Youngstown, Ohio — After posting a 24-15 record during the fall semester, Youngstown State's bowling team was ranked seventh in the December release of the National Tenpin Coaches Association Top 25 Poll.

The Penguins are ranked in the top seven for the 16th straight poll, and they extended their run of top-10 appearances to 23 straight releases dating back to the final rankings of the 2020-21 season.

Youngstown State was slotted fourth in the preseason poll, and it won more than 60% of its matches in the fall while integrating seven newcomers on the roster. The Penguins were 11-2 and finished fourth at the Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic to open the season, and they finished in the top half of both the Destination Orlando event and the Colonial Lanes Classic while going 13-13 combined..

The top seven teams are all members of Conference USA as YSU followed Jacksonville State, Vanderbilt, Arkansas State, Nebraska, Louisiana Tech and Wichita State. Niagara shot up the rankings in the poll of 46 coaches from 25th to eighth, and the top 10 also includes Mount St. Mary's and Maryville.

While the top 10 featured eight teams ranked in the top 10 of the preseason poll, six new teams entered the rankings between Nos. 11 and 25. Monmouth, Newman, Bryant, Saint Vincent, Kutztown and Central Missouri appeared in the top 25 for the first time this season.

Youngstown State is slated to bowl in six tournaments in the spring semester leading up to the Conference USA Championship. The next tournament on the slate is the Northeast Classic, which will be held on Jan. 16-18 at Bowlerama in New Castle, Del.