YSU women’s golf team has new coach

March 13, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

First-year Youngstown State women’s golf coach Nate Miklos readily admits he inherited a strong, veteran group of players from former coach Roseanne Schwartz.

Two third-place finishes and strong individual performances in three other tournaments last fall give Miklos a cautious optimism about his first Penguins’ spring squad, which opened its season Wednesday at the Bulldog Florida Invitational at Windsor Parke Golf Course in Jacksonville, Fla.

“Overall, I was very pleased with our fall season. I could not have asked for a better group in that their commitment level, work ethic and attitudes were absolutely outstanding,” Miklos said. “Looking back at the fall we showed glimpses of what we’re capable of doing, yet didn’t have as consistent a fall season as I had hoped.”

The Penguins played very well at the Cleveland State Invitational, shooting 311-313 for third-place while finishing ahead of defending Horizon League champion, Detroit-Mercy.

They also finished third at the Robert Morris University Colonial Classic, playing well at the University of Toledo Rocket Classic where they shot 322-310-324 to finish 9th in the fall’s strongest field.

“Surrounding those strong performances, however, were events in which we struggled. We shot 330-324 and Detroit beat us by 50-plus strokes at our season-ending event at the University of Dayton Fall Invitational. That was a tough way to end the fall season,” Miklos said. “We saw several conference schools there and Detroit just showed why they are still the team to beat in the Horizon League.”

Miklos’ crew hit the gym immediately upon completion of their fall season and according to the coach have been working hard ever since.

“We have one of the best conference indoor facilities in the WATTS and that has helped us prepare, despite inclement weather that everyone locally has encountered,” Miklos said. “We’ve continued to focus on a lot of the little things that will help elevate our games this spring.”

Miklos noted that Schwartz did an excellent job of building the program, leaving him an experienced group despite only one senior on the roster when he took over.

The Hermitage, Pa., native, who spent four seasons as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs at Cleveland State, led Chicago-Loyola to the 2004 Horizon League championship and was named conference co-Coach of the Year in 2004 for his efforts.

He calls his top three golfers as seasoned as any of the Horizon League teams’ top three groupings.

Juniors Aislynn Merling of York, Pa., and Allison Mitzel of Poland, and sophomore Emily Rohanna of Waynesburg, Pa., lead the way for the Penguins while a strong group of underclassmen will compete for the other two spots in the lineup.

Merling posted a 78.6 average in the fall, which included a team-best 72 and fifth-place finish at the UT Rocket Classic.

Mitzel posted an 81.0 fall average, shooting 77 at the CSU Invitational. Rohanna, who is Schwartz’ granddaughter, averaged 79.9 with three rounds of 77 to her credit.

Senior captain Angela Molaskey, also of Poland, freshman Mia Barchetti of Level Green, Pa., and sophomore Emily Dixon of Pataskala are the frontrunners to fill the final two spots with junior Sana Khan (Westerville), sophomore Kayla Cerimele (Canfield) and freshmen Haleigh Guerrero (Warren) and Brittany Schneider (North Lima) rounding out the roster.

Molaskey (85.1) shot 78 twice in the fall while Barchetti averaged 84.8.

Dixon, a transfer from the University of Toledo, averaged just under 80 and is expected to be a solid contributor this spring.

“This team has worked incredibly hard and the talent is definitely there. I know I’m very excited about the spring because you should see a team really take several leaps forward,” Miklos said. “There are some really solid teams in our conference and we’re going to have to play great golf, but I feel very good about our chances. We’ve set a goal to become conference champions and that is what will take our program to that next level.

“Also, the fall was an academic success as the posted a 3.63 cumulative grade point average with four players earning perfect 4.0 overall grade-point averages.”

After the Bulldog Florida Invitational concludes today, the Penguins return to action March 29 when they travel to Grove City College to compete in the Spring Invitational.

The Horizon League championships will take place April 25-27 at Mission Inn Resort Golf Course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.