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YSU’s Gorby is king of crown
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
For the past 25 years, Brian Gorby has been the face of YSU’s men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs.
A runner for the Penguins from 1987-89, Gorby spent his first three seasons as an assistant coach before assuming the reins of both programs in 1992.
As head coach, his teams have finished at or near the top of the Mid-Continent Conference and the Horizon League.
With 20 overall championships, he’s run out of fingers and toes on which to flaunt his program’s successes.
While addressing the Curbstone Coaches during their weekly Monday luncheon at Luciano’s Banquet Center, Gorby said it’s an exciting time for both programs at YSU.
“It has been a blessing to build from the ground up,” Gorby said. “Not many coaches get to put their own stamp on a program from the very start and that is exactly what I have been able to do at my alma mater.
“The entire YSU community and Mahoning Valley has been so supportive. I’ve always felt like we have everything we need right here in order to produce a winner.
“It’s the most exciting, history-making time in the programs’ 25-year existence.”
The women’s team has fared well this year, already having won the league’s cross country and indoor track and field titles.
In less than three weeks, they will go try again for more crowns.
“We still have a lot of work to do over the next three weeks just to put ourselves in position to win both titles,” Gorby said. “We won the recent women’s indoor championship with a record-breaking 180 total points and we’re a stronger outdoor team.
“Hopefully we can build off our success from this past October.”
YSU will host all three Horizon League championships. The women, like the 1996-97 men’s team, have a shot at completing the league’s Triple Crown if they can win the outdoor title.
“We’ve already hosted the cross country championships at Boardman High School and the league’s indoor championship at the WATTS,” Gorby said. “By hosting the upcoming outdoor track championships at Farmers Field, we’ll be doing something no other league or NCAA school has done.”
Recruiting top-notch athletes and upgrades to both facilities and budget have also been contributing factors to their success.
With more than 60 percent of the rosters comprised of area talent, Gorby’s Penguins have earned 35 runner-up trophies.
Incoming fall recruits include Carl Zallow of Warren JFK, Sam Ortz of Austintown Fitch, Alan Burns of Boardman, Ryan Sullivan of Howland and Tyree Ballenger of Hempfield, Pa.