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Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

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Youngstown State swimming & diving media and recruiting guide, featuring player and coach profiles, statistical information, historical information and more.
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Page 1: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide
Page 2: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

Media And Recruiting Guide YSUsports.com | 11

2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

Table of ContentsGeneral Information/Quick Facts ................................. Page 1Season Preview .......................................................... Page 2-32008-09 Roster ............................................................ Page 4Beeghly Natatorium ...................................................... Page 4Student-Athlete Profi les ............................................Page 5-12Head Coach Matt Anderson ........................................ Page 13Assistant Coaches ....................................................... Page 14Horizon League ........................................................... Page 152007-08 Top Times ..................................................... Page 16Personal Bests ............................................................ Page 17School Records/Top 10 Performances ................ Pages 18-19History ......................................................................... Page 20

Quick FactsAddress ..................................................... One University PlazaLocation (Zip) ....................................Youngstown, Ohio (44555)Founded ............................................................................1908Enrollment ..................................................................... 13,712President .......................................................... Dr. David SweetColors .................................................................... Red & WhiteNickname ................................................................... PenguinsAffi liation ...........................................................NCAA Division ILeague .............................................................. Horizon LeagueVenue .......................................................... Beeghly Natatorium

Team At A GlanceHead Coach .......................................Matt Anderson (Sixth year)

Alma Mater .............................................Northern Illinois, 1997Offi ce Phone ....................................................(330) 941-3673Offi ce Fax .........................................................(330) 941-2968

Diving Coach ........................................Nick Gavolas (13th year)Assistant Coach ............................. Jessica Ewald (Second year)Letterwinners Returning/Lost ......................................... 10/52007-08 Horizon League Finish .......................... Fifth out of 8

Athletic DepartmentExecutive Director of Athletics ............................... Ron StrolloAssociate Athletic Director/SWA ........................ Elaine JacobsAssociate Athletic Director ....................................... Rick LoveAssistant Athletic Director ..................................Emily HaynamAssistant Athletic Director .................................... Tom MorellaAssistant Athletic Director ..................................Robb SchmidtFaculty Representative ................................... Dr. Jane KestnerDirector of Athletic Development .........................Joe CasseseTicket Coordinator ...................................................Tim StuartHead Athletic Trainer ..........................................John DoneykoEquipment Manager ......................................Carmine Cassese

Sports InformationSports Information Director .................................Trevor ParksAssistant Sports Information Director ................... Jamie HallAssistant Sports Information Director ................... John VogelSwimming & Diving Contact .................................Trevor Parks Parks’s Offi ce Line ............................................ (330) 941-3192 Parks’s Email Address ...................................... [email protected] Parks’s Cell Phone Number .............................. (330) 402-3289Sports Information Fax ..................................... (330) 941-3191Web site .....................................................www.YSUsports.com

Media Guide CreditsThe 2008-09 Youngstown State University Swimming and Diving Media Guide

is a production of the YSU Sports Information Offi ce. It was written and designed by Trevor Parks. Editorial assistance provided by John Vogel and Jamie Hall. Also assisting in the project were Andrew Zalinsky and Bridget Kelly. Photos by Carl Leet of YSU Media Services, Ron Stevens and Ron Garchar. Printed by YSU Printing Services.

YSU Athletics Mission StatementThe mission of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Youngstown State

is to offer broad-based programs which accommodate the needs and interests of the students. The Intercollegiate Athletic Department is committed to: welfare of student-athletes, academic integrity, sportsmanship and ethical integrity, fi scal integrity, ethnic integrity, gender equity and outreach.

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

2 | 2 | YSUsports.com Media And Recruiting Guide

After two straight years of fi nishing fi fth, what does the program need to do to maintain that, or possibly break through to the next level? “One of the big challenges coming into the program was, for the most part, the team just really didn’t believe they could make an impact at the championship meet. Slowly but surely, we’ve been changing that attitude to where, for the most part now, everybody believes we belong and we’re someone who is making a move. Stepping up to UIC is going to be a challenge. They were 90 points ahead of us last year. I believe they’ve got a pretty good recruiting class as well so I think it’s going to be a tough battle. But I think we can give them a good run this year. It’s just a matter of waiting to see how things kind of play out. Stepping into the top three is another big step. I think that you’ll probably see us and UIC are stepping in together to where it’s going to be a fi ve-way battle, rather than just a three-way battle. Both our teams are ready to move in that direction. Staying ahead of Cleveland State and Valpo is a big guessing game to be honest. Both those programs have had coaching changes in the past two years. Valparaiso in a pretty dra-matic way when their coach left in the middle of the season last year. With the women’s team at Cleveland State getting combined in with the men’s program, basically the men’s coach is doing both of those now. Their men’s team has been pretty successful with him. They won the championship a few years ago. If he can get them turned around they are going to be a tough one to battle back. I think we’ve got a pretty good lead on them right now to where as long as we continue to do the same things we’ve been doing we can stay ahead of them. The biggest key is that team attitude. The girls believe they can do it. They feel very confi dent after last year. And really one of the biggest things we saw last year was our 400-free relay fi nishing third, which was a huge step for us because we had never had a relay above fi fth before that. It was a big eye-opener for a lot of the team to say if we could get the relays up there, we can be up there as a team and that’s a big step. Attitude’s a big part of it, and they’ve got it right now.”

Diving has been a strong suit, but the past couple of years have seen a lull in production. What can Sarah Weigel and Amanda Carpin do to turn that around? “Sarah is another one of our injury people that we’ve been trying to get healthy. She had ankle surgery over the summer to repair some cartilage in there. So, again, we’re not sure what’s going to happen with her. She’s rehabbing and hopefully going to be back on track by

the end of the semester here and be able to compete at least on one board, if not both, at the championship meet. Just having her in there is a big plus. She gives us just a little bit of depth because it is a thin area for us right now. Amanda’s the kind of diver who is a great kid and has some potential. It’s just a matter of seeing how much we can pull out of her by the end of the season. She was 13th (one-meter) last year at the league meet, so we’re hoping she has a shot at that top eight this year if she can continue to improve. She works hard and does anything you ask so it’s just a matter of getting it to click for her.”

What are some of the changes in individual specialties this year, or who is adding events to their repertoire? “Not too many people are probably going to be adding a lot of events. As the team gets better, and we progress, we have the ability to be a little more set in what we want to do. In situations like having Kirstin (Walker), as a good 500-freestyler come in as a freshman, that may mean we can move Olivia (Arnold) out of the IM and into the breast-stroke or something like that. We may see some stuff like that, but probably not too many major changes. The nice part is we just don’t have to throw people in places they don’t belong quite as often. Even though, sizewise we’re almost exactly the same size as last year, depthwise as far as ability levels we’re way better.”

Talk about the incoming freshmen and the impact they might make? It seems like they offer a lot of versatility? “They’re a small group, but they’re all good. Katie Wolf is probably a boarderline scorer in the distance freestyle and breaststroke events. I think that she’s someone we are going to see some big improvement out of this year. She’s got an outside shot at being a point scorer maybe in the mile or the 200 breast. She might even develop into a 400-IMer as well, but we might just have to wait on that. Audria Grubbs is a tal-ented swimmer who we just need to do a little bit of stroke refi nement on and kind of get her clicking on all gears. I think she can possibly score some points for us in both the 50 and the 100, maybe the 200. She’ll defi nitely be someone who helps us on the relays throughout the year all the way through to the championship meet as well. I think that she can be someone who is pretty good. Nishani is going to be a bit of a project, but she’s got a load of talent. She comes from a background that just is not a swimming background. Suriname is not the swimming capital of the world. I was talking to her, and she told me that she came from a background basically where they trained an hour a day fi ve days a week, and that was it. We train 20 hours a week without question. It’s

2008-09 Schedule2008-09 ScheduleDate Opponent TimeDate Opponent TimeOct. 17 at Tom Stubbs Relays 5 p.m.Oct. 17 at Tom Stubbs Relays 5 p.m.Oct. 21 at Clarion Diving Invitational All DayOct. 21 at Clarion Diving Invitational All DayOct. 24 at Marshall 4 p.m.Oct. 24 at Marshall 4 p.m.Nov. 1 Butler NoonNov. 1 Butler NoonNov. 7 Cleveland State/Niagara 6 p.m.Nov. 7 Cleveland State/Niagara 6 p.m.Nov. 14 at Akron 5 p.m.Nov. 14 at Akron 5 p.m.Nov. 15 Ohio 1 p.m.Nov. 15 Ohio 1 p.m.Nov. 21-23 YSU Invitational All DayNov. 21-23 YSU Invitational All DaySaint Francis (Pa.), California (Pa.), Mount St. Mary’sSaint Francis (Pa.), California (Pa.), Mount St. Mary’sJan. 2-11 Winter Break Training Trip All DayJan. 2-11 Winter Break Training Trip All DayJan. 17 Saint Francis (Pa.) 1 p.m.Jan. 17 Saint Francis (Pa.) 1 p.m.Jan. 24 at Cleveland State/Wright State 1 p.m.Jan. 24 at Cleveland State/Wright State 1 p.m.Jan. 30 at UIC 5 p.m.Jan. 30 at UIC 5 p.m.Jan. 31 at Green Bay/Illinois State NoonJan. 31 at Green Bay/Illinois State NoonFeb. 6 at Bowling Green/Buffalo 1 p.m.Feb. 6 at Bowling Green/Buffalo 1 p.m.Feb. 8 YSU Diving Invitational 11 a.m.Feb. 8 YSU Diving Invitational 11 a.m.Feb. 25-28 Horizon League Championships All DayFeb. 25-28 Horizon League Championships All Day

Coach Anderson has guided the program to 18 school records since he took over in 2003. YSU has become a top-three contender at the league meet in his sixth season.

Coach Anderson Q&ACoach Anderson Q&A

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Media And Recruiting Guide YSUsports.com | 33

2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

been a bit of a culture shock in a lot of different ways for her coming here. Her 50 and 100 are both going to be good events for us. It’s a little hard to judge with meter to yard conversions because the rest of the world swims meters, but based on her conversions she’s going to be someone who is potentially top eight in the 50 and hopefully scores points in the 100 free or 100 back or 200 free or something. She’s a good one. Kirstin Walker’s probably the best of the four. Her 500 time, which is converted from a 400-meter free, is four seconds faster than our school record, so we’re looking forward to that. She trains like it. I think we’ll see a lot of that happen, and that’s a good thing. She’s pretty versatile. She’s 2:09 in the 200-IM, which tops our depth chart. She’s 57.9 in the 100 fl y, which is a half-second behind Ashley who was second last year at the conference meet. She’s 1:54 in the 200 free, which is about a second and half faster than our school record in that event. She’s someone who is going to make an impact for us and really help us a lot. I mentioned earlier that having somebody like that who we can put into some different places is going to open up some opportunities for the rest of team to really specialize where we need them too. Being able to move Olivia Arnold out of the 500 or have a 1-2 punch with those two together is going to make a big impact in our dual meets. The championship meet is the ultimate goal, but leading up to it is what it’s all about. Having that ability is going to be a big part of it. I’m very excited about that group.”

What will the three seniors bring to the table this year? “This is probably the strongest senior class that we’ve graduated, which is pretty good to say considering we graduated Julia (Darling) last year as a school-record holder and Brittany (Senn), who was part of school records on the relays. The kind of impact that these three have had is big. Jessica Front is one we have fought injury on. She’s rehabbing a shoulder and is getting better. Hopefully we’ll see some

points out of her in the 200 free and 100 free. The other two, Natasha and Olivia, are two good point scorers for us. I think Tash scored in two out of her three events last year, and I think she could be top eight in the 400 IM and maybe the mile this year and score for us in the 1,000 as well. Olivia, with two school records last year and not too far off of a third, is going to make a huge impact for us. Leadershipwise they’re a great group. They‘re going to mean a lot to us over the next six months and they’re going to be missed when they are gone because it’s going to take some doing to replace their leadership skills. I’m really looking forward to an exciting year with those three because all three of them have put in the work whether it be through rehab, or summer training, in order to have a real good year so we’re looking forward to it.”

Ashley Williamson had a breakout year as a freshman. What can she do to build on her performances at the league meet? “Basically continue with what she is doing. She was a young freshman coming in. She didn’t turn 18 until January. She struggled a lot during her fi rst semester with homesickness and being a long way from Scot-land, and that was pretty tough. Having a solid year of training is going to make a huge difference for her. Just continuing with the progress that she’s already made and she’ll continue to get faster. She’s got a load of potential and can be someone we’re looking at long-term pos-sibly some NCAA cuts. Making the meet may be a whole other deal, but getting some cuts and being in that range is possible. By the time her four years here are done here, she could be a conference champion in maybe three events -- the 100 fl y, the 100 back, the 200 back. We’re going to try her a little in the 200 fl y this year and see how that goes. If she can do what I think she is capable of in that event, that’s a potential scorer as well where she could be top eight there. So we will have some choices based on the year and what we think her best chances are. She’s someone who will help us out for the next three years.”

Coach Anderson Q&ACoach Anderson Q&A

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BEEGHLY CENTER NATATORIUM...HOME OF THE GUINS The Beeghly Center Natatorium is the home of the Youngstown State University women’s swimming and diving teams. The pool features a diving well and a 25-yard by 50-meter swimming pool. With 10 lanes, the racing course starts at six feet and reaches to 16 feet at its deepest. The Natatorium is also equipped with two one-meter springboards and a three-meter springboard. There are also five-meter, seven-and-a-half meter and 10-meter diving platforms. The arena features an 800-seat capacity on the east side, a high-powered sound system and four underwater viewing windows. In the summer of 2005, the natatorium received $300,000 in improvements that included a new ceiling, new lighting, painting of the walls and painting of the pool lining. The Natatorium played host to the 1977, 1980 and 1981 NCAA Division II Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

2008-09 YSU SWIMMING AND DIVING ROSTER

Name Events Yr. Hometown/High SchoolOlivia Arnold*** Distance Free, IM Sr. Rutherglen, Australia/RutherglenHilary Barrett** Distance Free, IM Jr. Vernon, N.J./Vernon TownshipNatasha Bray*** Distance Free, IM Sr. York, Pa./Red Lion AreaAmanda Carpin* Diving So. Erie, Pa./Harbor CreekNishani Cicilson Back, Sprint Free Fr. Paramaribo, Suriname/A.A.H.ACaitlin Cook Butterfl y/Backstroke So. Charleston, W. Va./CapitalJessica Front*** Sprint Free Sr. Waynesboro, Pa./WaynesboroAudria Grubbs Sprint Free Fr. Mansfi eld, Ohio/LexingtonLaura Hanley* Breast, IM So. Oregon, Ohio/ClayJennifer Johnstone** Breaststroke Jr. Bolivar, Ohio/Massillon PerryAlana Kane* Freestyle So. Greensburg, Pa./Hempfi eld AreaMegan Rupe** Sprint Free Jr. New Philadelphia, Ohio/New PhiladelphiaKari Tridle Breast, IM So. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho/Coeur d’AleneKirstin Walker Freestyle, Fly Fr. Duns, Scotland/The WallaceSara Weigel Diving So. Poland, Ohio/PolandAshley Williamson* Back, Fly So. Dundee, Scotland/Grove AcademyKatie Wolf Breast, Distance Free Fr. Worthington, Ohio/Worthington

Head Coach: Matt Anderson | Northern Illinois,1997 (Sixth Season) *denotes letters earnedAssistant Coach: Jessica Ewald | Ohio Northern, 2007 (Second Season)Diving Coach: Nick Gavolas | Youngstown State, 1972 (13th Season)

2008-09 Roster2008-09 Roster

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

SeniorDistance Free/IMRutherglen, AustraliaRutherglen H.S.

ARNOLDOlivia

2007-08 (Junior): Finished sixth at the Horizon League Championships in the 1,650 free with a season-best time of 17:33.69 ... was eighth in the 1,000 free, jumping nine places from 2007 with a time of 10:33.14, and 13th in the 500 free with a time of 5:12.87 ... times in the 1,000 free and the 1,650 free rank fi rst in school history ... placed fi rst in three events against Niagara with a 10:48.99 in the 1,000 free, 5:20.99 in the 500 free and a 2:18.87 in the 200 IM ... had three fi rst-place fi nishes in the 1,000 free, four fi rst-place fi nishes in the 500 free, two fi rst place fi nishes in the 200 IM and one win in the 200 breast and 1,650 free.

2006-07 (Sophomore): Finished ninth at the Horizon League Championships in the 1,650 free with a season-best time of 18:03.32 ... also placed 17th in the 1,000 free (11:04.93) and 10th in the 400 IM (4:44.54) at the league meet ... posted a personal-best time of 4:42.19 to win the 400 IM at UIC ... that time ranks second in school history ... also recorded a personal-best time of 2:32.56 in the 200 breast at UIC, which ranks as the third-fastest in YSU history ... swam a season-best time of 5:19.12 in the 500 free at the Radford Invitational ... won the 500 free at UIC for her second victory at the meet ... earned six wins in the 1,000 free, including a win over Cleveland State with a season-best time of 10:50.36.

2005-06 (Freshman): Named the team’s Swimming MVP in her fi rst season ... set the school record in the 1,000-yard freestyle, and swam the second-fastest times in school history in the 500 and the 1,650 ... was the squad’s top swimmer in the distance freestyle ... earned Horizon League Swimmer of the Week honors twice ... won 17 total races in fi ve different events during the year ... earned seven victories in the 1,000 free, six in the 500 free, two in the 1,650 free, two in the 200 IM and one in the 200 free ... placed 10th in the 1,650 (18:14.91), 12th in the 1,000 (10:51.76) and 16th in the 500 (5:18.47) at the Horizon League Championship ... swam a school-record time of 10:42.71 in the 1,000 free in one of three wins at Akron (1/14) ... turned in a then-personal-best time of 5:14.95 in the 500 free in one of three victories against Cleveland State (11/10) ... also swam a then-personal-best and winning time of 2:16.51 in the 200 IM against the Vikings ... swam a then-personal-best time of 18:00.54 in the 1,650 free against Marshall (10/29).

High School: Set school records in the breaststroke and butterfl y ... also set the 400m freestyle record at the Victorian Eastern Zone ... was the 400m freestyle Victorian all school champion and 200m free VSSSA champion ... won a bronze medal at the 2005 Victorian Open Short Course Championships in the 800m freestyle.

Personal: Daughter of Gary and Anita Arnold ... has one sister (Tara) ... major is political science ... born Dec. 9, 1986 ... recipient of the Women’s Athletic Alumni Scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year.

Penguin Spotlight

OLIVIA

ARNOLD

Nickname: Liv

Three Words to Describe Me: Hard-working, driven, happy

Favorite Off -Day Activities:Sleeping

Favorite TV Show: Gossip Girl

Favorite Class at YSU:

International Law

Favorite Musical Artist:Rihanna and Britney Spears

Favorite Movie: 21

Favorite food: Mum’s

spaghetti, steak & milkshakes

Favorite Vacation Spot:Home to Austrailia to visit my family

Favorite place on campus:

Marketplace

Favorite Coach Anderson Quote: “You’ll get used to

it.”

Something her teammates

don’t know about her:That I will miss seeing their faces every day after I am

done swimming

If she could have dinner with three people, they would be: My sister,

Stephanie Rice, and Bill Gates

Favorite Athlete: Stephanie

Rice (Austrailan Swimmer)

Favorite Restuarants: The Outback

Student-Athlete Profi lesStudent-Athlete Profi les

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2007-08 (Junior): Placed ninth in the 400 IM at the Horizon League Championships, posting a time of 4:45.44 ... that time ranks her third in school history ... also placed 12th in the 1,650 free with a time of 17:56.64, also ranking her third in school history ... additionally placed 17th in the 1,000 free with a time of 10:48.02 ... ranks second in school history in the 1,000 free, posting a third-place time of 10:43.86 against Akron ... ranks seventh in the 100 fl y, following a fi fth-place effort against the Zips (1:05.64).

2006-07 (Sophomore): Swam in 10 different events for the second straight year and improved her time in each one ... moved into the top 10 in YSU history in seven different events, including the top fi ve in four events ... placed 11th at the Horizon League Championships in the 1,650 free with a then-personal-best time of 18:10.71 ... also placed 13th in the 400 IM with a then-personal-best time of 4:49.54 and 14th in the 1,000 free (10:56.98) at the league meet ... earned four wins in the 500 free.

2005-06 (Freshman): Was the squad’s most versatile swimmer, competing in 10 different events during the season ... fi nished 15th in the 400 IM at the Horizon League Championship with a season-best time of 4:51.92 ... clocked in with a season-best time of 11:09.19 to place 17th in the 1,000 free at the league meet, and added a 16th-place fi nish in the 200 fl y (2:21.76) ... earned her fi rst collegiate victory against Canisius in the 200 IM with a time of 2:22.91 (10/28).

High School: Was a two-time letterwinner and one-time team captain ... set school records in the 200 IM (2:15.69), 500 free (5:17.53) and 100 breast (1:12.81) ... fi nished ninth in the 500 free and 13th in the 200 IM at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championship ... also placed second in the 200 IM and fourth in the 500 free in District 3.

Personal: Daughter of Joel and Stacey ... has two brothers (Cory and Matt) ... major is criminal justice ... born Sept. 28, 1987 ... is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the 2008-09 academic year.

Nickname:T-Pain

Three Words to Describe Me: Sacastic, level-headed,

friendly

Favorite actor:Denzel Washington

Favorite TV Show: One Tree Hill

Favorite Class at YSU:Abnormal Psychology

Favorite Musical Artist:Lil’ Wayne and Rihanna

Favorite Movie: Remember The Titans

Favorite food: Sushi

Favorite Possessions:Phone and iPod

Role Model: My mom

Favorite Quote:

“Everything happens for a reason.”

If she could have any superpower, it would be:

Being able to snap my fi ngers and be wherever I

want and look how I want

to look.

Something her teammates don’t know about her:

As much as I don’t like getting up at 5:30 a.m. to swim, I’m scared to be

done swimming.

Favorite Pro Athlete:Michael Phelps

Dream Job: Any job where I get to work with Duke basketball

SeniorDistance Free/IMYork, Pa.Red Lion Area

BRAYNatasha

Penguin Spotlight

NATASHA

BRAY

Student-Athlete Profi lesStudent-Athlete Profi les

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

2007-08 (Junior): Placed 20th in the 50 free at the Horizon League Championships with a personal-best time 25.58 seconds ... also placed second in the 200 free with a time of 2:00.54 and third in the 100 free with a time of 55.62 against Akron ... battled a shoulder injury during the year, but was able to return and compete in conference meet.

2006-07 (Sophomore): Placed 14th in the 200 free (1:59.71), 17th in the 500 free (5:26.73) and 18th in the 100 free (56.45) at the Horizon League Championships ... improved her placing by three spots in the 200 free, fi ve in the 500 free and six in the 100 free from her freshman year ... posted personal-best times in three different events at the Radford Invitational (11/19) ... swam a time of 55.13 in the 100 free to place fourth ... fi nished 10th in the 500 free with a personal-best time of 5:19.69 ... swam a time of 1:58.30 in the prelims of 200 free before placing fi fth in the fi nals ... ranks fi fth in school history in the 200 free, seventh in the 500 free and ninth in the 100 free ... captured six wins in the 200 free ... earned nine top-three fi nishes in the 200 free and four in the 500 free.

2005-06 (Freshman): Was one of the top three sprint freestylers on the squad ... fi nished 17th in the 200 free (2:00.91), 22nd in the 500 free (5:28.75) and 24th in the 100 free (56.17) at the Horizon League Championship ... picked up her fi rst collegiate victory in the 100 free against Canisius (10/28) ... also won the 200 free against UIC with a then-personal-best time of 1:59.91 (2/4) ... earned eight top-two fi nishes in the 200 free ... swam a season-best time of 5:23.81 to place second in the 500 free at Akron (1/14) ... clocked in with a season-best time of 55.44 in the 100 free at the Radford Invitational (11/20).

High School: Set records in the 100 free, 200 free and 500 free ... qualifi ed for districts in high school as a sophomore, junior and senior ... was an YMCA national qualifi er in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Personal: Daughter of Bob and Lynn Curley ... has two brothers (Mike and Bryan) and one sister (Jane) ... major is food and nutrition ... born Aug. 13, 1987.

SeniorSprint FreeWaynesboro, Pa.Waynesboro H.S.

FRONTJessica

Nickname:J-Front

Three Words to Describe Me: Simply the best

Biggest fear: Spiders

Favorite TV Show:Grey’s Anatomy

Favorite video game:Guitar Hero

Favorite Musical Artists:O.A.R., The Killers and T.I.

Favorite Movie:

The Lion King

Most prized possession:

Geraldine, my bear

Dream Job: Olympic coach

Vacation Spot:Deep Creek Lake, Md.

Favorite Coach Anderson

quote: “There is going to be two hits, me hitting you and you hitting the fl oor.”

Something her teammates don’t know about her: They know

everything, they’re practically family

If she could have any

superpower, it would be:To fl y

Favorite Pro Athletes:Hines Ward, Ryan Lochte

Favorite Actor: Adam Sandler

Favorite Food: Cheeseburgers

Favorite Restaurant:Taco Bell

Penguin Spotlight

JESSICA

FRONT

Student-Athlete Profi lesStudent-Athlete Profi les

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2007-08 (Sophomore): Placed 12th at the Horizon League Championships in the

400 IM with a time of 4:49.40 ... fi nished 18th in the 200 backstroke at the HL Championships with a time of 2:23.48 ... had a personal-best time of 18:36.33 in the 1,650-yard free at the championship meet, ranking her eighth in school history ... also ranks ninth in school history in the 200 back, posting a time of 2:22.35 at the Carnegie Invitational.

2007-08 (Sophomore): Swam a personal best in the 200 IM at the Horizon League

Championships with a time of 2:21.30, a three-second improvement from her previous personal best, placing her 22nd ... posted a personal-best time of 1:09.85 in the 100 breast at the championships, placing 16th and ranking her third in school history ... also ranked seventh in school history in the 200 breast.

2006-07 (Freshman): Emerged as the squad’s second-best 100-yard breaststroker after missing the fi rst four meets of the year ... placed 15th in the 100 breast at the Horizon League Championships with a season-best time of 1:09.93 ... that time was 2.61 seconds faster than her top time during the regular season ... also placed 20th in the 200 breast (2:39.19) and 24th in the 200 IM (2:24.41) at the league meet ... her time in the

JuniorDistance Free/IMVernon, N.J.Vernon Township

BARRETTHilary

JuniorBreaststrokeBolivar, OhioMassillon Perry

JOHNSTONEJennifer

2006-07 (Freshman): Finished 15th in the 200 back at the Horizon League Championships with a season-best time of 2:22.59 ... that time was 1.54 seconds faster than her previous best time ... placed 16th in the 1,650 free (18:51.29) at the championship meet in the only time she swam the event the entire year ... added an 18th-place fi nish in the 100 back with a personal-best time of 1:07.03 ... fi nished the year ranked eighth in school history in the 1,650 free and the 200 back ... completed the 1,000 free in 11:31.63 the only time she swam the event, which ranked 10th in school history.

High School: Earned All-West Jersey honors all four years ... helped lead the team to the Sussex County Interscholastic League title as a freshman and sophomore ... also played lacrosse for two years and was featured in Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students four years.

Personal: Daughter of Robert and Joan Barrett ... has one brother (Brian) ... major is Middle Childhood Education ... born May 21, 1988 ... is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the 2008-09 academic year.

200 IM was a season-best by more than fi ve seconds ... posted a season-best time of 2:37.55 in the 200 breast at UIC, which ranked sixth in school history.

High School: Was a four-time letterwinner and two-time team captain for the Panthers ... named Second-Team All-Federal League three times and honorable mention all-league once ... was also a three-time district qualifi er ... earned Speedo Academic All-America honors and was a member of the National Honor Society ... also played volleyball, where she was named team captain.

Personal: Daughter of Raymond of Lisa Johnstone ... has one brother (Jason) ... major is exercise science ... born April 19, 1988 ... recipient of Lester Donnell Scholarship for 2008-09 academic year.

Student-Athlete Profi lesStudent-Athlete Profi les

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

2007-08 (Sophomore): Helped her teammates achieve

season-best times in four relays at the Horizon League Championships, posting 1:49.00 in the 200 medley relay, placing fi fth, 4:01.08 in the 400 medley relay, placing fi fth, 1:37.18 in the 200 free relay, placing fourth and 3:31.73 in the 400 free relay, placing third ... the times of all the relays established school records ... also placed sixth in the 100 free, posting a time of 52.46 seconds, ranking her second in school history ... was ninth in the 50 free, posting a time of 24.56, ranking her fourth in school history ... placed 11th in the 200 free with a time of 1:55.70, ranking her second in school history ... had seven top-three fi nishes in the 100 free, six in the 200 free and two in the 500 free for the season.

2006-07 (Freshman): Was among the squad’s top two sprint freestylers in her fi rst year ... placed eighth in the 100 free at

the Horizon League Championships, which is the top fi nish for a YSU freshman swimmer since the Penguins joined the Horizon League in 2001 ... also fi nished 12th in the 50 free and 18th in the 100 fl y at the league meet ... swam the second leg of the 200 free relay that set the school record at conference ... posted a season-best time of 53.29 in the prelims of the 100 free ... also moved into fi fth in the 50 free with her personal-best time of 24.88 that she swam at the league meet ... posted a season-best time of 1:02.35 in the 100 fl y against Butler ... won the 50 and 100 free against Cleveland State and Marshall ... was the top fi nisher in the 100 free against Ohio ... had the top overall time in the 100 free at the Radford Invitational despite competing in the consolation fi nal ... had 10 top three fi nishes in the 50 free, eight in the 100 free and one in the 100 fl y.

High School: Was a four-year letterwinner and one-time team captain for the Quakers ... was a YMCA national qualifi er in 2005 and 2006 ... set the school record in the 50 (24.29), 100 (52.98) and 500 (5:27) yard freestyle events ... earned All-Ohio honors as a junior and senior and was New Philadelphia’s high-point scorer the same years ... fi nished fi fth in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 free in Division I at the Ohio state meet as a senior ... holds the East Ohio Central League records in the 50, 100 and 200 free and the 100 fl y ... named Academic All-Ohio, and was a member of the National Honor Society ... also placed seventh in the pole vault at the Ohio state meet as a junior.

Personal: Daughter of Neil and Barbara Rupe ... has a brother (Adam) ... major is nursing ... born Feb. 3, 1988.

2007-08 (Freshman): Placed 13th in the one-meter dive and three-meter dive during her fi rst appearance in the Horizon

League Championships ... posted a 196.20 in the fi nals of the one-meter and a scored a 152.85 in the three-meter ... personal best of 216.45 in the one-meter at the Butler/Illinois triangular, ranking her eighth in school history ... placed fi rst in the three meter against Ohio (161.33) and second in the one-meter and three-meter against Niagara (191.25/172.28).

Track & Field: Competed for the squad as a pole vaulter ... fi nished eighth at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships

JuniorSprint FreeNew Philadelphia, OhioNew Philadelphia H.S.

RUPEMegan

SophomoreDiverErie, Pa.Harbor Creek H.S.

CARPINAmanda

with a leap of 8-8 1/4 ... cleared a season-best 9-6 1/4 twice ... placed fourth at the HL Indoor Championships with a vault of 10 feet ... ranks second in school history in the indoor pole vault and third in the outdoor.

High School: Was a four-time letterwinner ... broke the school diving record ... was recognized as an all-state, all-district and all county athlete ... additionally was among Who’s Who Among American Athletes ... also competed and lettered four years in cross country and track where she also set multiple school records and was recognized as an all-state, all-district and all-county athlete ... cheered on the varsity cheerleading squad ... was on the honor roll all four years as well as National Honor Society, Renaissance and received a high honors diploma upon graduation from high school.

Personal: Daughter of Kim and Chris Carpin ... has a brother (Chris) ... major is special education ... born July 9, 1989 ... is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the 2008-09 academic year.

Student-Athlete Profi lesStudent-Athlete Profi les

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20 07- 08 (Fres h man) : Posted three personal-best times at the Horizon League Championships, including a

time of 4:56.00 in the 400 IM, placing her 15th, a 1:12.12 in the 100 breast, placing her 20th and a 2:34.29 in the 200 breast,

2007-08 (Freshman): Broke into the top 10 performers list in the 200 butterfl y, ranking 10th in school history ... achieved

personal-best times at the Crimson Hawk Invitational in the 50 free, posting a time of 26.76 seconds and the 100 fl y, posting

2007-08 (Freshman): Posted season-best times and made school history in many of her events at the Horizon League

Championships ... helped her team to a fourth-place fi nish and school-record time of 1:37.18 in the 200 free relay ... placed 18th

SophomoreFly/BackstrokeCharleston, W. Va.Capital H.S.

COOKCaitlin

SophomoreBreaststroke/IMOregon, OhioClay H.S.

HANLEYLaura

SophomoreFreestyleGreensburg, Pa.Hempfi eld Area

KANEAlana

a time of 1:04.03 ... emerged as the team’s No. 3 butterfl y swimmer ... season was cut short because of injuries and did not compete in the Horizon League Championships.

High School: Four-year letterwinner and one-time captain ... set school records in the 100 butterfl y and 100 backstroke ... honored as all-region, all-conference and all-state ... helped lead her team to a regional championship ... also participated on the soccer team ... team was three-time conference champion and two-time regional champion ... earned second place in the West Virginia University High School Journalism Competition.

Personal: Majoring in journalism ... daughter of Carla and Hulin Cook ... has two sisters (Carrie and Stacie) ... born May 24, 1989.

placing her 16th ... time in the 200 breast ranks her fi fth ... time in the 100 breast at the championship ranks her seventh in school history ... also posted a season-best time of 2.21.60 in the 200 IM against Butler and Illinois State.

High School: Was a four-time letterwinner ... served three times as team captain ... holds school record in the 100 yard breaststroke ... earned second-team all-city honors ... also competed on cross country and track teams ... was in top 10 percent of her class all four years and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Majoring in exercise science ... daughter of Jill Manzagol and Sean Hanley ... has one brother (Sean Jr.) and one sister (Kim) who swam at YSU from 2003 to 2007 ... born April 6, 1989 ... 2008-09 recipient of Lester Donnell Scholarship.

in the 200 free (1:59.06), ranking her eighth in school history, 18th in the 100 free, ranking her eighth in school history and 19th in the 50 free (25.34), ranking her seventh in school history.

High School: Earned four letters during her high school campaign ... member of the 200 medley, 400 and 200 freestyle relays ... honored as Rookie of the Year her freshman year.

Personal: Majoring in exercise science ... daughter of Karen and Robert Kane ... has one sister (Tara) ... born March 30, 1989 ... is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the 2008-09 academic year.

Student-Athlete Profi lesStudent-Athlete Profi les

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

2007-08 (Freshman): Despite only competing in three meets, ranks ninth in school history in the one-meter dive and the

3-meter dive ... posted a 215.20 in the one-meter at the Clarion

2007-08 (Freshman): Did not compete because of injuries.

High Schoo l : Four- year letterwinner ... high school team placed second in state

20 07- 08 (Fres h man) : Placed second in the 100-yard butterfl y at the Horizon League

Championships with a school-record time of 57.42 seconds ... highest fi nish by a YSU freshman at league meet since joining the conference ... placed fourth in the 200 back and fi fth in the 100 back, posting times of 2:06.01 and 58.53, breaking both school record ... helped her teammates break records in the

200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay ... the 400 free relay team placed third, the best fi nish in school history ... had six wins in the 200 back and six top-three fi nishes in the 100 back during the year.

High School: Set district, club and meet records ... was a member of the Tayside Swim team that broke the Scottish team and Scottish national 4x50 freestyle relay record ... served as school house captain her fi nal year ... also participated on the soccer and basketball teams.

Personal: Majoring in exercise science ... daughter of Karen and Steven Williamson ... has one sister (Samantha) ... has a goal to participate in the 2014 Scotland Commonwealth Games ... born Jan. 27, 1990.

SophomoreBreaststroke/IMCoeur D’Alene, IdahoCoeur D’Alene H.S.

TRIDLEKari

SophomoreDiverPoland, OhioPoland Seminary H.S.

WEIGELSara

SophomoreBackstroke/FlyDundee, ScotlandGrove Academy

WILLIAMSONAshley

championships twice ... honored as a Renaissance student all four years.

Personal: Majoring in English ... daughter of Deanne and Robert Tridle ... born Oct. 29, 1988.

Invitational, a season best, and a 209.62 in the 3-meter against Wright State, also a season best.

High School: Three-year letterwinner ... recognized for the highest score for a six-dive list ... featured as the WYTV Student Athlete of the Week ... member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Majoring in Biology/Pre-Medicine ... daughter of Cynthia and Robert Weigel ... has one brother (Brian) ... born May 30, 1989 ... recipient of the McAtee Family Scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year.

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High School: Set her club record in the 50-meter back-stroke, 50-meter butterfl y,

100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke, 100-meter individual medley and 100-meter freestyle ... recipient of the Giovanni Memorial High Point trophy ... was twice named swim-mer of the year ... named sportswoman of the year in 2004 ... coach was Labdai Samuel.

Personal: Parents are August Cicilson and S. Bhagwandin ... has one sister (Devina) ... was born April 7, 1991 ... academic interest is exercise science.

High School: Lettered four times at Lexington ... was a member of the two-time state

qualifying team ... was a member of the district runner-up team ... recipient of the Captains award ... member of the Ohio Car-dinal Conference championship team in 2005 ... was named fi rst-team OCC three times ... coach was Melisa Watters ... also played soccer and ran cross country.

Personal: Parents are James and Leigh Grubbs ... has four sis-ters (Alyssa, Amanda, Troie, and Jaimy) and one brother (Nick) ... born Jan. 16, 1990 ... academic interest is electrical engi-neering.

High School: Represented school and country in 2005,

2006 and 2007 at the Scottish Schools Competition ... was a two-time winner in the 800 meters as a track standout ... recipi-ent of The Guy Roberts Memorial Cup ... winner of the James Maclean Award in 2005 ... coach was Chris Martin.

Personal: Parents are Alan and Angela Walker ... has two broth-ers (Scott and Craig) ... born Jan. 26, 1990 ... academic inter-est is food and nutrition.

FreshmanSprint Free/BackParamaribo, SurinameA.A.H.A.

CICILSONNishani

FreshmanSprint FreeMansfi eld, OhioLexington H.S.

GRUBBSAudria

FreshmanFreestyle/FlyDuns, ScotlandThe Wallace

WALKERKirstin

High School: Was a four-time letterwinner and one-time team captain ... recipient of the Toni

Bischoff Award in 2007 ... four-year Attendance Award recipient ... Festivus Award recipient ... was the Ohio Cardinal Conference 100 breaststroke champion in 2006 ... member of the three-time Ohio Cardinal Conference Championship team ... coach was Jim Callahan ... also ran cross country.

Personal: Parents are John and Stephanie Wolf ... has two brothers (Adam and Michael) ... born Jan. 27, 1990 ... aca-demic interest is industrial engineering.

FreshmanDistance Free/BreastWorthington, OhioThomas Worthington

WOLFKatie

Student-Athlete Profi lesStudent-Athlete Profi les

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

When Matt Anderson took over the helm of Youngstown State’s swimming and diving program fi ve years ago, he came in with lofty

goals and a concrete plan to take the Penguins to a new level of success. Now in his sixth season, Anderson has built a solid foundation to achieve those goals and steadily push the program into the upper echelon of the Horizon League and the region.

In Anderson’s first five seasons, the program has experienced unprecedented success since its rebirth in 1996.

With Anderson’s guidance, the Penguins have achieved - and maintained - their highest fi nish ever at the Horizon League Championship, won three individual conference championships and broken 18 school records. Of those school records, 12 are in swimming events, four are in relays and two have come from divers. Only two swimming records and one relay record still stand from before he took over the program.

In stark contrast, prior to Anderson taking over the helm after the 2002-03 season, only three YSU swimming records had been set since 1996. YSU also fi nished last in its two years in the Horizon League by an average of nearly 25 points before Anderson arrived. In 2005 the Penguins were out of the basement by 133 points.

Anderson has also worked to keep Beeghly Natatorium a top-notch facility. Over the past two years, the entire pool has been resurfaced, a new ventilation system has been installed and renovations to the lighting and sound systems have been completed.

Outside of the pool, the Penguins have maintained high academic standards and have been active on campus and in the community. Seven student-athletes have earned Academic All-Horizon League honors since his arrival. The team’s grade-point average has also consistently ranked among the top of YSU’s programs. Four members of the squad currently serve on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and the program has recently earned the Horizon League Outreach Award for Community Service.

Last season, the Penguins finished ahead of three teams at the conference meet for the fi rst time in school history.

At the meet, YSU posted its best ever fi nish in a relay - third - in the 400-yard free relay while setting a new school mark in the event. Freshman Ashley Williamson burst on the scene to fi nish second in 100-yard butterfl y with a school-record time in her fi rst HL Championship appearance. As a group, YSU set nine school records during the championships.

At the 2007 Horizon League Championships, YSU got a strong effort from its freestylers to vault ahead of Cleveland State into fi fth place on the fi nal day. The two squads were tied before YSU outscored the Vikings 86-52 in the fi nal day.

The Penguins had outstanding individual efforts that led to the breaking of two school records that had stood for more than 20 years. Brittany Senn, Megan Rupe, Leigh Bareman and Jessica Front teamed up to break the 200 freestyle relay record that had stood since 1986, and Becky

Head CoachSixth Season

Northern Illinois, 1997

ANDERSONMatt

Bertuzzi topped the 24-year-old school record in the 200 free in her fi nal collegiate meet.

In his third year, Anderson led a young squad to an impressive list of individual accomplishments. The team was small in number coming off the loss of 10 seniors, but the Penguins were still competitive and defeated Cleveland State in a dual meet for the fi rst time since joining

the Horizon League in 2001.Olivia Arnold set the school record in the 1,000 free as a freshman. She

was also named the Horizon League Swimmer-of-the-Week twice.The 2004-05 season saw the culmination of one of YSU’s best-ever

recruiting classes as 10 seniors competed in their fi nal seasons. In two years under Anderson’s leadership, that group went on to break nine school records and win three individual crowns at the league meet.

At the 2005 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championship, Julia Darling broke the school record in both breaststroke events and had two top-10 fi nishes as a freshman. She also swam the breaststroke leg of both of YSU’s record-setting medley relays at the meet. One of those relays - the 200 medley relay - broke a mark that was set in 1984.

Senior Erin Carter was part of two record-breaking relays. Individually, she fi nished fourth in the 400 IM and added a fi fth-place fi nish in the 200 fl y. Jordan Dunn also broke two records at the conference meet. On the fi rst day of the Championship, she broke a 22-year-old record in the 1,000 free. She then broke a 19-year-old record on the meet’s fi nal day in the 1,650-free.

Diver Kalyn Leveto also culminated her career by winning the individual conference crown in the 1-meter board and qualifi ed for the NCAA Zone C Championship for the fourth time in her career.

In Anderson’s fi rst year in 2003-04, the Penguins picked up their fi rst ever victory against a Horizon League opponent and tallied fi ve wins against a strong slate of opponents.

Anderson earned his fi rst career victory as a head coach against Radford on Oct. 26 as the Penguins won the fi nal four events of the meet to top the Highlanders 153-143. On Feb. 8, YSU earned its fi rst-ever victory over a Horizon League opponent as it defeated Butler 86-51.

The Penguins carried the momentum into the conference championships to place sixth, what was then the best fi nish in school history. Carter became the fi rst Penguin swimmer to capture an individual crown at the Horizon League Championship, and Leveto defended her title in 3-meter diving to earn Horizon League Diver-of-the-Year honors.

Anderson, who is the ninth head coach in the program’s history, came to YSU from Ohio State, where he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for four years. He also oversaw the sprint groups for Head Coach Jeanne Fleck, helped run camps, coordinated travel plans, was a key offi ce assistant and was the program’s academic adviser. In each of his years, the team’s grade-point average increased and was as high as 3.36 in 2002.

Before joining the OSU staff, Anderson was the top assistant for the men’s and women’s programs at Northern Illinois University. At NIU, he spent two years as a full-time assistant developing and coaching all aspects of the Huskies’ middle distance swimmers. He also served as the program’s recruiting and travel coordinator.

Anderson fi rst became involved in coaching from 1994-97 as a volunteer assistant coach at NIU following his swimming career. From 1990-94, he was a three-time letterwinner for the Huskies, being named team captain as a senior. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from NIU In 1997.

Anderson is certifi ed as a member of the College Swimming Coaches Association, a member of the American Swim Coaches Association and a member of United States Swimming.

Coach Matt AndersonCoach Matt Anderson

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A former standout as a member of the Youngstown State men’s diving team, Nick Gavolas has built the YSU diving program into one of the top programs in the state and region as he enters his 13th season

as an assistant swimming coach and head diving coach.Gavolas, the 2002-03 and 2003-04 Horizon League Diving Coach of

the Year, has helped YSU divers win nine conference titles in the past 11 years. He has also coached three NCAA Zone C Championship qualifi ers in the past eight years and two YSU Student-Athletes of the Year.

To stay at that elite level, Gavolas coaches two divers at YSU who have solid backgrounds and will be looking for breakthough campaigns in 2008-09. Sara Weigel and Amanda Carpin both placed in the top 10 in school history as freshmen in 2007-08.

Four years ago, Gavolas watched diver Kalyn Leveto cap off her career with her fourth Horizon League crown and the distinction of YSU’s Vindicator Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Leveto, who also did her club diving with Gavolas at Timberbrook Diving, was named Horizon League Diver of the Year her sophomore and junior years. As a sophomore she won both diving events, and she claimed the title in the 3-meter and placed second in the 1-meter as a junior.

Prior to Leveto’s string of championships, Brandi Goettsch was a mainstay on the diving championship podium for the Penguins and the fi rst to by YSU’s Vindicator Female Athlete of the Year. Goettsch was a three-time conference Diver of the Year, earning the mark in 2001-02 in the Horizon League and twice in the Mid-Continent Conference. She won the league’s three-meter competition in 2001-02 and won four conference championships in the Mid-Con.

Mandi Smail also had an accomplished career under Gavolas, placing second in the 1-meter as a senior at the Horizon League Championship in 2003. She was also a four-time Zone C qualifi er and fi nished in the top three twice at the Mid-Con Championship.

In 2006-07, Gavolas saw the development of Cortney Harless come to a pinnacle when she posted career-high fi nishes in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events at the Horizon League Championships. The season before, Kelly Reese posted scores to rank third in YSU history in the 3-meter and fourth in the 1-meter.

Gavolas, a YSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, competed for the Penguins from 1967-72 and became YSU’s fi rst three-time All-American in diving. He earned national runner-up honors at the College National Swimming and Diving Championships in 1969 and was a national qualifi er for the AAU Diving team.

Gavolas has spent 24 seasons as a coach and became YSU’s fi rst diving coach in 1973 with the men’s team. He was named Northern Ohio Coach of the Year three times and was awarded a Mentor Scholarship through the United States Diving Association. Gavolas also went through extensive coaching training under Dick Kimball, a six-time Olympic coach.

For over a decade, Gavolas has been the owner, director and coach of Timberbrook Diving. He has also earned his coaching certifi cation to be a U.S. Diving coach.

Assistant CoachSecond Season

Ohio Northern, 2007

EWALD Jessica

Jessica Ewald, a three-time NCAA Division III national qualifi er at Ohio Northern University, joined Youngstown State’s swimming and diving staff in August 2007.

She is in her second season as an assistant on Coach Matt Anderson’s staff helping with all aspects of the program. Ewald works closely with the entire group of swimmers and monitors splits during events. She is the program’s recruiting coordinator and handles all aspects of team travel. In her fi rst season, the Penguins eclipsed school records 14 times in nine different events. In total, there were 47 new additions to the top-10 performances list. In addition to the nine school records, there were six times added that rank second in school history. For the fi rst time since joining the conference, YSU fi nished higher than three schools. Also, the Guins closed the gap from entering the top four of the conference by 129.5 points. Ewald has previously coached at the Total Performance Swim Camp and the Seneca Aquatic Klub. She fi nished her Polar Bear career as a 12-time Ohio Athletic Conference champion and a two-time Academic All-OAC honoree. Four of those titles came her senior year when she led Ohio Northern to its fi rst ever OAC title. Ewald also became the first ONU swimmer to win three straight conference titles in any event by winning the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke her fi nal three years. She was named team MVP and team captain her fi nal two years. In addition to her coaching experience, Ewald completed a facility internship at the University of Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium last summer. Ewald was also successful outside of the pool at ONU. She served as the treasurer of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a senior, and she was involved in the Health Performance and Sports Sciences Club, the Society of Success and Leadership and the Emerging Leaders Program. Ewald graduated in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Sports Management and Coaching Certifi cation.

Diving Coach13th SeasonYSU, 1972

GAVOLASNick

Assistant CoachesAssistant Coaches

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008-09, the Horizon League continues to aspire toward its goal of being one of the nation’s leading athletics conferences while being recognized as a leader in the development of student-athletes as leaders and role models.

The Horizon League membership features ten public and private institutions that have impressive academic reputations and a storied tradition of broad-based athletic programs. Current membership includes Butler University, Cleveland State University, the University of Detroit Mercy, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, Valparaiso University, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wright State University and Youngstown State University.

The Horizon League’s primary focus is on adding value to the educational experience through its four platforms of athletic performance, academic achievement, community outreach, and personal responsibility and accountability. It is the League’s belief that athletics is a powerful and visible resource tool that can be used to enhance student-athletes’ collegiate experience. The Horizon League’s goals are to enhance the holistic university experience for the student-athlete, to create an affi liation of institutions with similar athletic goals, and to adhere to the principals of integrity, diversity, excellence and growth.

The Horizon League sponsors competition in 19 sports – nine for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and fi eld, outdoor track and fi eld and tennis) and ten for women (basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, indoor track and fi eld, outdoor track and fi eld, tennis and volleyball). In all sports, all teams participate in their respective postseason League championships regardless of regular-season performance, allowing all student-athletes an opportunity to qualify for NCAA championships. The League receives automatic bids to NCAA championships in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball.

The Horizon League is headquartered in Indianapolis, the “Amateur Sports Capital of the World,” with offi ces in the Pan American Plaza (201 S. Capitol Avenue), located a block from Lucas Oil Stadium and just minutes from Conseco Fieldhouse, the State Capitol Building, Victory Field and the NCAA national offi ce.

A PROUD HISTORYFounded on June 16, 1979, as the Midwestern City Conference with

six charter members, the League changed its name to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1985 and added women’s sports for the 1986-87 academic year. Charter members of the conference included current members Butler and Loyola as well as the University of Evansville, Oklahoma City University, Oral Roberts University and Xavier University. Among other current members, Detroit joined in 1980, and Cleveland State, UIC, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Wright State came aboard in 1994 in the largest non-merger conference expansion in history, with Youngstown State joining in 2001 and Valparaiso in 2007.

On June 4, 2001, the Horizon League unveiled its current name and ushered in a new dynamic direction that has brought the League closer to its stated goal of being one of the nation’s top ten conferences with a focus on enhancing the student-athletes experience by upgrading the League’s market and competitive positions.

ATHLETIC SUCCESSIn the past few years, the Horizon League has enjoyed unprecedented

success on the national stage, highlighted by three Sweet Sixteen appearances (Butler 2003, 2007; Milwaukee 2005) and eight wins in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in the past six seasons. In other sports, League teams have won at least one game in their respective NCAA Championships each of the last six seasons in men’s soccer (Milwaukee 2002-05, UIC 2006-07), with UIC just one win away from the College Cup in 2007. In softball, League teams won a game in the national tournament four straight years earlier in the decade (UIC 2002, 2004; Wright State 2003; Green Bay 2005) while advancing into the second round in women’s soccer three of the last four seasons (Detroit 2004, Milwaukee 2005-06). Green Bay’s women’s basketball team added to that résumé with a victory in the 2007 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. Butler’s Victoria Mitchell became the League’s fi rst NCAA individual champion when she won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and then fi nished fourth at the 2005 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

ACADEMIC SUCCESSHorizon League student-athletes also excel in the classroom as more

than 500 have been named to the Academic Honor Roll each of the past seven semesters for carrying a grade-point average of 3.2 or better, including more than 600 for the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters. Forty-eight student-athletes were named to ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District teams in 2007-08, while 14 earned Academic All-America honors, including a pair of fi rst-team selections.

HORIZON LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP

February 20-23, 2008 • Hosted by Cleveland State Feb. 20-21 • Cleveland, Ohio | Buseby Natatorium

Feb. 22-23 • Akron, Ohio | Ocasek Natatorium

Women’s Team Scores Men’s Team Scores1. Green Bay 832 1. Wright State 7942. Wright State 771 2. Cleveland State 675

3. Milwaukee 732 3. Milwaukee 6324. UIC 393 4. UIC 5725. Youngstown State 295 5. Green Bay 545.56. Valparaiso 260 6. Valparaiso 193.57. Cleveland State 187

8. Butler 143

2008 Horizon League Championships

Horizon LeagueHorizon League

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OLIVIA ARNOLD (JR.)50 Free .................27.92 (S) ........2/23/08100 Free .................. 58.21 (L) ...........11/8/05200 Free ........... 1:58.04 (L) ........2/22/08500 Free ............5:11.94 (S) ........2/23/081,000 Free ............10:33.14 ........2/20/081,650 Free ............17:33.69 ........2/23/08100 Fly .................. 1:03.88 (S) ...........1/26/07100 Back .............. 1:08.79 (L) .........10/14/05100 Breast ..................1:10.13 ............ 2/3/06200 Breast .................2:32.56 ...........1/26/07200 IM ....................... 2:16.51 .........11/10/05400 IM ....................... 4:42.19 ...........1/26/07

HILARY BARRETT (SO.)50 Free ................ 29.27 (S) ........2/23/08100 Free ............1:01.95 (S) ........2/23/08200 Free ....................2:09.06 ............ 2/1/07500 Free ........... 5:32.35 (S) ........2/23/081,000 Free ....... 11:11.68 (S) ........2/23/081,650 Free ........... 18:36.33 ........2/23/08100 Fly ............. 1:05.02 (S) ........2/23/08200 Fly .................. 2:31.63 ........1/26/08100 Back ................... 1:07.03 ...........2/23/07200 Back ............... 2:22.35 ..........2/1/08200 IM ................... 2:25.20 ...... 11/15/07400 IM ................... 4:49.40 ........2/22/08

NATASHA BRAY (JR.)50 Free ................ 29.29 (S) ...... 11/15/07100 Free ........... 1:00.96 (S) ........2/23/08200 Free ........... 2:04.26 (S) ........2/23/08500 Free ............5:18.60 (S) ........2/23/081,000 Free ........... 10:43.86 ........1/26/081,650 Free ............17:56.64 ........2/23/08100 Fly ................. 1:04.51 (L) .........10/13/06200 Fly ...................... 2:19.25 ............ 2/2/07100 Back ...............1:07.36 (L) .........11/19/06200 Back ................... 2:22.12 .........11/19/06100 Breast .........1:16.34 (S) .......11/17/07200 Breast ................. 2:39.72 .........11/19/06200 IM ....................... 2:18.50 ...........1/12/07400 IM ................... 4:45.44 ........2/22/08

AMANDA CARPIN (FR.)1-Meter ................... 216.45 ........ 11/3/073-Meter ...................191.78 ..........2/1/08

CAITLIN COOK (FR.)50 Free ..................... 26.76 ...... 11/15/07100 Fly .................. 1:04.03 ...... 11/16/07200 Fly .................. 2:21.96 ........ 11/9/07

JULIA DARLING (SR.)50 Free .........................25.87 .........11/20/05100 Free ...............59.17 (L) ...... 11/15/07100 Breast .................1:08.46 .......... 2/25/05200 Breast .................2:28.27 .......... 2/26/05200 IM ....................... 2:15.82 .......... 2/24/05

JESSICA FRONT (JR.)50 Free ..................... 25.58 ........2/21/08100 Free .................. 55.08 (S) .........11/19/06200 Free ....................1:58.30 .........11/19/06500 Free .................... 5:19.69 .........11/19/06

ERIN-MICHELLE GORDON50 Free .........................26.44 .........11/20/05100 Free .......................56.72 .........11/20/05200 Free ....................2:00.53 .........11/20/05500 Free .................... 5:19.45 .........11/19/061,000 Free ...............10:56.00 ...........1/26/071,650 Free................ 18:32.75 ...........2/24/07

LAURA HANLEY (FR.)50 Free ......................27.62 ...... 11/15/07100 Free ................ 1:00.03 ...... 10/26/07100 Fly ............. 1:05.63 (S) ........2/23/08200 Fly .................. 2:30.62 ........ 1/19/08100 Breast .........1:12.11 (S) ........2/23/08200 Breast ............ 2:34.29 ........2/23/08100 Back ...........1:12.59 (S) ........ 11/3/07200 Back ............... 2:26.71 ........ 11/3/07200 IM ................... 2:21.60 ........ 11/3/07400 IM ................... 4:56.00 ........2/22/08

JENNIFER JOHNSTONE (SO.)50 Free ......................27.73 ...... 11/15/07100 Breast ............. 1:09.85 ........2/22/08200 Breast ................. 2:37.55 ...........1/26/07200 IM ................... 2:21.30 ........2/21/08

ALANA KANE (FR.)50 Free ..................... 25.34 ........2/21/08100 Free .............. 54.68 (L) ........2/23/08200 Free ................ 1:59.06 ........2/22/08100 Breast ..............1:19.68 ...... 11/16/07200 IM ................... 2:20.03 ...... 11/15/07

LEAH KROUT (SO.)50 Free ......................... 27.84 ......... 11/17/06100 Free .................. 58.92 (L) .........11/11/06200 Free .................... 2:05.47 ......... 11/17/06500 Free ................ 5:23.00 ........2/21/081,000 Free ........... 10:53.98 ........2/20/081,650 Free ............18:07.93 ........2/23/08100 Back ............... 1:08.57 ........1/26/08

AMANDA LADD (SR.)50 Free ......................27.81 ...... 11/15/07100 Free ................... 59.34 ..........2/1/08200 Free ........... 2:08.64 (S) ........2/23/08500 Free ............5:41.08 (S) ........2/23/081,000 Free ............11:30.04 ........2/20/081,650 Free ........... 19:23.88 ........2/23/08100 Fly .................. 1:04.47 ........1/26/08200 Fly ......................2:20.03 ...........1/23/05100 Breast .............1:23.11 (S) ............ 2/3/06200 Breast ................. 2:53.18 ............ 2/3/06100 Back ................1:12.61 ........ 11/2/07200 Back ...................2:33.83 ...........1/14/06200 IM .......................2:25.63 ............ 2/5/05400 IM .......................5:04.57 .......... 2/28/05

MEGAN RUPE (SO.)50 Free ..................... 24.56 ........2/21/08100 Free ................... 52.46 ........2/23/08200 Free .................1:55.70 ........2/22/08500 Free .................5:17.96 ...... 11/15/07100 Fly .......................1:02.35 ...........11/3/06

BRITTANY SENN (SR.)50 Free ................ 24.45 (L) ........2/20/08100 Free ................... 53.35 ........2/23/08200 Free .................... 1:59.36 .........11/19/06100 Fly .................. 1:00.83 ........2/22/08200 Fly ...................... 2:18.76 ...........1/26/07100 Back ................... 1:03.97 .......... 2/22/07200 IM ....................2:18.87 ...... 11/15/07

SARA WEIGEL (FR.)1-Meter ................... 215.20 ...... 10/28/073-Meter .................. 209.62 ........ 11/2/07

ASHLEY WILLIAMSON (FR.)50 Free ..................... 25.94 ...... 11/15/07200 Free ........... 2:03.51 (L) ...... 11/15/07100 Fly ......................57.42 ........2/22/08100 Back .................. 58.53 ........2/22/08200 Back ............... 2:06.01 ........2/23/08200 IM ....................2:14.51 ...... 11/15/07

L - Leadoff relay legS - Split time

2007-08 Personal Bests2007-08 Personal Bests

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

50 FREESTYLE

Brittany Senn 24.45 L at Horizon League Championships 2/20/2008Megan Rupe 24.56 at Horizon League Championships 2/21/2008Alana Kane 25.34 at Horizon League Championships 2/21/2008Jessica Front 25.58 at Horizon League Championships 2/21/2008Ashley Williamson 25.94 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Julia Darling 26.48 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Caitlin Cook 26.76 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Laura Hanley 27.62 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Jennifer Johnstone 27.73 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Amanda Ladd 27.81 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Olivia Arnold 27.92 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Leah Krout 28.92 at Wright State 11/2/2007Hilary Barrett 29.27 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Natasha Bray 29.29 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008 100 FREESTYLE Megan Rupe 52.46 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Brittany Senn 53.35 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Alana Kane 54.68 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Jessica Front 55.62 Akron 1/26/2008Erin-Michelle Gordon 58.35 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/17/2007Julia Darling 59.17 L at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/17/2007Olivia Arnold 59.19 L at Tom Stubbs Relays 10/19/2007Amanda Ladd 59.34 at Carnegie Mellon Invitge 2/1/2008Laura Hanley 1:00.03 Marshall/Green Bay 10/26/2007Leah Krout 1:00.90 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/17/2007Natasha Bray 1:00.96 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Hilary Barrett 1:01.95 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008 200 FREESTYLE Megan Rupe 1:55.70 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Olivia Arnold 1:58.04 L at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Alana Kane 1:59.06 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Jessica Front 2:00.54 Akron 1/26/2008Ashley Williamson 2:03.51 L at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Erin-Michelle Gordon 2:04.13 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Natasha Bray 2:04.26 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Amanda Ladd 2:08.64 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Leah Krout 2:08.68 at Carnegie Mellon Invitge 2/1/2008Hilary Barrett 2:12.77 at Ohio 1/12/2008 500 FREESTYLE Olivia Arnold 5:11.94 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Megan Rupe 5:17.96 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Natasha Bray 5:18.60 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Leah Krout 5:23.00 at Horizon League Championships 2/21/2008Hilary Barrett 5:32.35 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Erin-Michelle Gordon 5:35.64 Akron 1/26/2008Amanda Ladd 5:41.08 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008 1,000 FREESTYLE Olivia Arnold 10:33.14 at Horizon League Championships 2/20/2008Natasha Bray 10:43.86 Akron 1/26/2008Leah Krout 10:53.98 at Horizon League Championshps 2/20/2008Hilary Barrett 11:11.68 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Amanda Ladd 11:30.04 at Horizon League Championshps 2/20/2008

1,650 FREEOlivia Arnold 17:33.69 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Natasha Bray 17:56.64 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Leah Krout 18:07.93 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Hilary Barrett 18:36.33 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Amanda Ladd 19:23.88 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008 100 BUTTERFLYAshley Williamson 57.42 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Brittany Senn 1:00.83 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Caitlin Cook 1:04.03 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/16/2007Amanda Ladd 1:04.47 Akron 1/26/2008Hilary Barrett 1:05.02 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Laura Hanley 1:05.63 S at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Natasha Bray 1:05.64 Akron 1/26/2008

L - Leadoff relay leg | S - Split

200 BUTTERFLYNatasha Bray 2:19.47 at Carnegie Mellon Invitge 2/1/2008Amanda Ladd 2:20.26 at Carnegie Mellon Invitge 2/1/2008Caitlin Cook 2:21.96 at Niagara 11/9/2007Laura Hanley 2:30.62 at Saint Francis/Radford 1/19/2008Hilary Barrett 2:31.63 Akron 1/26/2008 100 BACKSTROKE Ashley Williamson 58.53 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Brittany Senn 1:05.32 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/16/2007Natasha Brary 1:07.58 L at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Hilary Barrett 1:08.06 at Carnegie Mellon Invitge 2/1/2008Leah Krout 1:08.57 Akron 1/26/2008Laura Hanley 1:12.59 S at Butler/Illinois State 11/3/2007Amanda Ladd 1:12.61 at Wright State 11/2/2007 200 BACKSTROKE Ashley Williamson 2:06.01 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Hilary Barrett 2:22.35 at Carnegie Mellon Invitge 2/1/2008Natasha Bray 2:23.27 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/17/2007Laura Hanley 2:26.71 at Butler/Illinois State 11/3/2007Amanda Ladd 2:36.84 at Saint Francis/Radford 1/19/2008 100 BREASTSTROKEJulia Darling 1:08.85 Akron 1/26/2008Jennifer Johnstone 1:09.85 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Laura Hanley 1:12.11 s at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Olivia Arnold 1:12.53 Tom Stubbs Relays 10/19/2007Alana Kane 1:19.68 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/16/2007

200 BREASTSTROKEJulia Darling 2:30.88 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Olivia Arnold 2:33.23 at Cleveland State/UIC 2/2/2008Laura Hanley 2:34.29 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008Jennifer Johnstone 2:38.93 at Carnegie Mellon Invitge 2/1/2008 200 IMAshley Williamson 2:14.51 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Olivia Arnold 2:16.89 Akron 1/26/2008Brittany Senn 2:18.87 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Julia Darling 2:18.98 at Horizon League Championships 2/21/2008Alana Kane 2:20.03 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Jennifer Johnstone 2:21.30 at Horizon League Championships 2/21/2008Laura Hanley 2:21.60 at Butler/Illinois State 11/3/2007Natasha Bray 2:22.16 at Carnegie Mellon Invitge 2/1/2008Hilary Barrett 2:25.20 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/15/2007Amanda Ladd 2:30.00 at Butler/Illinois State 11/3/2007

400 IMNatasha Bray 4:45.44 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Olivia Arnold 4:46.39 at Crimson Hawk Invite 11/16/2007Hilary Barrett 4:49.40 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Laura Hanley 4:56.00 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008Amanda Ladd 5:06.73 Marshall/Green Bay 10/26/2007

200 FREESTYLE RELAYSenn, Rupe, Williamson, Kane 1:37.18 at Horizon League Championshps 2/20/2008

400 FREESTYLE RELAY Kane, Williamson, Senn, Rupe 3:31.73 at Horizon League Championships 2/23/2008

800 FREESTYLE RELAYWilliamson, Senn, Arnold, Rupe 8:03.79 at Horizon League Championships 2/22/2008

200 MEDLEY RELAYWilliamson, Darling, Senn, Rupe 1:49.00 at Horizon League Championshps 2/20/2008 400 MEDLEY RELAYWilliamson, Darling, Senn, Rupe 4:01.08 at Horizon League Championships 2/21/2008 1 METER DIVE (DUAL) Amanda Carpin 216.45 at Butler/Illinois State 11/3/2007Sara Weigel 215.20 Clarion Diving Invite 10/28/2007 3 METER DIVE (DUAL) Sara Weigel 209.62 at Wright State 11/2/2007Amanda Carpin 191.78 at Carnegie Mellon Invite 2/1/2008

2007-08 Top Performances2007-08 Top Performances

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2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

18 | 18 | YSUsports.com Media And Recruiting Guide

50-YARD FREESTYLE1. Janet Kemper ............................23.94 .......3/10/842. Brittany Senn ............................ 24.45 .......2/20/083. Lena Arens ................................ 24.55 .......2/28/044. Megan Rupe .............................. 24.56 .......2/21/085. Leigh Bareman .......................... 24.86 ..... 11/19/066. Katy Malys ................................ 25.24 .......2/23/057. Alana Kane ................................25.34 .......2/21/08 Missy Wiese ..............................25.34 .......11/5/049. Jessica Front .............................25.58 .......2/21/0810. Carol Sipka ............................... 25.77 .........3/1/86

100-YARD FREESTYLE1. Janet Kemper ............................ 51.80 .......3/15/86 2. Megan Rupe .............................. 52.46 .......2/23/083. Becky Bertuzzi .......................... 53.31 .......2/24/074. Brittany Senn ............................53.35 .......2/23/085. Lena Arens ................................ 53.76 .......2/28/04 6. Carol Sipka ...............................54.45 .......2/20/87 7. Cathy Sipka ...............................54.65 .......2/16/85 8. Alana Kane ................................54.68 .......2/23/089. Erin Carter ................................54.86 .......2/28/0410. Jessica Front ............................. 55.08 ..... 11/19/06

200-YARD FREESTYLE1. Becky Bertuzzi ........................1:55.11 .......2/23/072. Janet Kemper ......................... 1:55.51 .......2/12/83 3. Megan Rupe ........................... 1:55.70 ...... 2/22/084. Cathy Sipka ............................. 1:57.11 .......2/11/845. Erin Carter ..............................1:57.98 .......2/28/046. Olivia Arnold ........................... 1:58.04 ...... 2/22/087. Jessica Front .......................... 1:58.30 ..... 11/19/068. Alana Kane ............................. 1:59.06 ...... 2/22/089. Brittany Senn ......................... 1:59.36 ..... 11/19/0610. Carol Sipka ............................ 1:59.43 .......2/15/86

1,650-YARD FREESTYLE1. Olivia Arnold ......................... 17:33.69 .......2/23/082. Jordan Dunn ......................... 17:56.50 .......2/26/053. Natasha Bray ........................ 17:56.64 .......2/23/084. Cathy Sipka .......................... 18:06.60 .......2/15/865. Leah Krout ............................18:07.93 .......2/23/086. Erika Gregos ........................ 18:32.31 .......2/26/057. Erin-Michelle Gordon ............. 18:32.75 .......2/24/078. Hilary Barrett ....................... 18:36.33 .......2/23/089. Michelle Von Duhn ................ 18:59.59 .......2/26/0510. Amanda Ladd ....................... 19:23.88 .......2/23/08

100-YARD BUTTERFLY1. Ashley Williamson ...................... 57.42 ...... 2/22/082. Janet Kemper ............................ 57.43 .......3/16/85 3. Becky MacFadyen ......................58.92 .......2/10/84 4. Erin Carter ............................. 1:00.54 ..... 10/26/03 5. Brittany Senn ......................... 1:00.83 ...... 2/22/086. Carol Sipka ............................ 1:00.90 .......2/20/87 7. Sarah Porchak ........................ 1:01.24 .......2/25/058. Becky Bertuzzi ....................... 1:01.99 .....10/28/069. Leotine Loeber ........................1:02.16 .......11/2/96 10. Lara Munro ............................. 1:02.32 .......2/23/07

200-YARD BUTTERFLY1. Becky MacFadyen ................... 2:10.69 .......2/15/86 2. Erin Carter ............................. 2:11.34 .......11/5/043. Becky Bertuzzi ....................... 2:13.44 .......2/24/074. Lara Munro ............................. 2:13.63 .........2/1/075. Janet Kemper ......................... 2:16.23 ............19836. Brittany Senn ..........................2:18.76 .......1/26/077. Natasha Bray .......................... 2:19.25 .........2/2/078. Carol Sipka ............................ 2:19.37 .......2/20/879. Amanda Ladd ......................... 2:20.03 .......1/23/0510. Caitlin Cook ............................ 2:21.96 ....... 11/9/07

100-YARD BREASTSTROKE1. Julia Darling ........................... 1:08.46 .......2/25/052. Danielle Blagg ........................ 1:09.46 .......2/28/043. Jennifer Johnstone ................. 1:09.85 ...... 2/22/084. Olivia Arnold ............................1:10.13 .........2/3/065. Angie Wood ............................ 1:10.88 .......2/21/98 6. Carol Sipka .............................1:11.26 .......2/11/84 7. Laura Hanley ...........................1:12.11 .......2/23/088. Pam Strainak ...........................1:12.67 .......2/20/879. Gwynee Stacy .........................1:13.11 .......1/21/9810. Marlene Maurer .......................1:13.95 .......2/16/85

200-YARD BREASTSTROKE1. Julia Darling ........................... 2:28.27 .......2/26/052. Danielle Blagg ........................ 2:30.69 .......11/5/043. Olivia Arnold ........................... 2:32.56 .......1/26/074. Carol Sipka ............................2:34.25 .......1/26/85 5. Laura Hanley ..........................2:34.29 .......2/23/086. Angie Wood ............................ 2:34.62 .......2/21/987. Jennifer Johnstone ..................2:37.55 .......1/26/078. Pam Straniak ..........................2:38.80 .......2/20/879. Natasha Bray .......................... 2:39.72 ..... 11/19/0610. Marlene Maurer ...................... 2:41.00 .......2/10/84

100-YARD BACKSTROKE1. Ashley Williamson ......................58.53 ...... 2/22/082. Gwynee Stacy ........................ 1:00.34 .......2/21/98 3. Erin Carter ............................. 1:00.36 .......2/28/044. Sarah Porchak ........................ 1:01.37 .......2/28/055. Lori Greenlee ......................... 1:02.31 .......1/31/84 6. Becky MacFadyen ....................1:03.17 .......2/16/85 7. Megan McAtee ....................... 1:03.28 .......12/4/998. Brittany Senn ......................... 1:03.97 .......2/22/079. Sharon Parillo ......................... 1:04.31 .......1/18/97 10. Molly McAtee .......................... 1:04.64 .......12/4/99

200-YARD BACKSTROKE1. Ashley Williamson ................... 2:06.01 .......2/23/082. Gwynee Stacy ........................ 2:09.57 .......2/21/98 3. Erin Carter ............................. 2:12.87 ..... 10/17/044. Lori Greenlee ......................... 2:18.20 ....... 1/27/84 5. Megan McAtee ....................... 2:18.37 .......12/4/996. Cathy Sipka .............................2:19.15 .......2/26/837. Sarah Porchak ........................ 2:19.48 .......11/5/048. Natasha Bray .......................... 2:22.12 ..... 11/19/069. Hilary Barrett ......................... 2:22.35 .........2/1/0810. Jordan Dunn ........................... 2:22.71 ......11/17/01

200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY1. Erin Carter ..............................2:11.15 .......2/28/04 2. Ashley Williamson ....................2:14.51 ..... 11/15/073. Carol Sipka ............................ 2:15.68 .......2/15/85 4. Julia Darling ........................... 2:15.82 .......2/24/055. Becky MacFadyen ....................2:15.91 .......2/15/85 6. Olivia Arnold ............................2:16.51 ..... 11/10/057. Natasha Bray .......................... 2:18.50 .......1/12/078. Brittany Senn ......................... 2:18.87 ..... 11/15/079. Gwynee Stacy ........................ 2:18.91 .......1/21/9810. Alana Kane ............................. 2:20.03 ..... 11/15/07

Janet KemperSchool-Record Holder

50 • 100 Free800 Free Relay

500-YARD FREESTYLE1. Cathy Sipka ............................ 5:08.31 .........3/8/842. Olivia Arnold ............................5:11.94 .......2/23/083. Jordan Dunn ........................... 5:15.04 .......2/28/054. Megan Rupe ............................5:17.96 ..... 11/15/075. Carol Sipka .............................5:18.47 ....... 1/27/84 6. Natasha Bray .......................... 5:18.60 .......2/23/087. Erin-Michelle Gordon ............... 5:19.45 ..... 11/19/068. Jessica Front ...........................5:19.69 ..... 11/19/069. Janet Kemper ......................... 5:20.59 .......2/11/8410. Leah Krout ............................. 5:23.00 .......2/21/08

1,000-YARD FREESTYLE1. Olivia Arnold ..........................10:33.14 .......2/20/082. Natasha Bray ........................ 10:43.86 .......1/26/08 Jordan Dunn ......................... 10:43.86 .......2/23/054. Cathy Sipka .......................... 10:50.95 .......2/12/83 5. Leah Krout ........................... 10:53.98 .......2/20/086. Erin-Michelle Gordon ............. 10:56.00 .......1/26/077. Erika Gregos ........................ 11:03.30 .......2/23/058. Michelle Von Duhn .................11:08.12 .......2/28/049. Hilary Barrett ........................11:11.68 .......2/23/0810. Kay Walter ............................ 11:28.20 .....12/10/83

OLIVIA ARNOLDOLIVIA ARNOLDSchool-Record HolderSchool-Record Holder

1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyle1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyle

School RecordsSchool Records

Page 20: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

Media And Recruiting Guide YSUsports.com | 1919

2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

Julia DarlingSchool-Record Holder

100 • 200 Breast200 Medley Relay400 Medley Relay

Cathy SipkaSchool-Record Holder

500 Freestyle800 Free Relay

Erin CarterSchool-Record Holder

200 • 400 IM

KALYN LEVETOKALYN LEVETOSchool-Record HolderSchool-Record Holder

1-Meter Diving1-Meter Diving

400-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY1. Erin Carter ............................. 4:33.82 .......2/28/042. Olivia Arnold ........................... 4:42.19 .......1/26/073. Natasha Bray .......................... 4:45.44 ...... 2/22/084. Hilary Barrett ......................... 4:49.40 ...... 2/22/085. Jordan Dunn ........................... 4:50.09 .........3/1/036. Gwynee Stacy .........................4:51.12 .......2/21/987. Laura Hanley .......................... 4:56.00 ...... 2/22/088. Carol Sipka .............................4:57.43 .........2/4/849. Lara Munro ..............................4:57.82 .......2/23/0710. Kara Humes ........................... 5:03.69 .......12/4/99

1-METER DIVING (6 DIVES)1. Kalyn Leveto ........................... 329.55 .......1/31/042. Brandi Goettsch ...................... 269.48 ..... 11/13/993. Mandie Smail ........................... 264.10 .........2/1/034. Kelly Reese .............................254.80 .........2/4/065. Erin Mazzant ........................... 221.15 .......1/29/056. Cortney Harless ...................... 218.20 .........2/3/067. Sherrie Zimmerman ..................217.10 .......1/24/878. Amanda Carpin ........................ 216.45 ....... 11/3/079. Sara Weigel ............................. 215.20 ..... 10/28/0710. Aren Barbee ............................204.30 ..... 11/15/97

3-METER DIVING (6 DIVES)1. Brandi Goettsch ......................323.40 ......11/17/012. Kalyn Leveto ............................307.57 .......11/6/043. Kelly Reese .............................254.40 .........2/4/064. Mandie Smail ........................... 254.15 .........2/1/035. Sherrie Zimmerman ................. 230.15 .........2/8/866. Cortney Harless ...................... 219.20 ..... 10/26/037. Lynea Harrill ............................ 210.50 ..... 10/26/038. Nadine Churlik ......................... 209.70 .........2/7/879. Sara Weigel ............................. 209.62 ....... 11/2/0710. Erin Mazzant ........................... 208.15 .......1/31/04

1-METER DIVING (11 DIVES)1. Kalyn Leveto ........................... 522.95 .........2/9/032. Mandie Smail ........................... 453.10 .........2/9/033. Brandi Goettsch ......................406.00 .......12/5/984. Nadine Churlik ......................... 352.25 .......2/15/865. Sherrie Zimmerman .................348.95 .......2/15/866. Anne Murphy ........................... 273.70 .......2/16/857. Amanda Bartolo.......................266.20 .......2/21/998. Courtney Schuller .................... 253.10 .......2/21/999. Katie Balestra.......................... 221.00 .......12/4/99 10. Kristin Doyle .............................219.10 .......12/4/99

3-METER DIVING (11 DIVES)1. Brandi Goettsch ...................... 499.75 .......2/20/012. Kayln Leveto............................485.55 ..... 10/30/013. Mandie Smail ........................... 384.75 .........3/1/034. Sherrie Zimmerman .................365.55 .......1/26/865. Nadine Churlik ......................... 349.30 .......2/15/866. Erin Mazzant ...........................338.30 .......2/28/047. Anne Murphy ...........................304.55 .......2/15/858. Amanda Bartolo.......................294.50 .......2/21/999. Lynea Harrill ............................ 271.55 ..... 10/31/0410. Cortney Harless ...................... 267.05 .......2/26/05

200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY1. Williamson, Darling, ............... 1:49.00 .......2/20/08 Senn, Rupe2. Porchak, Darling, Carter, Malys......1:51.57 .......2/26/053. Greenlee, Car. Sipka, ............. 1:52.58 .......3/10/84 MacFadyen, Kemper4. Bareman, Darling, Bertuzzi, Senn ... 1:53.10 ...... 2/22/065. Bareman, Darling, Bertuzzi, Rupe .... 1:53.63 .......2/21/076. Greenlee, Williams, ................ 1:54.12 ....... 3/17/83 MacFadyen, Kemper7. Greenlee, Maurer, .................. 1:54.53 .......2/10/84 MacFadyen, Kemper8. Malys, Blagg, Arens, Wiese .... 1:55.01 .......2/28/049. Senn, Darling, ........................ 1:55.04 .....10/28/06 Bertuzzi, Rupe10. Carter, Darling, Senn, Malys .... 1:55.35 .......1/29/05

400-YARD MEDLEY RELAY1. Williamson, Darling ................. 4:01.08 .......2/21/08 Senn Rupe2. Porchak, Darling, Carter, Senn .. 4:03.12 .......2/26/053. Senn, Darling, Bertuzzi, Rupe .... 4:04.23 .......2/22/074. Carter, Blagg, Bertuzzi, Arens . 4:05.33 .......2/28/045. Greenlee, Carol Sipka, ............ 4:05.51 .........2/4/84 MacFadyen, Kemper6. Senn, Darling, Bertuzzi, Front .....4:10.18 .......2/23/067. Greenlee, Williams, .................4:10.61 ....... 3/17/83 MacFadyen, Kemper8. Cathy Sipka, Carol Sipka ..........4:10.67 .......12/9/84 MacFadyen, Kemper9. Greenlee, Maurer, ...................4:10.69 ....... 1/27/84 MacFadyen, Kemper10. Senn, Darling.......................... 4:12.36 ..... 11/20/05 Bertuzzi, Arnold

200-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY1. Senn, Rupe, Williamson, Kane ..1:37.18 .......2/20/082. Senn, Rupe, Bareman, Front .... 1:38.51 .......2/21/073. Cathy Sipka, MacFadyen, ....... 1:39.60 .........3/1/86 Carol Sipka, Kemper4. Arens, Wiese, Carter, Dunn ......1:39.74 .......2/28/045. Malys, Senn, Wiese, Dunn ....... 1:39.82 .......2/28/056. Cathy Sipka, MacFadyen, ....... 1:40.58 .......3/16/83 DeVall, Kemper7. Rupe, Senn, Kane, Williamson . 1:40.62 ....... 11/3/078. Kemper, MacFadyen, ..............1:41.17 .........2/3/83 Cathy Sipka, DeVall9. Senn, Darling, Front, Bareman ....1:41.20 ...... 2/22/0610. Wiese, Dunn, Carter, Arens ......1:41.24 .........3/1/03

400-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY1. Kane, Williamson, Senn, Rupe ... 3:31.73 .......2/23/082. Cathy Sipka, MacFadyen, ....... 3:35.41 .......3/10/84 Carol Sipka, Kemper3. Bertuzzi, Rupe, Senn, Front ..... 3:36.08 .......2/24/074. Senn, Bertuzzi, Malys, Carter ...3:37.42 .......2/26/055. Kemper, Carol Sipka, .............. 3:39.23 .......1/21/84 Cathy Sipka, MacFadyen6. Bertuzzi, Senn, Front, Gordon .... 3:39.41 .......2/25/067. Carter, Bertuzzi, Wiese, Arens 3:40.61 .......2/28/048. Cathy Sipka, MacFadyen, .........3:41.14 .......2/26/83 DeVall, Kemper9. Cathy Sipka, Greenlee, ........... 3:41.48 .........2/9/85 Carol Sipka, Kemper10. Kemper, Greenlee, ................. 3:42.65 .......2/10/84 Cathy Sipka, Carol Sipka

800-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY1. Cathy Sipka, MacFadyen, ........7:47.64 .......3/10/84 Carol Sipka, Kemper2. Bertuzzi, Senn, Dunn, Carter ... 7:54.57 .......2/26/053. Cathy Sipka, Walter, ................ 7:58.75 .........1/6/84 Carol Sipka, Kemper4. Bertuzzi, Senn, Gordon, Front .... 8:01.70 .......2/23/075. Kemper, MacFadyen, ..............8:02.33 .......1/10/85 Cathy Sipka, Carol Sipka6. MacFadyen, Cathy Sipka, ....... 8:03.55 .........2/1/85 Carol Sipka, Kemper7. Bertuzzi, Front ........................ 8:03.78 .......2/24/06 Arnold, Gordon8. Williamson, Senn .................... 8:03.79 ...... 2/22/08 Arnold, Rupe9. Gordon, Arnold, ...................... 8:05.92 ..... 11/20/05 Bertuzzi, Front10. Carter, Dunn, Wiese, Bertuzzi..8:06.58 .......2/28/04

School RecordsSchool Records

Page 21: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

2008-09 Penguins Swimming & Diving

20 | 20 | YSUsports.com Media And Recruiting Guide

Women’s swimming and diving began at Youngstown State in the 1975-76 season with Cindy Loehr as the sport’s fi rst head coach. For the fi rst few years, the team steadily built up to be competitive, but the program took off in the 1982-83 season under head coach Joe Kemper.

On March 16, 1983, at the Division II National Championship, six Penguins combined to score over 50 team points and earn 14th place. Janet Kemper earned All-America status in fi ve events, setting school records in all fi ve. She won the 50-yard fl y while setting a national record with a time of 26.24 seconds that still stands. She also fi nished second in the 100 fl y, third in the 50 free, third in the 100 free and was part of the 200 medley relay that placed 10th. Cathy Sipka, Peggy DeVall and Becky MacFadyen also earned All-America honors as part of the 200 medley relay.

YSU had its highest fi nish ever at the 1984 National Championship as it scored 81 points to place 11th. Kemper again had a standout meet, placing third in the 50 free in a school-record time of 23.94, second in the 100 free and third in the 100 fl y. Her time of 57.96 in the preliminary heat of the 100 fl y set a meet record. The Penguins also fared well in the relays as Cathy Sipka, MacFadyen, Carol Sipka and Kemper fi nished fourth in the 800 free relay and fi fth in the 400 free relay. Lori Greenlee, Cathy Sipka, MacFadyen and Kemper fi nished 12th in the 200 medley relay while Greenlee, Carol Sipka, MacFadyen and Kemper teamed up to place 14th in the 400 medley relay.

Kemper had another good showing in the 1985 national competition as she placed third in the 100 fl y in a school-record time of 57.43, fourth in the 100 free and sixth in the 50 free to pace the team to a 20th-place fi nish with 58 points.

The Penguins accumulated a school-best 85.5 points in 1986 to place 15th in the nation. Kemper closed out her career fi nishing third in the 50 free, fourth in the 100 free and ninth in the 100 fl y. She also teamed up with the Sipka sisters and MacFadyen to place seventh in the 400 free relay and eighth in the 800 free relay.

The program was discontinued after the 1986-87 season until 1996 when Kristie Stacey took over as the sixth head coach in school history.

Brandi Goettsch began her run of helping turn coach Nick Gavolas’ diving program into a regional power by sweeping both diving events and being named Diver of the Year at the Mid-Continent Conference Championships. She also won the conference title in the 1-meter in the 1999-2000 series and was named Diver of the Year for winning the 3-meter in 2000-01. Kalyn Leveto was then named Horizon League Diver of the Meet twice and earned four Horizon League individual titles from 2002 to 2005.

Matt Anderson is the longest tenured coach in YSU history. Anderson took over the program in 2003 and has been at the reigns for fi ve seasons. The previous high of any Penguin coach had been four years.

In 2004, Erin Carter became the fi rst-ever swimmer to win a Horizon League championship. Carter won the 400 IM at the Horizon League Championships.

The Beeghly Natatorium holds its own bit of history as it was the venue for the 1977, 1980 and 1981 Men’s National Collegiate Division II Swimming and Diving Championships.

Two members of the program have been inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame -- Janet Kemper in 1995 and Becky MacFadyen in 2006.

Penguins Strive to Maintain Level of Excellence

Carol Sipka, Becky MacFadyen, Janet Kemper, Cathy Sipka and Lori Greenlee helped turn YSU into a Division II national power in the mid 1980s.

Conference ChampionsConference Champions1-Meter Diving1-Meter Diving1999 Brandi Goettsch1999 Brandi Goettsch .......................... .......................... 406.00 (Mid-Con)406.00 (Mid-Con)2000 Brandi Goettsch2000 Brandi Goettsch .......................... .......................... 374.90 (Mid-Con)374.90 (Mid-Con)2003 Kalyn Leveto2003 Kalyn Leveto ............................... ............................... 243.00 (Horizon)243.00 (Horizon)2005 Kalyn Leveto2005 Kalyn Leveto ............................... ............................... 284.00 (Horizon)284.00 (Horizon)

3-Meter Diving3-Meter Diving1999 Brandi Goettsch1999 Brandi Goettsch .......................... .......................... 464.20 (Mid-Con)464.20 (Mid-Con)2001 Brandi Goettsch2001 Brandi Goettsch .......................... .......................... 492.20 (Mid-Con)492.20 (Mid-Con)2002 Brandi Goettsch2002 Brandi Goettsch .......................... .......................... 458.05 (Horizon)458.05 (Horizon)2003 Kalyn Leveto2003 Kalyn Leveto ............................... ............................... 416.40 (Horizon)416.40 (Horizon)2004 Kalyn Leveto2004 Kalyn Leveto ............................... ............................... 449.20 (Horizon)449.20 (Horizon)

Horizon League Diver of the MeetHorizon League Diver of the Meet2002 • Brandi Goettsch2002 • Brandi Goettsch2003 • Kalyn Leveto2003 • Kalyn Leveto2004 • Kalyn Leveto2004 • Kalyn Leveto

400 IM • Horizon League400 IM • Horizon League2004 Erin Carter2004 Erin Carter.................................................................... 4:33.824:33.82

NCAA Division II Team FinishesNCAA Division II Team Finishes1983 • 14th1983 • 14th1984 • 11th1984 • 11th1985 • 20th1985 • 20th1986 • 15th1986 • 15th

NCAA Division II National ChampionNCAA Division II National Champion1983 | 50-Yard Butterfl y 1983 | 50-Yard Butterfl y Janet KemperJanet Kemper ........................................... ........................................... 26.2426.24

All-Time Head CoachesCoach Years TotalCindy Loehr 1975-76 1Tucker DiEdwardo 1976-78 2Gretchen Julian 1978-81 3Joe Kemper 1981-84 3Tammy Swearingen 1984-87 3Kristie Stacey 1996-98 2Nick Gavolas 1998-99 1Jackie Bak 1999-03 4Matt Anderson 2003-Present 5

YSU Hall of Fame InducteesJanet Kemper • 1995Becky MacFadyen • 2006

YSU Student-Athletes of the YearBrandi Goettsch • 2001-02Kalyn Leveto • 2004-05

HistoryHistory

Page 22: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

THIS ISTHIS IS YOUNGSTOWN YOUNGSTOWN

STATESTATE

• ACADEMIC SERVICES• ACADEMIC SERVICES

• ATHLETIC WELLNESS• ATHLETIC WELLNESS

• FACILITIES• FACILITIES

• ATHLETIC SUCCESS STORIES• ATHLETIC SUCCESS STORIES

• ATTRACTIVE CAMPUS• ATTRACTIVE CAMPUS

• STUDENT LIFE• STUDENT LIFE

• UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION• UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

• ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION• ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION

• PENGUIN NICKNAME TRADITION• PENGUIN NICKNAME TRADITION

• CITY OF YOUNGSTOWN• CITY OF YOUNGSTOWN

• MEDIA COVERAGE • MEDIA COVERAGE

Page 23: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

Youngstown State University is a teaching-centered university where the focus is on students and their professional development. Specializing in undergraduate education, there are more than 100 undergraduate majors, 35 master’s programs and doctoral programs in educational leadership and physical therapy. YSU is also a member of the Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM), which offers an accelerated six-year B.S./M.D. The university was recently re-accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, and individual programs are accredited by national and international accrediting bodies, including AACSB (business); ABET (engineering); and NCATE (education).

With accessible faculty members, 83 percent of whom hold the highest degree attainable in their fi eld, YSU offers a small-university feel to go along with opportunities typically available only at larger institutions. The average class size is 22 in lecture classes and 10 in labs. The student to faculty ratio is 19:1.

Seven Academic CollegesSchool of Graduate Studies & ResearchBeeghly College of EducationWilliamson College of Business AdministrationCollege of Liberal Arts and Social SciencesBitonte College of Health & Human ServicesCollege of Fine & Performing ArtsCollege of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

For a complete list of majors, visit www.ysu.edu/majors

University Support Areas• The Center for Student Progress features special mentoring and support for fi rst-year students, multicultural students and students with disabilities.• The Reading and Study Skills Center provides helpin reading, studying, test-taking and time management.• The Writing Center and Mathematics Center offers tutorial assistance.• The Language Learning and Resource Center supportsforeign-language learning.• Career and Counseling Services assists students and alumni in exploring career and future employment possibilities and developing plans to achieve academic and career goals.

Youngstown State University is a teaching-centered universitywhere the focus is on students and their professionaldevelopment. Specializing in undergraduate education, there are more than 100 undergraduate majors 35 master’sthere are more than 100 undergraduate majors 35 master s

Former YSU Student-Athlete of the Year Former YSU Student-Athlete of the Year Leslie Johnson was a three-time Academic Leslie Johnson was a three-time Academic All-Horizon League honoree.All-Horizon League honoree.

The recent academic success of YSU’s student-athletes is unprecedented. During the Spring 2008 semester, an all-time high of 41 student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Also an all-time high, 56 percent of YSU’s student-athletes achieved at least a 3.0 GPA for the semester. Eleven of the 16 sponsored teams achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Most notably, 366 student-athletes have earned their degree since the Spring 2001 semester.

Ten YSU Student-Athletes have earned Academic All-America accolades, including six since 2001. A Penguin has been named Academic All-District 41 times, and there have been 234 academic all-league honorees.

Jermaine Hopkins Academics CenterThe Jermaine Hopkins Academics Center is a

state-of-the-art learning area located in Stambaugh Stadium in Room 1099 on the fi rst fl oor. The Academics Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday though Friday.

The Center has been completely refurbished and is one of the best learning facilities in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference.

The center features 19 private study cubicles, four study tables and 14 computer terminals. Student-athletes have access to the Internet as well as several other resources and multiple software packages on all systems within the lab.

Athletic Academic Advising Coordinator

Marilyn O’Bruba oversees a talented and dedicated

fi ve-person staff.

With the help of the Jermaine Hopkins Academics Center, 90 percent or more of YSU’s student-athletes who exhausted their eligibility have

graduated with a four-year degree every year since 2002.

Page 24: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

The weight training program The weight training program at YSU was greatly improved in at YSU was greatly improved in 2007-08 with the renovation of 2007-08 with the renovation of the Stambaugh Stadium weight the Stambaugh Stadium weight room (pictured here) and the room (pictured here) and the opening of a weight room in opening of a weight room in Beeghly Center.Beeghly Center.

Strength and ConditioningThe Penguin Advantage Program is

designed to promote student-athlete development in physical fi tness and athletic ability. This comprehensive program incorporates some of the latest and basic methods to train the university’s full complement of athletic teams.

The emphasis of the Advantage Program is on total physical development to improve performance and reduce the likelihood of injury. A variety of weight-training styles consistently challenges athletes to perform better as well as understand how the body adapts to training. Combined with nutritional education and consultation, the Advantage Program strives to prepare YSU athletes for success in and out of the sports arena.

The Stambaugh Stadium Weight Room, which continues to be one of the best facilities in the FCS and Horizon League, features 28,000 pounds of free weights, 8,000 pounds of dumbbells, 14,000 pounds of machine weights and a number of cardiovascular machines.

First-year strength and conditioning coach John Patrick comes to YSU from Jacksonville University. A Youngstown native, he is a member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association and is certifi ed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the International Sports Science Association and the United States Weightlifting Association. He is assisted by Liz Vlad.

In addition, Dr. Mohammed Shayesteh, a licensed sports nutritionist, provides advice and counseling to athletes in conjunction with their training programs.

Sports MedicineYSU student-athletes have two recently

upgraded sports medicine centers at their disposal to treat and prevent injuries.

The Willard Webster Sports Medicine Center inside of Stambaugh Stadium is the main hub and serves the majority of YSU’s athletic teams. There is also a training and rehabilitation room in Beeghly Center that caters to the needs of the volleyball, swimming and diving and men’s and women’s basketball squads. The centers is well equipped to handle any needs with the latest available and innovative equipment for the care and prevention of injuries.

Veteran athletic trainer John Doneyko was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in 2008 after serving in the department for 22 years. A licensed athletic trainer in Ohio and a nationally-certifi ed Athletic Trainer, Doneyko is assisted by Jenna Lesko, Jeff Wills, Todd Burkey and Kenny Layman. Also, numerous student assistants are on hand throughout the year and work closely with all teams attending games (home and away) and practices.

The Penguins staff is assisted by a host of health care professionals in the Youngstown area, providing state-of-the-art care in prevention and treatment of athletic injuries. Dr. Ray Duffett, Dr. James Shina and Dr. Mike Miladore are on hand on football gamedays and work with all sports.

Veteran John Doneyko was promoted to Head Trainer

in Spring 2008.

John Patrick returned to YSU in Spring 2008 to run

the weight program.

The Beeghly Center weight room opened in 2007-08.Few areas play a role as essential to the continued success of Youngstown State athletics as the athletic training staff.

Page 25: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

The YSU athletic complex The YSU athletic complex features some of the best features some of the best facilities in the Missouri Valley facilities in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and Football Conference and Horizon League.Horizon League.

STAMBAUGH STADIUMSTAMBAUGH STADIUM(football, soccer)(football, soccer)

BEEGHLY CENTERBEEGHLY CENTER(basketball, volleyball, (basketball, volleyball,

swimming & diving)swimming & diving)

YSU TENNIS COURTSYSU TENNIS COURTS(tennis)(tennis)

YSU TRACKYSU TRACK(track & fi eld)(track & fi eld)

Stambaugh Stadium, the home venue for Youngstown State’s soccer program and four-time NCAA Football Championship Subdivision football team, is one of the top facilities in the entire Northeast. Nicknamed the “Ice Castle,” the stadium celebrated its 25th anniversary during the 2007 season. The tallest building in the city, Stambaugh Stadium has been defended well by the Penguins. The football team has won nearly 75 percent of its games at Stambaugh, including 14 straight playoff contests. The stadium seats 20,630 Penguins fans, and nine of the 10 all-time largest Missouri Valley Football Conference crowds have been at Stambaugh. Renovations since 2002 include a new concourse-level elevator, a new scoreboard and Mitsubishi DiamondVision videoboard and a state-of-the-art SprinTurf playing surface. Recent major improvements have also been made to the football and administrative offi ces, locker rooms, athletic training room, weight room and seating areas.

Beeghly Center serves as the home for the Youngstown State University men's and women's basketball, volleyball and swimming and diving teams. Opened in the 1972-73 school year, the arena has seen a major facelift totaling more than $4 million this decade. This past year was an especially busy one as a new basketball fl oor and weight room were installed. Since 2000, signifi cant improvements have been made to lobbies, hallways, locker rooms, the sound system, scoreboards and press row seating. The Beeghly Natatorium, which is in the north end of the building, has received $300,000 in improvements since 2005. Beeghly Center has also served as a venue for presidential campaign rallies, World Wide Wrestling (WWE) events, the Harlem Globetrotters and concerts.

On July 9, 2007, Frank and Norma Watson and Jim and Ellen Tressel donated a combined $1 million to YSU’s Centennial Capital Campaign to help fund a new indoor practice facility. The Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS), which is set to break ground within the coming year, will provide a competitive advantage to YSU’s student-athletes, particularly those participating in baseball, football, soccer, softball and track programs. The indoor facility will also serve as a university and community resource, providing a large, climate–protected venue for events and a training facility for local youth organizations and high schools.

Page 26: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

Student-athletes at YSU have Student-athletes at YSU have the opportunity to compete for the opportunity to compete for championships, take on nationally-championships, take on nationally-ranked opponents, receive a top-ranked opponents, receive a top-notch education and develop the skills notch education and develop the skills necessary to play and work at the necessary to play and work at the professional level.professional level.

“ The experience at Youngstown State was great for me. I would recommend

Youngstown State to any player with pro aspirations, but more importantly, to get your education.” Ron Jaworski - ESPN Analyst

Former YSU Student-Athlete

2007-08 Athletic Highlights• At least one student-athlete in all 18

of YSU’s athletic programs earned fi rst or second-team all-conference honors during the 2007-08 academic year.

• Football players Brad Samsa (second-team), Mychal Savage (third-team), Brian Palmer (honorable mention) and James Terry (honorable mention) all earned All-American honors while men’s basketball player Vytas Sulskis was a Freshman Mid-Major All-American. Baseball player Joe Iacobucci was an honorable mention pick on the All-Ping! Freshman team.

• Seven student-athletes earned CoSIDA academic all-district honors.

• Seventeen student-athletes were named academic all-league during the fall and winter seasons.

• YSU student-athletes earned fi rst-team all-league honors 30 times and second-team honors all-conference honors 46 times.

• YSU coaches were recognized as Coach of the Year four times.• Penguins student-athletes earned Player of the Year or Newcomer

of the Year honors 11 times

Playing and Working Professionally• A large number of Penguins have gone on to play professionally

in the United States or overseas in recent years.• Notable past YSU student-athletes who have played professionally

are Ron Jaworski (current ESPN Analyst), Jeff Wilkins (NFL Pro Bowl kicker), Paul McFadden (NFL Rookie of the Year), Dave Dravecky (MLB all-star and World Series participant) and Brad Hennessey (current San Francisco Giants pitcher)

• Football players are frequently invited to tryouts for NFL teams. Running back Marcus Mason made the Washington Redskins’ roster in 2006, and wide receiver Kyle Smith was in camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 2005. Other recent football players have played overseas or gone on to play in the Arena Football League.

• Quin Humphrey played professional basketball in Europe and the NBDL after a successful playing career that ended in 2006.

• YSU student-athletes have also gone on to work in athletic administration and in the front offi ce of professional sports teams.

• Outside of athletics, YSU student-athletes have been admitted to top-level medical and graduate schools, become police offi cers, engineers, teachers, coaches, fi nancial planners, broadcasters, university developers, hotel executives and much more.

Josh Page earned academic all-district

honors for the third time.

Competing Against the Nation’s Elite• The Youngstown State football team played at Ohio State in 2007

and will open the season against the Buckeyes in 2008. It has also played at Heinz Field against Pittsburgh (2005) and at Beaver Stadium versus Penn State (2006).

• In the last two years the men’s basketball team has played at UCLA, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State while the women’s hoops squad has played at Cincinnati and Ohio State

• Since 2005, the baseball team has scheduled games at Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Cincinnati, Penn State and West Virginia.

• The softball team has played against Michigan State, Penn State, George Mason, Purdue, Michigan and Kentucky since 2006.• The track and fi eld teams have routinely competed at the Penn Relays and Sea Ray Relays, and in 2008 they traveled to New York City, Virginia Tech, Florida, Louisville and Arkansas.

The Youngstown State football team opened the 2007 season at Ohio Stadium against Ohio State.

Page 27: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

While YSU sits just blocks from downtown While YSU sits just blocks from downtown Youngstown, the campus core has an intimate Youngstown, the campus core has an intimate feeling with plenty of green space and a mix feeling with plenty of green space and a mix of historic and modern buildings.of historic and modern buildings.

Your Success is Our StoryYou have a story. Everyone does. It’s about where you come

from, what you think about, what you value. It’s about your friends, your family, your language, your music, your school. It’s about your particular skills and interests, what you’ve learned so far in life, how you relate to the world and other people. Right now, you’re about to start a whole new chapter in your story. In the book called My Life—by you, of course—the theme of this chapter is “Where do I want to go, and who do I want to become?”

You have options you want to explore, places you want to see, things you want to do, ideas you want to propose, a career you want to pursue. That’s one reason you’re planning to go to college—to get going on that next chapter of your life, to become who you want to be.

Colleges and universities have stories, too. How they started, what traditions they maintain, the way they look, the students they serve, the things they offer academically and socially, the role they play in their communities, and the role they play in the generation of new knowledge.

Youngstown State University’s story is all those things. YSU is about outstanding academic quality, diversity of people and programs, and broad access to opportunity. But it is, overall, a culmination of the stories of all the students who in the past 100 years graduated and went on to make a difference. Our students - while they are here and after they graduate - are what YSU is all about.

Campus Overview• Opened in 1908, YSU celebrated its centennial during the 2007-

08 academic year. As part of the celebration, the university launched a $44 million campaign for campus improvements. In addition to endowments for students and colleges, the centennial plan calls for a new $34.3 million business building, improved engineering and science labs and an indoor athletics practice facility.

• With enrollment at its highest in the last 13 years, the student population is 13,497, more than 12,000 of which are undergraduate students. Based on demographics, 44 percent are male, 56 percent are female; 17 percent are minority students and 1 percent are international students. 218 current YSU students were high school valedictorians, and there are more than 85,000 alumni.

• YSU’s 145-acre urban campus is one of the nation’s most attractive and among Ohio’s safest.

Campus Housing• Four university residence halls house 1,000 students in

comfortable, spacious rooms.• The $22 million University Courtyard Apartments, operated by the

Ambling Corporation exclusively for YSU students, is one of the fi nest facilities of its kind in Ohio. Opened in 2003, Courtyard Apartments offer singles, doubles, and quads for 408 students.

• Buechner Hall, a privately-run residence, accommodates 72 women on campus and includes a meal plan, weekly room-cleaning services and a stately European ambience.

• All university-operated residence halls, as well as University Courtyard Apartments, have in-room high-speed Internet connections, cable and telephone terminals.

Library Resources• Six-story Maag Library on campus features 700,000

bound volumes, 300,000 government documents and 800,000 microforms.

• A member of OhioLink research consortium, which provides access to over 39 million items.

• The Youngstown Public Library is located across the street from the South end of campus.

Opened in 2003, the University Courtyard Apartments on the West end of campus houses many student-athletes.

Page 28: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

The opportunities to be active on campus The opportunities to be active on campus and join student organizations are plenty, and and join student organizations are plenty, and students are encouraged to get involved with students are encouraged to get involved with enriching projects that enable them to work enriching projects that enable them to work with fellow students, faculty members and with fellow students, faculty members and community leaders.community leaders.

Campus Recreation and Student Programming is the central hub for student life on campus. There are more than 40 intramural sports programs, fi tness classes and workshops that are taught by certifi ed student staff. The department organizes the Penguin Pre-Party every other Thursday, which features live entertainment on campus. The department also oversees Greek life and more than 120 student organizations ranging from the American Marketing Association to Fellowship of Christian Athletes to the Ski and Snowboarding Club.

The 70,000 square foot Andrews Recreation and Wellness Center opened in 2005 and features the latest in recreation, fi tness and wellness space. In the “rec” are more than 70 pieces of cardio equipment, 24 weight-training pieces and a combination of 40 plate-loaded and free-weight stations. There are four multi-purpose courts to play basketball, volleyball, badminton and many other activities; an aerobics studio; a meditation center and a fi ve-story climbing wall. There is also a wellness resource center that offers comprehensive programming in areas of fi tness, nutrition, mental and spiritual health and personal safety.

Penguin Productions, a group of motivated students and advisers from campus, has helped bring popular musical artists such as Ludacris, Korn, Sugarland, Puddle of Mudd and Saliva to the area.

The Kilcawley Student Center features amenities for student entertainment and academic wellness. The KC Food Court, Arby’s, candy counter, Peaberry’s Cafe and lounge areas are ideal places to mingle with friends. Kilcawley also has full copy and graphic centers, wireless hotspots, computer labs and ample meeting space. The YSU Bookstore and Andrews Recreation and Wellness Center are connected.

The College of Fine & Performing Arts Series features talented YSU students in events ranging from art shows to plays to dance ensembles. The Dana School of Music is nationally renowned, and its students are showcased in weekly concerts at the Butler Institute of American Art and major performances both on and just off campus. The YSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2005.

Off-campus venues within walking distance also provide students with a wide variety of entertainment choices. The DeYor Performing Arts Center houses the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and popular performances such as Beauty and the Beast, Rent and High School Musical. Jerry Seinfeld and other comedians have performed at Stambaugh Auditorium, which also has country chart-topper Lonestar on the schedule. The Chevrolet Centre has been the venue for events ranging from 3 Doors Down and Carrie Underwood concerts to Disney on Ice to minor league hockey and arena football.

Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama spoke to Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama spoke to students and community members on the Youngstown State campus students and community members on the Youngstown State campus while on the campaign trail in 2008.while on the campaign trail in 2008.

The Andrews Recreation and Wellness Center is a popular spot for students.

Fraternities and sororities participate in Greek Sing as part of an active Greek Life on campus.

Page 29: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

When David C. Sweet became Youngstown State University’s sixth president in July 2000, he mapped out a course that included three priorities: e n r o l l m e n t , partnerships and

diversity. In the eight years since, the University has made great strides in all three areas.

Enrollment has jumped nearly 15 percent since fall 2000 and is now at its highest level in 13 years. Over the last eight years, the number of minority students has increased more than 60 percent. And the University has initiated partnerships with the city of Youngstown, the Youngstown city and other school districts and community groups to meet the needs of the region.

The University has also expanded academic programs at the associate, baccalaureate and graduate levels, including a new doctor of physical therapy degree. In partnership with the Youngstown city schools, the University opened Youngstown Early College, a high school on the YSU campus aimed at helping city school students earn college credit and a high school degree at the same time. YEC’s fi rst class graduated in May. Last year, YSU reorganized its academic structure to better address the growing importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the state and national levels. As a result, two new colleges were created: the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

YSU has worked in collaboration with the City of Youngstown to complete a nationally-recognized urban

When David C.

id t i J ly

University President Dr. University President Dr. David C. Sweet and his wife, David C. Sweet and his wife, Pat, are avid fans of Penguins Pat, are avid fans of Penguins athletics.athletics.

development plan, Youngstown 2010. In addition, the University has been a leader in the development of Wick Neighbors, a non-profi t community organization that is spearheading a major redevelopment project in the Wick District and Smoky Hollow neighborhood.

Since 2000, the University has opened the $22 million University Courtyard Apartments and the $12.1 million Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The campus is now in the midst of a $44 million Centennial Capital Campaign, the largest fund-raising effort in YSU’s history. A centerpiece of the campaign is a new $34.3 million building for the Williamson College of Business Administration.

Prior to coming to YSU, Dr. Sweet was dean and professor of the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State from 1978 to 2000. His leadership resulted in national recognition for the college’s graduate studies and its city management/urban policy program.

Prior to joining Cleveland State, Dr. Sweet held a number of state cabinet posts, including the director of the State Department of Development. He also served as commissioner of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission and head of the state’s fi rst energy agency. Prior to state service, he was director of regional economic research at the Battelle Institute in Columbus.

He previously served as the chairman of the Northeast-Midwest Institute, a Washington, D.C. policy research institute, and president of the American Economic Development Council. In 1998, he was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

Dr. Sweet holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, an M.A. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a B.A. from the University of Rochester. He and his wife, Pat, live in Liberty, Ohio and have two daughters, two sons and seven grandchildren.

Millicent S. Counts Larry D. DeJane

YOUNGSTOWN STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dr. Sudershan Garg

Harry Meshel Dr. Dianne Bitonte Miladore John L. Pogue

Daniel J. DeMaiolo Stephen W.T. Foley

Carol S. WeimerScott R. Schulick Dr. H.S. Wang

Page 30: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo, a former Penguin student-athlete, has worked diligently to ensure that today’s student-athletes have the support system in place to succeed not only at Youngstown State, but also in their future.

Now in his eighth year as Athletics Director and 13th as a member of the department, his vision for successful broad-based programs and providing student-athletes tools to succeed on and off the playing fi elds is coming to fruition.

Strollo has concentrated his priorities on facility improvements; full compliance of NCAA regulations; fi scal management and budgetary maintenance; streamlining department organization; increasing visibility and fundraising efforts of the Penguin Club; and enhancing the overall experience and competitiveness of student-athletes and programs.

Under Strollo’s leadership, Youngstown State earned full NCAA certifi cation in 2007. This review of governance and commitment to rules, academic integrity, and equity and student-athlete well-being showed YSU athletics operates in substantial conformity with the operating principles adopted by the NCAA Division I membership.

During his tenure, Strollo has placed a priority

Executive Directorof Intercollegiate

a former Penguin

Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo (right) joined Paul McFadden from Ron Strollo (right) joined Paul McFadden from University Development and major donor Tony University Development and major donor Tony Lariccia in saluting Hall of Fame Coach Dom Lariccia in saluting Hall of Fame Coach Dom Rosselli (third from left) at a 2007 football game.Rosselli (third from left) at a 2007 football game.

on the construction and enhancements of athletic venues. Currently, he is leading a capital campaign to construct the Watson and Tressel Training Site, a $4-6 million indoor athletic practice facility.

The Beeghly Center has undergone more than $3 million in renovations. In the past year, a new Dom Rosselli Court was installed and a weight room was built for the men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and swimming and diving programs.

Within the past year in Stambaugh Stadium, offi ce space in the athletic marketing and ticket offi ces and football suite received an enhancement, and the weight room and athletic training offi ces were renovated. Other recent upgrades include a concourse-level elevator (2005), a scoreboard and a Mitsubishi DiamondVision videoboard (2004) and a state-of-the-art SprinTurf playing surface (2002).

He has also secured agreements for Eastwood Field, the home of the Cleveland Indians’ Class-A affi liate, and Cene Park to be the baseball team’s home fi elds and McCune Park to serve as the softball team’s home venue.

Thanks to the benevolence of the Andrews Trust and the priority Strollo places on academics, the academic counseling center underwent a signifi cant renovation and expansion in his fi rst year and continues to receive technology upgrades.

In the past seven years, the department, which has been recognized as a national leader for its graduation rates, has had many successes on and off the playing fi eld.

More than half of the current 300-plus student-athletes have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher while 11 teams have an overall GPA of at least 3.0. YSU’s Academic Progress Rate is well

above the national average for public institutions, and its 93 percent graduation rate is at an all-time high.

Ten student-athletes have captured Academic All-America accolades while a total of 41 have been named to Academic All-District teams.

YSU has won 11 Horizon League titles, and it won back-to-back Gateway Football Conference (now the Missouri Valley Football Conference) championships in 2005 and 2006 in Strollo’s tenure.

In Strollo’s role as the Executive Director of the Penguin Club, the organization has increased athletic endowed scholarship contributions annually. Annual events keep improving every year, and the growth of the Football Alumni Club has had a positive impact on the department.

Strollo returned to his alma mater in 1996 as athletic business manager. In March 2000, he was named the school’s Associate Executive Director of Athletics. In his short time in that capacity, he helped spearhead the transition into the Horizon League.

He has strong ties to the local community and to the athletic department. He grew up in nearby Austintown and attended Fitch High School. He played football for YSU from 1988 through 1991 for Coach Jim Tressel and was named captain of the fi rst Division I-AA National Championship team in 1991. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Youngstown State in June, 1993.

Ron and his wife, Nicole, reside in Austintown with their two children, Ryan and Rachel. Nicole is a former YSU student-athlete who competed in track and cross country from 1989 through 1993.

Emily HaynamAssistant A.D.

Jane KestnerNCAA Faculty Rep.

Elaine JacobsAssociate A.D./SWA

Rick LoveAssociate A.D.

Tom MorellaAssistant A.D.

Robb SchmidtAssistant A.D.

Page 31: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

Penguin Nickname LegendPrior to 1933, Youngstown College had been referred to as "Y" College, YoCo, Wye Collegians and

many times, simply the "Locals."There are two accounts of how the Penguin nickname came to be, and interestingly enough they

come from the same evening on Jan. 30, 1933. But throughout the season prior to that contest, many of the members of the 1932-33 varsity men’s basketball team and their friends on campus spent idle moments in the cafeteria discussing suitable new names for our school sports combines, basketball, and fencing that year.

The names considered covered every conceivable spectrum of animals, birds, and things associated with the steel city, but none seemed to fi t. There was always someone who pointed out an inadequacy of some sort.

The fi rst account states that on a cold, freezing night at a men’s basketball game at West Liberty State Teachers College, in West Liberty, W. Va., a spectator watching the members of the team stomp on the fl oor and swing their arms made them look like Penguins and without a nickname, the fans took a liking to the word.

The second account comes from the trip to West Liberty in which the road that evening had been hit by a snowfall between one and two feet deep. The passengers in two of the cars found it necessary on several occasions to get out and help push their vehicles out of snow drifts or road area with snow ruts, diffi cult to drive through.

During the trip, Bennett Kunicki recalls, the discussion of a nickname for the school was the hot topic of conversation. In Kunicki’s car, the name Penguins came up and was well received by everyone in the car. Upon arrival at the West Liberty gym, the name was mentioned to the members of the team, who thought it was perfect.

By the end of that school year, the nickname was unanimously accepted by the student body without the necessity of a formal polling vote. Plans were then made to introduce the new name during the 1933-34 basketball season.

The nickname Penguins was formally introduced to the school in the "Jambar" (Vol. IV, No. 3) at the beginning of the 1933-34 basketball season. Page three of that issue was set up to cover YSU’s fi rst game to introduce the members of that season’s team and to give the schedule for the season. The date of the "Jambar" issue was Dec. 15, 1933. Within the next fi ve or six weeks, Penguins became our newly accepted nickname both in the Jambar and on the sports pages of the then two local newspapers.

The name was introduced after the fi rst game with Slippery Rock in the Dec. 15, 1933 issue of the "Jambar". The Youngstown Telegram fi rst used the nickname in a headline on Dec. 29, 1933 while The Vindicator fi rst acknowledged the nickname in its Jan. 27, 1934 edition.

Penguin Nickname Legend

There are two accounts of how the Peenguin nicknan mee ccamame e toto be, aandnd i intnterereesesestitt ngngngly eeenonoonouguuuu h ththeeeeyyyyyyyyyye

Youngstown State University Youngstown State University is the only Division I university is the only Division I university in the country with a Penguin in the country with a Penguin for a mascot and the nickname for a mascot and the nickname Penguins for their athletic Penguins for their athletic teams.teams.

YSU Alma MaterAll hail to thee O Youngstown, Our Alma Mater fair; In sunlight and starshine We see thee in all thy glory. The Red and White, thy glorious colors, Ever we praise and hold them High to the breeze as the symbol of our Most loyal allegiance. This anthem, O Youngstown, Our pledge of trust shall be That thy sons and daughters Shall keep faith with thee forever

YSU’s Fight SongThe Red and White are wavingOver the fi eld Our teams are fi ghting With a spirit that will not yield Rah-Rah-Rah Hail to thee O’Youngstown We’ll fi ght for you Once again the Penguins Will win for YSU

Pete and Penny Penguin are the Pete and Penny Penguin are the beloved mascots of Youngstown beloved mascots of Youngstown State University and represent YSU State University and represent YSU and the Athletic Department at and the Athletic Department at home and road games, community home and road games, community functions and special events functions and special events throughout the region. throughout the region.

Page 32: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

As seen from the roof of Stambaugh As seen from the roof of Stambaugh Stadium, the Youngstown State campus Stadium, the Youngstown State campus is well within walking distance of a is well within walking distance of a revitalized downtown Youngstown.revitalized downtown Youngstown.

The City of Youngstown was incorporated in 1867 and named for John Young, who purchased approximately 15,000 acres (the entire township) for slightly more than $16,000 in 1797 from the United States Government.

With its setting in the Mahoning Valley along the Mahoning River, Youngstown quickly grew to become a thriving city in the 1920s as part of the industrial belt that stretched from Massachusetts to the Mississippi River. The iron and steel industry created a strong blue-collar work ethic in the city and surrounding areas that is still very evident, even decades after the closing of the mills. At its peak, Youngstown was the third-largest steel producing city in the country.

Today, with a new citywide revitalization plan coordinated between the city, Youngstown State University and nearly 200 volunteers, neighborhood organizations and businesses, a new vision for Youngstown exists. The award-winning plan, Youngstown 2010, calls for a more diverse and vibrant economy founded on the current strengths with the city and region, such as YSU, the health care sector and the arts community.

Wick Neighbors, Inc., was created from a broad-based group of leaders from YSU and religious and cultural institutions along Wick Avenue, which borders campus to the East. Its mission is to redevelop the historically rich Smoky Hollow neighborhood just off campus and promote a place for creative living and working in the city.

Youngstown is very well-known for its dedication to the arts. The Butler Institute of American Art, located within the confi nes of campus, is one of the most unique and respected museums in the nation. There are also two auditoriums in the city, several museums and the Chevrolet Centre, a modern arena opened in 2005.

Youngstown is also a hotbed for football. In addition to YSU’s four national championships in the 1990s, many coaches have ties to the city. Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel is formerly the head coach at YSU, and current college head coaches Bo Pelini (Nebraska), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), Mike Stoops (Arizona) and Mark Mangino (Kansas) are all from the Valley. The entire Mahoning Valley is seen as a hotbed for college recruits.

Five boxing champions have their roots in Youngstown. Five boxing champions have their roots in Youngstown. The most recent champion, middleweight Kelly Pavlik, The most recent champion, middleweight Kelly Pavlik, wore the Youngstown State “Y” and Pete the Penguin on wore the Youngstown State “Y” and Pete the Penguin on his trunks when he beat Jermaine Taylor on HBO in 2008.his trunks when he beat Jermaine Taylor on HBO in 2008.

Built in 2005, the 5,700-seat Chevrolet Centre Built in 2005, the 5,700-seat Chevrolet Centre is a large part of the downtown revitalization is a large part of the downtown revitalization project. It houses minor league hockey and arena project. It houses minor league hockey and arena football, concerts, ice shows and much more.football, concerts, ice shows and much more.

Quick FactsPopulation: 83,906Area: 34.2 square milesMetropolitan: 586,939

Attractions• More than 50 area golf courses• The 2,537 acre Mill Creek Park situated within miles of downtown• Two large malls and shopping districts within 20 minutes of campus• Minor league hockey and arena football franchises downtown and a nearby minor league baseball team• Several museums and auditoriums

Within 100 Miles• The bright lights of both Pittsburgh and Cleveland• Lake Erie• 24 state parks and three national parks• Pro Football Hall of Fame• Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame and Museum• Numerous professional sports franchises

The view of Lake Glacier from Fellows Riverside The view of Lake Glacier from Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park is one of the most Gardens in Mill Creek Park is one of the most scenic areas in the Mahoning Valley.scenic areas in the Mahoning Valley.

Page 33: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

Head football coach Jon Head football coach Jon Heacock was interviewed Heacock was interviewed following Youngstown State’s following Youngstown State’s 2006 playoff win at Stambaugh 2006 playoff win at Stambaugh Stadium over James Madison Stadium over James Madison on ESPN2.on ESPN2.

The amount of local media coverage dedicated to Youngstown State athletics ranks near the top in both the Horizon League and the Missouri Valley Football Conference. As the main sports attraction in the Mahoning Valley, the Penguins receive daily coverage from fi ve television stations, two major newspapers and several radio stations. Regional media coverage extends to Akron, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Missouri Valley Football Conference contests are frequently featured as nationally televised games of the week, and the Horizon League has a partnership with ESPN and its stations to broadcast men’s and women’s basketball games. Football and basketball games are broadcast locally on tape-delay.

Live Internet CoverageIn addition to coverage provided by traditional

media, the successes of Youngstown State student-athletes are regularly broadcast live across the world over the Internet.

The Horizon League is a recognized leader in video streaming through the Horizon League Network (HLN) and produced more than 300 free, live events during the 2007-08 academic year. In addition to live games, HLN includes highlight vignettes of all-19 League championships, weekly highlight videos during the men’s and women’s basketball season and other special programming covering Horizon League institutions, coaches and student-athletes. Nearly every one of YSU’s home men’s and women’s basketball games and all league road contests are broadcast over the HLN. Several home volleyball and soccer games and the entire 2008 Horizon League Baseball Championship were also streamed live over the Internet.

Broadcasts of Youngstown State’s home football games are also available over the Internet via paid subscriptions.

Weekly Coaches ShowsYoungstown State head football coach Jon Heacock, head men’s

basketball coach Jerry Slocum and head women’s basketball coach Cindy Martin are featured weekly on both radio and television coaches shows. Penguin Gameday, a production of the local NBC affi liate, showcases upcoming opponents, reviews past contests and provides an avenue for fans to become familiar with student-athletes. Penguin Playbook is an hour-long radio show broadcast on the high-power AM station 570 WKBN. Olympic sport coaches are featured as guests on the show as their seasons approach.

When Cindy Martin (left) was named YSU’s women’s basketball coach, the news When Cindy Martin (left) was named YSU’s women’s basketball coach, the news conference was broadcast live on AM 570 WKBN and the Horizon League Network. conference was broadcast live on AM 570 WKBN and the Horizon League Network. The hiring was also featured as the top sports story on every local media outlet.The hiring was also featured as the top sports story on every local media outlet.

Local exposure is also extended to Olympic Local exposure is also extended to Olympic sports. Pitcher Ryan Wackerman was sports. Pitcher Ryan Wackerman was interviewed by Youngstown’s CBS affi liate interviewed by Youngstown’s CBS affi liate during the fi rst baseball practice in February.during the fi rst baseball practice in February.

YSU received front-YSU received front-page coverage of its page coverage of its Horizon League track Horizon League track title in the Youngstown title in the Youngstown

Vindicator.Vindicator.

Page 34: Youngstown State 2008-09 Swimming & Diving Media Guide

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