History of Youngstown State Athletics
Football
YSU football played
its first season in 1938. The
program was organized by Coach
Dwight Beede. Beede was the head
coach of the football program from
1938 through 1972. Overall, YSU has
had five head coaches in the
program’s history – Beede, Rey
Dempsey, Bill Narduzzi, Jim Tressel
and Jon Heacock. The Penguins have
won over 400 games in 67 seasons of
football – the program was halted
from 1943-45 for World War II.
Through the 2006 season, YSU has
played more than 700 games in the
programs illustrious history.
Youngstown State has been a member
of the Mid-Continent Conference
(1978-80), the Ohio Valley
Conference (1981-1987) and now the
Gateway (1997-present). The Penguins
won Mid-Con titles in 1978 and 1979,
won the OVC in 1987 and won the
Gateway in 2005 and 2006.YSU has won
four Division I-AA National
Championships (1991, 1993, 1994 and
1997) and also played in the title
game in 1992 and 1999. YSU also
played for the Division II National
Championship in 1979. The Penguins
have had 29 individuals selected as
First-Team All-Americans on the FCS
or Division II level.
Men’s Basketball
The first organized
sport at Youngstown College was the
men’s basketball program. The
Penguins began play in 1927-28 under
the direction of Al Fairfield. YSU
has played every season since,
except for three years during World
War II. The name associated most
with Youngstown State basketball is
Dom Rosselli. Rosselli coached the
Penguins for 39 years and ended his
career with a 589-388 record. Under
Rosselli, YSU reached the NAIA
National Tournament three times. In
school history there have been 12
head coaches, including current
coach Jerry Slocum. The Penguins have more than
900 victories in school
history. The program achieved
Division I status in 1981-82 when it
joined the Ohio Valley Conference.
In 1992-93 YSU began play in the
Mid-Continent Conference playing in
the league through the 2000-01
season. In 2001-02, the Penguins
joined the Horizon League. In 2004,
center Adam Baumann was named a
third-team Academic All-American.
YSU has twice been just one win shy
of making the NCAA Division I
Tournament reaching the finals of
the Ohio Valley Tournament in 1985
and the finals of the Mid-Con
Tournament in 1998 . The men’s
basketball program was involved in
NAIA competition until 1959-60
before becoming a Division II member
prior to the 1960-61 campaign (until
1980-81). As a Division II member,
YSU competed in nine NCAA Regionals
reaching the finals in 1972. In NAIA
action, Youngstown College appeared
in four National Tournaments (1947,
1957, 1958, 1959). The furthest the
Penguins advanced was in 1957 and
1958 when they reached the Elite
Eight.
Men’s Golf
The program started
in 1946 with Dr. Joseph Smith as the
coach. Overall there have been six
coaches in the programs history,
including current Head Coach Tony
Joy, who took over the program in
1984. From 1967 through 1981, YSU
had 11 Division II All-Americans. In
1979, John Zebroski was a first-team
All-American finishing fourth. YSU
played host to the NCAA Division II
Golf Championship event at Avalon in
1970 and 1976. On the Division II
level, YSU had five top-20 finishes
at the NCAA meet, including a
school-best fifth in 1970. Since Joy
took over the program, individuals
have earned 19 all-conference honors
in the Ohio Valley, Mid-Continent
and Horizon League. Twice in school
history YSU has produced an
individual conference champion. In
the spring of 2004, Nate Komsa won
the Horizon League Championship
while in May 1994, Jim Perry was the
co-champion of the Mid-Con. YSU also
played host to the 1993
Mid-Continent Conference
Championship and the 1986 Ohio
Valley Conference Championship. The
Penguins finished second at the 2006
HL Championships
Women’s Golf
This program began in
1996 and has had only one coach in
its existence, Roseann Schwartz. In
four years of competition in the
Mid-Con, YSU had 10 all-conference
selections. Stephanie Matasek was
the conference’s Newcomer of the
Year in 1999 and was a three-time
all-conference selection. Matasek
also had two runner-up individual
finishes at the Mid-Con meet. In the
spring of 2003, the Penguins became
the first YSU women’s program to
earn a Horizon League Championship
winning the inaugural league women’s
golf title by 10 strokes over
Loyola. Lori Hatcher won the
individual championship while Gina
Abruzzino placed third and Jennifer
Grossi placed fifth. In 2004, YSU
led after two rounds, but could not
hold their lead placing third.
In
2005 and 2006, the Penguins placed
second while in 2007 they came in
third.
Women’s Soccer
YSU began playing
competitive soccer in 1996. In the
program’s history there have been
four head coaches in nine years,
including current mentor Anthony
James. The program has played more
than 200 games since being formed.
Highlights in the program’s history,
include goalkeeper Christine Handte
finishing second in the NCAA in
saves per game in 2000 and a
school-best 17-goal performance
against Delaware State in 2003. YSU
had three second-team all-conference
selections in 1999. In 2006, Caitlin
Lee was the program's first-ever
first-team All-Horizon League pick.
Women’s Swimming &
Diving
This program was
reinstated at YSU in 1996 after
being halted in 1987. Originally,
the program was in operation from
1975 through 1987. Matt Anderson is
the head coach, the ninth in the
program’s history. In 2004, Erin
Carter became the first Penguin to
win a swimming individual conference
title winning the 400-yard
individual medley. YSU has been
strong in the diving events since
1999. Brandi Goettsch was a
three-time conference diver of the
year, earning two Mid-Continent
Conference and a Horizon League
award. In 1999, she won the
three-meters and one-meter
competition at the Mid-Con. In 2000,
she won the one-meter. In 2001, she
won the three meters at the final
Mid-Con meet and won the three
meters at the 2002 Horizon League
meet. In 2003, Kalyn Leveto won both
the one and three meters at the
Horizon League meet earning
Diver-of-the-Year honors. In 2004,
she won the three meters and again
was the Diver of the Year. In the
early 1980’s the Penguins had a
successful Division II program. YSU
had numerous All-Americans and in
1983, Janet Kemper won the Division
II 50-yard butterfly. As a team, the
Penguins’ best Division II finish
was 11th in 1984. YSU was also 14th
in 1983, 15th in 1986 and 20th in
1985.
Volleyball
YSU began playing
volleyball in 1975 under Joyce
Ramsey. There have been six coaches
in school history, including current
Coach Joe Bonner who took over the
program in 2005. Former Coach Joe
Conroy was a four-time
Coach-of-the-Year selection in the
Mid-Con (1999, 1998, 1995, 1994). In
all four of those seasons, the
Penguins won 20-or-more matches
including a school-record 27 in
1999. That season, YSU tied Oral
Roberts for the regular-season
Mid-Continent title posting a 13-1
conference mark and a 27-5 overall
record. The Penguins played in the
tournament championship match in
1999, 1998 and 1994, but lost all
three times. As a member of the
Mid-Con, YSU had 19 all-conference
selections. In 1995, Jill Raslevich
was selected as the conference’s
Player of the Year. In 2001, Kristen
Meech was named a third-team CoSIDA
Academic All-American. The 2004
season marks the third time the
Penguins will have played host to
the Conference Tournament. YSU
hosted the Horizon League
Championship in November. YSU played
host to the 1995 Mid-Continent
Conference Championship and in 1983
hosted the Ohio Valley Conference
Championship.
Women’s Basketball
The Penguins’ first
year of competition was in 1975-76
under Joyce Ramsey, who was also the
first coach of the YSU volleyball
team. The program has had only had
five head coaches, including current
coach Cindy Martin. The Penguins won
five conference championships while
in the Mid-Continent Conference. The
Penguins won three postseason
tournament titles and advanced to
the NCAA Tournament three times
(2000, 1998, 1996). YSU advanced to
the second round of the NCAA
Tournament in 1998 beating Memphis
in the first round before losing at
North Carolina State. All-time, the
Penguins have had five players named
Conference Player of the Year. YSU
has had 22 all-conference selections
since 1983-84 as members of the Ohio
Valley, Mid-Con and Horizon League.
The program has had seven 20-win
seasons, including a school best 28
wins in 1997-98. Coach Ed DiGregorio
was a key figure on the sidelines
spending 20 years with the program
compiling a 319-241 record from
1983-84 through 2002-03.
Softball
In 1980, the program
began under Bill Wolf. There have
been six coaches in school history,
including current coach Christy
Cameron. The program has been
successful in recent history posting
a school-record 36 victories in 2003
while placing second in the Horizon
League. During the 2003 season,
Cameron was named the Horizon League
Coach of the Year, Amanda Berry was
the Player of the Year, Kelly Murphy
was the Pitcher of the Year and Liz
Holt was the Newcomer of the Year.
In the 2003 Horizon League
Tournament, YSU beat Detroit for its
first conference tournament win in
school history. In 2004, YSU
finished with a 29-22 mark, tying
for the second most wins in school
history. The past three seasons, YSU
has had seven players earn first or
second-team all-conference
accolades. In seven seasons of
Mid-Con play, YSU had 25
all-conference first or second-team
selections. YSU won the Horizon
League Tournament earning the
school's first-ever NCAA bid in
2006.
Baseball
The Penguins baseball
program began in 1948 with Men’s
Basketball Coach Dom Rosselli at the
helm. The program was halted
following the 1950 season but
returned in 1958 and has been a
sport at YSU ever since. The
Penguins have had seven coaches in
school history, including current
coach Rich Pasquale. In 2004, the
Penguins qualified for their first
NCAA Division I Regional in school
history by winning the Horizon
League Tournament. Playing host to
the tournament at Eastwood Field,
YSU posted a 4-0 mark beating the
No. 2 seed, No. 3 seed (twice) and
No. 1 seed on the way to the title.
The Penguins played at the Austin
Regional losing to Texas and TCU at
the event. Prior to making the NCAA
postseason in 2004, YSU last
appeared on the Division II Regional
stage in 1977, 1966 and 1964. Dom
Rosselli also coached the program
through 1981 and had a record of
418-219. All-time the Penguins have
had nine Major League Baseball Draft
picks, highlighted in 2001, when
Brad Hennessey was selected in the
first round by the San Francisco
Giants. Hennessey made his Major
League debut on August 7, 2004. The
most newsworthy Penguin to play in
the majors is perhaps pitcher Dave
Dravecky. Dravecky battled back from
cancer to return to the Major
Leagues in the early 1990’s before
having his arm amputated because of
his illness.
Men’s Tennis
The program began in
1937 under Willard Webster before
being halted for World War II in
1942. The program was back in 1947
and has been a sport ever since.
Currently, Coach Eric Ronan leads
the program and is the 16th coach in
school history. The Penguins’ best
conference finish was fourth in 1998
at the Mid-Con meet. Since 1992,
Youngstown State has had 12
all-conference selections, including
R.J. Pepino as a first-team pick in
the Horizon League in 2004. In 2002,
freshman Seth Banks was named the
Horizon League’s Newcomer of the
Year.
Women’s Tennis
The program became a
sport at YSU in 1983. The first
coach was Rob Adsit. Currently, the
women’s program is coached by
Michelle Grim. In 1998 and 1999, the
Penguins placed third while in 2000
and 2001, YSU was fourth in the
Mid-Continent Conference. In 2004,
YSU placed third at the Horizon
League Championships and followed
with a second-place finish in 2005.
Since 1994, they have had 15
all-conference picks, including 1996
Mid-Con Player of the Year Santi
Nalluri. Nalluri was also named the
Mid-Con’s Newcomer of the Year in
1994. In 1995, YSU played host to
the Mid-Con Women’s Tennis
Championships.
Men’s Indoor and
Outdoor Track and Field
Competitive men’s
track and field began at Youngstown
State as long ago as 1950 but around
1990 is when the Penguins started
fielding much more competitive
teams. On the men’s side, the
Penguins captured YSU’s first-ever
Horizon League Championship winning
the indoor championship in 2003.
Other championships won the by the
men include the 1997 Mid-Continent
Conference outdoor crown and the
1997 Mid-Con Indoor title. Only
twice have the Penguins finished out
of the top five in the championship
standings since 1992 in indoor and
outdoor conference championship
meets combined. In 2003, Kurt
Michaelis was an NCAA Indoor
All-American in the mile. YSU has
had three male NCAA National indoor
meet qualifiers in school history –
Michaelis in 2003, Kofi Owusu Ansah
in 2000 and Paul Carter in 1998. In
2001, Youngstown State hosted the
Mid-Continent Conference Outdoor
Track and Field Championships.
Women’s Indoor and
Outdoor Track and Field
Competitive women’s
track and field began in the spring
of 1985. The Penguins earned their
first track and field championship
in school history winning the 1996
Mid-Continent Conference Indoor
Track and Field Championship. In
1997, the women added an outdoor
Mid-Con Track and Field crown to
their trophy case. In 2004 in the
Horizon League, the Penguins won
both the Indoor and Outdoor Track
and Field Championships. The Guins
won the outdoor titles in 2005 and
2006. YSU had two NCAA National
outdoor meet qualifiers in Laura
Thomas in 1999 and Mona Jackson in
1994. In 2001, Youngstown State
hosted the Mid-Continent Conference
Outdoor Track and Field
Championships. In 2006, YSU played
host to the Indoor Track and Field
Horizon League Championships.
Cross Country
The men’s program
began in 1982 under Coach Jack
Neville while the women’s program
began in 1983 when Neville served as
both the men’s and women’s coach.
Current Coach Brian Gorby took over
as head coach for both programs in
1993. The men’s program competed in
the Ohio Valley Conference from 1982
through 1987 and the Mid-Con from
1991 through 2000 and has been part
of the Horizon League since 2001. In
the Horizon League the past four
years, the men finished fourth in
2004, third in 2003, third in 2002
and third in 2001. YSU had a string
of top-three finishes from 1994
through 2003, including winning
Mid-Con titles in 1994, 1995 and
1996. Since 1991, the Penguins have
had 20 all-conference selections on
the men’s side.
The women’s program competed in the Ohio Valley Conference
from 1983 through 1987 and the
Mid-Con from 1992 through 2000
before joining the Horizon League in
2001. In the Horizon League the past
four years, the women finished
fourth in 2004, third in 2003,
fourth in 2002 and fifth in 2001. In
1997, the Penguins won the Mid-Con
team championship. Since 1992, the
Penguins have had 17 all-conference
performers, including individual
champions Laura Thomas in 1997 and
Andrea Cohol in 1999.
YSU played host to the 1995 Mid-Continent Conference
Championships and the 2003 Horizon
League Championships.
Discontinued Sports
Programs (Years as Active Sport)
Men’s Soccer
(1974-86), Women’s Synchronized
Swimming (1974-78), Women’s Field
Hockey (1975-81), Men’s Swimming &
Diving (1949-51; 1964-84), Wrestling
(1974-1985), Women’s Gymnastics
(1975-1984) and Rifle (1971-1981;
1985-86).
ALSO: YSU Men’s Swimming and Diving played host to the 1977, 1980 and 1981 Division II Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the Beeghly Center Natatorium.
Prepared by Sports Information Director Trevor Parks
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