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Margaret Somple | YSU Athletics Hall of Fame

Margaret SompleSomple-Margaret.jpg

  • Women's Basketball (1986-91
  • Inducted 2000

Margaret Somple (Hotz) was one of the finest student-athletes in the history of Youngstown State athletics.

Somple had a decorated career at Youngstown State earning nine letters in five years, and earned her degree in nursing where she is one of the most qualified in her field.

Somple battled back from a knee injury to finish her YSU women's basketball career with 1, 567 career points, which ranked her fourth in school history at the conclusion of her career, and was named the 1991 Vindicator Athlete-of-the-Year Award. She was also honored by the Ohio Senate as one of Ohio's finest citizens.

She currently ranks sixth in school history in points scored (1,567), eighth in scoring average (13.9), 10th in rebounding average (5.4), second in blocked shots (123), fifth in free throws made (285), third in free throw attempts (434), ninth in field goals attempts (1,282).

As a senior, she led the Penguins to a 24-4 record and was twice selected as a team captain. Her senior season she scored 453 points, marking her fourth season where she scored more then 400 points in her four-year YSU career. She averaged 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Her junior year she averaged 15 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. For the season she scored a career-best 491 points after suffering a knee injury that cut short her 1988-98 campaign. That season she had a 36-point performance against Akron.

Somple also was a member of Penguin track and field team for four seasons and participated in one year of cross country to earn an impressive nine letters.

A current operating room nurse in the open heart surgery unit at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Youngstown State. She is currently working towards becoming a Registered Nurse First Assistant for the operating room.

Since her playing days, Somple has continued her athletic career by competing in various heptathalon across North America.

At Liberty High School in Youngstown, Somple was a Trumbull AA all-state first-team pick twice. A two-time school MVP in basketball and track and field, she made the Regional finals in the 100-yard hurdles, long jump and cross country.

Margaret Hotz resides in North Palm Beach, Fla., with her husband Timothy.