Roseann Schwartz
Women's Golf Coach
14th Season
Youngstown State, 1963

      Roseann Schwartz has the distinction of being the first coach to capture a Horizon League women's golf title. Behind a veteran squad in 2003, the Penguins won the first-ever Horizon League Championship by 10 strokes over Loyola.
    Schwartz and the Penguins recaptured that title in 2009, as the team beat Cleveland State by 11 strokes and freshman Samantha Formeck took medalist honors.
    Since that time, Youngstown State has finished third or better since the Horizon League began hosting a women's tournament. The Penguins have finished third twice (2004 and 2007) and second three times (2005, 2006, and 2008) at the HL Championships.
     Schwartz, who is the only coach in YSU women's golf history, is now in her 14th year with the program after its inception in 1996.
    A tireless worker, her efforts finally paid off with the school's first-ever conference crown in 2003.
    Schwartz watched as Lori Hatcher won the individual championship and teammates Jennifer Grossi and Gina Abruzzino joined her in the top five to help give the Guins their title. Hatcher, Grossi and Abruzzino were named all-conference for their regular-season efforts and showed their prowess in the classroom as well being named to the league's All-Academic squad as well.
    Defending that title in 2004 proved tough. The Penguins had the lead following the first two rounds, but could not overcome miserable weather conditions on the final day and faltered to third. Abruzzino placed fourth at the league meet and for her regular-season efforts was named the league's Co-Golfer of the Year.
    After falling to third in 2004, Youngstown State moved up second at the 2005 Horizon League meet. Abruzzino again led the charge placing fifth. YSU had two other top 10 finishers as Felicia Ciotola placed seventh while Brittany Jones was 10th.
    The Penguins remained consistent in 2006 placing second again. Jones finished fifth while newcomer Adrianna DiLonardo came in sixth. Overall, the Guins had four of the top 14 finishers in the event.
    At the 2007 Horizon League Championships, despite a strong showing by several members of the Penguins team, YSU placed third after breaking a tie with Cleveland State. Brittany Jones had her best career Horizon League showing, placing fourth in the tournament and earning HL All-Tournament and All-Conference honors.
    In 2008, Schwartz was named Horizon League Coach of the Year as well as coaching Katie Rogner who was YSU's first ever women's golfer to be named Horizon League Player of the Year, as well as Horizon League Newcomer of the Year.
    At the 2008 Horizon League Championships the Penguins in second behind Katie Rogner who earned Medalist Honors at the event.  No Penguin at the event finished outside the top 15.
    In 2009, Schwartz was again named Horizon League Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season after the team won the Horizon League Championship. The team led after every round of the tournament and had three golfers in the top-10 as freshman Samantha Formeck was first, junior Brittany Stillwagon finished second and sophomore Katie Rogner claimed fifth.
    In addition, Formeck was named both Horizon League Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year and was also named to the All-Tournament Team and the All-Horizon Team. Both Stillwagon and Rogner joined Formeck on being named to the All-Tournament Team and Rogner also earned All-Horizon League Team honors.
    Formeck's accomplishments marked the first time in consecutive seasons that a freshman Penguin took medalist honors at the league meet and was named Horizon League Player and Newcomer of the Year, as Rogner accomplished it a year prior.
    Prior to the successful run in the Horizon League, Schwartz kept the program competitive in the Mid-Continent Conference (1998-2001). The program spent the 2001-02 season as an independent while moving into the Horizon League.
    In the spring of 2001, the Penguins had a fine year finishing second at their final Mid-Continent Conference meet behind Oral Roberts. YSU had three competitors finish in the top 10, including Stephanie Matasek who tied for second. Matasek, Grossi and Hatcher each earned all-conference honors.
    During the 2000 campaign, YSU was third at the Mid-Con meet finishing one stroke behind UMKC. YSU had three top 10 finishes as Matasek, Grossi and Sara Pickin all were second-team all-conference.
    In 1998-99, the Penguins finished first at the YSU Invitational, the Lady Knight Classic and at the Gannon Invitational. At the Mid-Con meet, Youngstown State placed third led by Matasek's second-place finish. Matasek and Pickin earned all-conference honors. Matasek was also named the league's Newcomer of the Year.
    Schwartz was hired by then-Athletic Director Jim Tressel to start the women's golf program on Jan. 19, 1996.
    Schwartz received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Youngstown State University, and had taught at various local schools. She spent the largest part of her teaching/coaching careers in the Columbiana Village School System, retiring in 1993.
    Her interest in golf began at Youngstown East High School where she competed on the boys' golf team for the Golden Bears. She continued her playing career at the University of Miami before returning the area to compete in local, state and national LPGA events. In 1991, she became a member of the LPGA and most recently became a Class A LPGA member in the Teaching and Club Professional Division.
    She has been the owner and professional at nearby Whispering Pines Executive Golf Course in Columbiana since 1987, and in addition to running the golf course, teaches private and group lessons and supervises three active women's golf leagues.
    Recognized for her commitment to promoting golf by receiving the National Golf Foundation Award, she was inducted into the Youngstown Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame (along with her husband, Dick) in 1987. She was one of 15 area women to earn the YWCA (of Youngstown) Women of the Year award in 2000. She has also been a lifetime member of the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association.
    Roseann and her husband, Dick, reside in Columbiana, Ohio, and have two sons and a daughter.

Horizon League Player of the Year
2008 Kaite Rogner

Horizon League Conference Selections
2003 Lori Hatcher, Jennifer Grossi, Gina Abruzzino
2004 Gina Abruzzino (Co-Golfer of the Year), Lori Hatcher
2005 Gina Abruzzino
2007 Brittany Jones
2008 Katie Rogner

Horizon League All-Tournament Selections
2003 Lori Hatcher, Jennifer Grossi, Gina Abruzzino
2004 Gina Abruzzino, Lori Hatcher
2005 Gina Abruzzino, Felicia Citoloa
2006 Brittany Jones, Adrianna DiLonardo
2007 Brittany Jones
2008 Katie Rogner

Mid-Continent Conference Selections
1998 Jessica Lundbland (First Team); Sara Pickin (Second Team)
1999 Stephanie Matasek (First Team); Sara Pickin (Second Team)
2000 Jennifer Grossi (Second Team); Stephanie Matasek (Second Team); Sara Pickin (Second Team)
2001 Stephanie Matasek (First Team); Jennifer Grossi (Second Team); Lori Hatcher (Second Team)