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106

YSU Penguin Athletics / Track and Field Signs Nation's Top Shot-Putter

« on: March 12, 2021, 02:29:26 PM »

The Youngstown State track and field program has received a signed National Letter of Intent from the nation's top-ranked high school shot put senior recruit in Connor Vass-Gal, head coach Brian Gorby announced Friday.

"Our track and field staff is very excited to have Connor join our championship-caliber throws family as an athlete and a great person," Gorby said. "We look forward to supporting throws coach Megan Tomei and Conner on their journey to make Connor's national dreams a reality."

While a member of the Wilmington High School track program, Connor notched the country's top-mark in the outdoor shot put in 2019, owning a throw of 64'4.75'' or 19.62m. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 outdoor season by the COVID-19 pandemic, Conner's throw still sits atop the leaderboards.

With the signing, Conner becomes the highest nationally-ranked incoming recruit in program history. Former-penguin Chad Zallow (Warren JFK) held the previous record when he signed to YSU in 2015, owning the second-best 60-meter hurdles mark across the country. While at YSU, Zallow went on to not only set the USA Junior U20 60-meter hurdles record, but also became a six-time Division 1 All-American, two-time outdoor Horizon League Athlete of the Year and four-time indoor Horizon League Athlete of the Year.

The Penguins are well suited to produce talented throwers under the leadership of coach Tomei and the throws staff. Most recent, YSU junior Zach Gehm earned a spot on Team USA at the 2019 Pan American Championships held in Costa Rica. Gehm solidified his spot on the national team after he won the discus title at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships.

107

YSU Penguin Athletics / AP: Baker leads S. Illinois' return over Youngstown St.

« on: March 07, 2021, 10:37:51 AM »

OUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) Nic Baker threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another and Southern Illinois overcame Youngstown State's fast start for a 30-22 comeback win over the Penguins on Saturday.

It was the first win for the Salukis (3-1, 2-1 Missouri Valley Conference) in Youngstown since the 2012 season. Offensively, the 22-point effort of the Penguins (0-3, 0-3) was its best of the season after having scored a single touchdown entering Saturday's contest.

On its final drive, Youngstown State put together a nine-play, 55-yard drive getting to the Southern Illinois 25 before turning it over on downs with 55 seconds remaining.

Sat, March 6, 2021, 4:03 PM

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) Nic Baker threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another and Southern Illinois overcame Youngstown State's fast start for a 30-22 comeback win over the Penguins on Saturday.

It was the first win for the Salukis (3-1, 2-1 Missouri Valley Conference) in Youngstown since the 2012 season. Offensively, the 22-point effort of the Penguins (0-3, 0-3) was its best of the season after having scored a single touchdown entering Saturday's contest.

On its final drive, Youngstown State put together a nine-play, 55-yard drive getting to the Southern Illinois 25 before turning it over on downs with 55 seconds remaining.
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The Penguins built leads of 12-0 and 19-7 before Southern Illinois staged its rally. Baker ran it in from 17 yards 25 seconds before halftime reducing the deficit to six after the missed point after attempt. The Salukis emerged from halftime with Baker leading a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that culminated with his 2-yard touchdown pass to Justin Strong for a 20-19 lead and they led the rest of the way.

Jaleel McLaughlin ran for 124 yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns for the Penguins.

108

YSU Penguin Athletics / Bohannon’s Triple-Double, Covington’s Career-High Not Enough in 87-83 OT Loss

« on: March 03, 2021, 08:11:20 AM »

Rochester, Mich. – Senior Naz Bohannon posted the first triple-double in program history and senior Garrett Covington scored a career-high 30 points, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team fell 87-83 in overtime to Oakland in the quarterfinals of the Progressive Insurance Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship.

The Penguins fall to 15-12 while the Golden Grizzlies improve to 11-17 and advance to the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship.

Bohannon made program history with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. He connected on 5-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Covington's was 12-of-21 from the floor and tied a career-high with five 3-pointers, six rebounds and three assists. Junior Darius Quisenberry scored 18 points and dished out six assists while freshman Shemar-Rathan Mayes added 10 points.

Leading Oakland was Rashad Williams with 22 points and Jalen Moore with 20 points and 11 assists.

The Penguins twice trailed by 11 in the second half and were down 62-51 with 9:35 remaining. An 11-0 run sparked by a 3-pointer by Rathan-Mayes, a jumper by Covington, and 3-pointers by Geoff Hamperian and Covington tied the game at 62-62 at the 5:17 mark.

The Golden Grizzlies built a five-point lead, 71-66, with 3:25 to go capped by the third of three straight 3-pointers by Williams.

Bohannon's three-point play with 1:41 remaining gave the Penguins a 73-71 lead before Daniel Oladapo tied the game at 73-73. Quisenberry's game-winning attempt was short.

Quisenberry hit a 3-pointer to open the overtime period and a Covington jumper gave the Penguins a 78-76 lead. Oakland, though, scored eight straight points over the next two minutes to take an 84-78 lead with 50 seconds left.

Covington hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game to get the Penguins within a possession, 86-83, but Moore made a free throw with 10 seconds left to seal the victory.

After a slow start offensively and falling behind by 10, 25-15, the Penguins started to find their rhythm and made nine of the last 16 field-goal attempts.

Covington hit back-to-back 3s to get the Penguins within four, 25-21, with 6:24 left. The Golden Grizzlies expanded the lead back to eight before Covington hit his third 3-pointer of the half, Bohannon hit a jumper and Quisenberry made a pair of free throws.

Quisenberry hit his second 3 of the half to tie the game at 36-36 before Oakland's Oladapo made a free throw to give the Golden Grizzlies a 37-36 halftime lead.

109

YSU Penguin Athletics / Ladies Battle But Fall 77-68 at Milwaukee in Quarterfinals

« on: March 03, 2021, 08:09:29 AM »

Youngstown State pushed Horizon League regular-season champion Milwaukee to a deadlock through 33 minutes, but the Panthers prevailed 77-68 in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship.

Milwaukee advances to the tournament semifinals to play IUPUI in Indianapolis, and YSU's season concludes with a 10-8 record.

Penguins senior Chelsea Olson went 6-for-7 from 3-point range and scored a team-high 22 points, and fifth-year senior Mary Dunn scored all of her 20 points in the first three quarters. Freshman Nneka Obiazor had 13 points and eight rebounds to finish off a memorable first season with the program.

Fifth-year senior McKaela Schmelzer had a career night for the Panthers with 24 points, which was nine more than her previous career high. She went 3-for-4 from 3-point range, and the Panthers hit 10 of their 20 attempts from long distance in the game.

"I thought our team played really hard, and I'm proud of them," YSU head coach John Barnes said. "It was a battle, and I felt like we got a little tired toward the end. We started to miss some of the shots we were making, and Milwaukee just made big shots."

"It was an incredibly hard year to get through with COVID forcing us to miss so many games early, and our league was really good this year. To finish with a winning record after all of the challenges is something we can build on. Our team is capable of being really good and competing for a championship, and that's something we need to work toward in the offseason."

Youngstown State led 36-34 at halftime, and the Penguins' advantage reached its pinnacle at 43-36 with just under eight minutes remaining in the third period. The Panthers caught them and took a 57-55 lead at the end of the third, and they had a big 8-0 run in the fourth that ultimately tipped the game in their favor.

Youngstown State trailed 7-2 less than two minutes into the game, but it went on a 13-5 run to take a 15-12 lead. The Penguins finished that run with a 7-0 spurt that featured a 3 by Olson and buckets by Peters and Obiazor.

Olson's second 3-pointer of the period came with 36 seconds left and put the Penguins ahead 21-17, but Milwaukee scored the final two points of the first quarter and the first seven points of the second to take a 26-21 lead. The Panthers' advantage grew to 32-25 on an Emma Wittmerhaus basket with 4:55 on the clock, but the Penguins outscored the Panthers 11-2 the rest of the half. Olson started the run with a 3, and she finished it with a jumper in the final minute.

YSU was plus-seven in turnover margin in the first half, but it was minus-three in the second half as Milwaukee held a 43-32 lead over the final 20 minutes.

Olson and Schmelzer traded baskets in the opening minute of the third quarter, and Olson hit a 3 to spark a five-point run that gave the Penguins their largest lead of the game at 43-36 with 7:52 left. YSU didn't have a field goal for nearly three minutes after Olson's triple, and that allowed Milwaukee to tie the score at 44. Another Schmelzer triple at the 5:03 mark gave the Panthers their first lead of the second half at 47-46, and the margin stayed within a possession until Milwaukee's run in the fourth.

Obiazor hit a 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter to give the Penguins a 55-52 lead, but Kendall Nead scored the final five points of the period to give the Panthers a 57-55 advantage entering the fourth. Olson hit a 3 on YSU's first possession of the final quarter to give the Penguins their final lead of the night at 58-57, and Nead countered with another triple 20 seconds later to put Milwaukee back on top.

The score was tied at 60 when Bre Cera scored eight straight points for the Panthers to help the home team start to take control. She hit a pull-up jumper near the end of the shot clock to give Milwaukee a 62-60 lead with 6:21 left, and she hit 3s on the Panthers' next two possessions to push the margin to 68-60. The Penguins called timeout, and Olson hit her sixth 3-pointer of the game at 4:12 to get the difference back to five. After that Olson trey, YSU did not score again until a Malia Magestro 3-pointer with 36 seconds left. By then, Milwaukee had built a 75-63 lead as it finished off a 15-3 run.

Magestro's 3 made the score 75-66, and Schmelzer made two free throws to cap off her career effort. YSU fifth-year senior Emma VanZanten came in off the bench and scored on the final possession of her career and the Penguins' season for the final tally.

Youngstown State shot 42.4 percent for the game, and it went 8-for-17 from 3-point range. The Penguins' 68 points were 13 more than the Panthers allowed on average during the regular season.

Milwaukee came into the game averaging 5.8 3s per game, but the Panthers went 10-for-20 from long distance against YSU. Milwaukee shot 48.3 percent overall and converted 13-of-14 at the free-throw line.

110

YSU Penguin Athletics / Johnson Suspended

« on: March 01, 2021, 06:14:43 PM »

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Youngstown State University a$$istant coach Tim Johnson will not be permitted on the sidelines for the remainder of the season after he was caught on video hitting an opposing player.

In the video, you can see Johnson (in white) lower his shoulder into University of Northern Iowa wide receiver Quan Hampton as he runs out of bounds, knocking the player down. The television broadcast video went viral on social media Saturday afternoon.

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“I apologize to UNI, Youngstown State, the Missouri Valley Football Conference and our community for what occurred on Saturday,” Tim Johnson, YSU director of player personnel, said in a statement. “As a member of the YSU Football staff, my actions are held in high regard and that should have never occurred. Again, I deeply apologize to all who have been impacted by my actions.”


Johnson is a former All-American for the YSU Penguins, and this is his first season as a member of the Youngstown State football staff.

UNI won the game 21-0. The Penguins return to play this Saturday, when they host Southern Illinois.

111

YSU Penguin Athletics / Peterson Honored As League Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year

« on: February 26, 2021, 09:36:29 AM »

Youngstown State senior Sean Peterson has been named a 2021 Alfreeda Golf Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Friday.

Peterson was one-of-two male athletes awarded due to a tie in the voting process. Milwaukee sprinter, sophomore Michael Gorman, was also awarded.

Peterson becomes the fifth YSU male athlete to accept the award, the first since former-teammate Chad Zallow in 2019. Prior, the Penguins had won the award the previous five seasons (2014-18) and in 2003.

Peterson owns the league's top times in the 800m run (1:50.95) and the mile (4:14.72) entering the 2021 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships. His 800m mark, set during the YSU Mid-Major Invitational, qualified as the second-fastest 800m time in YSU history and the country's 53rd-best time to date, while being a personal-best. Peterson was tabbed the Horizon League Men's Runner of the Week following the event victory. He also tallied an event victory in the mile run at the YSU Collegiate Invitational Jan. 15. Capping his regular season, Peterson posted a top-six finish in the Camel City Elite 800m section of the Camel City Invitational Feb. 20, finishing with a 1:51.00 mark.

Milwaukee's Meg Swietlik received the women's Alfreeda Goff Athlete of the Year honors.

The 2021 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships will begin tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the Lutheran Health Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The meet is hosted by Horizon League newcomer, Purdue Fort Wayne. With an event victory in the 800m, Peterson would become the only runner in league history to win the event four times.

112

YSU Penguin Athletics / Basketball Advances With 74-58 Win Over UIC

« on: February 26, 2021, 09:34:10 AM »

Youngstown State had five players score in double figures and led for more than 35 minutes in a 74-58 victory over UIC in the opening round of the 2021 Progressive Insurance Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship on Thursday at Beeghly Center.

Michael Akuchie scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season, and YSU's other four starters also scored in double figures. Naz Bohannon had 15 points and six assists, Darius Quisenberry scored 12, and Garrett Covington and Shemar Rathan-Mayes both had 10 points. Akuchie and Rathan-Mayes combined for 17 points in the first half as Youngstown State built a 35-25 lead at halftime.

Youngstown State will advance in the conference tournament to play third-seeded Oakland in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Penguins are now 15-11 this season, while UIC's campaign ends with a 9-13 mark.

Teyvion Kirk led four Flames in double figures with 13 points.

UIC led 10-7 after a Kirk layup five minutes into the game, but the Penguins scored seven straight points on two-pointers by Covington and Bohannon and a 3-pointer by Akuchie to take a 14-10 lead. After Akuchie's 3-pointer at the 14:21 mark made the score 12-10, Youngstown State did not trail again.

The margin stayed within six points, and YSU's lead was 24-21 at the 4:32 mark after a 3-pointer by UIC's Jamie Ahale. The Penguins ended the first half on an 11-4 run to turn that three-point lead into a 35-25 advantage. Rathan-Mayes sparked the run with a 3-pointer with 3:31 left, and Quisenberry scored the final four points of the half.

Covington made three free throws less than 40 seconds into the second half to YSU's advantage to 38-25, and the lead peaked at 43-29 when Covington hit a triple at the 16:13 mark.

UIC cut the deficit in half as it held the Penguins to one basket, a 3 by Akuchie, over nearly four minutes, but it missed four straight shots once it got the score within 46-39. Daniel Ogoro hit a 3-pointer at the 12:20 mark to put the Penguins up 49-39, and Myles Hunter followed with a layup on the next possession to push the margin to a dozen.

The margin was between 12 and nine over the next five minutes before UIC scored five straight points to get within 57-51 on two free throws by RayQuawndis Mitchell with 5:13 remaining. Covington scored on a cut to the hoop on the next possession for the Penguins, and YSU countered with a 9-0 run to take a 66-51 lead with 2:21 left. The largest margin was 74-56 on a layup by Quisenberry with 27 seconds left.

Youngstown State shot 48.4 percent overall from the field, and it went 8-for-23 from 3-point range. UIC shot 45.3 percent, but it committed twice as many turnovers as the Penguins at 18-9.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Lady Pens Fight Off Purdue Fort Wayne to Advance in Tournament

« on: February 26, 2021, 09:32:51 AM »

The Youngstown State women's basketball team had a crucial defensive stand in the final 35 seconds to fight off Purdue Fort Wayne for a 62-59 victory in the first round of the 2021 Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship on Thursday at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins trailed 54-48 in the opening minute of the fourth period, but they outscored the Mastodons 14-5 the rest of the game to advance in the tournament. YSU didn't allow a point over the final 4:50, and the Penguins forced the Dons to take a deep, contested 3-pointer on their last possession in the final seconds of the game.

Purdue Fort Wayne did not have a timeout remaining, and YSU's guards created enough pressure on the perimeter to keep the Mastodons from getting any quality looks. They inbounded the ball with 22 seconds left and had to settle for a tough 3-point attempt by Riley Ott at the end of the shot clock. Ott's attempt missed everything, and the Penguins took possession on the shot clock violation with two seconds left. YSU advanced the ball to the frontcourt with a timeout, and the clock ran out on two deflected passes.

The Penguins' all-conference forwards Mary Dunn and Nneka Obiazor accounted for 46 of the team's 62 points and helped YSU hold a decisive 46-18 scoring edge in the paint. Dunn finished with a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Obiazor had 20 points. That duo accounted for all of YSU's 18's points in the first period, and Dunn had eight of the Penguins' 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Rylie Parker scored a career-high 18 points, and she made four 3s to lead Purdue Fort Wayne. The Mastodons went 8-for-20 from beyond the arc, which was a big advantage over YSU's 2-for-12 effort.

YSU swept the regular-season series with 102-60 and 68-52 victories, but the Mastodons were competitive from the tip, making six of their first seven attempts from the field and leading for 16:49 in the game. There were 10 lead changes and 10 ties, and the largest lead for either team the entire evening was six.

The Mastodons led for more than 11 minutes in the first half, and they held a 16-12 advantage on Sierra Bell's 3-pointer at the 2:49 mark of the opening period. YSU scored the final six points of the period with two Dunn baskets and a transition layup by Obiazor from a block and assist from Chelsea Olson. Obiazor had 10 points and five rebounds in the opening quarter to help YSU take an 18-16 lead.

Ott and Parker hit 3-pointers, the third and fourth of the game for the Mastodons, to give Purdue Fort Wayne a 22-18 lead at the 7:23 mark of the second. YSU eventually took a 28-27 lead on a spinning bucket by Obiazor with 1:53 remaining, and the Horizon League Freshman of the Year scored again with 44 seconds left to tie the score at 30 for the halftime break.

YSU made 14 of its 29 attempts from the field in the first half for 48.3 percent, but it had nine turnovers and went 0-for-6 from 3-point range. The Mastodons shot 42.9 percent, but they were 6-for-12 from 3-point range and were plus-three in turnover margin.

Aubrey Stupp hit a 3 for the Mastodons on the first possession of the second half, but YSU scored the next seven points on buckets by Dunn and Olson and a 3-pointer by McKenah Peters. The Penguins then extended their advantage to 41-35, their largest of the game, on two free throws by Olson at the 6:21 mark. YSU's margin was 48-43 with 2:22 left in the third period, but Purdue Fort Wayne scored 11 straight points to take a 54-48 lead 25 seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Penguins didn't buckle, and an 8-0 run that Peters finished with a 3-pointer with 7:00 remaining put them ahead 56-54. Parker hit a 3 with 4:50 left to give the Mastodons their final lead at 59-58, and YSU shut out Purdue Fort Wayne over its final seven possessions with three turnovers and five missed field goal attempts.

Dunn scored her 26th point from Olson's eighth assist at the 3:32 mark to put the Penguins ahead 60-59, and Obiazor finished the scoring on a bucket from Dunn with 1:22 left.

YSU shot 49.1 percent overall, and it was 25-for-43 inside the arc. In addition to a 46-18 edge in paint scoring, YSU also had a 36-22 rebounding advantage. Purdue Fort Wayne shot 42.6 percent overall, but it shot 23.1 percent going 3-for-13 in the fourth period.

Youngstown State will play at second-seeded Milwaukee in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship on Tuesday. Tipoff from the Klotsche Center will be at 8 p.m. Eastern.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Rugola Named Nike Horizon League Women's Golfer of the Week

« on: February 26, 2021, 09:31:11 AM »

Youngstown State sophomore Danae Rugola has been named the Nike® Horizon League Women's Golfer of the Week, the conference office announced on Thursday.

Rugola fired a four-over-par 76 to lead the Youngstown State women's golf team to a 309-311 dual victory over Charleston Southern on Saturday at Kiawah Island Golf Resort's Oak Point Course in Kiawah Island, S.C. After not competing this past fall due to Horizon League regulations, YSU took the course for the first time since March 10, 2020. The Penguins went 347 days between competitions.

Rugola finished third overall in YSU's season-opening event to claim the third top-10 finish of her career. Her third-place finish also marked the second top-five finish of her career. The Uniontown, Pa., native was also YSU's top finisher for the first time in her young career.

Rugola began her sophomore season with a strong start after enjoying an impressive freshman campaign in 2019-20. Rugola ranked third on the team with a 78.1 scoring average, and she also earned a pair of top-10 finishes while competing in all seven tournaments and 18 rounds. She placed fourth in her collegiate debut at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round score of 148 (69-79).

In her first collegiate round, Rugola shot the lowest round ever recorded by a YSU freshman with a three-under-par 69. The performance is tied for the fifth-lowest round in program history, and it is also tied for the fourth-lowest round in relation to par. Rugola's 69 was the lowest round recorded by a Penguin in 2019-20. She became one of only four players in school history to notch a round of below 70.

Youngstown State will resume its spring season Feb. 28-March 2 with the Kiawah Island Classic hosted by College of Charleston at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, S.C.

115

YSU Penguin Athletics / North Dakota State Picked to Repeat as MVFC Champion

« on: February 14, 2021, 09:44:46 AM »

North Dakota State has been tabbed as the Missouri Valley Football Conference pre-season favorite in a poll conducted by league coaches.  NDSU has been picked first in the pre-season poll for nine-straight seasons.  After winning its lone game in the fall, NDSU has won a league and FCS-record 38-straight games.

North Dakota State has earned the league title for nine-straight years, four times sharing it with another league school. This year, NDSU received 101 points in the coaches vote to edge UNI (92) and South Dakota State (91). Illinois State and Southern Illinois round out the Top 5 in the poll with 80 points and 68 points, respectively.  South Dakota (52) is next, followed by the newest member of the Con-ference, North Dakota, with 39 points for 7th.  Youngstown State (39), Missouri State (23) and Western Illinois (23) round out the voting.

In 2019, four MVFC teams earned selection to the NCAA Division I Championship, and North Dakota State won its eighth national championship in nine years.  Counting last year, an MVFC member has reached the FCS semifinals 24 times in the past 24 seasons (and 27 times overall), and the MVFC has had two semifinal teams in four of the past six seasons.  In the last decade, MVFC teams were 67-28 in the playoffs, and only one other conference (the CAA at 44-39) had a winning record.  Since 2004, league teams have combined for a 81-41 record in playoff games, with eight titles – both tops in the FCS.  Notably, only the MVFC (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019), CAA Football (2016) and Big Sky Conference (2010) have an FCS title the past decade (2010-19).   

A pre-season favorite has claimed the league crown 22 times (in 34 previous polls). North Dakota State was picked to win the league last season, and the Bison earned both the league title and the national title (following a 28-20 win over James Madison in the NCAA Division I Football Championship game in Frisco, Texas).

In 2019, the league fashioned a 27-19 non-conference record and won the Big Sky-MVFC Challenge Series for the third-straight year.  The season featured another MVFC win against an FBS school as Southern Illinois handled UMass, 45-20.   Valley schools have had at least one win against an FBS opponent in each of the past 10 seasons, had 19-such victories from 2010-19 and the league has a total of 46 FBS wins in MVFC history.   Three MVFC teams (North Dakota State, Missouri State and Southern Illinois) played non-conference games this past fall, for a total of five contests.   Every game was against a ranked opponent.  Three of the five games were against #11 UCA; Southern Illinois beat #25 Southeast Missouri State; and Missouri State also tackled fifth-ranked FBS Oklahoma.  After going 2-3 against ranked opponents in the fall, the MVFC has had at least one win against a non-conference ranked opponent every year since going 0-4 in that space in 2004.

In addition to today's team rankings, the Conference announced its preseason team, voted on by coaches, sports information directors, and a media panel.  All 10 teams participating this spring have at least one honoree, topped by North Dakota State and South Dakota State with nine total selections each.  NDSU has a league-best eight first-team pre-season picks.  (Voting for the team took place last summer, and adjustments were made based on roster adjustments.)  Notably, 35 players who were nominated this past summer for the projected 2020 fall pre-season team are not playing this spring.  That figure includes 17 who would have garnered first-team honors

116

YSU Penguin Athletics / Horizon League Announces Revised Championships Schedule

« on: February 11, 2021, 08:41:28 AM »

INDIANAPOLIS – The Horizon League announced on Tuesday a revised League championship schedule along with updated postseason brackets for all team sports.

With the movement of fall sports to the spring due to the pandemic, the HL is planning to conduct all 19 championships beginning in late February and concluding in late May.

Guided by the principle of safety, the championships were developed in consultation with League membership and are aligned with League-wide safety protocols, overseen by the Horizon League Board of Directors. For non-basketball championships being conducted indoors, they will be held without fans to stay in line with the Horizon League Board of Directors decision regarding fan attendance for indoor sports. For championships being held outdoors, attendance policies will be determined in accordance with state, local, municipal and campus guidelines.

Information regarding the 2021 Horizon League Basketball Championships can be found, here.

Below is a sport-by-sport breakdown that includes championship dates, locations and bracket information.

BASEBALL
Date: May 28-29, 2021
Location: Site of No. 1 seed
Bracket: 4-team tournament

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Date: February 25, March 2, March 8-9
Location: Campus Sites; Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis, Ind.
Bracket: 12-team tournament

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Date: March 4
Location: Northview Church Course, Carmel, Ind.

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GOLF
Date: April 25-27
Location: Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex at Purdue University

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SOCCER
Date: April 11 and 17, 2021
Location: Semifinals at No. 1 and 2 seed; Championship at highest-remaining seed
Bracket: 4-team tournament

SOFTBALL
Date: May 14-15, 2021
Location: Site of No. 1 seed
Bracket: 4-team tournament

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Date: Diving – April 5-6; Swimming – April 8-10
Location: IU Natatorium at IUPUI

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
Date: May 1-2, 2021
Location: Schwartz Tennis Center at Purdue University
Bracket: 4-team tournament

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP
Date: Feb. 26-March 1
Location: Lutheran Health Fieldhouse at Purdue Fort Wayne

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP
Date: May 7-9
Location: Farmers National Bank Field at Youngstown State

VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Date: March 28 and April 3, 2021
Location: Semifinals at No. 1 and 2 seed; Championship at highest-remaining seed
Bracket: 4-team tournament

117

YSU Penguin Athletics / Clark Named Preseason Horizon League Pitcher of the Year by D1Baseball.com

« on: February 11, 2021, 08:38:20 AM »

Youngstown State senior left-hander Colin Clark was named the Preseason Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, and five other Penguins earned preseason recognition from D1Baseball.com in the website's 2021 conference preview. The Penguins were picked to finish third in the league standings.

Clark, Collin Floyd, Blaze Glenn, Dominick Bucko and Jeff Wehler were each ranked among D1Baseball's top-20 draft prospects for 2021. In addition, Turner Grau was ranked among the website's top-five draft prospects for 2022.

Clark, who was ranked as the league's No. 4 draft prospect for 2021, was projected as the Horizon League's Pitcher of the Year. The Circleville, Ohio, native led the league with 26 strikeouts and 26.2 innings pitched over four starts in 2020. He issued only three walks and opponents batted just .206 against him. He posted a 3.38 ERA, and he struck out at least seven batters in three of his four outings. Clark was named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week for the first time on March 2, 2020, after cruising to a complete-game victory on Feb. 28 at Abilene Christian. Clark scattered five hits and struck out a career-high nine batters in his first career complete game as YSU earned a 4-2 victory. The performance marked the first nine-inning complete game by a Penguin since 2017.

Floyd, who was ranked the No. 8 draft prospect for 2021, ranked second in the Horizon League with 25 strikeouts and third with 23 innings pitched over four starts in 2020. After missing 2019 with an injury, he went 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA and opponents batted just .159 against him. The Akron, Ohio, native went 2-0 while allowing one run on four hits and fanning 14 batters in 12 innings over his final two outings. Floyd was named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 17, 2020, after helping lead the Penguins to a 6-3 win at Houston on Feb 15.

Glenn, who was ranked as the league's No. 10 draft prospect for 2021, was named Second-Team All-Horizon League in 2018 and 2019. On the YSU career charts, Glenn is tied for eighth with 20 home runs and 82 walks. He also ranks tied for ninth in school history with 36 career stolen bases. The Toronto, Ohio, native is the only player in YSU history to record at least 20 home runs, 80 walks and 35 stolen bases. He is also one of only two players in school history to hit at least nine home runs in two different seasons.

Bucko, who was ranked as the No. 12 draft prospect for 2021, batted .281 and slugged .438 with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs over 10 games played and nine starts in 2020. The Saxonburg, Pa., native ranked second on the team with a .378 on-base percentage while recording three multi-hit games. Bucko had a season-high four RBIs while going 2-for-4 with an RBI single and the go-ahead three-run home run in a win at N.C. Central on March 8, 2020.

Wehler, who was ranked as the league's No. 14 draft prospect for 2021, was named Second-Team All-Horizon League in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, he led YSU with a .290 batting average, 54 hits and 30 stolen bases. The St. Marys, Pa., native led the Horizon League and ranked 45th in the nation with eight stolen bases in 11 attempts in 2020. He also paced the league and ranked 35th nationally with 0.57 steals per game. Wehler currently ranks third in YSU history with 63 steals in his career. He is just the third player in school history and the first since 1971 to accumulate at least 60 steals.

Grau, who ranked as the No. 3 draft prospect for 2022, played in all 14 games and made 13 starts in outfield while batting in the leadoff spot six times as a freshman in 2020. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native delivered the go-ahead, two-run double in the top of fourth inning of YSU's 4-2 win at Abilene Christian on Feb. 28, 2020. Grau ranked third on the team with eight RBIs.

D1Baseball.com picked YSU to finish third in its projected Horizon League standings. 2019 regular season champion Wright State was picked to win the league while 2019 tournament champion UIC was selected second. Milwaukee was projected to finish fourth while Oakland was picked fifth. League newcomer Purdue Fort Wayne and Northern Kentucky were selected sixth and seventh, respectively.

The website projected Wright State infielder Tyler Black as the Horizon League Player of the Year while Raiders' right-hander Justin Hornschemeier was picked as the league's Freshman of the Year.

The Penguins will begin the 2021 season on Feb. 19 when they open a four-game series at Troy. For news and updates throughout the season, follow @YSUBaseball on Twitter.

118

YSU Penguin Athletics / Baseball Adds Games at LSU to 2021 Schedule

« on: February 11, 2021, 08:37:04 AM »

The Youngstown State baseball team has added two games at LSU on Feb. 26-27 to its 2021 schedule, head coach Dan Bertolini announced on Friday.

The Penguins will now play a total of four games in Louisiana from Feb. 26-28 at both Nicholls and LSU. YSU was originally scheduled to play a three-game series at Nicholls that weekend.

YSU will begin the weekend with a contest at Nicholls on Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. ET before playing at LSU at 8 p.m. ET that night. The Penguins will then play the Tigers again at Alex Box Stadium on Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. ET before concluding the weekend at Nicholls on Feb. 28 at a time to be determined.

Youngstown State is now slated to play a total of 51 games from late February to late May as part of its 2021 schedule. The Penguins are set to open the 2021 campaign at Troy on Feb. 19.

For news and updates throughout the 2021 season, follow @YSUBaseball on Twitter.

119

YSU Penguin Athletics / Penguin Football Announce 2021 Mid-Year Transfers

« on: January 11, 2021, 01:46:13 PM »

A wide-ranging talented group of mid-year additions have joined the Youngstown State football program as the spring semester begins, Head Coach Doug Phillips announced on Monday.

The group includes Division II, FCS, Junior College, Group of Five and Power Five and a native of Australia will be eligible immediately. 

A complete list of YSU's newcomers is below. Wide receiver Malick Mbodj and defensive back Allen Stritzinger were part of the program this past fall.

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown	High School	Previous
Grant Dixon	LB	6-3	225	Sr.	Succasunna, N.J.	Roxbury	Marist
Ty Eddington	DL	6-3	325	Sr.	Bakersfield, Calif.	East	Eastern Michigan
Dorian Holloway	LB	6-3	215	So.	Columbus, Ohio	Marion-Franklin	Cincinnati
Quincy Lenton	DB	6-0	200	Sr.	Meridian, Miss.	Meridian	Florida
Paddy Lynch	P	6-2	190	Fr.	Queensland, Australia
Malick Mbodj	WR	6-4	210	Sr.	Atlanta, Ga.	Arabia Mountain	Cincinnati
Jaleel McLaughlin	TB	5-9	175	Jr.	Marshville, N.C.	Forrest Hills	Notre Dame (Ohio)
James Morrow	OL	6-7	280	Jr.	Salina, Kan.	Salina	Butler CC
Andrew Ogletree	WR	6-7	250	Sr.	Dayton, Ohio	Northridge	Findlay
Nick Rosen	OL	6-3	295	Sr.	Ellicott City, Md.	Marriotts Ridge	Lehigh
Isaac Steele	DB	6-0	170	Sr.	Phoenix, Ariz.	Centennial	Liberty
Allen Stritzinger	DB	6-0	190	Sr.	Detroit. Mich.	De La Salle	Syracuse

 

Grant Dixon

6-3 | 225 | Linebacker
Senior
Succasunna, N.J.
Roxbury High School/Marist

Marist (2016-19): Credited with 183 total tackles, 20 TFLs, 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles...appeared in 33 games and started 24 contests...was a two-year captain...as a junior in 2019, was a first-team All-Pioneer Football League selection...finished with 86 total tackles, including 49 solo stops...had 10.5 TFLs and four sacks...had double figures in tackles on three occasions...in nine games, had six-or-more tackles...in 2018, was a second-team All-PFL selection...had 58 total tackles, including 32 solo stops and two forced fumbles...returned an interception for a touchdown vs. Bryant...in 2017, had 39 tackles, including 26 solo stops...earned PFL academic accolades his last three seasons.

Ty Eddington

6-3 | 325 | Defensive Lineman
Senior
Bakersfield, Calif.
East High School/Eastern Michigan

Eastern Michigan (2018-19): Played in 15 games at EMU...credited with 27 total tackles...in 2019, appeared in four games and made three starts on the defensive line...had five tackles on the season...recorded two tackles against both Buffalo and Northern Illinois...in 2018, appeared in 11 games, earning starts at Western Michigan, Kent State and Georgia Southern in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl...posted 22 tackles on the season...gathered a career-best eight tackles against Army...recorded his first career a$$isted sack against Central Michigan...attended Bakersfield Community College in 2016-17.

Dorian Holloway

6-3 | 215 | Linebacker
Sophomore
Columbus, Ohio
Marion-Franklin High School/Cincinnati

Cincinnati (2019-20): Was a member of the Bearcats' program for two seasons...did not see action in 2020 and redshirted in 2019...was a three-star recruit from 247Sports.com and ESPN.com.

Quincy Lenton

6-0 | 200 | Defensive Back
Senior
Meridian, Miss.
Meridian High School/Florida

Florida (2016-20): Did not play in 2020...in 2019, appeared in a career-high 13 games...was credited with six total tackles...had four solo stops...was a member of special teams throughout his career.

Malick Mbodj

6-4 | 210 | Wide Receiver
Senior
Atlanta, Ga.
Arabia Mountain High School/Cincinnati

Cincinnati (2016-19): In 2019, played in 10 games...had 23 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown...hauled in five pa$$es for 37 yards against East Carolina...had four grabs for 45 yards against UConn...had three receptions for 24 yards at Houston...had two receptions for 63 yards against Memphis in The American Athletic Conference Championship Game...had a season-long 32-yard grab against the Tigers...in the Ticketsmarter Birmingham Bowl against Boston College had three receptions for 17 yards and caught a eight-yard touchdown pa$$...had two receptions against USF and Temple...caught single pa$$es against Memphis and Marshall...in 2018, played in 13 games...caught three pa$$es for 74 yards...had a 51-yard reception against UConn...caught a 17-yard pa$$ against ECU and had a six-yard reception against Virginia Tech in the 2018 Military Bowl...played in three games in 2017...redshirted in 2016.

Jaleel McLaughlin

5-9 | 175 | Tailback
Junior
Marshville, N.C.
Forrest Hills High School/Notre Dame (Ohio) College

Notre Dame College (2018-19): Was one of the top running backs in Division II in 2018 and 2019...two-time finalist for Harlon Hill trophy, which honors top player in Division II…was second in 2019 and third in 2018…rushed for more than 2,400 yards in each of his two seasons at Notre Dame…workhorse back with 345-plus attempts in each of his first two years...in 2019,  led NCAA Division II in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards…ran for NCAA high 2,316 yards on 345 carries…scored 33 touchdowns (30 rushing)…caught 10 pa$$es for 64 yards and scored three touchdowns…returned 10 kickoffs for 148 yards…finished with a DII-high 2,526 all-purpose yards...as a freshman in 2018, ran for an NCAA-high 2,421 yards on 378 carries…had 19 total touchdowns, 19 of which were rushing scores…caught 12 pa$$es for 79 yards…returned 12 kickoffs for 199 yards…led NCAA DII in all-purpose yards with 2,699.

Andrew Olgetree

6-7 | 250 | Wide Receiver
Senior
Dayton, Ohio
Northridge High School/Findlay

Findlay (2016-19): Caught 54 pa$$es for 785 yards and had 10 touchdown receptions in his career...in 2018, was an honorable-mention All-G-MAC selection...caught 28 pa$$es for 428 yards and five touchdowns...in 2017, finished with 23 receptions for 328 yards and five scores...best game was a six-catch, 81-yard performance in the playoffs against Shepherd...caught three pa$$es for 29 yards in 2016...did not play in 2019.

James Morrow

6-7 | 280 | Offensive Lineman
Junior
Salina, Kan.
Salina Central High School/Butler (Kan.) Community College

Butler CC (2018-19): Member of talented offensive line at Butler...played offensive tackle for the Grizzlies...Butler won the 2019 Midwest Cla$$ic Bowl title and finished with a 10-3 overall mark...it was the first 10-win season for the school since 2012...program was 8-4 in 2018 and won the Midwest Cla$$ic Bowl...coach was Tim Schaffner.

Nick Rosen

6-3 | 295 | Offensive Lineman
Senior
Ellicott City, Md.
Marriotts Ridge High School/Lehigh

Lehigh (2016-19): Played in 24 games, starting 19 times...had his 2019 season cut short suffering an injury in the season opener...in 2018, started all 11 games at left guard...in 2017, appeared in nine games, making seven starts.

Isaac Steele

6-0 | 170 | Defensive Back
Senior
Phoenix, Ariz.
Centennial High School/Liberty

Liberty (2018-19): Played in 22 games, starting 14 times...in 2019, played in 11 contests, starting three times...had 24 tackles, including 16 solo stops...had two pa$$ breakups and an interception...had a season-best seven tackles against UMa$$...in 2018, played in 12 games, starting 11 contests...finished third on the team with 65 tackles, including 44 solo stops...was tied for the team lead with three interceptions...had a season-high eight tackles vs. Auburn and Old Dominion...attended Mesa Community College from 2016-17.

Allen Strizinger

6-0 | 190 | Defensive Back
Senior
Detroit, Mich.
De La Salle High School/Syracuse

Syracuse (2017-19): Played in 29 games in three seasons from 2017-19...in 20 games on defense, recorded 27 tackles (14 solo) and four pa$$es defended, including one interception...in 2019, played in 11 games...credited with 18 total tackles, including eight solos...had three pa$$ breakups...collected a career-high five tackles vs. Clemson...as a sophomore in 2018, appeared in nine games and made one start...tallied nine tackles (six solos) and had an interception...started at nickel against West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl and equaled his season best with three tackles...also intercepted the first pa$$ of his career in the fourth quarter against the Mountaineers and returned it 20 yards...switched to defense in 2018 after spending his freshman season at running back...in 2017, appeared in nine games, mainly as a member of the kickoff return team in 2017.

120

YSU Penguin Athletics / Obiazor Named Nike Horizon League Freshman of the Week

« on: January 11, 2021, 01:43:55 PM »

Youngstown State women's basketball student-athlete Nneka Obiazor has been named the Nike® Horizon League Freshman of the Week for the period ending Jan. 10, the conference office announced on Monday.

Obiazor, a forward from Eden Prairie, Minn., averaged a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds per game against Oakland over the weekend. She had 12 points and nine rebounds in game one of the series on Friday, and she followed that up with career highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday's victory. She was 10-for-19 from the field in the win, and she added two assists and two steals.

Through four games, Obiazor leads YSU with 13.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She currently ranks eighth in the Horizon League in scoring, and she sits seventh in rebounding. Both of those averages rank second among freshmen in the conference.

Obiazor and the Penguins will play their first road contests of the season this weekend at UIC. The Penguins and Flames will play on Friday at 3 p.m. Eastern and on Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern. Both games will be broadcast live on 1390 WNIO and ESPN+.