Trending
YSU swimming coach steps down
Brad Smith has decided to step down after seven seasons serving as the head coach of the Youngstown State men's and women's swimming and diving programs.
Smith helped lead the Penguins to a combined 12 Horizon League event titles, as well as guiding the men's and women's squads to their highest finishes at the league championships during his tenure.
Under Smith's tutelage, the Penguins women's program conquered many feats that had not been previously achieved.
Most recently in 2026, Olivia Sweetman became the first YSU swimmer, male or female, to win three Horizon League event titles at the same meet, while also being the second 'Guin to be named the Horizon League Women's Swimmer of the Meet, the highest individual honor given at the conference championships. Hannah Murray became the first YSU female swimmer to claim the HL 200 breaststroke title as well.
Smith also coached one of the great female athletes in the history of YSU Athletics, Miriam Frass, during his head coaching stint. At the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Frass was named the YSU Joseph F. Malmisur Student-Athlete of the Year and Horizon League Swimming and Diving Women's Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Penguin to garner that honor from the league. At the Horizon League Championships, Frass was named the women's swimmer of the meet, marking the first time that a Penguin won the award, after claiming league titles in the 1650 free and 400 IM, her second-straight year winning that event.
Also at the 2025 HL Championships, the 800-free relay team of Hailey Clark, Oliwia Kaniak, Olivia Sweetman and Frass won the first Horizon League relay title in YSU Swimming and Diving history. To wrap up that league meet, the Penguin women garnered their third-straight fourth-place finish, tying their highest finish, as well as accumulating 483 points, which set a new program record.
Smith's first season in Youngstown was also the first season that YSU boasted a men's swimming and diving program. He relished the undertaking of the group.
The 2025-26 team was the strongest all-around season for the men's squad as they finished third overall, the highest finish by a YSU men's or women's program at a league meet, while also amassing 494 points, setting a new program record. Quinn Cynor won the 500 free HL title, becoming the first YSU male swimmer to win that event, and also marking the fifth individual HL event title won in program history. Smith also coached Gavin Webb to three consecutive 1650 free titles (2021-24) and Aleksa Radenovic to the 2023 200 fly conference title.
Smith also helped form the YSU Invitational this past November, the first invite hosted by the men's and women's programs inside Beeghly Natatorium.
Before Youngstown State, Smith served five seasons as the Head Women's and Men's Swimming and Diving Coach at Binghamton, two campaigns as the Head Coach at Western Colorado, and he was an assistant coach at Maine from 2009-12.
Penguins' games rescheduled
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State softball doubleheader against Saint Francis (Pa.) was rescheduled for April 22. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at the YSU Softball Field.
YSU hosts Detroit Mercy, Friday and Saturday, at the YSU Softball Field. First pitch for Friday's single game is at 3 p.m. while Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.
Oilers' Draisaitl out with injury
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the rest of the NHL regular season because of a lower-body injury, the Edmonton Oilers said Tuesday, leaving the back-to-back defending Western Conference champions left to try to hold on to a playoff spot without one of the best hockey players in the world.
He will miss at least the remaining 14 games through April 16.
It was not immediately clear exactly what the injury was or whether Draisaitl will miss any time once the playoffs begin the weekend of April 18-19.
Draisaitl left his team's game Sunday against Nashville after getting bumped hard by the Predators' Ozzy Wiesblatt during the first period. He did not return.
The Oilers after winning that game sat in third place in the Pacific Division, one point back of Vegas and two behind Anaheim, though the Golden Knights and Ducks each have an extra game left to play.
Draisaitl has been a big part of getting Edmonton to this point. The 30-year-old ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 97 points in 65 games, second on the team behind only Connor McDavid, atop the NHL with 114 points
Draisaitl won the Hart Trophy as MVP in 2020 and was the runner-up last season. Last month, he played at the Olympics and was Germany's leading scorer with seven points in five games.
Draisaitl is the second prominent player to be sidelined for the rest of the regular season. Toronto's Auston Matthews won't play again because of a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Ohtani to making pitching debut
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to make his first pitching appearance in spring training on Wednesday for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said Tuesday that Ohtani will be the designated hitter in Friday's game against the San Diego Padres, as the two-way Japanese star works to get ready for opening day on March 26.
Ohtani recently returned to Dodgers camp at Camelback Ranch after Japan was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. The four-time Most Valuable Player didn't pitch for Japan at the WBC, but did throw off the mound in bullpen sessions.
"I think three to four (innings) is fair for tomorrow," Roberts said. "It's more of just doing what we can with what we have left to get him ready for the season. He did his part when he was with Team Japan and now you're putting him in against real competition, build him up there, and try to get as much buildup before the season starts."
Roberts said the plan is for Ohtani to pitch in one more preseason game against the Los Angeles Angels on either March 23 or 24.
That means the right-hander probably won't make his first regular-season start until the team's second series against the Cleveland Guardians.