Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Juniors Maura Day and Corinne Morgan of the Kutztown University women's soccer team each collected 2025 All-Atlantic Region First Team honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) at their respective positions. It is the highest career honor for each of the two Golden Bear stars, who led the team to success in the regular season and into another strong postseason run. Day, a First Team midfielder, picked up her first recognition from the organization after a historic season that led her to be named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Year. The junior midfielder led the conference in assists with 10, tied for the third-highest mark in program history. Day was the engine behind Kutztown's attack, pacing the team as the bridge between the team's strong defense and its potent offense. Morgan, a First Team forward, collected her second honor from the D2CCA after being recognized on the second team a season ago. An All-PSAC First Team striker, the Port Republic, N.J., native led the PSAC in both shots (93) and shots on frame (46), scoring a team-high 13 goals that was the seventh-best mark in program history. She was the leader of an offensive attack was among the top offensive units in the conference. Elle Smith of Indiana (Pa.) was named the Player of the Year in the Atlantic Region, while Kutztown is one of just seven schools to have multiple players named to the All-Atlantic Region teams. This marks the fifth season the Maroon and Gold collect at least one All-Atlantic Region First Team honoree, and the 11th year KU has at least one student-athlete recognized on any All-Atlantic Region Team. The Golden Bears (13-6-1, 9-4-1 PSAC East) concluded its season with double digit victories for the 23rd consecutive season, while finishing the regular season with an undefeated, 2-0 non-conference record and a three-game winning streak. Kutztown looks forward to returning both Day and Morgan for their senior seasons as it looks to make another deep run in the postseason in 2026.

Six student-athletes from the Kutztown University women's soccer team have been named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. The recognized individuals include senior forward Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), senior midfielder Charlotte Rauch (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport), senior defender Skyler Jordan (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), junior midfielder Maura Day (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Abington), sophomore Midfielder Sarah Bronico (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg), and sophomore defender Kaitlyn Hankins (Neptune, N.J./Neptune). 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. McDonald, a team captain from Exton, Pa., made her third CSC Academic All-District Team after being recognized in 2023 and 2024. She is a leader on the front line for the Maroon and Gold, playing in 20 games while contributing six goals and seven assists, both second on the team. A business administration (finance) major with a 3.94 GPA, Curtis is a four-time All-PSAC East honoree, earning a pair of First Team and Second Team nods in her career. She has been honored as an All-Atlantic Region Second Team performer by the United Soccer Coaches each of the past two years, while being named to the KU Dean's List every year for her academic accomplishments. Rauch, a senior from Bellport, N.Y., was a key cog on a strong defensive unit for KU, playing a role in the team's eight shutouts in 2025. The four year member of the Golden Bears holds a 3.90 GPA as a communications major at Kutztown, and has been recognized on the KU Dean's List every year during her time with the Golden Bears. Rauch was recognized as a PSAC Scholar-Athlete in 2022, while she was recognized with the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award in 2023. Jordan, a native of Nazareth, Pa., earned her second Academic All-District nod after picking up the recognition in 2023. The fourth-year defender started all 20 games for the Golden Bears, scoring three goals and an assist on the year. The senior political science major holds a 4.00 GPA and has been named to the KU Dean's List in each of her years studying at Kutztown. She has also been recognized as a PSAC Scholar-Athlete in 2022, followed by earning the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award in 2023. Day, a junior midfielder from Huntingdon Valley, Pa., picks up her first recognition from the CSC after being recognized as the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year this season. The third year Golden Bear led the team with 10 assists in its successful run to the postseason while starting all 20 games on the year. The junior holds a 3.89 GPA in her Business Administration (Finance/Marketing) major, earning recognition on the KU Dean's List in each of the past two years. Bronico played in 19 of the team's 20 games in her second season in the Maroon and Gold, scoring a pair of goals and an assist on the year. The sophomore midfielder holds a 4.00 GPA as a sport management major, earning a spot on the KU Dean's List in 2024. Hankins started in 18 of the team's 20 games on the defensive line, playing a large role in Kutztown's success against its opposition. The second-year Golden Bear holds a 3.77 GPA in her Biology (Pre-Med) studies, and was recognized on the KU Dean's List last year. All six players played vital roles on a Golden Bears squad that went 13-6-1 on the season, earning them the second seed in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship, where they reached the championship game and advanced to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championships. Based on their academic and athletic achievements, Day and McDonald advance to the Academic All-America ballot, where CSC will vote on Academic All-America teams that will be announced Dec. 16.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion Kutztown University football team claimed three major award winners and placed a program-record 18 student-athletes on all-conference teams. Read the full release online. Jim Clements received his sixth PSAC East Coach of the Year honor and third in a row after leading the Golden Bears to a second straight 11-0 unbeaten regular season. Kutztown is ranked No. 3 in both the AFCA and D2Football.com national polls -tying its highest-ever ranking-and won its third consecutive PSAC Championship Game with last Saturday's 28-23 victory over IUP. The Golden Bears own NCAA Division II's longest active regular season winning streak at 31 games. Now in his 11th season at KU, Clements recently reached the 100-win mark with the program. He's 101-29 (.777) with the Golden Bears and 167-53 (.759) in 19 seasons between Delaware Valley and KU. Quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) earned Offensive Athlete of the Year and All-PSAC East First Team accolades for the first time in his career. The redshirt junior has completed 158-of-237 passes for 2,296 yards, 19 touchdowns and no interceptions, while also running for 213 yards and two TDs. He leads the PSAC and ranks third in DII in passing efficiency (174.5), and also ranks in the top five of the conference in yards per pass attempt (first, 9.7), completion percentage (second, 66.7%), yards per completion (third, 14.5), passing TDs (fourth), passing yards (fifth) and total offense (fifth, 228.1 ypg). The Manheim, Pa., native previously earned All-PSAC East Second Team honors in 2023 and 2024. He is sixth Golden Bear to earn PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Year recognition since the conference started honoring an Offensive and Defensive Athlete of the Year beginning with the 1996 season. Senior linebacker Brandon Hile (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) was tabbed PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year for the first time. Hile has been a constant presence and leader for one of the top defenses in NCAA Division II during his career. This season, he's racked up team-highs of 48 tackles and 29 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, four pass breakups and four quarterback hurries. Hile is a first-time All-PSAC East selection and the sixth PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year in program history. Hile, from Winfield, Pa., is the third Golden Bear in a row to be honored with the DAOTY award, following Tyler Whary in 2023 and Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) in 2024. Representing KU on the All-PSAC East Offensive First Team were Novak, running back Steven Burkhardt (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City), guard Billy Everitt (Abington, Pa./Abington) and tackle Ryan Schernecke (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland). All-PSAC East Defensive honors went to Hile, defensive lineman Kyree Butler (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin), defensive back Lee Coleman (Salem, N.J./Salem), defensive lineman Mikey Gray (York, Pa./William Penn) and defensive lineman Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown). All-PSAC East Offensive Second Team members included guard Adam Conklin (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North), center CJ Conti (Sea Isle City, N.J./Ocean City), tackle Shane Hartman (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge), wide receiver Noah Kracyla (Townsend, Del./Middletown), tight end Luke Maxwell (Estell Manor, N.J./Delsea Regional) and running back Jaedyn Stewart (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional). All-PSAC Defensive Second Team choices were defensive back Jhaisir Harden (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro), linebacker Eden Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and linebacker Brandon Strausser (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin).

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its men's basketball team for the 2025-2026 season. Read the full season preview online. The Kutztown University men's basketball team was picked eighth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches. The Golden Bears will be under the direction of interim head coach Tom York, who will be on the men's basketball sideline for the 26th season, first as head coach. Kutztown finished the 2024-25 season with an 8-20 overall record that included a 4-17 conference mark and seven home victories inside Keystone Arena, its most since matching that mark in the 2021-22 season. Kutztown will open its season at home against Penn State Schuylkill 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19. They travel to Georgian Court Saturday, Nov. 22, and return home to face Frostburg State Monday, Dec. 1, before opening PSAC play against Indiana (Pa.) 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, Keystone Arena.

Kutztown University has announced 15 student-athletes will represent its women's basketball team for the 2025-2026 season. Read the full season preview online. Kutztown women's basketball won the program's first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship last season in a historic season, and were voted second in this season's PSAC East Division preseason poll. Kutztown concluded a historic 2024-25 season with its first PSAC championship, finishing 22-12 overall and 14-7 in the PSAC, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for just the second time since 1995-96. After starting the season 6-10, KU rattled off a program-record 12 straight wins to clinch the PSAC East and the top spot in the PSAC Tournament. The Golden Bears led the PSAC with 263 made 3-pointers and were second in 3-point% at 32.2%.

The Kutztown University women's soccer team had three All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division honorees, headlined by junior midfielder Maura Day (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Abington) earning the Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Year recognition. Junior forward Corinne Morgan (Port Republic, N.J./Cedar Creek) joined Day on the All-PSAC East First Team, while senior forward Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) earned her fourth All-Conference recognition while being the lone Golden Bear representative on the Second Team. Day was one of the most efficient players on both sides of the field, helping anchor one of the best defenses in the PSAC while contributing a team-high seven assists to go along with a pair of goals on the offensive end. She was one of four Golden Bears to start all 16 games on the season, playing a large role in the team's successful season that continues later tonight in the PSAC Championships. Many of Day's assists found Morgan, a second-year Golden Bear, on the other end. The striker led the team in both points (20) and goals (8), while her total shots (76) and shots on goal (36) placed third in the conference. The Port Republic, N.J., native notched the team's only two goals in the 2-0 win over East Stroudsburg in late September, while she had three straight games contributing a goal and an assist - all in Kutztown victories. McDonald was another key cog in Kutztown's frontline success, contributing five goals and five assists for a total of 15 points, all second-best on the team. She opened the season with a hat trick in KU's 4-1 win at Concord, and had two games of three points against Lock Haven (Sept. 13) and East Stroudsburg (Oct. 25). The tandem of McDonald and Morgan contributed 13 of the team's 30 goals, serving as one of the best attacking tandems in the conference.

Kutztown University has announced 29 student-athletes will represent its wrestling team for the 2025-2026 season. Read the full season preview online. Following a season that eclipsed many program-best marks, the seventh-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team hopes to carry its momentum into the 2025-26 as it looks to continue its rise on the national stage. Reigning Super Region 1 Head Coach of the Year Robert Fisher led the Golden Bears to an 11-1 dual record in 2024-25 as well as a season-opening tournament victory at the East Stroudsburg Open. KU started the second half of the year off with a 50-0 non-conference victory over American International to set a new program record for margin of victory, and finished the season with a 5-1 dual mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, headlined by a statement win over No. 14 Gannon. The postseason was a huge success for KU, as the squad came out of the Super Region I Championships with a program record six grapplers earning trips to the NCAA DII National Championships, including a pair of top finishers to go along with the team's third-place finish. Kutztown didn't stop there, as it surpassed its 20th-place ranking from the National Wrestling Coaches Association by finishing with a program-best eighth-place finish at nationals, one that featured four All-American honorees. All that success earned them a program-best seventh-place ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division II polls, eclipsing its former best mark of 11th, which the team held entering the 2021-22 and 2024-25 seasons. While the conference is loaded with No. 3 Pitt-Johnstown and No. 10 Gannon among the nation's top teams, last year's results showed that Kutztown can hang with the top tier of Division II wrestling programs. The Maroon and Gold will take part in six tournaments and seven dual matches, six of which are PSAC opponents and four of which will take place inside Keystone Arena. Kutztown's lone home dual in 2025 will take place against Seton Hill, followed by a pair of road tournaments before it resumes dual competition in 2026. The team will hold Alumni Night on Friday, Jan. 16, against Pitt-Johnstown, Youth Night on Friday, Jan. 23, against non-conference foe Fairmont State, and Senior Night against East Stroudsburg on Tuesday, Feb. 17, all beginning at 7 p.m. The Golden Bears will open the season at the Tonee Ellis Memorial Tournament, hosted by Alvernia, on Saturday, Nov. 1, which begins at 11 a.m. The team hosts its first dual meet on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. against Seton Hill.

The Kutztown University cross country teams had eight runners earn All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) honors at the PSAC Championships Saturday, Oct. 25, Edinboro, Pa. All-PSAC First Team honors go to runners finishing 1st-15th, while 16th-30th earn Second Team accolades. On the women's side, Maura Lenhart's 10th-place finish and second straight All-PSAC First Team honor paced the Kutztown University women's cross country team, as it finished fifth at the PSAC Championships. Lenhart held down a spot inside the top 12 over the entire 6k race at the Doug Watts Cross Country Course and finished strong by picking up two spots over the final half mile to secure her first career top 10 finish at the conference meet. The junior from Center Valley, Pa., crossed the line in 23:03.4, holding off Shippensburg's Mya Trotty by 0.9 seconds for the final top 10 spot. Lenhart improved upon her 14th-place finish at last year's PSAC Championships. Running in just her second meet of the season, redshirt freshman Gabby Keith claimed All-PSAC Second Team honors with a 24th-place performance (23:29.3). Keith, who made her KU debut earlier this month at the Lehigh Paul Short Run, also made a late push after crossing the 1- and 2-mile checkpoints in 30th. Her 24th-place standing at the finish was her highest position of the meet. Graduate student Sophia Knerr collected her fourth career All-PSAC Second Team finish with a 28th-place showing. Knerr completed the 6k race in 23:42.7. Her previous all-conference finishes came in 2021, 2022 and 2024. On the men's side, KU had a program record five runners securing all-conference finishes as the Golden Bears matched their highest-ever finish of third at the PSAC Championships. Consistency proved to be the name of the game for the Maroon and Gold. All five scoring runners were separated by just over 35 seconds and finished between 14th and 28th in the 154-runner field. The result was KU's highest team finish under current head coach Ray Hoffman and equaled the program's best-ever finish at the conference meet, set back in 1994. Redshirt senior Jack Hollar led the way with a 14th-place finish for All-PSAC First Team honors. Hollar got around the 8k layout at the Doug Watts Cross Country Course in 25:35.21 for his second career all-conference finish. The East Stroudsburg, Pa., native placed 17th at the 2023 PSAC Championships. Though Hollar was Kutztown's lone First Team finisher inside the top 15, his teammates were in close pursuit to claim Second Team honors. Sophomore Peyton Small became a first time All-PSAC honoree with a 16th-place finish in 25:36.21, while senior Adam Brocato ran to his third All-PSAC finish in 17th (25:39.0). Brocato previously earned a First Team finish (13th) in 2024 and Second Team finish in 2022 (22nd). Senior Robby Lloyd and redshirt senior Port Habalar joined Small with their maiden all-conference honors. Lloyd crossed the line in 19th (25:49.0) and Habalar was 28th (26:10.8).

Top-ranked Kutztown University field hockey head coach Marci Scheuing was named the 2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, senior Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot), sophomore Olivia Kirkpatrick (Annville, Pa./Palmyra) and freshman Tess Adolf (Lawrence, N.J./Lawrence) received the major awards from the conference and four other Golden Bears were voted All-PSAC. Gonzalez received the PSAC Athlete of the Year recognition, Kirkpatrick was voted the Defensive Athlete of the Year and Adolf was tabbed Rookie of the Year. The sweep of the major awards is the first time since Shippensburg in 2010 that an institution has accomplished the feat. Gonzalez, Kirkpatrick, Marissa Rice (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) are All-PSAC First Team members, Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York) is on the All-PSAC Second Team and Taylor Vaccaro (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) and Adolf are All-PSAC Third Teamers. It is the third PSAC Coach of the Year award for Scheuing, who is in her 12th season at the helm, also having earned the honor in 2015 and 2022. KU went 18-0 in the regular season and 9-0 in conference play and led all Division II in goals (95), goals against (10), assists (63), and penalty corners (254). The Golden Bears established program records for consecutive victories and wins to start a season (19). Gonzalez, a senior forward from East Earl, is Kutztown's first Athlete of the Year since 2015. It's her first All-PSAC First Team recognition after being voted to the Second Team last season and Third Team as a sophomore. Gonzalez led the conference in goals (17) and points (40) and started all 20 games. Her 67 shots are fourth-most in the PSAC, with 53 shots-on-goal, the second-most and her six assists tied for 11th in the conference. Kirkpatrick, a sophomore defender from Annville, is the first Defensive Athlete of the Year since 2023 and just the second all-time. She led a Golden Bear defense that allowed a Division II-low 12 goals all season in her first season in Maroon and Gold after transferring from Liberty. Kirkpatrick earned one defensive save and chipped in offensively with seven goals and five assists in 20 games starting. She was a two-time PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week and an NFHCA Defensive Athlete of the Week. Adolf, a freshman goalie from Lawrence, N.J., is Kutztown's first Rookie of the Year since 2018. She led the conference in goals-against-average (.55), while also making 37 saves in cage. Her save percentage of .804 was third-best in the conference while her five shutouts ranked fourth in the PSAC. Adolf is currently 18-1 in her 19 games played this season. Rice, a sophomore midfielder from Lancaster, received her first postseason accolade of her young career. She started in all 20 games and ranks second on the team in goals (13), assists (7) and points (33). Rice scored the second goal in the 2-0 victory over No. 5 West Chester in last Friday's PSAC semifinal. Traynor, a junior midfielder from Pennsburg, earned her first All-PSAC honor. She started all 20 games and has tallied 10 goals (4th on KU) and two assists for 22 points. Traynor has found the back of the cage in nine different games. Harrold, a senior midfielder from York, received her highest honor of her career as she was a two-time All-PSAC Third Teamer the last two seasons. She started all 20 games this season and finished with three goals and a team-best 11 assists for 17 points. Vaccaro, a sophomore midfielder from Oley, earned her first postseason accolade in her first season at KU after transferring from Delaware. She started in 19 of the 20 games played this season and finished with six goals and two assists for 14 points. Kutztown will be making its eighth appearance in the DII national tournament all-time and is in the field for the third consecutive year after receiving the No. 2 seed in the upcoming tournament. The Golden Bears will host No. 7 Assumption this Saturday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m.

Kutztown University has announced 16 student-athletes will represent its women's bowling team for the 2025-2026 season. After claiming the East Coast Conference crown and advancing in the NCAA Bowling Regionals for the first time in over a decade, the Kutztown University women's bowling team is favored to repeat its success from a season ago, as it was placed at the top of the East Coast Conference (ECC) Women's Bowling Preseason Poll. The Golden Bears (64-45 overall in 2024-25) had one of its most successful campaigns in program history a season ago, advancing in the NCAA postseason for the second time in program history and reaching the regional round of NCAA postseason competition for the first time in its current format (since 2021). The team swept all three individual ECC honors on its way to the conference championship victory. At the end of last season, the National Tenpin Coaches Association gave Kutztown votes in the final overall polls, while the DII/DIII polls placed the Golden Bears as the eighth-best team among the non-Division I teams. KU's .590 win-loss percentage ranked 22nd in the nation, while its predetermined rating percentage index (RPI) mark of .533 placed them in a tie for No. 32 in the nation. In the conference preseason polls, Kutztown is five votes ahead of second-place Bryant, who finished third at the ECC Championship a season ago. Rounding out the top five are reigning ECC Championship runners-up Roberts Wesleyan in third, Molloy in fourth, and Adelphi and Saint Anselm in a tie for fifth. Kutztown collected six first-place votes, while Bryant claimed a pair and Roberts Wesleyan snagged the remaining vote. The Golden Bears open their season at the Bud Whitman Memorial Tournament Oct. 11-12, followed by the home Golden Bear Invite at Berks Lanes in Sinking Spring, Pa., Nov. 1-2. The ECC Championship Tournament is set to take place March 20-22, following the conclusion of the team's nine-event NCAA schedule and lone United States Bowling Congress (USBC) event.

Kutztown University will have 34 student-athletes representing its men's and women's swimming teams for the 2025-2026 season. Read more about the KU swimming teams at www.KUBears.com, including schedules, rosters and meet recaps.

Kutztown University will have 18 student-athletes representing its men's and women's tennis teams for the 2025-2026 season. Read more about the KU tennis teams at www.KUBears.com, including schedules, rosters and match recaps.

Kutztown University announced that 351 students will be part of the university's Honors Program in 2025-2026. The Honors Program at Kutztown University provides high-achieving students with opportunities to engage in scholarship, leadership and service. The program, which is undergraduate in nature and open to full-time students, is comprised of a minimum of 21 credits in Honors courses including a senior Honors capstone project. The 21 Honors credits count toward the students' minimum of 120 credits that are regularly required for graduation. Honors students select specially designed Honors courses, course-by-contracts, independent studies and internships to earn Honors credit. Students are also required to complete 30 hours of community service before graduation. Learn more at https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/honors-program.html.

Kutztown University has announced nine student-athletes will represent its women's golf team for the 2025-2026 season. Learn more about the Golden Bears at https://kubears.com/sports/womens-golf.

Kutztown University has announced 106 student-athletes will represent its football team for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview here. For the second year in-a-row, Kutztown Football has been selected at the top of the division to begin the season, as KU appears first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Eastern Division preseason poll, as voted on by the head coaches. The Golden Bears, who finished 2024 with an 11-1 overall record and won their second straight PSAC championship, third in the last four seasons and fourth overall in program history, received seven first place votes. Teams can not vote for themselves. Kutztown earned a spot in the NCAA Division II Championships for the second consecutive season and fifth in the last six, winning a program-record 11 games in-a-row to begin the season. Kutztown's 2025 regular season begins Thursday night, Sept. 4, with a non-conference matchup against Assumption from Andre Reed Stadium at 7 p.m.

Kutztown University has announced 15 student-athletes will represent its women's cross country team for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview here. After a fourth-place finish at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships in 2024, head coach Ray Hoffman and the Kutztown University women's cross country team look to use last year's momentum to reach new heights in 2025. Hoffman, in his 28th year at the helm of the program, noted the depth of his team a season ago and added to that with the additions of six newcomers in hopes of continuing the upward trajectory the team has shown over the past couple of seasons. The Golden Bears claimed three top-three team finishes a season ago, including the top spot at the West Liberty Invitational to open the season. Its first two meets featured four runners inside the top ten, while three runners finished in the top 20 at the PSAC Championships to claim All-PSAC honors. KU will face similar competition from last season, and the veteran team looks to stake its claim among the conference's best. Kutztown was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC preseason coaches poll, slotted behind Slippery Rock, East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg. The Rock garnered 10 first-place votes as it looks to claim its third consecutive conference championship, while ESU claimed six votes and Shippensburg snagged the remaining vote. The Golden Bears open the season at the WCU Opener at Unionville High School, hosted by West Chester University, Friday, Sept. 5. KU will have four regular season meets before competing in the PSAC Cross Country Championships in Edinboro, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 25.

Kutztown University has announced 15 student-athletes will represent its men's cross country team for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview here. The Kutztown University men's cross country team will look to improve on a successful 2024 season as it takes to the course for the fall season in 2025. In the 2024 postseason, KU achieved top-10 finishes in both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships (7th) and the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships (9th), the latter of which was their highest finish since 2016. Brocato turned in the team's highest finishes in both postseason outings, finishing 13th and earning All-PSAC First Team honors before running a 26th-place time of 31:17.2 at NCAA Regionals. KU will look to run along with the best of the conference, as it was tabbed as the fourth-best team in the PSAC behind defending conference champion Shippensburg, East Stroudsburg and Slippery Rock. The Maroon and Gold will be competing in two of the four meets it participated in a season ago: the home DII/DIII Challenge at North Campus Farm Loop Cross Country Course Sept. 13, and the Paul Short Run at the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course Oct. 3, on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. KU will travel to the West Chester area to compete in the WCU Season Opener on Sep. 5 before closing the regular season at the Golden Ram Invitational on Oct. 11. KU will open its postseason at the PSAC Championships in Edinboro, Pa., on Oct. 25, before running at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships Nov. 8.

Kutztown University will have 19 student-athletes representing its women's volleyball program for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview online Kutztown University women's volleyball is set to begin a new season under the guidance of a new head coach in 2025. Jason Barshinger takes over the helm and is looking to inject a new and positive energy into the Golden Bears program, one that has had just one winning season since 2011. He enters a program with a ton of youth that he can help mold towards his ideas and philosophies. Kutztown's 2025 regular season opens up at home Friday, Sept. 5, with a non-conference match against Chestnut Hill at 6 p.m. from Keystone Arena. After a tri-match with Lincoln and Holy Family in Philadelphia the next day, KU returns home for the Shannon Sullivan Memorial Tournament Friday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Sept. 13.

Kutztown University will have 29 student-athletes representing its women's soccer program for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview online The Kutztown University women's soccer team is in the midst of one of its most successful runs in program history under 18th-year head coach Erik Burstein, and the squad will look to continue that stretch in its 42nd season of play in 2025. The Maroon and Gold ended the 2024 campaign with a 12-5-6 mark that included seven conference victories and an undefeated, 6-0-4 mark at Keystone Field - its first undefeated home mark in program history. KU appeared on the United Soccer Coaches national polls on a weekly basis, where they are once again receiving votes to start the 2025 season. Kutztown was picked to finish third in the PSAC preseason coaches poll, slotted behind PSAC Champion Shepherd and conference rival West Chester, with all three garnering first-place votes. Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg and Millersville are seen as top challengers for the East Division's four postseason berths. The Golden Bears open the season on the road with a non-conference game against Concord (W. Va.) Thursday, Sept. 4, before playing a slate of 16 PSAC East games. It opens its home schedule with its Morgan's Message game against Millersville at Keystone Field Wednesday, Sept. 10, while hosting rematches of last season's postseason games against Shepherd (Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.) and West Chester (Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.).

The Kutztown University men's and women's track and field teams were named United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Teams for the 2024-25 season, with six student-athletes announced as All-Academic Athletes. The team recognitions for the Golden Bears are the third consecutive honors for both the men's and women's teams. USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and compile a team score at their respective regional championship meet. Criminal justice majors Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic) and Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly), business administration majors Kevin Givone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) and sociology major Gabe Sample (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) garnered individual All-Academic honors on the men's side, while graduate business administration major Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin) was recognized as an All-Academic Athlete on the women's side. Student-athletes need a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and must finish among the top 50 individuals as listed on the descending order lists on TFRRS or as a participant in the NCAA DII National Championships in order to earn All-Academic distinction. Under the direction of head coach Ray Hoffman, the Kutztown women turned in a fifth-place finish at the PSAC Indoor Championships, followed by a seventh-place performance in the outdoor competition. The KU men's side ended the season with a fourth-place showing at the PSAC Indoor Championships, finishing the season with a sixth-place performance at the PSAC Outdoor Championships.

Kutztown University will have 30 student-athletes representing its field hockey program for the 2025 season. Read the full season preview online It has been a run unlike any other in program history for Kutztown Field Hockey the last 2-3 years. KU won its first ever NCAA Division II championship in 2023 and came within seconds of winning back-to-back national titles last season. The 2025 group looks to keep the momentum and success going as they reload for another strong run. The Golden Bears finished last season with a 16-6 overall record and 6-3 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. They took down Southern New Hampshire in a dramatic 2-1 double overtime win at Andre Reed Stadium in an NCAA Quarterfinal matchup and then knocked out No. 1 and PSAC champion, Shippensburg 4-3 in the semifinal round in Gaffney, S.C. After 60 minutes of scoreless action in the championship game, No. 8 Saint Anselm found the back of the cage 6:33 into the first overtime period to stun the Maroon and Gold and win the title. Aside from the run of two consecutive national title games, Kutztown also finished atop the PSAC following the regular season in 2022 and earned the top spot in PSACs, hosting the final four that year. Heading into this season, Kutztown was voted first in the PSAC preseason poll. Kutztown's 2025 regular season begins Thursday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m., in a non-conference matchup against Southern New Hampshire from Andre Reed Stadium.

For the second straight year, Kutztown University athletics nets a new department record with 157 student-athletes receiving Division 2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement award status. The 2024-25 number is 17 more than the previous high mark of 140 achieved last year. For a student-athlete to qualify for the award, they must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have completed a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work at a two-year and/or four-year institution and also been an active member of an intercollegiate team during the last academic year. For the sixth time in the past seven years, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference leads the nation in D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards. The PSAC tallied 2,051 honorees for the 2024-25 season, the most in Division II by nearly 300 student-athletes, saw an increase of 6.88% in student athlete nominations and had 11 institutions have at least 100 honorees. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 18th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level.

Kutztown University is pleased to welcome the newest members of the Golden Bear family, including both new incoming freshmen and transfer students, for the upcoming 2025 fall semester.

The Kutztown University softball team had 11 representatives on the 2025 Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete list. The Golden Bears who earned the status include Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township), Taylor Gearhart (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown), Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg), Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley), Grace Kindel (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic), Annabelle Knese (Havertown, Pa./Haverford), Allyson Koerner (Clayton, N.J./Clayton), Jenna Piatkiewicz (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland), Morgan Slomkowski (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) and Alexa Stevens (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono). Kutztown recorded an overall team cumulative GPA of 3.404. The 11 student-athletes who were honored by the NFCA qualified for the award by earning at least a 3.50 GPA in the 2024-25 academic year. These Maroon and Gold student-athletes did not just excel in the classroom last year, but also on the diamond, as they finished the 2025 campaign 43-19 overall, the most victories in a season since 2012. KU also advanced to NCAA Atlantic Super Regionals for the second straight season and third in the last four, and also qualified for NCAAs for the fifth consecutive year.

Kutztown University has conferred degrees for nearly 1,200 students for the 2025 spring semester. Kutztown University announces degree conferment twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Commencement exercises are held in May and December; however, students finish the requirements for graduation throughout the entire year. The following students have been awarded degrees following the 2024 spring semester. The cumulative grade point average necessary for honors distinction is: with honor (cum laude) 3.40; with high honor (magna cum laude) 3.60 and with highest honor (summa cum laude) 3.80. Students who have requested privacy (FERPA) are not listed publicly.

For the fourth year in-a-row under head coach Kristen Nicholson, Kutztown University women's lacrosse earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Squad accolades, as well as eight members landing on the Academic Honor Roll. The Golden Bears were among 383 programs at the NCAA Division I, Division II Division III and NAIA to be named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad. To qualify for the prestigious honor, the team must have posted a 3.2 grade point average or higher for the entire 2024-25 academic year. The eight Golden Bears on the honor roll include Brynn Axe (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield), Marisa Bragg (Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central), Kayla Brooks (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield), Olivia Eilbacher (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic), Rowan Hall (Sloatsburg, N.Y./Suffern), Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), Rory Nilsen (Lansdale, Pa./Pope John Paul II) and Katie Yocum (Hanover, Pa./South Western). To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater.

Three members of the Kutztown University women's tennis team have been announced as Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athletes for the 2024-25 academic year. Junior Ryleigh Bohning (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), freshman Isabela de Nadai (Vitoria, Brazil/St. Paul's School) and senior Emma Semery (Fuveau, France/HDN Academy) made up the contingent of Golden Bears recognized. Each student-athlete is a first-time ITA Scholar-Athlete. ITA Scholar-Athletes must achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale during the current academic year. A total of 705 women's tennis student-athletes from NCAA Division II received ITA Scholar-Athlete honors this season.

The Kutztown University men's tennis team claimed All-Academic Team honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for the 2024-25 academic year, while six Golden Bears were named ITA Scholar-Athletes. KU was one of 76 NCAA Division II programs across the nation to earn All-Academic Team distinction. It's the second consecutive year that the Maroon and Gold have been recognized. All-Academic Teams must carry a team grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale. ITA Scholar-Athletes must achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale during the current academic year. Kutztown's honorees for the 2024-25 season were Lucas Cherniak (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Escuela Superior de Comercio Carlos Pellegrini), Dang Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam/), Joaquin Perez (Pachuca, Mexico/Escuela Americana), Emmitt Robinson (Ingersoll, Ontario/Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute), Henrique Rocha (Jaticua, Brazil/Escola SEB Maceio) and Linus Vennekold (Laatzen, Germany/). Cherniak and Robinson are three-time ITA Scholar-Athletes, while Nguyen and Rocha became two-time selections. Perez and Vennekold are first-time honorees.

Omari Banks (Middletown, Del./The Phelps School (Pa.)) of the Kutztown University men's basketball team was among more than 2,400 players nationwide recognized on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for the 2024-25 academic year. The NABC Honors Court consists of junior, senior and graduate student men's basketball players who finished the 2024-25 year with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher. Banks, a junior last season, has a 3.60 GPA while pursuing a degree in business administration with a management concentration. The Wilmington, Del., native is heading into his second season with the Golden Bears in 2025-26 after spending his first two seasons at Goldey-Beacom College. The NABC's academic awards are presented annually to teams and athletes from all levels of college basketball.

Kutztown University women's bowling had nine members that earned a place on the 2025 East Coast Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. Kamryn Brenneman (York, Pa./Central York), Natalie Conrad (Wyoming, Pa./Dallas), Megan Hanaway (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township), Brooke Heimbach (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), Kayla Mackney (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township), Marissa Magill (Alburtis, Pa./Emmaus), Miranda Pielhau (Waretown, N.J./Southern Regional), Ally Sipe (York, Pa./Central York) and Riley Sternik (Island Heights, N.J./Central Regional) all were recognized on the list. The Commissioner's Honor Roll is awarded to student-athletes who receive a 3.25 or better cumulative grade point average. This annual recognition, in addition to the conference's Scholar-Athlete awards, helps to uphold the East Coast Conference's mission of promoting the total person and the ability to excel not only in the athletic arena, but also in the classroom. Kutztown finished with a 64-45 overall record and won its first ever conference championship last season.