BEAVER TOWNSHIP — The Horizon League’s James J. McCafferty Trophy, named after the league’s first Commissioner and created in 1980 when they were known as the Midwestern City Conference, is awarded each year to the school that wins its prestigious all-sports championship.

Youngstown State University joined the Horizon League in time for the 2001-02 academic year, and over the past 21 years has finished as high as second on two separate occasions (2013-14 and 2016-17) with a third-place (2014-15) finish also to their credit.

With head coach Brian Gorby’s track and field squad posting four conference titles and Nate Miklos’ women’s golf team walking off with league honors this past year, the Penguins won their first all-sports trophy.

One of Gorby’s runners, Colin Harden, is set to take part in the Olympic Trials on Thursday in Eugene, Oregon.

Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center, Gorby, who is the architect of 47 men’s and women’s cross country and track and field league championships — those coming in both the Horizon League and Mid-Continent Conference — and 45 ‘Coach of the Year’ honors, told the organization that it has been a fun and exciting run.

“Most of these track and field seniors have never lost a Horizon league indoor or outdoor championship,” said Gorby, whose cross country team also finished runner-up.

“Colin [Harden] has been legendary in securing double-digit championships for us while each member of our men’s and women’s teams have played key roles in our overall success.”

Harden was joined at Monday’s meeting by team members Zach Gray, the Horizon League’s indoor and outdoor ‘Athlete of the Year,’ Dom Perry, conference shot put champion, Hunter Christopher (5k runner-up), C.J. Schumacher (800-meter runner-up), Ashleigh Rowley (5k, third-place) and Jahniya Bowers, an East High School state champion who was named Horizon League ‘Track Athlete of the Meet’ for her performance in the 100, 200 meter and 4×100 events.

Harden, who will compete in the 400 hurdles to become the third ever YSU track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympic Trials.

He joins Bobby Grace, who finished third overall in the shot put in 2016 and narrowly missed advancing, and Connor Neu, who was 12th in the hammer throw, also in 2016.

The trials will be telecast live on NBCSN with Harden’s event set for Thursday at 10:30 p.m.

“I am glad to be in the position that I am in right now and cannot thank my coaches and teammates enough for pushing me each and every day,” Harden said. “I am excited to qualify because that speaks to how hard work pays off. The goal right now is to get to the next round and that’s my focus right now.”

Gorby credits his staff for his teams’ success, which consists of Tyler Mettile, Dave Townsend, Megan Tomei, Eric Rupe, Ricki Penniman, Ryan Bell and Keith Gorby.

“In my eyes, our staff is the best in the nation,” Gorby said.

Gorby and staff have already inked one of the top recruiting classes for next year, which includes Connor Vasgal of Wilmington, Pennsylvania, the No. 1 ranked shot putter in the nation last year. Of the eight men and seven women who have already signed national letters-of-intent, 12 are state champions.

Miklos just completed his eighth year as head coach of the women’s links program and was joined by team members Jenna Vivo and Christina Lewis.

This year’s Horizon League crown was Miklos’ second — his team also won the 2015 title — and just the fourth conference women’s golf championship for the program.

“Both league champions were fantastic groups because they stepped up when it mattered most,” Miklos said. “This was the deepest team that I have ever had and the battle for playing time was very competitive with everyone earning playing time.

“Going into the season, the team was hungry because our fall season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It made us appreciate the season and, despite the uncertainty going into the spring, our women handled everything well. All the work, both mentally and physically, and building the culture wasn’t easy but they responded.”

In the conference championship, YSU was tied with two-time defending champion IUPUI after 36 holes, playing lights-out on the final day to win by 15 strokes.

Boardman’s Jenna Vivo played in seven of nine tournaments this past season and carded 77 on the second day of the championship.

“Heading into the tournament, we just came together and that was the key,” Vivo said. “Our team was really close. We had good chemistry and there was plenty of teamwork.”

Next Monday, the organization will honor local OHSAA state champions in track and field and baseball.