering Herd average 37.4 points per game their defense is allowing 24.3
points per contest. Marshall allows 411.2 yards per game in total offense --195.3 yards
rushing per game.
Marshall will play for the Mid-American Conference championship on Nov. 30 at Toledo
and has accepted a bowl bid to play in the GMAC Bowl against a Conference USA
opponent.

Teams in the NCAA Division I-AA Field of 16
Entering Saturday five teams have officially qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA
playoffs earning conference automatic berths. In the field of 16 are Northern Iowa
(Gateway), Montana (Big Sky), Lehigh (Patriot), Eastern Illinois (Ohio Valley) and Florida
A&M (MEAC).
The Southern Conference (Georgia Southern or Furman), Atlantic 10 (Hofstra or
Villanova) and Southland (Sam Houston State or McNeese State) will have their automatic
bids decided Saturday.

Individual Penguins in National Rankings
Junior wide receiver Jerald Burley ranks third in the nation in punt return average (18.47
per return). Junior tailback P.J. Mays ranks fourth in the nation in scoring (11.4 points per
game) and 17th in rushing (124.5 yards per contest). Mays is also 29th in all-purpose yards.
Senior cornerback LeVar Greene ranks fifth in the nation averaging 0.70 interceptions per
game while senior Bruce Hightower is 43rd at 0.40. Jake Stewart is 49th with 0.70 field
goals per game while junior punter Kosta Karapetsas is 71st in punting average (36.78 per
kick).

YSU in the National Categories
The Youngstown State football team ranks in the top 20 in Division I-AA in eight
categories entering the contest against Marshall. YSU is fifth in rushing offense (271.10
yards per game), sixth in the nation in punt returns (16.59 yards), ninth in scoring defense
(15.3 points), 11th in kickoff returns (22.74 yards), 13th in turnover margin (+0.90), 13th in
total defense (283.90 yards), 13th in pass defense (150.30 yards), 16th in scoring offense
(34.40 points), 22nd in passing efficiency defense (99.48), 26th in total offense (405.6
yards), 38th in rushing defense (133.60 yards), 75th in net punting (31.79 yards), 100th in
passing offense (134.5 yards).

Penguins in the Gateway Conference Rankings
YSU is first in the Gateway in scoring offense, turnover margin and punt returns. The
Penguins are second in scoring defense, pass defense, rushing offense, rushing defense,
total offense, total defense, passing efficiency defense, sacks allowed and passing
efficiency. Other rankings: Sixth in passing offense, third in kickoff returns, sixth in
punting, fourth in first downs and third in time of possession. Individuals: P.J. Mays -- first
in rushing, first in scoring, first in all-purpose yards, seventh in total offense. Jake Stewart --
first in FG percentage and fifth in field goals per game. LeVar Greene -- first in
interceptions. Jeff Ryan -- fourth in total offense, fifth in passing. Jerald Burley -- first in
punt returns and kickoff returns, seventh in all-purpose yards, eighth in receiving yards.
Andre Coleman -- fourth in kickoff returns. Bruce Hightower -- fourth in interceptions.

Where the 2001 Penguins Stack Up
The 2001 Youngstown State football team has scored more than 30 points in eight games
this season setting a school record for 30-plus point games in a season. YSU has had five
40-point contests tying the school mark of five previously set back in 1978.
YSU is averaging 34.4 points per contest, the best average in a school history ahead of
the 33.5 set back in 1978. The Penguins are allowing 15.3 points per game the fourth-best
mark since the Penguins began playing at least 10 games per season on an annual basis in
1976. The 271.1 rushing yards per game rank number one ahead of 261.7 in 1989. The
405.6 total yards per game are also a school best ahead of 395.6 per game averaged in
1979.
However, YSU has committed 26 turnovers, the most in a single campaign since
committing 32 in 15 games in 1991. The Penguins had 27 turnovers in 11 games in 1988.

YSU Second Winningest Team at Marshall Stadium
Youngstown State and Appalachian State are tied for the second-most wins at Marshall
Stadium since the facility opened in 1991. Youngstown State earned a win over the Herd in
the 1993 National Championship game and beat Boise State in the 1994 title game.
Appalachian State won twice beating MU in 1992 and 1995. The only other team to win at
Marshall Stadium is Western Michigan, which beat the Thundering Herd on Oct. 5, 2000.
Marshall is 87-5 in the facility and 41-1 under Coach Bob Pruett.

YSU Picks Up 100th Stambaugh Stadium Win
In their 20th campaign at Stambaugh Stadium the Youngstown State football team picked
up their 100th victory in the facility on Oct. 13 beating Southwest Missouri State 41-20.
In its 20th season at Stambaugh, which opened in 1982, the Penguins are 102-31-2 (a
.763 winning percentage). YSU has won 14 of its last 16 home games.
Since the 1989 season, YSU is an impressive 78-16-1, including undefeated seasons in
1993 and 1994. The Penguins are 33-7 in the past five-plus years at the Ice Castle. At home
in the playoffs, YSU is 12-1 having won 11 straight home games.
Against Gateway Conference teams since 1997, the Penguins are 11-5 at home.

Wacky Year For Turnovers in YSU Contests
Entering the contest against Marshall, the Penguins have forced an impressive 35
turnovers and have turned 22 of them into 138 points. Twice this year, YSU has forced six
turnovers in a game -- against SMS and Clarion -- but has only won the turnover margin in
five of nine games. The 35 turnovers forced are the most since causing 45 in 15 games in
1994.
In the two games the Penguins have lost this season they have committed nine turnovers
-- an average of 4.5 per game. In the eight victories, YSU has committed 17 turnovers --
still an average of just over two per game.
The Penguins have turned the ball over 26 times and allowing nine scores off of its
miscues. The 26 turnovers is the most since committing 22 in 1991 in 15 games. YSU
turned the ball over 13 times in the first four games -- the most since 1988.
In 15 of the last 16 years (all but 1989), including 12 straight years, Youngstown State
has had a plus in the turnover margin department. Entering the contest against Elon, YSU
has a plus-9 turnover advantage.
Marshall carries a turnover margin advantage of plus-5 into the contest. Despite throwing
390 passes on the year, Thundering Herd quarterbacks have thrown just six interceptions
with four coming against Buffalo and Kent State.

YSU and First-Year Head Coaches
First-year Head Coach Jon Heacock has set a school record for wins by a first-year
coach with eight and is second in Gateway history . He is also the only coach of five to win
his first three games and is just one of two -- Bill Narduzzi in 1975 -- to win his debut.
Of those five coaches, four began their collegiate head coaching career at YSU. YSU’s
first head coach Dike Beede is the only coach who had prior collegiate head coaching
experience before coming to YSU. The other three head coaches -- Jim Tressel, Bill
Narduzzi and Rey Dempsey -- had never been a college head coach before taking over at
Youngstown. Beede guided the team from 1938-72, Dempsey in 1973-74, Narduzzi from
1975-85 and Tressel from 1986-2000. The best first-year coaching record was by Narduzzi
in 1975 when he posted a 5-4 mark. In their first years, Beede was 4-5, Dempsey was 4-6
and Tressel was 2-9.

Greene Named to Buck Buchanan Watch List
Senior defensive back LeVar Greene is one of 16 players on the Buck Buchanan Battle
list. The Buck Buchanan Award honors the nation’s top Division I-AA Defensive player.
Last year, YSU’s Tim Johnson finished third in the voting.
Here is a list of the 16 candidates after revisions were made to the list on Nov. 1.:
Yeremiah Bell, S, Eastern Kentucky; D.J. Bleisath, DE, Tennessee Tech; Will Bouton, LB,
Furman; Chris Brown, DB, Grambling, Abdul Byron, S, Lehigh; Keith Davis, S, Sam
Houston State; LeVar Greene, CB, Youngstown State; Isaiah Greer, DB, Rhode Island;
Vince Huntsberger, S, Montana; Josh Jeffries, DE, Appalachian State; Derrick Lloyd, LB,
James Madison; Mel Mitchell, S, Western Kentucky; Freddy Pesqueira, DT, Georgia
Southern; Travis Stephens, LB, The Citadel; Adam Vogt, LB, Northern Iowa and Tracy
White, LB, Howard.
Greene has had a solid season to be deserving of post-season accolades. He leads the
team and has tied the school record with 15 pass breakups. His seven interceptions lead the
team and the league and are one shy of tying the Gateway Football Conference’s record of
eight held by Northern Iowa’s Michael Beamon (1990). He has 36 tackles, 26 solo stops,
three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and he blocked a punt against Western Kentucky
that was returned for a touchdown.

Ryan Becomes All-Time Total Yardage/Plays Leader
Senior quarterback Jeff Ryan is the all-time leader in career touchdown passes, rushing
yards by a quarterback, total offensive yards and total offensive plays. Ryan set the total
offensive plays mark in the game against Western Kentucky. He has started 41 games in
his career and has 28-12 record as a starter. He is 25-9 as a starter since the 1999 season.
He has rallied Youngstown State from behind to victory 14 times, including four times last
season and once this year. Ryan has produced 7,974 yards of total offense in his career on
a total of 1,377 plays -- both school marks.
He has one more record in his sights that he would like to set before leaving Youngstown
State. Against Elon, Ryan moved into second on the all-time career passing yardage shot,
but still has a chance at the top spot. Ryan currently has 6,176 yards trailing Trenton Lykes’
total of 6,341. Ryan needs 165 yards to tie for the mark.

Mays Over 1,000 Yards For Season/2,000 For Career
Junior tailback P.J. Mays is the 15th player in school history to rush for more than 1,000
yards in a single-season. Mays eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with an 87-yard outing against
Southern Illinois on Nov. 3. His total of 1,245 ranks as the ninth-best single-season total in
school history.
In his 22-game career, Mays has rushed for 2,026 yards on 381 carries and has scored
28 touchdowns. He has seven 100-plus yard games in his two-year career.
This year, Mays became the second player in school history to rush for more than 200
yards in a game twice in a season. Mays rushed for 226 yards in the season opener against
Lock Haven and had 218 yards against SMS. The only other player to have more than 200
yards twice in a season was Paris Wicks in 1981. Wicks rushed for 227 yards against
Morehead State on Nov. 24, 1981 and the next week had 215 yards against Northern Iowa
on Nov. 31. Wicks finished his career with three 200-plus yard performances.

YSU Scoring Almost Every Way Imaginable
The Youngstown State football team has scored almost every imaginable way this
season. The Penguins twice blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown -- against Lock
Haven and Western Kentucky (returned 36 yards by Darius Peterson and returned 27 yards
by Chris DiMauro); returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Lock Haven (returned 89
yards by Andre Coleman); returned a fumble for a touchdown against Clarion (returned six
yards by Bruce Hightower); returned an interception for a score against Western Illinois
(returned 23 yards by LeVar Greene) and returned a punt for a touchdown against Illinois
State (returned 77 yards by Jerald Burley). YSU has also scored via a safety (long snapper
sent the ball through the end zone in game against Illinois State), field goal and rushing and
passing touchdowns. The only ways left (and there may be more) are a defensive extra
point or a blocked field goal for touchdown.

Coaches Game Day Assignments
YSU offensive coordinator/offensive line coach John Klacik has spent the past three
games on the field after moving from the coaches booth in the press box down to the
sidelines to call plays prior to the SMS game. The week before YSU assistant coach
George Small moved from the coaches booth down to the sideline joining defensive
coordinator Pete Rekstis and defensive line coach Bob Stoops. Offensively, Klacik is joined
by wide receivers coach Trent Boykin and quarterbacks coach Brian Wright as the on-field
coaches. Up in the coaches booth on gameday are assistant head coach/running backs
coach Sam Eddy and offensive graduate assistant Nick Siciliano, linebackers coach Todd
Murgatroyd and defensive graduate assistant Don Houser.

Five Seniors Named Team Captains This Season
The Penguins have tabbed seniors Jeff Ryan, Dave Tesniarz, Bob Sivik, LeVar Greene
and Bruce Hightower as the team captains for the 2001 season. Last season, with 12
seniors, the Penguins had game captains, but prior to this season, Coach Jon Heacock
announced that Ryan, Tesniarz, Sivik, Greene and Hightower were named the captains for
the season. YSU has 21 seniors on the roster this year.

Up Next: YSU Will Host Selection Show Gathering
The Penguins’ regular season will end on Nov. 24 following the Marshall game, but on
Sunday, YSU will be hoping its season continues when the NCAA Football Playoff field of
16 is announced at 12:30 p.m. The team, coaching staff and support staff will gather at the
DeBartolo Stadium Club in Stambaugh Stadium to see if the Penguins earn one of eight
at-large bids available. Eight teams earn automatic berths as conference champions.
YSU fans and members of the media are invited to attend the gathering which begins at
noon with the regular-season wrapup edition of Penguin Power. The show will air live from
the Stadium Club with host Bob Hannon and Head Coach Jon Heacock beginning at noon.

Women's Basketball Preview: Penguins Host Kent State Saturday  Posted Thursday, November 22, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- For the second straight week, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team will be hosting a team from the Mid-American Conference. The Penguins host Kent State, Saturday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center.

Last Time Out
The Youngstown State women’s basketball team dropped its home opener last week to Bowling Green, 71-61, in Beeghly Center. Sophomore Heather Harris poured in a team-high 16 points while freshman Jen Perugini recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. The loss marks just the sixth time in 27 years the Penguins lost their home opener and just the 10th time YSU lost on opening day.

Penguins Sign Three During Early Signing Period
The Youngstown State women’s basketball team signed three players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, Head Coach Ed DiGregorio announced on Monday. The Penguins inked 6-foot-2 center Nicole Neila (Manchester, Ohio), 5-foot- 7 guard Ashlee Russo (Boardman, Ohio) and 5-foot-8 guard Aliyah Sabree (Detroit, Mich.).

Horner, Vicarel Named 2001-02 Captains
Youngstown State seniors Jenny Horner and Monica Vicarel have been named team captains for the 2001-02 women’s basketball season. Last season, Horner posted a team-best .462 field-goal percentage and averaged 5.1 points per game while Vicarel averaged 4.4 points per game and led the team with 51 steals.

The Kent State Series
This is the 34th meeting between Kent State and Youngstown State with the Golden Flashes owning a 22-11 series advantage. Last season, the Golden Flashes won, 100-63, in Kent, Ohio, while the Penguins were victorious, 93-88, the last time the two teams played in Beeghly Center. YSU has won the last two games played at Beeghly Center and three of the last five games.

Scouting the Golden Flashes
Kent State enters tonight’s game with an 0-1 record after dropping a 78-53 decision to Maine last Friday. Junior Katalin Kollat came off the bench to lead the Golden Flashes with 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Senior newcomer Kate Miller also posted double-figures with 12 points and five rebounds.

Kent State Head Coach Bob Lindsay
Kent State head coach Bob Lindsay is in his 13th season at the helm of the Kent State women’s basketball program and owns a career coaching record of 232-119. Lindsay has guided the Golden Flashes to three NCAA Tournament appearances, four Mid-American Conference championships and owns an impressive 173-63 record against MAC opponents.

Horizon League 19th In RPI
The Youngstown State women’s basketball team made a significant jump when it joined the Horizon League (formerly the Midwestern Collegiate Conference) this past summer. At the end of the 2000-01 season, the Horizon League ranked 19th in the conference RPI ratings while the Mid-Continent Conference, YSU’s former league affiliation, ranked 26th out of 32.

Penguins Picked Seventh In Horizon League
The Youngstown State women’s basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the Horizon League in a poll conducted by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and selected media. UW-Milwaukee, who is the preseason favorite to win the league, picked up 201 points with 10 first-place votes while UW-Green Bay finished a close second with 200 points and 14 first-place votes. Detroit finished third with 167 points while Loyola (Chicago), Cleveland State, and Illinois-Chicago placed fourth, fifth and sixth with 112, 111, and 109 points, respectively. The Penguins finished with 78 points while rounding out the poll was Wright State in eighth-place with 57 points and Butler with 37 points.

Perugini In A Bottle
Youngstown State freshman Jen Perugini made an impressive debut against Bowling Green last Saturday. The 6-foot-2 freshman recorded a her first career double-double with 11 points and a team-best 15 rebounds. Perugini also tallied nine offensive boards.

O Canada
Two freshmen from Ontario, Canada, stepped up for the Penguins last Saturday against Bowling Green. Tara Fleming and Jen Perugini combined for 20 of YSU’s 61 points and 18 of its 53 rebounds. Fleming connected on 4-of-9 from the floor.

Road Warriors
The Penguins face a daunting task early in the 2001-02 women’s basketball season. The Penguins will play 12 of their first 16 games on the road, including a streak of nine consecutive away contests.

Hanek Earned All-Newcomer Honors
Last season, Youngstown State sophomore Cathy Hanek was selected to the Mid-Continent Conference All-Newcomer Team. Hanek averaged 6.1 points per game, but led the Penguins with 31 three-pointers. Against league opponents, Hanek averaged 8.4 points per game and connected on 37.7 percent of her three-point attempts.

Harris Opens Season With Solid Game
Sophomore Heather Harris has picked up where she left off last season. YSU’s top returning scorer from a year ago, Harris paced the Penguins with 16 points in a 71-61 loss to Bowling Green. The 6-foot forward also grabbed seven boards.

Board Bashers
Youngstown State freshman Jen Perugini and senior Jenny Horner were cleaning a lot of glass last Saturday against Bowling Green. Perugini and Horner combined for 26 of Youngstown State 52 rebounds or 50 percent of the team’s caroms.

International Flavor
Youngstown State will have an international flavor this season with three players joining the roster from outside the United States. Freshman Barbora Fabianova is from the Slovak Repulic while classmates Tara Fleming and Jen Perugini hail from Canada.

Six Newcomers Join Youngstown State
Youngstown State will have plenty of new faces to mix with the veterans as seven new players dot the 2001-02 YSU women’s basketball roster. Junior Maggie Johnston, a transfer from George Mason, and freshmen Barbora Fabianova, Tara Fleming, Jessica Olmstead, Jen Perugini and Melissa Tarrant all join the Penguins this season. Johnston sat out last season to comply with NCAA transfer regulations.

Injury Report
Senior Allison Metro will be out until January after having back in October. Freshmen Barbora Fabianova (ankle) and Melissa Tarrant (ankle) are both doubtful for the Kent State game.

Penguins Three-Point Streak Continues
The Penguins have quite a streak going for them. The Penguins have connected on at least one three-pointer in 188 straight games, dating back to February 4, 1995.

Up Next
Youngstown State visits Mid-American Conference member Akron, Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. in Akron, Ohio.

Men's Basketball: Penguins Blow Past SRU, 99-67  Posted Wednesday, November 21, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown -- Freshman Doug Underwood scored 21 points to lead five Penguins in double figures as the YSU men's basketball team beat Slippery Rock 99-67 on Tuesday night at the Beeghly Center.
Joining Underwood -- who also had nine rebounds -- in double figures for the Penguins were Bill Mallernee who had 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Ryan Patton who had 18 points and nine assists, Rafael Cruz had 13 points and seven assists while freshman Jimmy Moore scored 11 and had eight boards.
The Penguins (1-1) took control of the game in the first half outscoring the Rockets 53-26. YSU turned an 11-10 advantage into a 40-16 buldge with five minutes left in the half. In the first half, YSU shot 52.4 percent from the field and for the game shot 43.4.
In the second half Slippery Rock hung tough as the Penguins outscored the Rockets 46-41. Leading the way for SRU was Donteil Lewis who had a game-high 27 points and Bryant Lewandowski who scored 23 points.
For the game, Slippery Rock shot 40 percent from the field. From the 3-point line, YSU was 9-of-14 for 64.3 percent and was 12-of-17 from the foul line for 70.6 percent. YSU outrebounded the Rockets 47-33.
The Penguins return to action on Sunday, Nov. 25 when they play at DePaul at 3 p.m.

Men's Basketball: Robic Signs Four-Year Extension  Posted Tuesday, November 20, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Dr. David C. Sweet, President of Youngstown State University, announced Friday that men’s basketball coach John Robic has signed a four-year contract extension, which runs through April 2005.
YSU’s Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo said Robic is an important asset to the Athletic Department and future of Penguins basketball.
"John’s dedication to Youngstown State University, the Mahoning Valley and our student-athletes has been tremendous and he has a very bright future as our head men’s basketball coach," Strollo said. "With the change to the Horizon League this offers stability and a continuing commitment to both John and our men’s basketball program."
Last season, the Penguins finished 19-11 overall and placed third in the Mid-Continent Conference with an 11-5 mark. This year, Youngstown State plays its first season in the Horizon League, one of the most demanding basketball league’s in the nation.
"My family and I are very appreciative of the contract extension," Robic said. "We are very happy living in the Mahoning Valley and being a part of the YSU family and we hope that we can continue a long-lasting relationship with the community. I think it shows a solid commitment from the university and athletic administration, not only to myself and my family, but to the entire men’s basketball program. We look forward to competing in the Horizon League and make strides to be competitive."
Robic has worked hard to improve the program since his arrival in Youngstown in May 1999. On the court, YSU has won 31 games the past two seasons -- the second-most by any two-year coach in school history. Last year’s 19-win season marked the second-highest victory total by the Penguins in the past 24 years. YSU averaged 2,728 fans per game at the Beeghly Center in 2000-01, the most since the 1988-89 campaign.
In two years Robic has posted a 31-27 overall mark since taking over at YSU.
Off the court, Robic has graduated four of the five student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility under his tutelage -- also Ryan Patton, a member of the 2001-02 squad graduated in August -- added a player’s lounge to a new locker room facility, worked hard to renovate the coaches’ offices, made improvements to the Beeghly Center, and brought a new level excitement to the YSU basketball program.

Football: Penguins Roll For 609 Yards in 45-7 Win  Posted Sunday, November 18, 2001 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State football team had its third-best total offensive day in school history in a 45-7 victory over Elon on Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium amassing 609 yards.
The 609-yard effort ranks behind a 637-yard contest against Wayne State in 1974 and a 618-yard effort against Bloomsburg in 1990. Youngstown State (8-2) had 373 yards rushing and 245 yards passing to average 9.8 yards per snap. The Penguins will look to keep their momentum going when they travel to Division I Marshall next Saturday.
Against Elon, P.J. Mays scored two first quarter touchdowns to build a 14-0 Penguin advantage. Mays finished the game with 170 yards rushing giving him 1,245 on the season, which ranks as the eighth-best single-season total in school history. He also has 19 touchdowns on the season, including 18 rushing.
In the second quarter, sophomore tailback Mike Burns rambled 44 yards for his first touchdown of his career. Burns finished with 116 yards rushing after entering the contest with 197 on the season.
Before the half, the Penguins picked up a key touchdown as quarterback Jeff Ryan threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sean Guerriero with nine seconds left in the half. On the drive, the Penguins covered 62 yards in 22 seconds on four passes from Ryan to Guerriero.
For the game, Ryan completed 8-of-13 passes for 164 yards and moved into to second place in all-time passing yardage at YSU. Tight End Dennis Dlugosz finished the game with a career-best 135 yards receiving on four receptions.
In the third quarter, Jake Stewart kicked a 31-yard field goal to open the second-half scoring. Ryan threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Mintze to put the Penguins ahead 36-7. Before the end of the quarter, Darius Peterson blocked a Beau Wegmann punt out of the end zone for a 38-7 advantage.
Rashaud Palmer scored for the Phoenix (2-8) with 11:32 left in the game. YSU's Colby Street scored on an eight-yard touchdown run with 8:50 remaining to give the Penguins a 45-7 advantage.
YSU will play at Marshall in Huntington, W.Va., next Saturday at 7 p.m.

Three Student-Athletes Academic All-District  Posted Friday, November 16, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown State University football players Antulio Aroche (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Mike Thomas (Canfield, Ohio) and volleyball player Kristen Meech (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) were named to various Verizon/CoSIDA Academic District IV teams on Friday.
Aroche, a senior defensive back, has posted a 3.33 grade-point average in Biology/Pre-Med, while Thomas, a senior linebacker, currently owns a 3.76 GPA in Finance and both were named to the 2001 Verizon CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Football Team. Meech, who owns a 4.00 grade-point average in Elementary Education, was named to the first-team Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Volleyball Team for the second consecutive year.
This season, Aroche has started all nine games for the 7-2 Penguins. He is fifth on the team with 51 total tackles, including 32 solo stops. Against Southwest Missouri State he recorded a career-high 11 tackles and was named the Gateway Football Confernece’s Player of the Week.
Thomas is sixth on the team with 37 total tackles, including 17 solo stops. He has six tackles for losses, including one sack, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.
Meech leads the Penguins with 1.23 blocks per game, is averaging 2.86 kills per game, 1.70 digs per game and has a .289 hitting percentage on the year. The volleyball team is made up of student-athletes from Division I schools in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

YSU @ Evansville Pregame Notes  Posted Friday, November 16, 2001 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State men’s basketball team opens the 2001-02 regular-season on the road playing at Evansville on Saturday night. Tipoff for the contest in Evansville, Ind., at Roberts Stadium (12,300) is set for 8:05 p.m. EST.
The Penguins will be looking to win their third consecutive season opener after defeating St. Francis (Pa.) last year and Slippery Rock two years ago. YSU Head Coach John Robic has never lost an opener since he took over the YSU program prior to the 1999 season. Robic owns a 31-27 mark in his two seasons as the Penguins head coach.
But a trip to Evansville, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, will be tougher than those two previous contests. At Roberts Stadium, the Purple Aces have won 22 of their past 29 games over a two-year span and posted a 10-4 mark last year, including a victory over Horizon League member Butler.
YSU is coming off an impressive outing it is only exhibition game of the season. The Penguins beat Argentina Select 118-82 on Nov. 2 at the Beeghly Center. In the contest, YSU shot 61.7 percent from the field and made 11-of-17 3 -pointers.
Evansville pulled out a 106-103 overtime win over the Sports is War.com All-Stars on Nov. 10. In that contest they were without Adam Seitz and Chuck Hedde who are out with injuries. Also Coach Jim Crews did not attend that game because he is recovering from back surgery.
Slated to start against the Purple Aces is freshman guard Doug Underwood. In the exhibition game against Argentina Select, Underwood scored 30 points, 21 in the first half. Underwood becomes the first true freshman to start in the season opener since Anthony Camuso started off the 1996-97 season in the lineup. Since the start of the 1990 season, only four freshman have started the opening contest of the season (Lamar Morton in 1991-92 and Lacy Jones in 1990-91 are the others).
The Penguins play their home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. when they play host to Slippery Rock at the Beeghly Center.

Scouting Report: Evansville Purple Aces
Evansville enters the 2001-02 season coming off a 14-16 campaign a year ago. The Purple Aces were 10-4 at Roberts Stadium last year, which included a one-point victory over Horizon League foe and NCAA Tournament qualifier Butler. A member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Evansville was 9-9 in league play last season and earned a sixth-place finish. Evansville is 22-7 at home the past two years.
Evansville played an exhibition contest on Nov. 10 against the Sports Is War.Com All Stars. The Purple Aces trailed by 20 points before rallying for a 106-103 overtime victory. Leading the way for Evansville was 6-10 sophomore center Dan Lytle who scored 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Tobias Brinkley, a transfer from Eastern Oklahoma State College, added 24 points, Larry Ferguson, a Jacksonville (Texas) College transfer, contributed 21 and Clint Cuffle had 14.
The Aces played Saturday's exhibition game without head coach Jim Crews, who is at home recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured disk in his back. They also played without a pair of three-year lettermen. Senior forward Adam Seitz (broken hand) and senior center Chuck Hedde (broken jaw) are expected to return to the lineup sometime after Thanksgiving. UE trailed 66-46 early in the second half before Lytle, Brinkley and Ferguson led the comeback. The score was tied at 90 at the end of regulation.

Last Time Out: Penguins 118, Argentina Select 82
In its only exhibition contest of the season, the Youngstown State basketball team beat Argentina Select 118-82 on Nov. 2. For the game, YSU shot 61.5 percent from the field (40-of-65) and made 64.7 percent of its 3-point attempts (11-of-17).
Leading the way for the Penguins was freshman guard Doug Underwood who scored an impressive 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including making four 3-pointers. Senior guard Ryan Patton had a double-double scoring 22 points and dishing out 10 assists. Senior forward Stephen Flores and freshman guard Jimmy Moore each scored 16 points and senior guard Rafael Cruz added 12. Freshman forward Brian Radakovich grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and scored eight points. Senior center Jeff Ball scored eight points and sophomore forward Bill Mallernee, a transfer from Capital University, scored six.
YSU trailed 9-8 before a Radakovich putback gave the Penguins a 10-9 advantage with 15:32 left in the first half and they never trailed again. YSU built a 61-40 halftime advantage as Underwood had 21 points. For the game, YSU outrebounded Argentina 41-27 and made 27-of-36 free throws.

YSU Has Had Success in November
The Penguins will look to continue early-season November success when they open the season at Evansville on Saturday. Since playing its first November game in 1963, YSU owns a 28-17 overall mark in now what has become the traditional opening month for the college basketball season.
Last year, YSU posted a 4-1 mark in November starting the year 4-0 for the first time since the 1984-85 season. The four wins by the Penguins in November a year ago set the school record.
The Nov. 17 game against Evansville marks the second-earliest start to a year in school history. The earliest YSU has ever opened a season was in 1997 when it played St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 15.

Penguins Picked Eighth in Preseason League Poll
The Youngstown State basketball team was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Horizon League in a preseason poll selected by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and selected media.
The Penguins earned 76 points in voting, ahead of Loyola (Chicago) which received 56. YSU was 19-11 and 11-5 last season as a member of the Mid-Continent Conference. Loyola was 7-21 overall and 2-12 in conference play.
Leading the way in the league poll is Butler who received 30 of 33 first-place votes from the participants in the balloting. Butler defeated Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual national runnerup Arizona in the second round. Detroit, which advanced to the NIT Final Four, was tabbed third and received three first-place votes. Cleveland State was picked third, UW-Milwaukee was tabbed fourth, Wright State was predicted fifth, UIC was sixth and UW-Green Bay was selected seventh.

Robic Begins Third Season on YSU Bench
Head Coach John Robic begins his third season as the basketball coach at Youngstown State University. In his first two seasons he has a 31-27 record posting the second-most victories by a two-year head coach in school history behind 33 by Mike Rice.
Last year, Robic helped guide the Penguins to a 19-11 overall mark and an 11-5 record in the Mid-Continent Conference tying the school record for conference wins in a season. The Penguins finished third behind Valparaiso and Southern Utah in the Mid-Con.
YSU showed progress both on and off the court. The 19 wins tied for the second-highest total by the school in the past 24 years -- 20 in 1997-98 and 19 in 1984-85. Of the five seniors on the 2000-01 team, three graduated (Ryan Patton, Dave Brown and Andrew Hannan) and a fourth will graduate in December (Craig Haese). The Beeghly Center was rocking again as YSU averaged 2,728 fans per game, the highest average attendance for the program since the 1988-89 season.
Robic, who was the Associate Head Coach at UMass prior to arriving at YSU in 1999, won 12 games his first year becoming only the third coach in school history to win at least 12 games.
He was a member of the coaching staff at UMass from 1988 through 1999 under John Calipari and Brusier Flint. For the Minutemen he was an assistant from 1988 through 1995 before being named the Associate Head Coach from 1996 through 1999. At UMass he was a part of seven NCAA Tournament teams, including the 1996 squad that reached the Final Four.

Penguins Have Won Two Consecutive Openers
The Penguins will look to win their third consecutive season opener when they travel to Evansville, Ind. Last year, YSU opened the season with a come-from-behind 64-63 victory at St. Francis (Pa.). The Penguins trailed 63-61 before Andrew Hannan made a 3-pointer in the final seconds. To open the 1999-2000 campaign, the Penguins opened the year with a 92-71 victory over Slippery Rock in John Robic’s YSU debut.
Prior to the win over Slippery Rock, YSU had lost four consecutive season openers. Since joining Division I in 1981, Youngstown State is 11-8 in season openers. As YSU tips off its 72nd basketball season, the Penguins own a 34-37 record in season-opening games. Robic is 2-0 in season openers.
The last time YSU won three consecutive season openers was from 1990-91 through 1992-93.

Up Next....Penguins Play Host to Slippery Rock
The Youngstown State basketball team opens its 12-game home schedule when the Penguins play host to Slippery Rock on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
YSU has opened the past four home slates against the Rockets winning all four contests, including an 85-59 victory last season. The Penguins last dropped a home opener in 1996-97 losing to St. Francis (Pa.). Youngstown State returns to the road on Sunday, Nov. 25 when the play at DePaul.

Women’s Basketball: Penguins Down Ohio Legends, 89-84  Posted Thursday, November 15, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown State junior Maggie Johnston poured in 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-7 from behind the three-point line, to pace the Penguins to an 89-84 victory over the Ohio Girls Basketball Magazine Legends, Wednesday evening in Beeghly Center.
The Penguins, who buried 13 three pointers, shot a sizzling 53.1 percent from the floor, including 54.4 percent in the second half, and 41.9 percent from behind the arc.
Sophomore Heather Harris connected for 20 points on 9-of-14 from the floor with five assists, while senior Jenny Horner reached double figures with 13 point and seven rebounds.
Sophomore Devin Novak sparked the Penguins off the bench with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc and classmate Cathy Hanek dished out seven assists.
Youngstown State opens the season against Bowling Green, Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center.

YSU Hosts Ohio Girls Basketball Magazine Legends  Posted Monday, November 12, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Fans can catch a preseason glimpse of the Youngstown State women's basketball team, Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. The Penguins host the Ohio Girls Basketball Magazine Legends (OGBML) in an exhibition game in Beeghly Center.
Dotting the roster for the OGBML are Women's National Basketball Association standouts like Larecha Jones of the Charlotte Sting, Nicole Levandusky of the Los Angeles Sparks, Jannon Roland of the Charlotte Miracle, Georgia Schweitzer of the Minnesota Lynx, and Amy Sherry of the Cleveland Rockers.
For the first time since the 1991-92 basketball season, the Penguins will not be playing in the Mid-Continent Conference. Youngstown State joined the Horizon League (formerly the Midwestern Collegiate Conference) on July 1, 2001.
The Youngstown State women’s basketball team made a significant jump when it joined the Horizon League (formerly the Midwestern Collegiate Conference) this past summer. At the end of the 2000-01 season, the Horizon League ranked 19th in the conference RPI ratings while the Mid-Continent Conference, YSU’s former league affiliation, ranked 26th out of 32.
The Penguins tip off the 2001-02 season against a very familiar opponent. Youngstown State opens the campaign against Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green, Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center. It marks the second consecutive season and the third time in four years the Penguins opened the season against the Falcons.

YSU Cross Country Teams 15th and 26th at Regional Meet  Posted Sunday, November 11, 2001 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State men’s cross country team placed 15th while the
YSU women’s cross country team finished 26th at the NCAA Cross Country Great Lakes
Regional on Saturday afternoon.
The top finisher for the men was sophomore Matt Paullin who finished 58th with a time of
32:26.1. Finishing 68th was junior Tim Tatarka in a time of 32:47.1, placing 86th was sophomore
Tony Orcena with a time of 33:04.3, junior Will Edwards was 110th with a time of 33:26.7 and
sophomore Kurt Michaelis was 112th in a time of 33:33.2 Notre Dame finished first on the men’s
side. YSU was 15th out of 31 teams.
On the women’s side, freshman Emily Schnitkey was the top finisher placing 119th with a time
of 23:99.9. Other finishers for the women included, freshman Lindsey Wojciak at 141st (24:10.3),
junior Lindsay Frontz at 147th (24:15.9), sophomore Andrea Bardy at 154th (24:20.1) and senior
Jen Moore in 162nd place (24:35.8). Michigan State finished first in the women’s competition.
YSU was 26th out of 31 schools.

Soccer: YSU Falls to Butler in League Tournament, 2-0  Posted Friday, November 9, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Detroit, Mich. -- The Youngstown State soccer team dropped their match to Butler, 2-0, in the first day of play at the Horizon League tournament on Thursday afternoon.
The Penguins held the Bulldogs scoreless in the first 54 minutes of play, but Amy Morrison would score the first goal off of an assist from Kristin Drogell to put Butler on top. Amy Pike scored the Bulldogs second goal of the game in the last minute.
Butler outshot YSU 15-2 and outcornered the Penguins 3-0. Senior goalkeeper Christine Handte collected seven saves for Youngstown. The Penguins finished their season with an overall record of 1-20 and 0-6 in the Horizon League.

Ryan Leads YSU Past Southern Illinois 31-7  Posted Saturday, November 3, 2001 by  ysupenguins
YSU senior quarterback Jeff Ryan threw for 214 yards and ran for 94 more to help lead the Penguins to a 31-7 victory over Southern Illinois at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. on Saturday afternoon.
Youngstown State (7-2) finishes Gateway Football Conference play 5-2 on the year while Southern Illinois drops to 1-7 and 1-4 on the season. YSU trailed 7-3 before scoring the final 28 points of the game on a Ryan to Eugene Mintze touchdown pass, two P.J. Mays touchdown runs and a Darius Peterson scoring run.
Ryan, YSU's all-time leader in total offense, was 16-of-19 passing and had his most yards through the air since Dec. 4, 1999 against North Carolina A&T. He threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Mintze in the second quarter that gave the Penguins a 10-7 advantage.
SIU took a 7-3 lead when tailback Brandon Robinson threw a 38-yard halfback pass to Jason Hollingshead with 1:19 left in the first quarter.
After the Penguins took the lead, they added a one-yard score by Mays with 8:35 left in the second quarter to build a 17-7 halftime lead.
After a scoreless third period, Mays scored on another one-yard run -- his 16th rushing touchdown of the season -- and Peterson added a nine-yard score -- his first touchdown since the Indiana State game.
YSU racked up 507 total offensive yards, the second most on the year. The Penguins had 275 yards rushing and a season-best 232 yards passing.
Mays finished with 87 yards and became the 15th player in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards on the season. He has ran for 1,075 yards this year.
The Penguins have next Saturday off before returning to action on Saturday, Nov. 17 against Elon. YSU is 13-2 over the past 15 years after an off week and is 1-0 this season. Youngstown State closes out the regular season on Nov. 24 at Marshall.

Men’s Basketball: Penguins Trounce Argentina Select, 118-82  Posted Friday, November 2, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Youngstown State freshman Doug Underwood paced the Youngstown State men’s basketball team with 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field, including 4-of-5 from behind the three-point line, to lead the Penguins to a 118-82 victory over an Argentinean select team in an exhibition game, Friday, in Beeghly Center.
Youngstown State, which shot 61.5 percent from the floor and 64.7 percent from behind the arc, had five players reach double figures.
Senior Ryan Patton recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists while senior Stephen Flores and freshman Jimmy Moore each poured in 16 points. Senior Rafael Cruz also reached double figures with 12 points.
The Penguins won the war on the boards, out-rebounding Argentina, 41-27. Freshman Brian Radakovich led the Penguins with 11 rebounds, including nine on the defensive glass.
Youngstown State opens the regular season against Evansville, Saturday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. in Evansville, Ind.

Men's Hoops: YSU Hosts Argentina Select  Posted Thursday, November 1, 2001 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State men’s basketball team plays an exhibition game against Argentina Select on Friday night at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
The YSU ticket office is using the contest as a "Select-a-Seat" Night where fans can pick a seat and purchase a season ticket for the 2001-02 season. Season-ticket packages can be purchased for $96 or $72. The best value is the Full Season Package for Men’s and Women’s Games at $128 and $96. Admission to Friday night’s game is free. While season tickets are on sale, single-game tickets for the remainder of the season will be available for purchase on Monday, Nov. 5. The Argentina Select squad features eight players who are 6-foot-6 or taller and all 11 players on the squad are listed as taller than 6-4. This is the first game of Argentina Select’s United States tour.

Men's Hoops 2001-02 Outlook  Posted Tuesday, October 30, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Coach John Robic and the Youngstown State men’s basketball program have not backed down from challenges in his first two years as head coach.
This season, the Penguins face their biggest new challenge by making a move into the Horizon League. Joining the Horizon League, one of the premiere basketball conferences in the nation, is a big move for the Penguins, but Robic and his team are excited about playing some of the nation’s elite basketball teams.
Robic, in his third year as head coach of the Penguins, will have some experience to go with an exciting group of newcomers this season as Youngstown begins play in the nine-member League.
Returning to the YSU lineup are senior guards Ryan Patton and Rafael Cruz along with forwards sophomore TeJay Anderson and senior Stephen Flores. Those four players will be counted on to help ease the transition into the new league.
The Horizon League is loaded with talented teams. YSU, which was a member of the Mid-Continent Conference since 1992, will play in a league ranked 11th in the nation, up from 21st where the Mid-Con ranked a year ago. The Penguins will play each team twice in the league, once home and once away.
The league is solid from top to bottom. Last year, Butler defeated Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual runner-up Arizona. Detroit, which pulled out a 54-53 victory at the Beeghly Center last year, advanced to the NIT Final Four. Five teams in the conference finished with winning records
Other teams in the league include UW-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Loyola (Chicago), Illinois-Chicago, Wright State and Cleveland State.
In the two matchups last season against Horizon League foes the Penguins almost pulled out two victories. Against Detroit, conference MVP Rashad Phillips scored on a three-point play in the final seconds to beat YSU 54-53. At UW-Green Bay, YSU led for almost the enitre game before losing in overtime 66-58.
Robic said the Penguins must be ready to compete at their highest level each game.
"The biggest difference is that this league is strong from top to bottom, one through nine with ourselves included," he said. "There are no easy games. When you are talking about a league that is the toughest league to win in the country on the road, during the conference season, that is saying something. It is more difficult than any league in the country and that is proven. Then you know you have your work cut out for you. I have always said, if you do well at home and survive on the road you have as good of a chance as anyone."
To prepare for League play, Robic has put together what is probably the toughest schedule in school history.
In the non-conference season this year, YSU plays contests against Evansville, DePaul, Toledo and former Mid-Con rivals Chicago State, Valparaiso, Western Illinois and UMKC. NCAA Tournament second-round participant Kent State visits the Beeghly Center along with Slippery Rock, Robert Morris and IPFW.
YSU plays five of its first six games on the road and seven of its first 10 contests are away from the Beeghly Center.
"This schedule aligns itself with being consistent of how we have tried to handle things after our first two years," Robic said. "We want to face as challenging a schedule as we can and in our third year we have done that. We have a difficult combination of non-conference games and Horizon League contests to make this the toughest and best schedule in school history.
"If you want to be a good team come tournament time that you have to play a demanding schedule. That is what we have done this year."
Last season, YSU finished 19-11 overall and finished third in the Mid-Con with an 11-5 mark. The Penguins’ season ended in the conference tournament losing to Oral Roberts by three points. The 11 conference victories tied the school mark for conference wins in a season set in 1997-98.
Back from that squad are seven letterwinners. Returning are Patton, Cruz, Anderson, Flores, Jeff Ball, Khari McQueen and Marlon Williamson.
The Penguins will have to replace first-team all-conference performer Craig Haese and leading rebounder Desmond Harrison. Haese led the team in scoring and set a school mark making 90 3-point field goals. Both Harrison and Haese scored more than 1,000 points in their YSU careers. Also gone from last year’s squad are Dave Brown, Andrew Hannan, Randy Brooks and Brian Woodson.
YSU returns three starters -- Anderson, Flores, and Patton -- from last season’s squad and Cruz saw time off the bench as YSU’s sixth man. He also started two games.
Patton’s play will be a major factor in how the Penguins fare in the 2001-02 season. Last year, he was an honorable-mention all-league selection. A senior last season, he graduated in August to earn another year of eligibility after sitting out his freshman season.
Patton (Parma, Ohio) led the team with an impressive 163 assists. He averaged 10.5 points per game along with his league-leading 5.4 assists per game. He was second on the team making 40 3-pointers. His play improved throughout the season and he finished by scoring double figures in 12 games and dishing out seven-or-more assists in 11 contests.
Cruz (Arecibo, Puerto Rico) played in every game last year and finished the season averaging 10.1 points per game after sitting out the previous campaign. He finished the year second on the team with 83 assists and third with 20 3-pointers. Cruz showed his sharpness from the free-throw line making 83.8 percent of his attempts (98-of-117). In the last two minutes of games he made 90 percent (27-of-30) of his foul shots.
Flores (East Liverpool, Ohio) had a strong season in the front court after sitting out the 1999-2000 campaign. He played in all 30 games and averaged 7.9 points per contest. He was second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game and had a 15 blocked shots, tops among returning players.
Anderson (Dorchester, Mass.) started the final 26 games of his freshman season and played in every contest. He showed his shooting touch setting a freshman school mark making 60.8 percent of his attempts from the field (87-of-143). He averaged 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds a game.
In the frontcourt last year, YSU averaged 36.1 points per game and had a plus-2.1 rebounding margin.
Williamson (Detroit, Mich.) played in 21 games, Ball (Canon City, Colo.) saw action in nine contests and McQueen played in 22 games. Williamson adds quickness on defense coming off the bench in the backcourt. Ball and McQueen will provide depth up front. Ball is the tallest player on the team and McQueen helps add a physical presence down low.
As a group, the Penguins finished with 437 assists, the 10th most in a season in school history. Of those 437 assists, Patton and Cruz accounted for 246 (56 percent). YSU returns 49 percent (1,041-of-2,133 points) of its scoring and 44 percent of its rebounding from last season’s squad.
Robic said the 2001-02 team should have some chances to have a successful season, but when that success may come is difficult to tell.
"I have a timetable, but that is just for me," Robic said. "My players won’t know what it is and my staff doesn’t know what that is. It is going to be a process there is no question about that. We have made good steps in the first two seasons here and I am looking to continue the progress. I don’t like to fail and I am trying to get that point across to my players. If we continue to play like we did last year, and my first year, we are going to be fine. But it is going to take some time."
Joining the seven returners are five newcomers and redshirt Bill Mallernee. Mallernee sat out last season after transferring from Capital University. At Capital he averaged 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 1999-2000.
Four freshmen joining the squad are guard Jimmy Moore (Worchester, Mass.), forward Brian Radakovich (Steubenville, Ohio), forward Kenneth Lampley (Gary, Ind.) and guard Doug Underwood (Ft. Meade, Md.). North Carolina A&T transfer Jelani Dukes (Cleveland, Ohio) will have to sit out the season per NCAA requirements.
Moore and Underwood were all-state selections last year and will be counted on to help in the backcourt immediately. As a senior, Moore averaged 21 points per game as Holy Name Academy advanced to the state championship game. He scored more than 1,000 points in his four-year career. Underwood averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in high school.
Lampley and Radakovich should provide help to Anderson and Flores in the front court. Radakovich, a 6-7 forward, averaged 20.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. Lampley, a 6-6 forward, averaged 13.5 points and 14 rebounds.
Robic said the newcomers all welcome the physical style of play that has made the Horizon League so strong.
"The players who have come in like to play physically," Robic said. "We are talking about this freshmen class where a couple of them have the football-like physical attitudes on the court and I like that."
How quickly the newcomers and the returning players come together will be a big factor in the success of the team, Robic said.
Last season, the Penguins opened the season with four victories behind the strength of five seniors and two junior transfers in Cruz and Flores. This year’s team begins the year playing five of its first six games on the road and has only three home games before Jan. 3.
The Penguins will undertake some challenges this season in what will be an exciting year.

Diving: YSU Divers Win at Clarion Invite  Posted Tuesday, October 30, 2001 by  ysupenguins
Senior Brandi Goettsch, junior Mandi Smail and freshman Kalyn Leveto of the YSU diving team qualified for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships in both the one-meter and three-meter events this past weekend.
During the YSU diving team’s win at the Clarion Invitational on Sunday (38-22), both Leveto and Smail qualified for Zones with their performances in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events.
Leveto won the three-meter event with a score of 485.35 and placed fifth in the one-meter event. Smail placed second in the one-meter event with a score of 406.75 and fourth in the three-meter event with a score of 429.30
Goettsch also qualified for Zones in the one-meter dive with a second-place score of 468.50 against Clarion. Goettsch previously qualified for Zones in the three-meter event (278.10) during this weekend’s loss to Akron.

Cross Country: Schnitkey Earns Horizon League Newcomer of the Year; Men Place Third at Horizon League Championships  Posted Sunday, October 28, 2001 by  ysupenguins
At Saturday’s Horizon League Cross Country Championships, freshman Emily Schnitkey earned the Horizon League Cross Country Female Newcomer of the Year award and first-team all-conference honors for her seventh-place career-best time of 18:07. Schnitkey led the
women to a fifth-place finish overall.
At the All-Ohio Championships earlier this season, Schnitkey was also recognized with All-Ohio Freshman of the Year honors. The Youngstown State University men’s cross country teams earned a third-place finish during their first showing at the Horizon League Championships. Butler and Loyola tied for first-place honors on the men’s side. Each of the top four finishing runners for YSU recorded personal-best times on the championship course. Junior Tim Tatarka finished out front for the men with a 12th-place time of 25:30.
Sophomore Matt Paullin finished 15th, 25:43, sophomore Tony Orcena placed 22nd, 26:06. Sophomore Lindsay Frontz ran a career-best time of 19:15 while freshman Lindsay Wojciak ran a season-best time of 19:30. Senior Jen Moore ran a time of 19:40. The YSU men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete at the Great Lakes Regionals in Terre Haute, Indiana on November 10.

'Guins Host Hilltoppers  Posted Friday, October 26, 2001 by  ysupenguins
The Youngstown State football team plays one of their biggest games of the season on Saturday when the Penguins play host to Western Kentucky. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
No. 5/5 YSU (6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Gateway) will have its work cut out for it against a WKU team that possess one of the best defensive teams in the nation. The 10th/11th-ranked Hilltoppers (5-2 and 2-1) rank third in the nation in scoring and total defense