Youngstown State University Women's Softball

Brad Smith is entering his seventh year as the Head Women's and Men's Swimming and Diving Coach. In 2024-25, the men’s and women’s teams continued to raise the bar for the Penguins’ swimming and diving program. The women finished third with a new team record of 483 points scored. This marked the third consecutive season that the Penguins have outmatched the previous team point total mark at the HLCs. The team finished fourth overall. The women’s team won three Horizon League titles, including the 800-free relay team of Hailey Clark, Oliwia Kaniak, Olivia Sweetman, and Miriam Frass winning the first relay conference title in YSU Swimming and Diving history, both male and female. They won the event with a time of 7:20.87, which was a new program record. The victory snapped a 10-year title run for Oakland in the event. The other titles won were individual, as Miriam Frass won the 1650 free title with a program-record time of 16:40.80, becoming the first YSU female swimmer to win that event at the Horizon League Championships, as well as capturing first place in the 400 IM for the second-straight year, winning with a program-record time of 4:18.91. The women’s team set nine new program records at the conference championship meet. Frass was named the Horizon League Championships Women's Swimmer of the Meet, marking the first time in program history that a Penguin has received that award. The men’s team placed fourth at the conference championships, accumulating a total of 410 points. The team had four finishes inside the top three at the meet, highlighted by a runner-up finish by the 200-medley relay team of Elliot Elmore, James Slessor, Jacob Gramer, and Darren Laing, which marked the first time that a men's relay team has ever reached the podium at the Horizon League Championships. Other notable moments included Gavin Webb’s third-place finish in the 1650 free, his fourth-consecutive finish on the podium, as well as freshman Jacob Gramer claiming two individual top-three finishes (second in the 100 fly, third in the 100 free), Dominic Bono’s runner-up finish in the 400 IM, and James Slessor’s third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. The men set 12 new school records throughout the course of the season. In 2022-23, the men’s and women’s teams delivered their best finishes in program history at the Horizon League Championships with each team placing fourth overall. Gavin Webb won back-to-back titles in the 1650 freestyle after becoming the first YSU men’s swimmer to win an individual Horizon League title during the 2021-22 season. Aleksa Radenovic also earned a Horizon League title in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:45.23. At the Horizon League Championships, the men’s team earned 426 points, a program record, and set 11 school records at the meet. The team delivered five podium finishes including two champions. The men’s team also delivered a successful outing at the 2023 CSCAA National inviational Championships, placing 21st out of 41 schools with 147 points. Gavin Webb and Aleksa Radenovic found the podium at the event, the first to do so in YSU history.  At the Horizon League Championships, the women’s team earned 421 points while delivering 10 top-eight finishes. Miriam Frass found the podium in three different events. Frass became the first YSU woman since 2018 to finish runner-up at the conference championships, accomplishing the feat in two events: 500 and 1650 freestyle. Frass broke the school record in the 1650 freestyle that had stood since 2014 with a time of 16:44.63 to finish second. The men's program had four student-athletes named Academic All-Horizon League while the women's program had two student-athletes earn honors. In 2021-22, the men's team had their first event winner as Gavin Webb placed first in the 1650 freestyle. Webb swam a time 15:20.40 in his victory which bettered his school record by almost two seconds. Also joining Webb with a podium finish was freshman Aleksa Radenovic who placed third in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:46.19. Only seven hundredths of a second separated him from first place. In the relays, YSU set school marks in all five events during the championships. The men scored a program record 362 points at the Horizon League Championships and had 11 top-eight performances and 29 top 16 finishes. The Penguins concluded the season with a strong showing at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships placing 14th out of 30 schools finishing ahead of Virginia Tech, UNLV, South Dakota, Evansville and South Dakota State among others. YSU tallied 166 points in its first appearance at the meet. Tennessee won the event while Ohio State was second and TCU finished third. YSU set school records in 11 different individual events in 2021-22. The women added 23 top 16 finishes at the 2022 Horizon League Championships. The Guins had six individuals place in the top eight at the HL meet. The men's program had four student-athletes named Academic All-Horizon League while the women's program had three student-athletes earn honors. He did an amazing job guiding YSU through the 2020-21 COVID-challenged campaign. The Penguins were able to practice once school started in September and the season lasted until early April with the Horizon League Championships. At the Horizon League meet, the men improved 221 points from their HL debut campaign and set school records in every relay and all individual swimming events but one. Ben Gingher set three school marks while Karan Raju and Gavin Webb set two each in April. YSU had two swimmers finish in the top five in two events. In the 1,650 free, Gavin Webb was fourth while Soma Albert was fourth in the 200 backstroke. Gingher added a pair of sixth-place finishes while Raju was sixth in the 200 fly for the Guins. For the women, Ella Kerr broke both long-standing school marks in the breaststroke at the league meet. The Penguins had four top-five finishes, the best performance by the swimmers since 2016. Jael Dankle was third in the 1650 freestyle while Kerr placed third in the 200-yard breaststroke to lead the way. In his first season as the head coach of the Penguins, the men's program set four individual school marks and four relay school records. The men's program was in its first year of Division I competition. YSU became the first program in the nation to add a men's Division I swimming and diving program and Smith relished the undertaking in his first season in Youngstown. On the women's side, YSU had 12 top-10 finishes at the Horizon League Championships. Tiphaine Saint-Gilles, Casey Prentice, Aida Jurinovics and diver Tess Weiskopf led the way with a pair of top-10 placings. The Penguins earned dual meet wins against Valparaiso and Niagara.  Smith previously served as the Head Women's and Men's Swimming and Diving Coach at Binghamton for five years before coming to YSU in the summer of 2019. He also spent two campaigns as the Head Coach at Western Colorado, and he was an assistant coach at Maine from 2009-12. At Binghamton, Smith coached six America East/ECAC Champions while his teams set 39 freshmen, pool, school and conference records in his tenure. Both programs were consistently honored by the CSCAA for their success in the classroom. During his final two years, the Bearcats men's program finished runner-up at the America East Conference championship meet under Smith. Binghamton had 12 all-league selections - seven on the men's side and five on the women's side. Additionally, the program had four men's student-athletes named academic all-conference. The women's team posted a 7-1 dual record while the men's team finished 4-1 in dual contests in 2018-19. In 2017-18, Smith guided the men's team to a runner-up finish at the America East Championships. The Bearcats recorded two first-place finishes and four second-place finishes at the championships. Ross Bernstein was named the America East Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season. The men finished 3-3 in duals while the women recorded a 5-3 finish. Binghamton's men's program was a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference prior to joining the women in the America East. At its final appearance in the ECAC meet, the men placed fourth out of 23 schools. In 2015 and 2016, the Bearcats also finished in fourth place.  Smith was named the head women's coach at Western Colorado in 2012 and was given the responsibility of starting the program from scratch. The Mountaineers had not had a swimming and diving program since 1984. In his two years at the helm, Smith oversaw a squad that produced an NCAA qualifier, set 84 team and pool records and was named a Scholar All-American team in 2014. In addition, Western Colorado had an all-conference swimmer and three academic all-conference honorees during his tenure. At Maine, Smith was the assistant coach when the Black Bear men's squad placed fourth at the 2011 America East Championships – their highest finish in a decade. During his final two years, Maine broke a total of 21 school records. A 2007 graduate of Vermont, Smith was a four-year letterwinner for the Catamounts. Following his collegiate career, he spent two years as the Director of Women's Swimming Operations at Vermont and also was the men's club team coach.

Now in his 18th season as the Youngstown State softball head coach, Brian Campbell has continually raised the bar for success and is determined to turn the Penguins softball program into one of the Horizon League's elite programs.  In his 17 seasons at Youngstown State, Campbell has led the Penguins to a record of 404-438-1 and is the school’s all-time winningest coach. He also owns a 25-year career record of 689-567-2 after winning 285 games at Tiffin University from 2001-08. He was inducted into the Tiffin Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. Campbell has coached 12 players that were inducted into their school's Hall of Fame. He coached nine hall-of-fame players at Tiffin and four at Youngstown State - Jordan Ingalls (2009-12), Haley Thomas (2009-12), Vicky Rumph (2010-13), and Casey Crozier (2011-14). At Youngstown State, Campbell has coached 42 All-Horizon League picks, including 16 first-team selections and 26 second-team picks, four freshmen/newcomers of the year, two pitchers of the year and three players of the year, and eight National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selections. During Campbell’s tenure, YSU averaged 29 wins from 2014-24 (2020 not included due to COVID-19) and won 30 games six times times. The Penguins won 29-or-more games seven times since 2012, and won at least 25 games in a year in eight straight full seasons from 2016-19, 2021-23. Under his leadership, he has led the Penguins to the five-highest team batting averages in school history - .318 in 2016, .313 in 2012, .296 in 2010, .294 in 2011 and .288 in 2015. During Campbell's tenure, the Penguins have also scored seven of the top eight single-season run totals in school history with 318 in 2016 (first), 279 in 2012 (second), 254 in 2024 (third,) 240 in 2015 (fourth), 227 in 2018 (sixth), 217 in 2010 (seventh), and 216 in 2011 (eighth). Campbell, the 2012, 2021 and 2024 Horizon League Coach of the Year, was named the ninth Head Coach of the Youngstown State softball program in June 2008 and became the program's all-time wins leader after collecting his 208th win at Youngstown State on March 10, 2018, with an 11-5 win over North Carolina A&T. Campbell also collected the 500th win of his career on April 10, 2018, with a 2-1 victory over Northern Kentucky. He recorded his 650th career win in a 5-3 victory over Akron on March 12, 2024. He also won his 300th game at Youngstown State after a 2-1 victory over Hampton on Feb. 25, 2022. Campbell, who has won 350 games since the start of the 2012 season, and the Penguins etched their names in the record books in 2021 by winning the program's first regular-season conference championship in school history by posting a 36-15 overall record and a 28-8 Horizon League mark. The Penguins also earned the first No. 1 seed of the Horizon League Softball Championship in program history in 2021. The 36 wins tied the program record for most wins in a season and the 28 Horizon League victories also set a YSU record. In 2025, sophomore Lydia Wilkerson earned All-Horizon League Second-Team honors for the second straight season. She batted. 384 and led the league with 66 hits. Wilkerson also drove in 28 runs and had seven doubles and four home runs. The Penguins captured their second conference championship in four seasons after posting a 20-4 Horizon League record and tying the school record for most wins with 36 in 2024. Campbell was tabbed the Horizon League Coach of the Year for the third time. Elyssa Imler was tabbed the 2024 Horizon League Player of the Year and First-Team All-Horizon League while senior Sophie Howell also earned all-league first-team honors. Imler, who hit. 340 overall, batted .444 with five doubles and a home run and 15 RBIs against league foes. Howell, who set the YSU single-season win record with 23, posted a 23-8 overall record with a 1.97 ERA and 197 strikeouts, and she won 14 games in Horizon League action. Senior Conchetta Rinaldi was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and second-team all-league while Wilkerson was named to the second-team and all-freshman team. In 2023, Campbell guided the Penguins to 27 victories and made a valiant run through the 2023 Horizon League Championship. The Penguins ended the season with a 27-27 overall record and tied for fourth in league play with a 12-10 mark. Fessler was named to the All-Horizon League First-Team while Howell and Imler were both named to the all-league second-team. Howell and sophomore were also named to the 2023 Horizon League All-Tournament Team. Fessler lead the Penguins with a .367 batting average with 12 doubles, five home runs and 17 runs batted in. She also batted .400 against Horizon League opponents.  Truran, who batted .417 in the tournament, finished the season with a .300 average while Imler posted a .290 average in her first season as the Penguins' full-time shortstop. Howell turned in an impressive season in the circle going 17-12 with a 2.48 earned-run average and a 173 strikeouts in 200.2 innings pitched. Her 17 wins ranked tied for fifth on the YSU single-season chart while her 173 strikeouts rank sixth, and she became the fifth player in school history to throw more than 200 innings in a season. In 2022, Youngstown State won at least 30 games for the fifth time during Campbell's tenure with a 32-24 overall record. The 32 victories are the third most in a single season in school history. It also marks just the second time in program history that the Penguins won at least 30 games in consecutive seasons. Youngstown State finished third in the Horizon League with a 17-9 mark and fifth-year senior Elle Buffenbarger was named to the All-Horizon League Second-Team. Freshman Bree Kohler was named to the All-Freshman Team. Buffenbarger finished the season with a 21-10 record and set a the single-season record with 224 strikeouts. Kohler appeared in 46 games and batted a team-best .326 against Horizon League opponents. During the season, Buffenbarger became the Penguins all-time wins leader with 63 and career strikeout leader with 744. Seniors Yazmine Romero became the Penguins all-time career hit leader with 250 after collecting 71 hits, just one shy of tying the single-season record of 72. Nikki Saibene broke the career RBI record and set the mark at 131. In 2021, Youngstown State's pitching staff record 377 strikeouts, which ranks third on the single-season list. The Penguins' team earned-run average of 2.37 is the 10th lowest in program history and the lowest since the 2004 team's 1.95 ERA. Defensively, the Penguins set the school record for highest fielding percentage at .965. Offensively, the Penguins batted .278, which ranks tied for the seventh-highest team batting average in program history. Buffenbarger posted arguably the best season by a pitcher in program history. Buffenbarger was named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year and went 20-4 with 212 strikeouts and a 2.16 earned-run average. Buffenbarger is the only pitcher in school history to win 20 game and record 200 strikeouts in the same season. A National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region Third-Team selection and All-Horizon League First-Team pick, Buffenbarger led the Horizon League in wins, strikeouts, complete game (19), shutouts (5) and opponents' batting average (.198). Senior Nikki Saibene, the first NFCA All-Region First-Team selection in program history, was named All-Horizon League First-Team after posting player-of-the-year type numbers. Saibene batted .377 with 26 runs scored, 13 doubles, 12 home runs and tied the YSU single-season record with 49 RBIs. Saibene also posted a .712 slugging percentage, which ranked fourth on the YSU single-season list. Freshman Jillian Jakse became the sixth Youngstown State player to win the Horizon League Freshman/Newcomer of the Year and was named All-Horizon League First-Team. Jakse batted 343 with 13 doubles a triple, five home runs and 39 runs batted in. Her 39 runs batted in set the YSU freshman RBI record and rank tied for seventh on the single-season list. In 2019, Campbell guided the Penguins to at least 25 wins for the fourth straight year, and led the Penguins to their fourth consecutive top three finish in Horizon League play. From 2016-19, the Penguins won 59 games in league play for an average of 14.8 wins per season.  Campbell won his 250th game at Youngstown State when the Penguins defeated Green Bay, 4-0, on May 3. From March 20 through April 3, the Penguins set a school record with 11 consecutive wins, breaking the old mark of 10 set in 2004. The pitching staff also set a school record with 393 strikeouts, which broke the record of 288 set in 2014. Individually, Addy Jarvis turned in a record-breaking rookie campaign and was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year. Jarvis set the YSU single-season strikeout record with 218. She is the first YSU player to record at least 200 strikeouts in a season. Senior Lexi Zappitelli was named to the All-Horizon League Second-Team after posting a .309 overall batting average and a .329 average in league play. In 2018, Zappitelli was named All-Horizon League First-Team after batting .413 with 13 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 22 RBIs. Zappitelli, who became just the eighth player in school history to back above .400, ranks sixth on the YSU single-season batting average list. She ranked in the top 10 in In Maddi Lusk, Elle Buffenbarger and Yazmine Romero were all named to the All-Horizon League Second-Team, while Buffenbarger and Romero were named to the All-Freshman Team. Buffenbarger collected 132 strikeouts while Romero led the team and ranked second in the Horizon League with 66 hits. In 2017, Youngstown State posted an overall record of 31-28 and marked the first time in school history the program recorded consecutive 30-win seasons. YSU won 30 games in 2016. During the season, the Penguins won nine straight games between March 22 and April 1, which tied for the second longest streak in school history. YSU finished second in the Horizon League with a record of 17-7 and set a school mark for most wins in league play. The Penguins also won their final 12 games against league foes and advanced to the Horizon League Championship game for the second time in five seasons. Hannah Lucas was named All-Horizon League First-Team after leading the team with a .339 overall batting average and a .416 average against Horizon League foes. Lusk was named the Horizon League Co-Freshman of the Year and All-Horizon League Second-Team after picking up 17 wins and batting .281. In 2016, rewrote the softball offensive record book breaking seven team records. YSU set records for highest team batting average (.318), most runs (318), hits (456), doubles (79), home runs (51), grand slams (7), and runs batted in (285).  During the course of the year, the Penguins, who won 23 of their final 33 games, owned an eight-game winning streak from March 22 to April 1. That consecutive-game win streak tied for the third longest in school history. Mikovich was named second-team NFCA Midwest All-Region Team while Miranda Castiglione was third-team honoree. Castiglione became the first player in school history to be named first-team All-Horizon League in three straight seasons. Mikovich was a first-team all-league honoree for the first time in her career while Dowd is a three-time second-team selection. Dowd was named a third-team CoSIDA Academic All-American. In 2015, YSU broke the school's single-season home run and stolen base records. The Penguins belted 40 home runs, which eclipsed the old mark of 39. They also stole 76 bases, which broke the previous mark of 65 set in 1992. Additionally, the 240 runs scored and 210 runs batted in rank as the second most in school history while the Penguins' .288 team batting average is the fourth highest on the single-season list. In 2014, Campbell led the Penguins to the program's second 30-win season and a third-place finish in the Horizon League. During the season, Campbell reached two head-coaching milestones. He won his 100th game at Youngstown State with a 6-5 win over UNC-Wilmington on March 11. He also won his 400th career game after a 5-3 victory over Dayton on April 21. Pitcher Casey Crozier turned in a record-breaking senior season in the circle. Crozier was named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year winning 19 games and setting the Youngstown State single-season strikeout record with 196. Her 19 victories were a career-best and rank second on the single-season list. Crozier, a 2014 NFCA All-Midwest Region Second-Team selection, also became Youngstown State's all-time leader with 60 career wins, 565 career strikeouts and 674.1 career innings pitched. Castiglione turned in one of the best offensive seasons in school history and was the Horizon League Co-Player of the Year. Castiglione batted .395 with 70 hits, 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 33 runs batted in and set the YSU single-season record with 43 runs scored. In 2015 she set a new school mark with 29 stolen bases. A 2014 NFCA All-Midwest Region Second-Team pick, Castiglione became just the third player to collected 70 hits in a season to go along with her .395 batting average. After leading the Penguins to a 29-21-1 record and a fourth-place finish in the Horizon League, Campbell was named the league’s 2012 Coach of the Year. The 29 wins tied for the second most in school history and marked the first time since 2003 and 2004 that YSU won at least 20 games in consecutive seasons. After four seasons as an assistant coach, Campbell took over the Tiffin program in 2001 and posted a 27-19 overall record. At Tiffin, Campbell coached five all-Americans, 39 all-conference selections, four players of the year, three pitchers of the year. Campbell, who averaged 36 wins per season, was named American Midwest Conference (AMC) North Coach of the Year in 2007 for the third consecutive season after leading the Dragons to a 37-11 mark, a Region IX Championship and their second straight appearance in the NAIA National Softball Tournament. He was named coach of the year six times. In 2006, Campbell guided Tiffin to an impressive 57-11 overall record and the program's first Region IX title and first NAIA National Tournament appearance. Campbell led Tiffin to four-consecutive AMC North Championships from 2004 to 2007 and the AMC Championship in 2002 with a 25-3 conference record and a 31-17 overall mark. Campbell, who also served as Assistant Athletic Director, is a 1994 graduate of Tiffin University with a degree in criminal justice. He also has a master's degree in criminal justice from Tiffin.  He played for the Tiffin football team from 1990-94 on the offensive line and helped the Dragons to their first National Tournament appearance. He has a daughter named Courtney.

Erin Pond, a native of northeast Ohio and a nine-year college softball coaching veteran, is in her first season as an assistant coach on the Youngstown State softball staff. Prior to joining the Penguins, Pond spent four seasons at Cleveland State (2022-25) and helped the Vikings to the 2025 Horizon League Regular-Season Championship and the 2024 Horizon League Championship, marking CSU’s third NCAA Regional appearance in school history and the first since 2009. During her time at Cleveland State, the Vikings won 82 games and posted a four-year Horizon League record of 60-37. Pond was accountable for all offensive and defensive plans, including each player’s individual offensive plan, and helped CSU to improved offensive numbers for three straight seasons. Prior to arriving at Cleveland State, Pond spent two years as an assistant coach at Michigan State, serving under Hall of Fame head coach Jacquie Joseph. Pond's defensive responsibilities fluctuated during her time as a Spartan, as she was primarily responsible for infield play in 2021 and outfield play in 2020. Pond assisted Michigan State's offense both years while coaching first base.  Before Michigan State, Pond was an assistant coach at Ashland University, assisting in both offense and defense. While at Ashland, Pond coached seven All-GLIAC players, in addition to Dayna Denner's selection to the NFCA All-Region First Team and D2CCA First Team All-Region. Pond received her first coaching opportunity at Muskingum University from 2016-18. With Pond on staff, the Muskingum softball program increased their batting average (.291 to .333), runs batted in (158 to 207), homeruns (16 to 24) and overall runs scored (173-224). The Fighting Muskies also improved their overall record from 17-23 during the 2017 season to 26-12 during the 2018 campaign. A 2016 graduate of Penn State University, Pond played the Nittany Lions from 2015-16, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors. Prior to Penn State, Pond played at the University of Akron from 2013-14. Pond also earned a master's degree in adult education from Muskingum in 2018. Pond graduated from Keystone High School in 2012 where she was a four-time All-Conference, All-County, All-District and All-State selection. She was named Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012, in addition to 2012 Coaches Association Miss Softball.

Taylor Farmer is in her second season as an assistant coach with the Youngstown State softball program. Farmer assists in all aspects of the game, including working with pitchers, hitters and recruiting. In 2025, Farmer guided freshman Kelsey Ogin to six victories and 89 strikeouts, which led the team. Prior to joining the Penguins staff, Farmer spent two seasons at Ohio Dominican. As the pitching coach, she helped the Panthers to a pair of NCAA Division II regional appearances and 69 wins over two seasons. In 2024, Farmer helped ODU’s Grace Hammer to a 11-5 record with 144 strikeouts and a 1.10 ERA. Hammer earned first-team all-conference and Division II Conference Commissioners Association Second Team All-Midwest Region honors. She guided Marlee Jacobs to 31 wins and 220 strikeouts in the circle over the last two campaigns while Addison Smodilla posted 24 victories and 129 strikeouts. Farmer also helped the Panthers to a .307 team batting average while four players batted above. 350. Braxton Downs led the team with a .387 average with 20 doubles, eight home runs and 53 runs batted in. Prior to Ohio Dominican, Farmer spent a year at Horizon League member Detroit Mercy in 2022. At UDM, she led the program’s travel, recruiting and game-day management. Farmer spent the 2021 campaign at Adrian College serving as the pitching coach, where she helped the Bulldogs to their first winning season in six seasons. Her duties included pitch calling, creating bullpen workouts, arm care routines, recruiting, and game day management. She was a four-year starter at Ohio Dominican and named Second Team All-G-MAC during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. During her playing career, she recorded 18 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 142 hits. Farmer graduated from Ohio Dominican with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and Business Administration and an MBA with a concentration in leadership.