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Sports
Outlook Promising for YSU Football
The Penguins’ football team comes off an up-and-down season last year, battling through injuries and some heartbreaking defeats in route to a seven-win record. For the second consecutive year, this year’s season kicks off against Ohio State in Columbus. The 2008 squad features a wealth of talent – some experienced and others looking to step into key spots in the lineup. The biggest question will be at quarterback with the loss of four-year starter Tom Zetts. Three Penguins will contribute at the position: Todd Rowan, Brandon Summers and Paul Corsaro. In the backfield, tailbacks Kevin Smith, Jabari Scott and Brandon Nicholson return after combining for 1,302 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. The wide receiver spot features Ferlando Williams – 2007 Gateway Newcomer of the Year. Headlining the offensive line is 2007 second-team All-America selection Brad Samsa. He is joined on the line by fellow seniors Tyler Booth and Nhemie Theodore. On defense, the front line will anchor the unit, led by All-American Mychal Savage and Torrance Nicholson. On special teams, the placekicker, holder, snapper, punter, kickoff specialist, primary punt returner and kick returner all return from last year’s squad. Also new this season is the name of the league in which YSU competes. In the spring, the presidents of the Gateway Football Conference and the Missouri Valley Conference approved an initiative that changes the football conference name to the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Members of the new conference remain the same: Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Southern IlPenguins Football 2008 linois, Western Illinois and Aug. 30 @Ohio State Noon Oct. 11 @Missouri State 2:30 p.m. @South Dakota State 7 p.m. Sept. 6 Oct. 18 Southern Illinois 4 p.m. YSU.
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Penguin football standouts include, above, No. 67, Brad Samsa, and left, No. 96, Mychal Savage.
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Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4
Central State North Dakota State Liberty @Southern Utah
4 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 3 p.m.
Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 8 Nov. 22
Univ. Northern Iowa* @Illinois State Indiana State @Western Illinois
Home games in italics
4 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 2:05 p.m.
*Homecoming
McKenzie Bedra Concludes Stellar Softball Career
Athletes of the Year
Senior volleyball player Jessica Fraley and senior football player Tom Zetts, 2007-08 YSU Vindicator Scholar-Athletes of the Year, accept congratulations from Rob Todor, center, Vindicator Sports Editor.
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Youngstown State University
Senior McKenzie Bedra’s name is etched throughout the YSU softball record book. Bedra is the school’s all-time leader with 34 home runs, 119 runs batted in and a .619 career slugging percentage. She’s also tied for fourth place with a .333 career batting average, tied for fifth with 36 doubles and tied for sixth with 166 hits. In 2008, Bedra was named to the All-Horizon League First-Team for the second consecutive season. She is just the third player in school history to earn back-to-back first-team all-conference honors. Academically, Bedra turned in just as an impressive season. A 2007 Academic All-Horizon League selection, Bedra was named to the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Third-Team, boasting a cumulative 3.36 grade point average. Bedra is just the second softball player to earn academic all-district laurels.