Archive for the ‘Other’ Category

Youngstown State freshman Marta Burak won the Flight A Singles title and teamed up with senior Lauren Hankle to win the doubles bracket on Saturday at the Bucknell Quad held at the Gerhard Fieldhouse on Friday and Saturday.

In her first collegiate competition, the 15-year-old Burak won four singles matches en route to the title over the past two days in Flight A. Because of inclement weather the meet was moved indoors. Burak won in the semifinals 8-3 over Bucknell’s Demi Ieprus and then went on to win the final 9-8 over Hilary Hanson.

In Flight B, Hankle won three matches and reached the finals dropping a 8-1 match to Niagara’s Olivia Rauh. Rauh knocked off the Penguins Gimena Puppo in the semifinals, 8-4.

In doubles play, Hankle and Burak teamed up to win the title. They won 8-2 over Colgate in the semifinals and bounced Bucknell’s Alyssa McAndrews and Jen Bush 8-3 in the title match. Puppo and Carolyn Jesko reached the semis before losing to McAndrews and Bush.

Oct. 2 Results
Flight A Singles
SEMIFINALS – Burak (YSU) def. Demi Ieprus (Bucknell) 8-3
FINALS – Burak (YSU) def. Hilary Hanson (Niagara) 9-8

Flight B Singles
SEMIFINALS – Hankle (YSU) def. Meredith Rock (Niagara) 8-3
SEMIFINALS – Olivia Rauh (Niagara) def. Puppo (YSU) 8-4
FINALS – Olivia Rauh (Niagara) def. Hankle (YSU) 8-1

Doubles
SEMIFINALS – Hankle/Burak (YSU) def. Shea/Wanhanien (Colgate) 8-2
SEMIFINALS – McAndrews/Bush (Bucknell) def. Puppo/Jesko (YSU) 8-6
FINALS – Hankle/Burak (YSU) def. McAndrews/Bush (Bucknell) 8-3

Oct. 1 Results
Flight A Singles
Burak (YSU) def. Kelsey Shea (Colgate) 6-1, 6-1
Burak (YSU) def. Maria Ortiz (Niagara) 6-1, 6-3
Jesko (YSU) def. Ashley Ta (Niagara) 6-1, 7-5
Elena Vidrascu (Bucknell) def. Jesko (YSU) 6-1, 6-3

Flight B Singles
Hankle (YSU) def. Becky Silvers (Colgate) 6-3, 6-4
Hankle (YSU) def. Kristen Bishof (Bucknell) 6-2, 6-3
Puppo (YSU) def. Amanda Golden (Colgate) 6-1, 6-1
Puppo (YSU) def. Jen Bush (Bucknell) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles
Hankle/Burak (YSU) def. Morgan/Silvers (Bucknell) 8-2
Hankle/Burak (YSU) def. Colvin/Vidrascu (Bucknell) 8-6
Jesko/Puppo (YSU) def. Rock/Silvers (Colgate) 8-5
Jesko/Puppo (YSU) def. Schneider/Bishof (Bucknell) 8-1

The Youngstown State volleyball team hurt itself with 30 attack errors, and Milwaukee remained unbeaten in Horizon League play with a sweep of the Penguins — 25-16, 25-12, 25-21 – on Saturday afternoon at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins were held to a -.018 attack percentage, and four Penguins players hit negative for the match. Missy Hundelt had a team-high nine kills, but she also registered 10 errors.  Alexis Egler added eight kills and seven digs, and Jackie Carlisle had seven kills and a .211 attack percentage.

Kerri Schuh and Elizabeth Egerer both had eight kills to lead Milwaukee. Schuh added 11 kills, and Rachel Neuberger had six kills without committing an error. Mackenzie Millis was part of five of Milwaukee’s 10 blocks.

Youngstown State led early in all three sets, but Milwaukee went on runs in all three sets to take sizeable leads.

YSU led 3-2 in the first set before the Panthers scored five straight points on Millis’ serve. The Guins led 3-1 in the second, but Milwaukee went on a 7-1 run to take an 8-4 advantage. Similarly in the third, Millis’ serve resulted in four straight Panthers points to make the score 8-4.

The Penguins battled in the third set, and they nullified a seven-point deficit to tie the score at 16-16 on a Hundelt kill. A Hundelt and Shannon Watson block tied the score again at 18-18, but Milwaukee scored the next four points to go up 22-18.

Youngstown State will hit the road for four matches in six days, beginning with a match Tuesday at Loyola starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Robert Morris senior middle blocker Hannah Veith had 11 kills and recorded 12 blocks to lead the Colonials to a four-set win over the Youngstown State volleyball team — 25-14, 20-25, 25-15-, 25-18 –  on Tuesday evening at Beeghly Center.

Veith hit .667, and the Colonials had a team attack percentage of .287. Robert Morris had 18 total blocks, which limited YSU to a .082 attack percentage.

Youngstown State’s Jackie Carlisle led all attackers with 15 kills on a .256 attack percentage.  Shannon Watson added five kills on 11 attempts, but every other player who had more than eight attempts hit a negative percentage.

Robert Morris converted on 13 of its 14 sideout chances in the opening set to cruise to a 25-14 win. Youngstown State, though, rebounded in the second and never trailed en route to a 25-20 win. Carlisle had four kills in the set.

The Colonials won the third set 25-15 behind a .393 attack percentage, and Veith had six block assists in the fourth as Robert Morris held off a late Penguin charge to win 25-18.

Rachel Gambow had a career-high 10 digs for YSU.

Youngstown State will head back into Horizon League play on Friday with a home match against Cleveland State. First serve against the Vikings at Beeghly Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Youngstown State volleyball team earned its first win of the season by defeating Fairleigh Dickinson in straight sets on Saturday morning at UMBC’s Maddie Bingaman Memorial Tournameng.

Sophomore Missy Hundelt (St. Charles, Mo.) posted 10 kills and three aces, and sophomore setter Casey D’Ambrose (Addison, Ill.) had 30 assists and 12 digs. YSU won 25-22, 25-21, 26-24.

Alexis Egler (Clarkston, Mich.) and Shannon Watson (Zoarville, Ohio) added seven kills apiece for YSU, which snapped a 28-match losing streak dating back to Sept. 11, 2010.

Meaghan Wheeler had 13 kills for Fairleigh Dickinson, which had won five straight matches. Last night, the Knights swept Norfolk State, who YSU will play this afternoon at 4.

The Penguins battled through 27 ties and 11 lead changes in the match, and they trailed by as many as four in the opening set. They took their first lead since 6-5 when D’Ambrose and Nichele Johnson combined for a block to make the score 19-18. An Erika West (Painesville, Ohio) ace capped a 13-5 run by YSU that gave it a 23-19 lead. Hundelt’s third kill of the set came on set point.

YSU led 9-2 early in the second set, but FDU scored seven straight points to tie the score on a kill from Wheeler. Another Wheeler kill tied the score at 19-19, but a serving error and back-to-back kills from Jackie Carlisle (Hubbard, Ohio) and Watson gave the Guins a 22-19 lead. A Hundelt kill also finished the second set.

YSU led 10-7 in the third before having to rally from four three-point deficits, including 22-19. Hundelt’s ace tied the score at 23-23, and a Brittany Grove (Mansfield, Ohio) kill gave the Penguins a match point. Hundelt’s serving error accounted for a side out, but YSU scored the next two points on an attack error and bad set.

The Youngstown State Women’s Swimming & Diving team will offer a “Learn to Swim Clinic” for children ages 3-10 during three Sunday and Wednesday evenings this fall. A total of six sessions will be hosted by the Penguins’ student-athletes.

The clinic is open to general public as well as children of YSU students, faculty and staff.

The lessons will be held at YSU’s Natatorium Beeghly Center on the following dates: Sept. 25 from 6-6:45 p.m., Sept. 28 from 6-6:45 p.m., Oct. 2 from 6-6:45 p.m., Oct. 5 from 6-6:45 p.m., Oct. 9 from 6-6:45 p.m. and Oct. 12 from 6-6:45 p.m. The cost is $60 per child, with five separate skill levels to benefit all participants. All profits raised benefit the Youngstown State swimming and diving program.

All participants will receive a free YSU spirit item and focused swim instructions from knowledgeable swimmers in a fun-filled environment.  Registration is open until the first lesson on Sept. 25. Participants need to bring appropriate swimming attire, a towel and goggles (if preferred).

For additional information please contact Assistant Coach Kylie Gamelier, (330) 941-3673 or via email at kegamelier@ysu.edu

“Mom! Phineas and Ferb are going on a live tour!” Join the Danville Tri-State Area Gang for a high-energy ride through their wildest invention yet in Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! The beloved characters from Disney Channel’s animated series embark on a bold escape from the television screen to a live action adventure – right in your hometown! This brand new live stage production performs at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown on October 29, 2011 at 1pm and 4pm. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 4^th at 10am.

Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! brings Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Isabella, Baljeet, Buford and friends to the stage as they make the most of the last day of summer by building an invention bigger, better and more amazing than ever. And, before you can wonder, “Hey, Where’s Perry?” the beloved pet platypus shifts to his secret double life as Agent P to foil another one of Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s evil plans.  Musical madness abounds in an escapade so awesome that even Candace can’t help but join the hilarious hijinks.  It’s the ultimate end to summer vacation, so seize the day ‘cause Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all!

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster , at  the Covelli Centre Box Office or by calling 1-800-745-3000. To find out more about Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!, go to the Phineas And Ferb Live Disney Page, or visit us on Facebook and YouTube.

By far, the best commercial ever made, just kept hearing, “All we need is one pin Rodney”, in my head, had to let the readers enjoy it again!

Just over a month ago, the Professional Bull Riders Tour made a stop at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown.  Not being real skilled with the finer points of this sport, I went with hopes of landing a few good photos and maybe learning something.  Both things happened and then some.  Don’t get me wrong, I would rather watch the Penguins or Cavs on a Saturday night in April, but gained respect for the people who risk their lives when they mount these bulls to see how long they can hang on.

Before the event started, I was chatting with Walt Vrabel who works security for many events at the center.  Vrabel informed me that he knew one of the young men who would compete, Adam Geteman.  Vrabel had Geteman as a high school student at Jackson Milton.  He sung the praises of Geteman and how polite and well-mannered he was.  My ignorance would have me believing that I would be the outsider, the outcast in the eyes of a bunch of Southern drawl-speaking folks who abused the English language every chance they got.  I was as wrong as could be.  Geteman was a very pleasant individual and vivid competitor.  I asked him questions, things he said had never been asked by anyone before, and he responded humbly and honestly.  Bull riding may not be your thing, but to see inside the angled drape of an Amish household would fascinate readers too.  Here is what Geteman had to say:

Paneech:  Adam, tell me how you get involved with something like this.

Geteman:  It is something I have always wanted to try.  A buddy of mine that I met out line dancing said he did it.  So I went and trained with him, and the next week, I went through and did it.  He broke his arm and has not done it since, and I have been doing it ever since.

Paneech:  Do you travel all year with this group, or is it a certain amount of time, like a season?

Geteman:  It’s pretty much all year around, every weekend.  Personally, I only participate in the events that take place in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.  It’s nice doing this so close to home, I have a ton of family and friends who came to see me.

Paneech:  Explain the scoring and the system, I have no idea what you are trying to accomplish other than being on a bull for as long as you can.

Geteman:  The scoring is based on two parts.  Half is how you ride, and the other half is the bull.  The bull is scored on how fast it turns in circles and how high he jumps and kicks.  Riders get scored on posture and how well you control the bull.  You get one ride, and then the Top 10 get put back through for a championship round.  If you win, you get money.  Some places hold a series, and if you win that you can earn a belt buckle.  Everyone is after the buckle.

Paneech:  How long can you see yourself doing something like this?

Geteman:  I’m getting married in June, so I will try to stick with it for as long as I can.  It started out as just an adrenaline rush, and being an adrenaline junkie, I am bent on getting better.  The longer you do this the better it gets. 

Paneech:  Have you become friends with the other riders?

Geteman:  Oh yeah, you see a lot of the same faces every weekend.  Before you know it, you are going out to the bars with them and hanging out.  I will be 24 in a week and have been doing this for three years, so I have grown up around some of these guys.  We watch together and talk about our rides and the bulls.

Paneech:  Tell me about injuries.  What have you taken, what’s the worst you have seen someone else go through?

Geteman:  I have been lucky, for me the worst thing I have gotten was a few scrapes and cuts.  I have seen a bunch of people break bones.  Unfortunately, I even saw one kid break his neck.

Paneech:  Give me the percentage of people who compete that also chew snuff.

Geteman:  (laughs)  I don’t think I know anybody who doesn’t chew here.  I chew Beech Nut right now.  It’s a mixed batch, but most of the guys chew Copenhagen.  That seems to be the cowboy thing, I gave it up for Lent, so I am using the pouch stuff for now.  Going back to chewing is like falling in love all over again and my fiance got used to me not chewing, so I am trying to ease her back into it. 

As I approached the Covelli Centre to check out the bull riding event, I saw a whole demographic of people who probably do not head into town much.  The men were wearing cowboy hats and boots, the women were wearing flannels, and anyone not wearing blue jeans stood out like dandelions in a well-manicured yard. 

Not sure what to expect, I headed in and first noticed that the usually pleasant-scented venue smelled like the Canfield Fair, where people pet a pig on their way to grab a sausage sandwich.

Over the course of the next few hours, I gained admiration for the men who were courageous enough to mount bulls, I learned how someone wins, and I talked with several polite people with the PBR who saw past my ignorance of their craft with a pleasant and insightful demeanor.

The crowd of close to 3,000 was larger than I thought it would be.  Robbie Hodges (above) served as the announcer/comedian in his self-proclaimed title of barrel clown.  Hodges had one of those hands-free Janet Jackson headsets on and was very active.  Hodges main job is to serve as the space filler between rides by telling jokes, dancing, jumping around, and basically doing whatever it takes to keep the audience going.

Jimmy Brownlee, of Cocoa, FL, tours with the PBR and serves as a judge.  I asked him to explain how and what the participants win.  “We mark the rides on a scale of 1-25 on the animal and 1-25 on the ride.  You have to ride at least eight seconds to get a score.  We also look at the degree of difficulty on the bull with bucking, kicking, and spinning.  The guys can win money and a prestigious belt buckle if they are crowned the winner.”

OK, so far so good.  The guy on the horse in the above photo has the responsibility of roping a bull once the rider has been thrown.  He was pretty accurate from the distances he was heaving the lasso and I only saw him miss once all night.  Once the bull is roped successfully, it is led back to the storage cages behind the start chutes.

Once the rider is mounted in the start chute, the gate is pulled open and the bull basically starts a very unpredictable series of movements.  Many of the riders were thrown into the air and have no choice but to take the hard landing.  The way a ride ends, good or bad, is by being thrown from the bull, so the poor guy who only lasted three seconds and the rider who can survive for ten seconds realize the same fate in the end, and knowing how to fall and dodge is a key to lasting in the sport.

Besides Hodges, there are two other clowns who try to get the attention of the bull after the rider has been tossed.  In my opinion, these two guys had the riskiest job in the building.  They had to deal with every bull on every ride. 

How fast would you move? 

All-in-all, the crowd seemed pleased and enjoyed the efforts that the PBR Show brought to Youngstown.  If you ever get a chance to take your family to something different than a movie and dinner, throw this event on the list, you will not be disappointed.  Kasy Hays was crowned the winner of the ‘final round of ten’.  Afterwards, an autograph table was set up in the concourse where fans lined up to meet their favorite PBR personalities.

 

There are several area fundraisers to benefit Luke Holko.  Luke remains at Akron Childrens Hospital and I am working on getting an update on his condition.  If you have a fundraiser or a promotion for this cause, please leave a comment and I will update the schedule.  Continued prayers are with Luke.

Tuesday, September 15.  The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have announced that they will donate $2 from every ticket sold to the NYPL Championship games to the Luke Holko Fund.  If there is a game 3 on Wednesday, the $2 donation on every ticket will remain in place.  Game 1 is set for Tuesday at Eastwood Field.

Friday, September 18. Spaghetti Dinner to benefit Luke at The Wet Spot, 1875 Elm Road, Warren.  330-372-5263.   Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, and bread & butter.  The donation is $5 and carryout and delivery are available. 

Sunday, September 27.  A spaghetti dinner will be held at Odonald’s Irish Pub in Niles.  The event will be held from 2-7 PM and the donation is $8 with all proceeds going toward Luke’s recovery.  For more information or directions, call 330-349-4500.

Saturday, October 10.  Golf outing at Bronzewood Golf Course.  Contact Robert to volunteer, enter a team, or donate.  Robert’s e-mail address is Bobbckwardisbob@aol.com .  Here is the official website for the golf outing:  http://www.teeingupforluke.com/

Ongoing.  You can donate at any area Cortland Banks branch where a fund for Luke Holko has been set up.  Cortland Banks are located conveniently throughout Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.  Here is a Cortland Banks address for people like Roberto who commented from Texas and want to donate:

Cortland Bank

Lucas Holko Fund

2935 Elm Road NE

Warren, OH  44483