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

The Youngstown State women’s basketball team will play 13 games against opponents who won at least 20 games last season and participate in a Thanksgiving tournament in Los Angeles during the 2011-12 season, YSU head coach Bob Boldon announced on Tuesday.

The Penguins will have a challenging start with five of the first eight contests against teams who won 20-plus games a year ago. They’ll also play five of their first six contests away from Beeghly Center.

Boldon’s second season will start at West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 11, and the Penguins will remain on the road to play at IPFW (Nov. 13) and at Bucknell (Nov. 16). YSU’s home opener will be against American on Nov. 21, and the Guins’ league opener will be versus Cleveland State on Dec. 31. YSU has just 12 home contests on the 29-game docket.

“This is a very exciting and challenging schedule for us as we continue to build our program,” Boldon said. “We have a very demanding non-conference slate that will definitely prepare us for the Horizon League, and we’re adding New York City and Los Angeles to our list of attractive travel destinations.”

November 

 Fri	11	at West Virginia			TBA 

Sun	13	at IPFW			2:00 PM 

 Wed	16	at Bucknell			7:00 PM 

 Mon	21	AMERICAN			7:05 PM 

 Fri	25	at Loyola Marymount			4:00 PM 

 Sat	26	vs. TBA			TBA

Wed	30	WESTERN MICHIGAN			7:05 PM 

December 

 Tue	6	BOWLING GREEN			5:15 PM 

 Fri	9	at Ohio			7:00 PM

Sun	18	at Akron			2:00 PM 

 Tue	27	at Stony Brook			7:00 PM 

 Sat	31	CLEVELAND STATE *			2:05 PM 

January 

 Thu	5	at Butler *			7:00 PM 

 Sat	7	at Valparaiso *			2:35 PM 

 Thu	12	LOYOLA *			7:05 PM 

 Sat	14	UIC *			2:05 PM 

Thu	19	at Green Bay *			8:00 PM 

 Sat	21	at Milwaukee *			3:00 PM 

 Thu	26	DETROIT *			7:05 PM 

 Sat	28	WRIGHT STATE *			4:35 PM 

February 

 Thu	2	VALPARAISO *			7:05 PM 

 Sat	4	BUTLER *			2:05 PM 

 Thu	9	at UIC *			8:00 PM 

 Sat	11	at Loyola *			TBA 

 Thu	16	MILWAUKEE *			7:05 PM 

 Sat	18	GREEN BAY *			2:05 PM 

 Thu	23	at Wright State *			7:00 PM 

 Sat	25	at Detroit *			2:00 PM 

March 

 Sat	3	at Cleveland State *			TBA 

  (home games in red)

The Youngstown State men’s basketball team will have two games nationally televised on the ESPN family of networks and will also featured as the Horizon League Networks Game of the Week in late February, the Horizon League announced as part of its 35-game 2011-12 television package.

The Penguins game against Milwaukee, schedule for Jan. 20 at the Beeghly Center, is slated for a national broadcast ESPNU or ESPN3.com.

The Guins home contest against two-time national runners-up Butler on Feb. 9 has been selected for to be on ESPN3.com

“Having two of our games broadcast on ESPNU or ESPN3.com is outstanding national exposure for our basketball team,” Head Coach Jerry Slocum said. “The Horizon League continues to produce a tremendous brand of men’s basketball and I’m glad we have the opportunity to showcase our program.”

The Penguins regular-season and home finale against Detroit on Feb. 25 has been picked as the Horizon League Network’s Game of the Week.

In a scheduling note, the Guins’ game at Valparaiso has been moved to Jan. 13 and the contest at Butler has been pushed back to Jan. 15 due to Butler’s nationally-televised game on ESPNU against Cleveland State on Jan. 13.

The Youngstown State women’s golf team rode a strong second day performance to finish first at the YSU Invitational which concluded on Tuesday at the Links at Firestone Farms.

Leading the way were freshmen Aislynn Merling (lower photo) and Allison Metzel. Merling finished first with a two-round total of 152. She opened the event with a 79 on Monday and came back to fire an impressive low-round of 73 on Tuesday. Metzel also had a strong second day. After an opening round 82 on Monday she came back to fire a 73 on Tuesday.

In the team competition, the Guins shot a 313 on the day to card a 641 and come back to win the tournament. The Penguins trailed Bethel by three strokes after the first round, but the Pilots carded a 322 and finished second with a 647. Robert Morris was third with a 666 (336-330).

Finishing in eighth for YSU was Sarah Heimlich who had a two-round total of 164 (84-80) and freshman Sana Kahn was 14th with a 168 (83-85). Other finishers for the Penguins were Sarah Scheidemantel was 22nd with 177 (90-87), Jessica Parham who was 23rd with a 178 (93-85),  Jamie Berndt was 28th with a 195 (102-93) and Ali DeLuca was 29th with a 210.

The Penguins return to action on Sept. 17 at the Ball State Invitational.

** Both photos, courtesy of Ron Stevens.

Youngstown State University fell 28-6 at Michigan State on Friday in the season opener for both teams.  The Penguins moved the ball on the Spartans but came up empty on two of the three drives they pieced together in the first half.  Michigan State rode the arm of Kirk Cousins and scored 14 points in each half on their way to the win.

“We do not see this as a moral victory”, said Eric Wolford at the post game press conference.  “I made that real clear to the players in the locker room.  Make no mistake about it, we came here to win.”

Cousins (below) was the story on offense for the Spartans, completing 18 of 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown.  He did a great job and completed a couple of passes with very small windows of opportunity.  B. J. Cunningham, the Spartans top receiver finished the game with 130 yards on six catches.  The two fifth year seniors hooked up for the lone aerial score.

Michigan State got on the board first when Larry Caper rambled in for a six yard score to cap off a nine play, 80-yard drive with 12:04 left in the second quarter.  Youngstown State took the opening kickoff and moved the ball but got stuffed on a fourth-and-one to turn the ball over on Michigan State’s 30.

Youngstown State responded when Kurt Hess found Jelani Berassa with 7:38 in the second quarter for a touchdown to cut the lead to 7-6.  It marked Berassa’s first time into the end zone as a Penguin.  However, the extra point attempt failed as the snap was bad, leaving the Penguins behind, 7-6.

Michigan State wasted little time going 74 yards in four plays before Le’Veon Bell scampered in from three yards out to put the Spartans ahead, 14-6.  The big blow on the drive was a play action pitch and catch from cousins to Cunningham that covered nearly 50 yards.

Cunningham talked about the momentum swings.  “When they [YSU] missed the extra point it brought a lot of momentum to the team.  We went out there and started playing a little faster and a little harder.”

The score stayed at 14-6 until the half.  With 4:52 left in the third quarter, Michigan State struck for another score on the 18-yarder from Cousins to Cunningham.  The Spartans closed out the scoring with 7:09 left in the fourth quarter when Bell punched in another three-yard run for points.  Michigan State only had to march 17 yards for their final score as Hess was picked off.

“We were in it until there was about 8:18 left in the game”, remarked Wolford.  “They converted that turnover, which was a bad decision.”

For the Penguins, Jamaine Cook finished the game with 76 yards rushing on 17 carries.  Jeremy Edwards and John Sasson each finished the game with 11 tackles and Josh Garner chipped in with ten stops.

Freshman Christian Bryan had a nice debut with six receptions for 45 yards.  Andre Stubbs, another freshman racked up 82 yards on four kickoff returns.

The Penguins open at home Saturday against Valparaiso with the kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m.

*All photos courtesy of Ron Stevens

Having a heart and being a wrestling fan are seldom linked.  On Sunday August 28, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers had it all.  Luke Holko, pictured above with his parents (Chad and Nicole), was in attendance.  Luke was hit by a foul ball a couple of seasons ago and has been battling back ferociously ever since.

The Scrappers held a mystery ball sale where people could buy a baseball for $20.  Each bag contained a baseball signed by a different person and the proceeds were donated to the Holko’s.  I bought a bag, not caring who signed the ball, because I believe in the cause.  After opening the bag, I pulled out a Jason Donald signed ball.  The bag sold after mine contained an Al Kaline ball and many people got some great memorabilia through the event.

I talked briefly with Chad and Nicole, who were also busy showing off their new daughter, and learned that Luke is still making progress in the right direction.  Luke himself smiled a few times and seemed to be having plenty of fun at the game.  He also threw out a pretty good first pitch before the game started.

Before Luke through out his pitch, a video of Ben Carlson was played on the videoboard addressing the honoree. “Luke, I really wanted to be there with you today but I was unable to come.  I hope you are having fun and I will see you soon.  I love you”, said Carlson.

There was wrestling after the game, to which Chad claimed Luke is taking a liking to.  Luke got to meet Mick Foley, Al Snow, and Jimmy Hart, as well as Scrapper season ticket holder, the Necro Butcher.

Jordan Taylor and staff rolled a strike with the whole wrestling thing, but to me, the exclamation point was seeing a happy Luke Holko being a kid and having fun.

The Youngstown State women’s soccer team (2-1-1) seeks its first three-game winning streak in school history when it hosts Ursuline College, Friday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. The Guins also visit Canisius, Sunday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m.

The Guins are coming off two straight victories, a 3-1 win over the Virginia Military Institute on Aug. 26, and a 1-0 overtime win over Robert Morris on Aug. 28.

In just her first four college games, freshman Jade Flory has made a significant impact on the Penguins. Flory leads the team with three goals and seven points. She has scored a goal in the last three contests, including the game-winner in a 1-0 overtime win over Robert Morris on Aug. 28.

Sophomore goalkeeper Ali Viola recorded her first career shutout in the Guins’ 1-0 overtime win over Robert Morris on Aug. 28. Viola owns a record of 2-0-1 with 16 saves and a goals-against average of 0.61.

Just 16 games into her college career, sophomore Allison Ludwig now ranks fifth on the YSU career goals list with 10. She is also just the fifth player in school history to score at least 10 career goals. Last season, Ludwig tied the YSU freshmen record with eight goals.

* Photo Courtesy of Ron Stevens

Jake Lowery went 3-for-5 with a home run and three runs batted in and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers defeated the Williamsport Crosscutters, 8-3, in the last home game of the 2011 campaign.

The win ended the Scrappers three-game losing streak.

Lowery singled in a run in the first inning to put the Scrappers ahead 1-0. In the third, he hit a two-run home run off reliever Casey Barnes to make it 3-0. Barnes relieved Williamsport starter Mike Nesseth, who pitched 2.1 innings. The Scrappers added a run later in the inning on Jerrud Sabourin’s single.

Mahoning Valley scored two in the sixth and two in the seventh. Lowery’s single in the seventh was his third hit of the night.

The Crosscutters scored a run in the eighth but were held scoreless in the ninth.

Danny Jimenez pitched six innings and allowed two runs. He picked up the win to improve to 4-3. Nesseth took the loss to fall to 3-6.

The Scrappers begin a three-game series on the road against the Jamestown Jammers on Friday night at 7:05 pm.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers coaches will tell you that development is the key to being a successful Low-A short season franchise in the New York-Penn League. The players, who have played to win for several years, feel as though if they are winning, they are developing in some way.  Both schools of thought are correct.  2011 saw some pretty good talent blow through Eastwood Field.  The only favorites to return each season are the coaches because this is a make or break level.  The players are question marks.  Many will find their way to Lake County, some will go back to Arizona, and some will be working 9-5 jobs back home.

The postseason was a goal that will not be reached this season.  If management had to play these games to win, the Scrappers would be in the playoffs, and that is not criticism, it is a statement that they are doing their jobs the right way.  When guys get sent to Mahoning Valley games for rehab assignments, or the #1 Draft Pick, Francisco Lindor, signs with a week left, David Wallace has to shuffle his cards at the last minute.  Developmental or not, it throws a wrench into the chemistry.  Staten Island had many second year players, they are in the playoffs.

Why am I spewing all of this out?  Because the Scrappers were in it until the end and that says a lot about the values of Wallace and his staff.  There are no second year players on the current roster, not one.  These guys were still learning each others names into June and showed the promise that the Indians front office would have hoped for.  Greg Hibbard and Tony Mansolino are a part of a great staff with Wallace leading the way.  It didn’t matter if the Scrappers won by ten or lost by six, Wallace always gave a cordial and precise interview after the game, with a smile on his face.

On Wednesday, Mahoning Valley played their next to last home game of the regular season against Williamsport and fell 6-2.  Hector Rondon (above) was brought in to make a start.  Rondon had Tommy John surgery and was making his first start of the year.  Last season, the rightie threw a no-hitter at Akron and was on the fast-track before falling prey to injury. He threw one inning before giving way to Will Roberts.

The Scrappers tied the game in the bottom of the second on a Cody Elliott single that plated Alex Lavisky.

Williamsport opened the offense with a pair of runs in the the fourth to take a 3-1 lead with RBI’s from Cody Asche and Brock Stassi. Todd Hankins pulled the Scrappers to a one-run deficit with a blast to left in the bottom of the fourth.

The Crosscutters chased Roberts in the top of the sixth with a couple more runs to take a 5-2 lead.  Roberts was tagged with the loss after his 59 pitch effort.  Ethan Stewart picked up the win for Williamsport.

So as the curtain drops on another successful season in Niles, recognition must be given to people who have gone over and above.  Jordan Taylor and his staff worked hard around the year to make these game nights special for those in attendance.  The vendors, Grant Tunkel, the grounds crew, and the suite crews all worked very hard.  The Scrapper Backers are an unselfish group of people who make things happen.  Their tireless efforts go by unrecognized far too often.

Players to watch from this class are Tony Wolters, Todd Hankins, Jake Lowery and Will Roberts.  Jordan Smith can be fantastic but he didn’t hit a home run all season (yet) and he is too big not too.  Bryson Myles also showed flashes of brilliance when healthy but either needs to be a leadoff hitter, where he can work on his bunt, or swing away and continue to develop as a hitter.

The players who have to be disappointed with the 2011 season are Jerrud Sabourin, Alex Lavisky, and KC Serna.  Lavisky came in hyped up and probably would be at Lake County if he put up some consistent numbers.  Sabourin is a terrific defensive first baseman who could not catch a break with the stick all year.  He can turn the corner if he sticks with it.  Serna was Wallace’s biggest surprise through the All-Star Break but has played sparingly since.  I believe that Serna has a good future in baseball, but just got frazzled in August and was a non-factor.

Camp is over, school is in session, and football is in the air.  Youngstown State will start the 2011 season on the road at East Lansing to face off against the #17 ranked Michigan State Spartans.  The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on the Big-10 Network.  Friday’s contest will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Michigan State knows what it is like to be on National Television with this game extending that streak to 103 consecutive games dating back to 2002.  Youngstown State, on the other hand got some exposure in recent years with games against Penn State, Pitt, and Ohio State.  The Spartans are 5-4 at home in prime-time TV appearances.

“We will not just be satisfied if we score a touchdown”, exclaimed YSU Coach Eric Wolford.  “We cleared that hurdle last season and I am very confident in this football team.  This is a new season, last year does not matter anymore.  Today was the first day of classes and usually that means a bad practice takes place.  I was happy to say that this was a very good practice and we are very focused on what we need to do for the Michigan State game.”

“It’s okay to be excited, but we are keeping our focus on what we have to do Friday”, remarked YSU Senior Captain, John Sasson.  “Our goal is to win this game, our goal is to win every game and we have to do that one week at a time.  It is a very long season and games will be focused on one at a time.”

For Youngstown State to have any shot at an upset, they have to control the clock, move the sticks and keep the ball away from the Spartans.  Sophomore QB Kurt Hess and RB Jamaine Cook, both recently named co-captains, lead a very experienced and talented Youngstown State backfield.  The Penguins averaged over 400 yards per game on offense in 2010 and have the backfield returning.

Hess (above) doesn’t look toward the Michigan State game feeling any pressure as a newly named captain, the first sophomore in YSU history to be donned with such an honorable title.  “I am trying to have fun.  I don’t see this as pressure as much as I do responsibility.  The responsibility is every day and you can’t take plays off at practice, being a leader means you are accountable.”

Still in question is the passing game.  With the loss of Dominique Barnes and a slew of new faces in camp, the air game is the biggest question mark for the Penguins going into 2011.  Michigan State is not a team that will be easy to tear apart in third-and-long situations with Senior FS Trenton Robinson, a 2010 All-Conference Pick,  roaming the middle, and a solid pass rush featuring DT Jerel Worthy.

“I think we are going to play a good game and stayed focused.  We want to stay grounded and fight until it is over and we are ready to play this game.  We have a lot of bad taste in our mouth from last season and I know we are hungry”, added Hess.

Offensively, the Spartans feature one of the best quarterbacks in the Big-10, Kirk Cousins.  Cousins is like a right-handed Steve Young who has good mobility and arm strength and makes very precise decisions.  Edwin Baker will receive the majority of the carries for Michigan State and earned post-season Big-10 honors last year.  The Penguins, who will look much better on defense this season will have their hands full with a well-balanced offense.

On a sad note, prayers are with Spartan Coach Mark Dantonio whose father passed away Sunday.  Dantonio, from Zanesville, Ohio, will hold his press conference on Tuesday and leave to attend the services.  He is expected to be back for the opener on Friday.

With a nation of football-starved fanatics, the Penguins have vowed to give it their best shot on Friday.  Michigan State has a lofty goal of winning the Big-10 Championship outright this season.  Let the games begin!