As the ice melts on Youngstown State University's hockey team, the players and coach are thawing out from a chilling season record.
Swimming, diving prepare for upcoming conference tournament
For most Youngstown State University teams, the ultimate goal is to win the Horizon League Championship.
The swimming and diving teams have a different goal: beat the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Penguins look to gain momentum heading into HL tourney
It is crunch time for the Youngstown State University basketball teams.
The women hit the road for games against Wright State University on Thursday and the University of Detroit Mercy on Saturday.
Local boxing star returns to the ring
Keith Burnside watched as his young fighter threw punches in flurries similar to the snow falling outside the Ironman Warehouse gym in Youngstown.
The Penguins were under a minute away from upsetting the No. 11-ranked team in the nation. That minute proved to be costly.
Penguins record season high, low in one game
The Penguins had an 11-point lead at halftime and 20 total points from junior forward Brandi Brown; sounds like a good night for the Youngstown State University women's basketball team.
Twenty-two fouls and 26 second-half points do not.
Baseball gears for annual month away from home
To say the Youngstown State University baseball team's southern road trip in recent years has been rough would be generous.
Try brutal.
Softball looks to reach ultimate goal
The obvious goal for most teams is a conference championship. The same could be said for the Youngstown State University softball team, but how it gets there is as of yet unknown.
Baseball preps for Friday’s season opener
New faces adorn Youngstown State University's baseball team as the Penguins prep for the upcoming season.
It was a busy weekend for Youngstown State University's tennis teams.
The men opened the weekend by defeating Chicago State University on Friday at the Boardman Tennis Center.
Basketball teams prepare for tough road ahead
As the season winds down, questions remain as to where the Youngstown State University men's and women's basketball programs will be after Saturday.
The Youngstown State University men's basketball team has made a habit of bouncing back after disappointing losses. This game was no different.
Butler University head coach Brad Stevens called the Youngstown State University men's basketball team the best shooting team in the Horizon League. He made sure they didn't play like it on Thursday.
After losing to Butler University on Saturday by a last-second 3-pointer, the Youngstown State University women's basketball team looks to regroup in two conference road games.
Phantoms add two, Cangelosi wins award
A few days ago, forward Jonathan Liau was practicing in Nebraska with the Omaha Lancers, the No. 1 team in the United States Hockey League (USHL) Western Conference.
On Monday, sophomore guard Kendrick Perry was honored as the Horizon League Player of the Week, making Youngstown State University the first school in HL history to have all of its starters named player of the week in one season.
During her four years at Youngstown State University, senior guard Kenya Middlebrooks was part of a 0-30 season and worked with two different head coaches.
When the Youngstown State University Diving Invitational concluded on Sunday, it marked the end of the regular season for swimmers and divers and reflected the tough road they encountered.
Intern turns page
Senior intern Dennis Pixley is in his fifth and final semester with the Office of Campus Recreation and Student Programming, but he isn't done just yet.
The play designed to push the Youngstown State University women's basketball team over Butler University with just more than two seconds remaining in the game was set.
During halftime of Thursday night's game against Valparaiso University, Youngstown State University head coach Bob Boldon gave his team a much-needed speech that helped drive the Penguins to a 64-58 win at the Beeghly Center.
Middle school students from Poland, Boardman, Brookfield and more didn't go to school on Wednesday. Instead, they made a trip downtown to the Covelli Centre to watch the Youngstown Phantoms in action against the Chicago Steel.
Youngstown State University head football coach Eric Wolford announced to media on Wednesday the signing of 23 recruits.
Thompson sticks out as key to Penguins’ future
Last season, Melissa Thompson tore her ACL in her left knee and scored just 18 points in 19 games. On Thursday, she started her first game for the Penguins and scored 14.
Females begin to take over traditionally male-oriented sport
Samantha Martinelli watches football regularly. She competes in a "pick ‘em" knockout contest for each week of the NFL's regular season.
Hopes are high as the Youngstown State University men's tennis team returns to the court for its spring season.
Five athletes from the Youngstown State University track and field teams won their events at the YSU Invitational on Friday at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
It was the second event YSU hosted at the WATTS. The other was the YSU Invitational on Dec. 2.
The Cleveland Indians began the 2011 season with little hope of making any impact in Major League Baseball.
Many predicted them to finish as one of the worst teams in baseball, including Tony Bosma of the Grand Central Sports website, who said they would be fourth in the American League Central Division.
The Youngstown State University men's basketball team is looking for answers after falling to Cleveland State University at YSU's Beeghly Center on Saturday, 67-47, in front of the fourth-largest crowd in school history
Cleveland State University will visit Youngstown for Saturday's clash at Beeghly Center, looking to avenge Youngstown State University's Dec. 31 victory.
Head women's tennis coach Mark Klysner said he is excited about getting his teamback on the court after a "pretty good fall."
Men's basketball coach Jerry Slocum walked into Youngstown State University's Beeghly Center early Sunday morning. While he showed up in preparation for a conference clash against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay that afternoon, he wasn't the only one in the building getting ready.
Ward leads by example
Lyrics to a Tupac song drown out the sounds of Beeghly Center when Youngstown State University senior guard Ashen Ward zones in on his target during practice: the hoop.
The Youngstown State University women's basketball team returned home on Sunday after dropping two straight games in Wisconsin.
In the midst of controversies and investigations, the Ohio State University football team finished 6-7 this past season under interim head coach Luke Fickell.
Youngstown State University junior forward Damian Eargle swatted away University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior forward Tony Meier's game-tying shot attempt in the closing seconds, preserving the 68-66 victory. Clutch free-throw shooting and a monster first half by junior guard Blake Allen aided the Penguins (10-8, 5-3).
The men's and women's basketball programs compiled a 0-4 record between Jan. 12 and 15, and the challenge is only becoming more intense.
The Watson and Tressel Training Site has been giving Youngstown State University's teams a new place to improve their games since it opened.
Youngstown State University's women's basketball team came back from a 12-point deficit in the second half but couldn't sustain momentum in overtime as it fell to the University of Illinois at Chicago, 77-68.
The Youngstown State University women's basketball team could not overcome shooting woes during the first half, as it fell to Loyola University Chicago, 82-77, on Thursday.
Coming off a tough three-game (1-2) weekend, the Youngstown Phantoms remain in third place in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League.
Youngstown State University senior long snapper Nate Schkurko snapped in 31 career games for the football team but sat out the last five games from a shoulder injury suffered against Southern Illinois University in October.
Schkurko said it was tough to ride the sidelines as the Penguins racked up half their total wins in those last five games.
Once a month, the Youngstown State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meets in Stambaugh Stadium to help provide a voice to student-athletes while giving back to the community.
Since senior Katie Rogner joined the Youngstown State University women's golf team in 2007, she has competed in every tournament and round.
"It went by so fast," Rogner said. "I feel it went pretty well. I feel like I've got everything in Youngstown. There's not a thing I would change."
Heidi Schlegel and Kelsea Fickiesen have a lot of things in common. Both freshmen play basketball for Youngstown State University — but something else sticks out.
The Youngstown State University men's basketball team never trailed Tuesday night, crusing to a 69-35 victory against State University of Fredonia (6-3).
The women's basketball team looks to avenge last season's loss against Bowling Green State University on Tuesday night in the first doubleheader of the season.
The game will be at Beeghly Center.
Senior forward DuShawn Brooks began last week struggling with his shot and searching for answers.
After leading the Youngstown State University men's basketball team in points on Thursday and Saturday, Brooks was named Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Week and Jambar Player of the Week.
The men's basketball team (5-2) begins a five-game, non-conference stretch with the State University of New York at Fredonia (6-1) on Tuesday.
The Youngstown Phantoms (12-6) lost Thursday night after a shootout against the Sioux Falls (8-7-1), ending their four-game winning streak.
Four women ended Wednesday night's game against Western Michigan University in double figures in a dominating 80-55 win at the Beeghly Center.
The Youngstown State University men's basketball team ranks third in the Horizon League but has not faced a conference opponent yet.
Youngstown State University track and field will host the YSU Invitational, the first home meet in the team's 22-year history, on Friday.
After setting numerous school records this season, Youngstown State University sophomore quarterback Kurt Hess was named to the first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The Youngstown State University women's basketball team returns home to Beeghly Center on Wednesday to compete against the Western Michigan University Broncos.
Head women's basketball coach Bob Boldon said the Penguins are ready to play at home once again.
With a 12-5 record, the Youngstown Phantoms sit fourth overall in the United States Hockey League and third in the Eastern Conference. They also have the best home record in the league at 8-2.
Junior forward Brandi Brown and junior guard Blake Allen are the Jambar Players of the Week.
Brown and the Youngstown State University women's basketball team played three games last week: one at home and the other two in her home state of California.
Cale Zuiker was the all-time 3-point shooter when he graduated from high school in Marshfield, Wis.
As one of the newest members of the Youngstown State University men's basketball team, he's now working to become stronger and faster.
The Youngstown State University women's basketball team struggled to score in Tuesday's home opener, falling to American University 48-41.
Two Youngstown State University student-athletes earn Jambar Player of the Week honors this week.
Junior Tim Frazier has collected 100 points, 27 rebounds and 33 assists through the first five games for Pennsylvania State University (4-1).
Jerry Slocum, head men's basketball coach at Youngstown State University, will be catering to his players that cannot make it home for the holiday with his annual team Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.
After spending two collegiate seasons away from home, Youngstown State University senior guard Tieara Jones was ready to return.
Sophomore quarterback Kurt Hess chucked a final pass from his own 45-yard line, hoping for a reception in the end zone. The pass fell incomplete, and the Youngstown State University Penguins lost to Missouri State University, 38-34, on Saturday. "We didn't do enough things to win that football game today," head coach Eric Wolford said.
In high school, Casey Hill gave up gymnastics for diving. The switch was easy.
"I was really good at the beam in gymnastics," said Hill, a junior at Youngstown State University. "But gymnastics helped me big time when it came to diving. I think there has been only two out of the 100 divers I have met that wasn't a gymnast before diving."
Playoff hopes alive as Penguins prep for Senior Day
On Saturday, the Youngstown State University Penguins (6-4, 4-3) defeated the then No. 1 North Dakota State University (9-1, 6-1), 27-24.
Boxer Jake "The Bull" Giuriceo has fought 14 bouts since he turned pro in 2009.
With an undefeated record, his career has but one blemish: a 2009 draw against Henry White Jr. — a fight that follows him today.
Penguins win in uneven opener
The Youngstown State University men's basketball team improved to 2-0 in the young season besting Notre Dame College (1-1) 80-62.
The 2011-2012 men's basketball campaign is off to a 1-0 start after the Penguins' first season-opening road victory since 2000.
Two senior volleyball players earn Jambar Player of the Week honors after helping the Penguins earn a victory in the final game of the season on Saturday.
Former Youngstown State University basketball standout Vytas Sulskis is competing in the highest Lithuanian and Baltic basketball leagues after six years of playing basketball in the U.S.
The Youngstown State University volleyball team fell in four sets Friday night to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Penguins (4-24, 2-13) came into the game off a five set victory over the University of Illinois Chicago on Saturday. Green Bay (10-17, 6-9) entered the game off a four set loss to Wright State University.
Throughout the 2011 season, the Youngstown State University football team successfully hunted Crusaders, Sycamores, Salukis, Cougars and Leathernecks. Now the Penguins look for another head to put on the wall: Bison. "This is our championship game," said senior defensive end Obinna Ekweremuba.
Compared to last year, the Youngstown State University women's basketball team is more prepared for its season opener on Friday against West Virginia University.
With just two days before the 2011-2012 season opener for the men's basketball team, offseason practices and scrimmages will be thrown out the window.
The Youngstown State University volleyball team entered Friday night's game at Beeghly Center with a 17-game home losing streak.
Although the fall season officially concluded two weeks ago, the Youngstown Steel Valley Rugby Club continues play. The team begins exhibition gameplay Saturday against Cleveland State University.
Cup stackers crave recognition
In March, sophomore Andy Innocenzi was stacking cups in a Fedor Hall computer lab. Today, the cup stacking national record holder is one of the seven students who make up the Youngstown State University Stacking Penguins.
The Youngstown State University volleyball team (4-23) won its first home game of the season in five sets against the University of Illinois at Chicago (14-13) on Saturday after being swept in three sets by Valparaiso University (18-11) on Friday night.
For the first time in school history, the Youngstown State University women's cross-country team finished in second place at the Horizon League Championships on Saturday.
The Youngstown State University football team (5-3, 3-2) ranks fifth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, three games behind North Dakota State University, the number one team in the division.
Brown, Penguins geared to overcome hardships
With 10 days before the 2011-2012 opening tip, junior forward Brandi Brown is hungry. During the off-season, she was served a Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year accolade.
For the second time this season, Youngstown State University sophomore quarterback Kurt Hess earned Jambar Player of the Week.
The Youngstown State University soccer team wrapped up its season Saturday in a 0-0 tie against Valparaiso University. The Penguins ended the season with a record of 3-10-4 (0-5-3 in the Horizon League).
At every home game and nearly every football practice, there's a man who paces the sidelines or sits in the stands, quietly observing the team. He's not the coach, and he's too far past his prime to be stepping on the field.
is a member of the 
