Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Naia Pulliam continues to make history in her senior season with Kutztown University women's basketball. The Wilmington, Del., native was voted to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Atlantic Region First Team. She is the first all-region player for KU since 1999-00. Just last week, Pulliam became the first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year for Kutztown women's basketball in 26 years and just the third in program history, also earning First Team All-PSAC honors. Pulliam is now eligible for All-America recognition. Sports information directors from NCAA Division II Atlantic Region schools and conferences nominated and selected the all-region teams. The process concludes with All-American selections announced later in the month. The Atlantic Region consists of all schools in the CIAA, MEC and PSAC along with Salem, an independent. The team is sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, which encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities. Pulliam has enjoyed her best season of her career, playing in all 33 games so far, starting in 31. She currently is averaging a career-high 16.8 points per game, which ranks third in the PSAC, and is hauling in a career-best 5.7 rebounds per game. Pulliam also has highs in assists (63), blocks (26) and steals (35). Her 49.5 shooting percentage from the floor is fourth-best in the conference and she's also made a career-high 61 3-pointers. Pulliam, who now holds the program record for points in a season, currently has 1,473 career points, third-most at KU. Kutztown (22-11 overall) earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament after winning the PSAC Tournament championship and has its first round game against Seton Hill Friday, March 14, at Edinboro University.

Michael Fellin became Kutztown University's first-ever All-American in the 60-meter dash when he claimed Second Team honors by placing 12th overall during Thursday's preliminary heats at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. Fellin, a junior from Sheppton, Pa., placed fifth in heat two of three with a time of 6.72. He recently set the school record with a 6.65 at the PSAC Indoor Championships. Fellin was making his first appearance at the national meet. Second Team All-America honors went to finishers 9-12, while the eight sprinters advancing to Saturday's final will earn First Team accolades.

Kutztown University will have 29 student-athletes representing its baseball program for the 2025 season. The Kutztown University baseball team was voted the sixth-best team in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division by the coaches in their preseason poll. The Maroon and Gold recorded a 17-33 mark last season, going 10-22 in the PSAC East and 8-11 at North Campus Baseball Field. They managed wins over No. 6 Millersville, No. 15 West Chester and No. 25 East Stroudsburg, and pulled their lone conference series victory against Lock Haven. Learn more at www.kubears.com.

Naia Pulliam (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) became the first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year for Kutztown University women's basketball in 26 years and just the third in program history, as she joined Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) being voted All-PSAC East by the league's head coaches. Pulliam earned First Team recognition for the third straight season and Hurley was recognized on the Second Team, her first postseason accolade. There have been just two other Athletes of the Year for the Golden Bears, Amy Wahl in 1998-99 and Patty Gruber in 1987-88. Pulliam joins former teammate Rylee Derr as a three-time All-PSAC First Teamer. There are three other women's basketball student-athletes in program history that have been voted to the First Team three different times, including Melissa McQuade, Amy Wahl and Robin Avery. The senior from Wilmington, Del., has had her best season in Maroon and Gold to date, starting 29 of the 31 games played. She currently is averaging a career-high 17.0 points per game, which ranks third in the PSAC, and is hauling in a career-best 5.7 rebounds per game. Pulliam also has highs in assists (59), blocks (23) and steals (32). Her 48.8 shooting percentage from the floor is fourth-best in the conference and she's also made a career-high 55 3-pointers. Hurley is a lights-out shooter from long distance or short range. Opposing teams always have to account for her on the defensive end because of the amount of shots she has connected on this season. The junior from Jim Thorpe has taken on a much bigger role this season, starting in 26-of-28 games played. She played in 45 games over the course of her first two seasons, but did not make any starts. Those extra minutes this season (29.4 per game) have been well-earned as she is averaging 11.3 ppg, second on KU, and has connected on 65 3-pointers at a 37.4% clip, second-best in the PSAC. Hurley is currently making 2.3 3s per game, tied for third-most in the conference. She is also averaging 2.5 rpg and has a career-best 28 steals.

Kutztown University will have 31 student-athletes representing its women's lacrosse program for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview. The No. 15 Kutztown women's lacrosse team kicks off the 2025 season with high expectations, aiming to build on the momentum of a historic 2024 campaign that saw them reach new heights and make program-shaping strides. The 2024 season was a defining one for Kutztown, as head coach Kristen Nicholson and assistant coach Tiffany Anderson guided the team to a program-best 15 wins. The Golden Bears made back-to-back PSAC Championship Tournament appearances, reaching the title game for the first time since 1984. They battled past Seton Hill in the semifinals with a 13-10 victory before pushing top-seeded West Chester to the limit in a 12-11 championship loss-the closest margin against the Golden Rams in program history. Kutztown matched its best-ever PSAC record at 9-3, securing a second consecutive NCAA Division II Championship tournament berth and earning the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Region. Despite a tough first-round battle against No. 3 East Stroudsburg, the Golden Bears closed the year ranked No. 12 in the final IWLCA poll. The Golden Bears' schedule features several ranked opponents, starting with their home opener against No. 17 Bentley Friday, Feb. 28, at Keystone Field. A week later, they'll host No. 16 New Haven. Road challenges include trips to No. 14 Flagler and No. 9 Saint Leo, while PSAC play will see Kutztown take on No. 8 East Stroudsburg and No. 4 West Chester.

Kutztown University field hockey had six representatives earn National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholars of Distinction honors for 2024. The list includes Megan Doyle (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), Marlee Fetrow (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone), Kiera Gallagher (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown), Katie Lawless (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley), Lorelai Lehenky (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) and Jordan Stroup (Millerstown, Pa./Greenwood). It is the fourth straight honor for Doyle. This year, 125 student-athletes were recognized as NFHCA Division II Scholars of Distinction. The Division II Scholars of Distinction program recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2024-25 academic year. Since head coach Marci Scheuing arrived prior to the 2013 season, Kutztown has consistently paired high-level of play on the field and academic performance in the classroom. Multiple Golden Bear student-athletes have been honored as NFHCA Scholars of Distinction each season since 2014 --including a program-high seven following the 2016 season.

National runner-up Kutztown University field hockey was once again well represented with National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad members. The program honors student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher through the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. 430 student-athletes from 30 Division II institutions have been named to the 2024 NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad. A list of KU's award winners can be found below: National Academic Squad (13) *Four-year member Paige Bucher (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) *Megan Doyle (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) Marlee Fetrow (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) Kiera Gallagher (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York) Katie Lawless (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) Lorelai Lehenky (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) Hannah McConnell (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) *Greenleigh McGehee (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) Jocelyn Morgan (Easton, Pa./Easton) Marissa Rice (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg) Jordan Stroup (Millerstown, Pa./Greenwood) Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen)

Freddie Retter and Jalen DeVose of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion Kutztown University football team were named to the Academic All-America Second Team that was announced by the College Sports Communicators. The duo are just the seventh and eighth members of the Golden Bear football program all-time to garner the prestigious honor and the first since Jerome Kapp in 2022. Retter had a breakout season with career-highs of 22 solo tackles (43 total), 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumbles forced, two fumbles recovered and three blocked kicks. The Quakertown, Pa., native was the 2024 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year. Retter captured all-conference and all-region First Team accolades while leading the PSAC in blocked kicks and ranking in the top five in fumbles recovered and sacks per game (0.68). He ranked within the top 25 in NCAA Division II in all three categories. Retter, a redshirt sophomore, is an elementary education (math & science) major with a 3.97 GPA. DeVose, a graduate student from Lansdale, Pa., is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration after earning his bachelor's degree in psychology. He posted a 3.38 undergraduate GPA and had a 4.00 graduate GPA at the time of his nomination. DeVose started all 12 games for the 11-1 Golden Bears, making 57 tackles (26 solo) to go along with 7.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown at Millersville on Nov. 2. DeVose was an All-PSAC East First Team and D2CCA All-Super Region 1 Second Team selection for the first time in his career. He is appearing on the CSC Academic All-District Team for the second year in a row. In order to be eligible for an Academic All-America nomination, student-athletes must be at least sophomores in athletic and academic standing, must own a cumulative grade point average above 3.50 for all of their undergraduate and graduate studies and they must have significant athletic credentials. The Academic All-America teams feature just 181 total football players out of the more than 90,000 total players from the three NCAA Divisions and the NAIA, meaning roughly 0.2 percent of collegiate football players are named to the Academic All-America team. The 181 honorees were selected from a field of 2,452 Academic All-District honorees. Kutztown finished the 2024 season 11-1 overall and 7-0 in the PSAC, winning the PSAC title before falling in the NCAA Second Round. The undefeated regular season was a first for the program in the modern era.

Kutztown University will have 25 student-athletes representing its women's acrobatics and tumbling program for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview. Kutztown University acrobatics and tumbling begins a new and historic 2025 season this weekend. For the first time in program history, KU will be competing as a conference member with the Mountain East Conference, joining as an associate member prior to this season. With this new affiliation, the Golden Bears will have a chance to compete for team and event conference championships, while also gaining opportunities to earn MEC Athlete of the Week and All-MEC honors. Fourth-year head coach Karah Paull knows the conference well as a former All-American and Athlete of the Year at MEC member Fairmont State. She is excited for what this brings for her team. "We are very excited to have the opportunity to be an associate member of the Mountain East Conference this year," said Paull. "The MEC is a very competitive conference, and I am looking forward to seeing the team fight for a spot in the Mountain East Conference Tournament and event finals. This is our first year with seniors that have spent all four years here at KU as part of the Acrobatics & Tumbling Team. It is bittersweet to watch them enter their final year of competition and see how much they have grown and improved over the years." Last season was successful for the Maroon and Gold as they finished with their best record to date at 6-3 overall and qualified their acro 5-element squad for the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) Event Finals. "It has been a dream come true to create a program here at Kutztown University," Paull said. "Each year the team has improved their overall team score, broken several event records, and been able to post consecutive winning seasons. I am eager to watch this team continue to grow and improve this season. We have high goals this year coming off last season's 6-3 record and our first national debut. Our main goals are to stay focused, strive to always be better than the day before, and to enjoy the season together as a team." The 2025 Golden Bears will be very talented and experienced with a ton of student-athletes returning from last season. "This is our fourth year as a program and our largest roster with 16 returning players and nine newcomers," said Paull. "We are eager to see our team work together on the mat and continue to lift each other up. Our team really focuses on the 'we' aspect of our sport as it is imperative that everyone supports one another to achieve our goals." Kutztown's 2025 campaign kicks off this Sunday, Feb. 16, when it competes in a tri-match with Frostburg State and West Virginia State in Frostburg, Md. The match is set to start at 2 p.m. Not only will it be the first match of the season, but also the first conference match in program history. "We kick off our season away at Frostburg in a tri-meet with Frostburg and West Virginia State University," Paull said. "As new members of the MEC we are expecting really good competition and exciting meets to watch. We have a challenging schedule ahead of us as we will be competing against two nationally ranked teams and one DI university. We will be striving to have another winning season for year four."

Kutztown University will have 26 student-athletes representing its softball program for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview. The Kutztown University softball team will once again have a veteran bunch leading the way in 2025 as it looks to follow last season and make another deep postseason run. The Golden Bears, led by newly minted National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Famer Judy Lawes, were selected third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Last year's cast led the way to a 37-25 record that included a 19-13 conference mark and the second seed in the PSAC East. It was their fifth consecutive season with at least 30 wins (not including the shortened 2020 campaign) and their fifth consecutive season earning at least one win at the PSAC Championship, a period that includes the PSAC Champions of 2022. Despite falling in the PSAC Championship to East Stroudsburg, they took care of business in the NCAA Atlantic Region four-team pod by advancing past East Stroudsburg, Shippensburg and Bowie State and matched up with Charleston in the Super Regionals, making them the lone PSAC team to advance to the second round. Ten doubleheaders provide opportunities to catch a glimpse of the 2025 Kutztown softball team at North Campus Field, with the first coming against non-conference foe Jefferson on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1 and 3 p.m. KU hosts Holy Family the following Saturday (Feb. 28) before starting home conference play against East Stroudsburg (Tuesday, March 18) and finishing the regular season at home against Shippensburg (Saturday, April 26). The postseason charge begins with the PSAC Championship at Quakertown's Veterans Park Wednesday, April 30 to Saturday, May 3. They hope to conclude their season at the NCAA Division II College World Series, which takes place May 22-28 at Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Golden Bears begin their season with a pair of North Carolina tournaments, visiting UNC Pembroke for the UNCP Invitational (Friday, Jan. 31 through Sunday, Feb. 2) and traveling to Mount Olive for the Mount Olive Tournament (Friday, Feb. 14 through Saturday, Feb. 15).

2,178 students have been named to the Fall 2024 Dean's List at Kutztown University. To be eligible for the Dean's List, an undergraduate student must be registered for at least 12 credits and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60.

The PSAC champion Kutztown University football team had six players honored as part of the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Academic All-District selections from the Golden Bears include wide receiver Trevor Amorim (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh), linebacker Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), linebacker Austin Leyman (Elmer, N.J./Woodstown), quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), offensive lineman Trey Quinones (York, Pa./William Penn) and defensive lineman Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown). The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must have reached sophomore status academically and athletically and hold a 3.50 or greater cumulative grade point average. On the field, nominees must compete in 90% of their team's games or be a starter in at least 66% of their team's games. Amorim is a business administration major with an entrepreneurship focus. The junior and Slatington, Pa., native holds a 3.54 GPA. In 11 games this fall, Amorim totaled eight catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. DeVose, a graduate student from Lansdale, Pa., is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration after earning his bachelor's degree in psychology. He posted a 3.38 undergraduate GPA and had a 4.00 graduate GPA at the time of his nomination. DeVose started all 12 games for the 11-1 Golden Bears, making 57 tackles (26 solo) to go along with 7.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown at Millersville on Nov. 2. DeVose was an All-PSAC East First Team and D2CCA All-Super Region 1 Second Team selection for the first time in his career. He is appearing on the CSC Academic All-District Team for the second year in a row. Leyman is majoring in secondary education (social studies), where he carries a 3.60 GPA. The native of Elmer, N.J., appeared in all 12 games for the Maroon and Gold, collecting 23 tackles (13 solo) and a sack. Novak guided the Golden Bear offense for the second year in a row, throwing for 2,004 yards and 20 touchdowns, while running for 433 yards and four additional scores on his way to earning All-PSAC East Second Team honors. The Manheim, Pa., product and redshirt sophomore is majoring in sport management and holds a 3.62 GPA. Quinones is a repeat CSC Academic All-District selection. The senior from York, Pa., has a 3.68 GPA and is a criminal justice major. Quinones centered an offensive line that helped KU average 30.0 points per game and better than 163 rushing yards per contest. The Bears allowed the second fewest sacks in the PSAC and 14th fewest in DII at 0.92 per game. Kutztown also ranked second in the PSAC in scoring offense and third in rushing offense. Quinones was named All-PSAC East Second Team. Retter had a breakout season with career-highs of 22 solo tackles (43 total), 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumbles forced, two fumbles recovered and three blocked kicks. The Quakertown, Pa., native was the 2024 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year. Retter captured all-conference and all-region First Team accolades while leading the PSAC in blocked kicks and ranking in the top five in fumbles recovered and sacks per game (0.68). He ranked within the top 25 in NCAA Division II in all three categories. Retter, a redshirt sophomore, is an elementary education (math & science) major with a 3.97 GPA. Based on their academic and athletic achievements, DeVose and Retter were selected as finalists for Academic All-America honors by CSC. The national ballot will be voted on by CSC members and Academic All-America teams will be announced Jan. 28.

Mallory Hoch of the Kutztown University women's volleyball team picked up her first career College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honor Tuesday, Dec. 17. The junior outside hitter/libero from Zionsville, Pa., played in all 28 matches (92 sets) for the Golden Bears. She surpassed 200 digs for the second year in a row, finishing with 208 (2.26/set), while adding 14 service aces and five kills. Hoch is an elementary education major with a 3.88 cumulative grade point average. To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District recognition, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically. Nominees must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average and volleyball student-athletes must compete in 90% or start in 66% of their team's matches.

The NCAA Division II national runner-up Kutztown University field hockey team had four student-athletes recognized as 2024 All-Americans by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Midfielder Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick) and defender Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) were First Team selections, while forward Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) and defender Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) were named to the Second Team. Gatehouse earned her third straight All-America First Team honor, Donato is a repeat selection from 2023, and Gonzalez and Panati are first-time All-Americans. The quartet led Kutztown to another outstanding season in defense of its 2023 national championship. The Golden Bears finished 16-6, reached the NCAA DII national championship game for the second year in a row and spent every week of the 2024 season in the top three of the NFHCA national poll. Donato, the team's top two-way player, controlled the midfield for the Maroon and Gold. She started all 22 games, putting up 18 points on 6 goals and 6 assists. The Cedarville, N.J., native scored the game-winning goal on an overtime penalty stroke to lift Kutztown past Southern New Hampshire in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and finished 3-for-3 on stroke attempts this season. Donato earned All-PSAC First Team and NFHCA All-America First Team honors in both 2023 and 2024. She ranks third all-time at KU with 30 career assists. Gatehouse, from Sinking Spring, Pa., solidified herself as one of the top defenders in program history with another tremendous season. Defensively, she helped KU hold opponents to one goal or fewer in 14-of-22 games, which included 7 shutouts. Gatehouse was also deployed on offensive penalty corners, finishing with 18 points on 6 goals and 6 assists. The three-time All-PSAC First Team and NFHCA All-America First Team selection started all 22 games for the second year in a row and finishes her career with 79 starts and games played. Gatehouse also added to her academic accomplishments with a second consecutive NCAA Elite 90 Award. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average at each of the NCAA's championship sites. Gonzalez took her game to a new level this fall with career-highs of 13 goals, 5 assists and 31 points. She led the team in goals, points and game-winning goals (4). The junior from East Earl, Pa., amassed five multi-goal games, including a two-goal performance (and game-winning goal) in Kutztown's upset of No. 1 Shippensburg in the NCAA DII national semifinals. Gonzalez had already produced 20 and 19 points in her first two seasons, respectively, and sits at 30 goals, 10 assists and 70 points through 62 career games. Panati joined Gatehouse as a crucial piece of Kutztown's back line. The senior from West Chester, Pa., started and played in all 22 games for the second year in a row. A three-year starter, Panati capped her career with 75 games played and 64 starts. She helped the Golden Bears record 7 shutouts in 2024. KU ranked third in the PSAC and ninth in NCAA DII with 0.32 shutouts per game, while also ranking top 10 in the nation in goals against average (1.17). Kutztown's four All-America selections are the program's most in a single season since it had five honorees in 2005. The program record for All-Americans in a season is six, back in 1997.

Kutztown University will have 73 student-athletes representing its track and field program for the 2024-25 season. Learn more about the KU women's and men's track and field teams online.

Senior defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) of the Kutztown University women's soccer team earned her second straight All-America honor as United Soccer Coaches announced its 2024 NCAA Division II All-America teams Thursday, Dec. 12. Curtis was named to the Second Team following First Team recognition following the 2023 season. Among the 37 student-athletes selected to this year's teams, Curtis joins an elite group of five with multiple All-America honors. The Warrington, Pa., native joins three-time selection Reese McDermott from Colorado School of Mines and fellow two-time selections Teani Arakawa of Hawaii-Hilo, Emma Beddow of Columbus State and Aino Martikainen of Franklin Pierce. Curtis captained a defensive unit that registered nine shutouts this fall. She also chipped in three goals and two assists as Kutztown compiled a 12-5-6 record, finished as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) runner-up and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Championship. In 83 career games (82 starts), Curtis posted nine goals and three assists for 21 points while helping the Golden Bears reach the NCAA tournament in each of her four seasons. In addition to her two USC All-America honors, Curtis is a three-time All-Atlantic Region pick by both USC and D2CCA and a four-time All-PSAC East First Team member. She was also the 2023 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree and a 2023 CSC Academic All-America Third Team selection. Curtis' All-America honor is the 14th in program history and she becomes just the third multi-time All-American from KU along with Maddie Mohr and Kayla Argen.

Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South), Dana Wentz (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) and Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) of the Kutztown University women's soccer team have earned the distinction of All-Atlantic Region by the United Soccer Coaches (USC). The trio have all been here before, as it is the third time Curtis was named All-Region by the USC and second time for both Wentz and McDonald. Curtis is on the First Team, while Wentz and McDonald are on the Second Team. Curtis concluded a decorated career in Maroon and Gold as she was also tabbed to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division First Team and was a Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Atlantic Region First Teamer. She was a four-year starter for KU, starting every game of her career while leading a defensive unit that recorded nine shutouts on the season while contributing three goals and two assists in 2024. Her contributions were vital in a pair of victories over Charleston (W. Va.), scoring a goal in their early season victory at Keystone Field while sending in the game-winning tally to defeat the Golden Eagles in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship. Wentz was also a Second Team All-PSAC performer this season. The outside defender started all 23 games this season and started in 84 of her 85 games played in her career. Wentz scored her first career goal in a 3-1 victory over West Chester on Oct. 2. She is a three-time All-PSAC East performer. McDonald, on the USC All-Region Second Team for the second straight season, also earned First Team All-PSAC recognition in 2024 and has been All-PSAC in all three of her seasons in Maroon and Gold. She played in all 23 games this season, making 21 starts as a forward. McDonald finished with five goals and three assists for 13 points. Her 17 career assists ranks sixth all-time in program history. The Golden Bears capped off their season with a 12-5-6 record that included a pair of upset victories in the PSAC Championships and a 2-1 win over Charleston in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship.

Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) was voted as the Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year and five Kutztown University football players claimed all-region accolades as the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) released its 2024 all-region teams. Retter and offensive lineman Adam Kase (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) were First Team selections for the PSAC champion Golden Bears, while linebacker Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), defensive lineman Brayden Pohlman (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Mainland Regional) and offensive lineman Ryan Schernecke (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) earned Second Team spots. Retter, a defensive tackle from Quakertown, Pa., set new career-highs with 22 solo tackles, 13 tackles for loss (TFL), 7.5 sacks, 2 fumbles forced, 2 fumbles recovered and 3 blocked kicks. The 2024 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and All-PSAC East First Team pick led the PSAC in blocked kicks while ranking top five in fumbles recovered and sacks per game (0.68). He ranked within the top 25 in NCAA Division II in all three categories. As a team, Kutztown had one of its best defensive seasons in program history. The Maroon and Gold (11-1) led the PSAC and ranked top 10 in DII in scoring defense (10.2 ppg), rushing defense (68.4 ypg), total defense (234.0 ypg), turnovers gained (26), turnover margin (1.33) and sacks per game (3.33). Kase, KU's starting right guard, and Schernecke, the starting right tackle, were instrumental in protecting quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) and helping Kutztown average 30.0 points per game and better than 163 rushing yards per game. Both Kase, a Wernersville, Pa., native and 2023 D2CCA All-SR1 Second Team selection, and Schernecke, from Hatboro, Pa., started all 12 games this fall and were named All-PSAC East First Team. The Golden Bears allowed the second-fewest sacks in the PSAC and 15th fewest in DII at 0.92 per game. KU's scoring offense was second-best in the PSAC and its rushing offense was third in the conference. DeVose had another strong season in 2024 after a breakout 2023 that saw Kutztown advance to the NCAA DII semifinals. The graduate student from Lansdale, Pa., made 57 tackles (26 solo) to finish one shy of his career-high, produced a career-high 7 TFL (0.5 sacks), recovered a pair of fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown in a victory at Millersville Nov. 2. DeVose also earned All-PSAC East First Team honors. Pohlman joined DeVose by backing up his 2023 breakout season. The Egg Harbor Township, N.J., native set new career-highs with 30 tackles (13 solo) and 8 TFL while matching a career-high with 5.0 sacks. Pohlman, a redshirt senior defensive tackle, ranked tied for second on the team in sacks and third in TFL. Kutztown's five D2CCA All-Region selections are its most in a single season. The Golden Bears previously had four players honored in both 2010 and 2011.

Six members of the Kutztown University women's soccer team have been named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Among the Golden Bears honored are senior defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South), sophomore midfielder Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin), junior forward Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), graduate midfielder Taylor Rapel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg), senior midfielder Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) and senior defender Dana Wentz (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley). The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must have reached sophomore status academically and athletically and hold a 3.50 or greater cumulative grade point average. On the field, nominees must compete in 90% of their team's games or be a starter in at least 66% of their team's games. Curtis, from Warrington, Pa., is a repeat CSC Academic All-District selection from 2023. She also went on to earn Academic All-America Third Team honors last year. Curtis is a leader on the back line for the Maroon and Gold, helping KU to eight shutouts in 2024. A business administration (marketing) major with a 3.79 GPA, Curtis is a four-time All-PSAC East First Team, two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region and 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team pick. Academically, Curtis is a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. Economopoulos recently captured her second All-PSAC East honor in as many seasons. The 2023 PSAC East Freshman of the Year has produced nine points (2 goals, 5 assists) for a Kutztown team which qualified for the NCAA Division II Championship tournament for the fourth year in a row. The Grantville, Pa., native claimed United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team and All-America Second Team honors as a freshman. Economopoulos is majoring in business administration (finance) with a 3.97 GPA. McDonald appears on the CSC Academic All-District team for a second consecutive season. The business administration (finance) major from Exton, Pa., holds a 3.95 GPA. McDonald is a two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection and three-time all-conference pick overall. She also earned United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Second Team honors last year. This year, McDonald has totaled nine points (3 goals, 3 assists). Rapel, from Phillipsburg, N.J., is also a repeat selection to the CSC Academic All-District team. The business administration (marketing) major recently received her first All-PSAC East First Team nod and is a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. Rapel holds a 3.68 GPA. Rossetti is one of the top goal scorers on this year's team with eight goals and 16 points. The native of Cherry Hill, N.J., is a two-time All-PSAC East honoree, including a spot on the Second Team this fall. Rossetti is majoring in biology (allied health) with a 3.59 GPA and is a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. Wentz is KU's fourth Academic All-District repeat selection. The defender from Lancaster, Pa., is a three-time All-PSAC East selection, including First Team honors in 2023. Wentz was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Second Team last year and is a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. She is a public relations major with a 3.97 GPA. Based on their academic and athletic achievements, the trio of Curtis, Economopoulos and Wentz were selected as finalists for Academic All-America honors by CSC. The national ballot will be voted on by CSC members and Academic All-America teams will be announced Dec. 11.

Jim Clements was voted the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's East Division Coach of the Year and Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) earned East Defensive Athlete of the Year recognition to lead the PSAC champion Kutztown football team on All-PSAC teams, as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced Wednesday, Nov. 20. KU tied a program record with 15 All-PSAC selections. It is the fifth coach of the year award for Clements, who was also named the AFCA Division II Region I Coach of the Year on Tuesday. It is the first major award for Retter, who gave the Golden Bears (11-0 overall) two Defensive Athletes of the Year in the last two seasons, joining Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) from 2023. There were nine All-PSAC East First Team selections, including offensive linemen Ryan Schernecke (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland), Billy Everitt (Abington, Pa./Abington) and Adam Kase (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser), defensive linemen Brayden Pohlman (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Mainland Regional), Retter and Masen Wilson (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna), linebackers Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) and Eden Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and defensive back Drew Hensor (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury). The six selections on Second Team included quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), running back Jaedyn Stewart (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional), offensive linemen Trey Quinones (York, Pa./William Penn) and Andrew Stackhouse (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond), wide receiver Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle), and defensive back Khi'on Smith (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township). Clements has led Kutztown to the first unbeaten regular season in the program's modern era, Kutztown has achieved its highest national ranking in the AFCA Division II Poll with its current No. 3 rank, won a school record and Division II-best 20 consecutive regular season games (dating back to 2023) and captured a second straight PSAC championship. The winningest coach in program history, Clements is 10 wins shy of 100 in his KU career (90-28, .763) and boasts a 60-11 (.845) record in PSAC East games after his team went a perfect 7-0 this fall for its fourth unbeaten run through the division and PSAC East crown in the last five seasons. Schernecke is All-PSAC for the first time in his career. He has started all 11 games this season at tackle. Schernecke is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Everitt is a two-time All-PSAC performer, his first time on the First Team. He has started all 11 games at guard. Everitt is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Kase has now earned back-to-back All-PSAC First Team honors. He has started all 11 games at guard. Kase is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Pohlman is All-Conference for the first time in his career. Through 10 games this season, he has accumulated career-highs in 27 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks. Retter is a first-time honoree on the All-PSAC team. In 10 games this season, he has 42 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, two passes defended and two blocked kicks, along with scoring his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery in the season opener against Assumption. Retter also earned the PSAC's Champion Scholar. In 11 games at defensive end, Wilson achieved All-Conference for the first time in his career. He has had a career best year, totaling 25 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three passes defended. DeVose is a first-time All-PSAC performer. So far this season, starting all 11 games at linebacker, DeVose has tallied 50 total tackles, five tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, two interceptions, including a pick-six, two passes defended and two fumble recoveries. Johnson was voted All-Conference for the first time in his career. In 11 games as a linebacker this season, he has recorded 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and six passes defended. Hensor is another first-timer on the All-PSAC teams. The defensive back, who has started all 11 games, has tallied 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, three interceptions and six passes defended. Novak, the reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Year, is now a two-time All-PSAC performer. He has completed 146 passes for 1,925 yards and 20 touchdowns. On the ground, Novak has added 76 carries for 354 yards and three scores. Stewart, the PSAC championship game MVP, earned postseason accolades for the first time in his career. In 10 games played at running back this season, he has rushed 102 times for 544 yards and five TDs. Stewart also has caught seven passes for 59 yards and a score. Quinones is on All-PSAC for the first time. He has started all 11 games as the center. Quinones is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Stackhouse is a first-time All-Conference performer. He has started in 10 games at tackle. Stackhouse is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Ravenel Jr. is now a two-time, All-PSAC First Teamer. He has started all seven games he's played in this season at wide receiver. Ravenel Jr. has caught 34 passes for 418 yards and tied a career-high with five touchdowns. Smith is All-PSAC for the first time. He has started all 11 games as a defensive back. Smith has tallied 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, a fumble recovery and five pass breakups. Kutztown hosts the winner of Slippery Rock/New Haven in an NCAA Second Round game next Saturday, Nov. 30, at Andre Reed Stadium.

Kutztown University women's soccer senior defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Atlantic Region First Team. It is the third time that Curtis has been named to the All-Atlantic Region First Team, earning the honor for the second straight season after a stellar year leading Kutztown's back line. The Warrington, Pa., native adds this honor to her First Team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division nod she earned earlier in November. This comes after she earned United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year in 2022. The upperclassman is a four-year starter for Erik Burstein's squad, starting every game for the Golden Bears while leading a defensive unit that recorded nine shutouts on the season while contributing three goals and two assists in 2024. Her contributions were vital in a pair of victories over Charleston (W. Va.), scoring a goal in their early season victory at Keystone Field while sending in the game-winning tally to defeat the Golden Eagles in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship. Curtis and the Golden Bears capped off their season with a 12-5-6 record that included a pair of upset victories in the PSAC Championships and a 2-1 win over Charleston in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced their women's soccer All-Conference Team members for the 2024 season Thursday, Nov. 14, and the Kutztown University squad is well represented with six honorees representing the Golden Bears across both East Division teams. Kutztown features a First-Team All-PSAC East Division honoree at each level of the field, with forward Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), midfielder Taylor Rapel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) and defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) all being recognized among the 13 best players in the division. McDonald has appeared in all 19 games for the Golden Bears, starting 17 on the front line - the most of any Kutztown forward this season. She has been a punishing presence for KU, taking a team-high 29 shots on goal this season while recording 9 points across five games, including a two-goal game in the win at Mansfield in early October. The Exton, Pa., native makes her third straight appearance on the All-PSAC Team, earning First Team recognition for the second straight season. Rapel makes her first All-PSAC Team after a strong fourth season in a primarily defensive midfield role. She is one of four Golden Bears to start all 19 games, and she helped pace a potent midfield that controlled a majority of the action throughout the season. Curtis anchored the Golden Bears defense in her senior season, with her play earning her a fourth straight All-PSAC East First team honor, the third KU student-athlete to accomplish the feat after Kim Kelty (2004-07) and Chelsea Deeter (2007-10). The Warrington, Pa., native has dominated the back line, regularly making game-saving plays while striking fear into any opposing attacker. She tallied a pair of goals and an assist for Kutztown in a year where she started every contest for the second straight season. The second team features another trio of Golden Bear student-athletes, with forward Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), midfielder Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and defender Dana Wentz (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) recognized as Second Team All-PSAC East Division players for their performance this season. Rossetti makes her second appearance on the All-PSAC First Team after a stellar fourth year on the attacking side. She led the team in goals (8) and points (16) while converting on a third of her 24 shots on frame. The Cherry Hill, N.J., native's performance was pivotal against Lock Haven this year, as she scored all four tallies in 2-0 wins at Keystone Field in mid-September and at Lock Haven in mid-October. Economopoulos follows up her PSAC East Freshman of the Year season with a second consecutive All-PSAC Team appearance that featured her in 17 games on the year. The attacking midfielder assisted on a team-high five goals while being one of the primary corner takers for a team that was top five in the nation in that category. Wentz earns her third All-PSAC Team recognition after another season as a key cog on the defensive line for the Maroon and Gold. The Leola, Pa., native patrolled the outside line for the Golden Bears, starting all 19 games for one of the strongest defensive units in the conference. Similar to Curtis, the presence of Wentz on the back line often forces opposing players to think about a different route to the goal to avoid the increased difficulty of facing the graduate student.

Five members of third-ranked Kutztown University field hockey were voted to 2024 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams, as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced Monday, Nov. 11. Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick) and Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) earned First-Team honors, Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) and Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) were tabbed to the Second Team and Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York) was recognized on the Third Team. All five are repeat All-PSAC selections. Donato, a two-time First Teamer and a Third Teamer in 2022, has started all 19 games this season in the midfield. She has scored a career-best four goals and added five assists. Donato's 29 career assists ranks third all-time in program history. Gatehouse found her name on the All-PSAC First Team for the third consecutive season. The graduate student defender has recorded six goals and five assists so far this season and started all 19 games at the center of a KU defense that has seven shutouts this season. Gonzalez, a Third Teamer last season, leads KU with 11 goals and has started 18-of-19 games played this season as a forward. She ranks seventh in the conference in scoring and has added a career-best five assists. Panati, voted to the All-PSAC Third Team last season, has started all 19 games this season as a defender. She is a captain and leader of a defensive unit that has recorded seven shutouts so far this season. Panati also has three defensive saves. Harrold is a two-time Third Teamer, earning All-PSAC honors last season. She has started in all 19 games this season and has tallied one goal and a career-high five assists.

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its men's basketball team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. The Kutztown University men's basketball team hopes that returning players, incoming transfers and a more aggressive attack can put the Golden Bears back in the upper echelon of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division in the 2024-25 season. The Golden Bears are looking to outperform preseason expectations. Kutztown was tabbed as the sixth-best team in the East Division preseason poll. Kutztown will open its season at the PSAC/CIAA Challenge Nov. 9-10, at East Stroudsburg. The Golden Bears will play Lincoln on Saturday at 5 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. tip against Elizabeth City State on Sunday. The home opener is set for Wednesday, Nov. 13, against Jefferson at 7:30 p.m.

Kutztown University has announced 28 student-athletes will represent its wrestling team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. The 11th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team heads into the season with a tremendous amount of momentum behind them as they open the 2024-25 season this weekend. The Golden Bears finished last season with a 5-2 dual record, finishing third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference while earning a first-place finish at the Fairmont State Invitational. KU came in third at the NCAA Super Region I Championships with 113.5 points, headlined by a 184-pound title from Matthew Weinberg. Their mark last year, as well as their returning squad, earned them an 11th-place ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll Monday, Oct. 28, tied with the 2021-22 squad for the highest preseason ranking in program history. The Golden Bears open the season at the 57th ESU Open Sunday, Nov. 3, at East Stroudsburg's Koehler Fieldhouse. They host their first dual of the season against Felician on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. at Keystone Arena.

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its women's basketball team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. Kutztown women's basketball enters the 2024-25 regular season with some new and old faces, but the talent up-and-down the roster is evident. The Golden Bears finished the 2023-24 season with a 15-15 overall record and 12-10 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, earning the three seed in the PSAC Tournament. They won a postseason game for the third straight season, defeating Mansfield in the First Round. KU was tabbed third in the PSAC East preseason poll. Kutztown's 2024-25 regular season campaign opens this weekend at the D2 CCA Tipoff Classic at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. KU first takes on Adams State on Friday, Nov. 1, at 12 p.m., and then plays Lubbock Christian on Saturday at noon.

Kutztown University has announced 17 student-athletes will represent its women's bowling team for the 2024-2025 season. The Kutztown University women's bowling team enters the 2024-25 season with high expectations as one of the front runners in the East Coast Conference, and their growth over the past several years signifies another big step forward is set to take place this upcoming season. Read the full season preview here. After finishing last season with a 58-33 mark and just one match outside of championship Sunday at the conference's postseason tournament, the Maroon and Gold are among the favorites for the ECC crown and the conference's automatic NCAA Championship qualifier. Their odds are boosted even further with the departure of back-to-back conference champion Mercyhurst to the Division I ranks. According to the ECC coaches, the Golden Bears are slotted in as the second-best squad, earning 66 points and garnering a first-place vote in the ECC Preseason Polls. The Golden Bears open their 11-tournament regular season slate at the Mercyhurst Invitational, hosted by Division I newcomer Mercyhurst, now a member of the Northeast Conference. Kutztown will host its home tournament, the Golden Bear Invite, at Berks Lanes in Sinking Spring, Pa., on Oct. 19-20.

Kutztown University has announced seven student-athletes will represent its men's swimming team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. After a 15-year hiatus, the Kutztown University men's swim team makes its long-awaited return in 2024-25. The Golden Bears last competed as a varsity program in 2008-09 and will take the first steps in rebuilding towards their past success. Kutztown's roster this season is comprised of seven swimmers, all underclassmen. Dual wins will be difficult to come by with limited numbers against larger established rosters but improving times throughout the season and achieving PSAC qualifying cuts will be tangible goals for the Golden Bears to shoot for.

Kutztown University has announced 21 student-athletes will represent its women's swimming team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. The Kutztown women's swim team is more motivated than ever heading into the 2024-25 regular season. With the reemergence of the men's swim program, there is a new sense of excitement and energy inside Keystone Natatorium as the new season begins this week. The Golden Bears open their campaign with the first meet of the season, a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference dual meet at Shippensburg Wednesday evening, Sept. 25. Following the meet with the Raiders, Kutztown will compete in the PSAC Fall Invite with several other conference teams Friday, Oct. 11. The home opener is set for Saturday, Oct. 26, against East Stroudsburg.

Kutztown University has announced 110 student-athletes will represent its football team for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview here. The anticipation is over for 10th-ranked Kutztown University football as the 2024 regular season is here. On the heels of the most successful season in program history last year, KU still wants to, and can, accomplish more in 2024. The Golden Bears are coming off a historic season in which they won a program-record 12 consecutive games on their way to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East, PSAC and Super Region I titles. Kutztown advanced to the NCAA DII semifinals for the first time in program history before falling to top-ranked and eventual national runner-up Colorado School of Mines to finish the 2023 season with a 12-3 record. The Golden Bears open their 2024 campaign with a Thursday night matchup against Assumption at Andre Reed Stadium at 7:30 p.m., on Sept. 5.