Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

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.

Kutztown University has announced 13 student-athletes will represent its men's cross country team for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview here. Kutztown University men's cross country is excited for another season and will look to keep the momentum going in 2024. The Golden Bears had their best finish at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship meet since the 2019 season, placing sixth out of 16 teams. The majority of the lineup is back this season, including eight of the nine runners at PSACs. Head coach Ray Hoffman noted that two of those competitors will be redshirting, but the roster is still strong with experience and talent. Kutztown has four meets during the regular season again this year, including the annual home meet at North Campus Course on Friday, Sept. 13, at 5:45 p.m. KU begins its campaign on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the West Liberty Invitational at 4 p.m. PSAC Championships are set for Saturday, Oct. 26, from North Campus Course.

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its women's cross country team for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview here. The Kutztown University women's cross country team is ready to begin a brand new season in 2024 with plenty of experience leading the charge. The Golden Bears feature half of their roster (seven of the 14) upperclassmen. Five of the eight competitors at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship meet in 2023 are back in the lineup. The Golden Bears are ranked eighth in the Atlantic Region in the USTFCCCA preseason regional rankings. Kutztown has four meets during the regular season, including the annual home meet at North Campus Course on Friday, Sept. 13, at 5:45 p.m. KU begins its campaign Thursday, Sept. 5, at the West Liberty Invitational at 4 p.m. PSAC Championships are set for Saturday, Oct. 26, from North Campus Course.

Kutztown University will have 26 student-athletes representing its field hockey program for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview online The 2024 season for Kutztown University field hockey is just around the corner and it is one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. For the first time in program history, KU will be looking to defend its title and repeat as national champions, entering the season as the top-ranked team in Division II. Last November, the Golden Bears won the NCAA Division II national championship, bringing home KU's first team national title. Head coach Marci Scheuing, who led the Maroon and Gold to their best season in program history in 2023, finishing 19-3 overall (program record for wins in a season) and 7-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, will have a great opportunity to repeat as the 2024 squad brings back a majority of the top contributors from a year ago. The title defense for KU begins Thursday, Sept. 5, with a home game against Saint Anselm at 3 p.m., from Andre Reed Stadium. Two days later the Golden Bears play in the two-day Saint Michael's Tournament in Colchester, Vt., with a game against the host Purple Knights Saturday at 11 a.m., followed by a match with Southern Connecticut State on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Kutztown University will have 35 student-athletes representing its women's soccer program for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview online The Kutztown University women's soccer team looks to eclipse last season's success in 2024 after showing their strength at both the conference and regional levels of play. For the Golden Bears, greater success means winning championships, and they were one step from reaching that a season ago. Last year's squad ended the season with a 15-2-5 overall record, including an undefeated regular season, while their 12-0-4 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference was their first undefeated conference season in program history. Kutztown defeated teams in PSAC (Bloomsburg) and NCAA Regional (Concord) postseason competition, but they fell in the second rounds to Gannon (PSAC) and West Chester (NCAA Regionals) to finish their season. Kutztown faces a challenge at the top of the PSAC, as conference rivals West Chester and Gannon advanced further than Kutztown in NCAA Regional play. The PSAC Preseason Poll gave the Golden Bears three of the possible nine first-place votes in the East Division. West Chester was voted first in the division and received five first-place votes, while Gannon was tabbed as the top team in the West and received six out of eight first-place votes. The Golden Bears open their slate at home, hosting 2023 NCAA Regional qualifier, Concord, noon Thursday, Sept. 5, Keystone Field. KU will then take on No. 20 Charleston 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, Keystone Field.

Kutztown University will have 22 student-athletes representing its women's volleyball program for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview online After finishing last season just two wins shy of the postseason, Kutztown women's volleyball will rely on their youth and depth to get them back into postseason competition in 2024. Kutztown begins the season at home, hosting a non-conference match against Felician on Friday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. at Keystone Arena. They open conference play at East Stroudsburg on Friday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. at Koehler Fieldhouse.

Four members of the Kutztown University women's tennis team were named 2024 Division II Women's Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar Athletes. Mallory Barndt, Alexis Bundra, Sarah Lazarchak and Caroline Novak were the four Golden Bears that earned the honor. Student-athletes must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year to be considered for the ITA Scholar-Athlete award. In 2024, 759 Division II women's student-athletes were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete.

Sarah Gatehouse continues to add on to her legacy with Kutztown University field hockey as she was named a First Team College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American. The Sinking Spring native becomes the first Golden Bear field hockey student-athlete to earn Academic All-American status since Mackenzie Fuhrman in 2018-19. She is also just the second First Teamer in program history, joining Laura Kline from 2005-06. Gatehouse achieved All-America recognition after being named CSC Academic All-District back on July 1. She had a perfect 4.0 GPA and graduated summa cum laude with her undergraduate degree in sport management in December. She is pursuing her Master of Business Administration. Gatehouse is a two-time First Team All-America selection for the Golden Bears and helped lead them to the school's first-ever national championship in 2023. She was voted the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Defensive Athlete of the Year, along with being named to the All-PSAC First Team for the second-straight season. She was the backbone of a KU defense that finished first in the nation in goals allowed (11) and goals against average (.497), starting all 22 games at center back. She ranked second on KU in points (19) and assists (5) and was fourth in goals scored (7). Gatehouse also received the PSAC Champion Scholar, NCAA Elite 90 award, was named to the PSAC Fall Top-10 list and was a National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Scholar of Distinction and a part of the National Academic Squad. Gatehouse's dual excellence in athletics and academics embodies the spirit of determination, leadership and scholarly achievement, making her a true role model for student-athletes everywhere.

Kutztown University men's tennis was announced as a 2024 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team for the third year in-a-row and nine student-athletes collected ITA Scholar-Athlete honors. The nine Golden Bears include Sebastian Arizpe, Gonzalo Barcelo, Lucas Cherniak, Neal Devkaren, Justin Gincauskas, Ethan Moyer, Dang Nguyen, Emmitt Robinson and Henrique Rocha. Student-athletes must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year to be considered for the ITA Scholar-Athlete award. To be named an ITA All-Academic Team, programs must have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above. In 2024, 543 Division II Men's student-athletes were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, and 78 men's tennis programs were awarded the All-Academic Team distinction.

Graduate student pole vaulter Joe Jardine of the Kutztown University men's track and field team added onto his collection of postseason accolades Wednesday, July 10, as he was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Third Team. This spring, Jardine competed in his first NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, earning All-America status with a 12th-place finish in the pole vault. He was a PSAC outdoor champion in both the pole vault and long jump, while being tabbed the Most Outstanding Field Athlete at PSACs. He ranks third in program history in the outdoor pole vault (16-10.75) and is fourth in the long jump (24-1.5). In the classroom, Jardine held a 3.89 GPA in grad school, studying data analytics and also earned a 3.75 GPA as an undergrad at the University of Kentucky. In order to be named to the Academic All-America team, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing, must own a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50, must rank in the top 50 regionally in at least one event and should be at least an All-Region caliber performer. The Academic All-America team is nominated for and voted on by the nation's athletic communication professionals.

The Kutztown University athletic department's banner year in the athletic realm continued into the classroom as KU recorded 243 student-athletes on the 2023-24 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's scholar-athlete list. It is the most Golden Bears represented in the last three years when a school-record 252 student-athletes were honored. This year also marks the fifth year in a row that the Golden Bears have eclipsed the 200 honoree mark. Kutztown is tied for the eighth-most student-athletes on the list. In order to be eligible for PSAC Scholar-Athlete honors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. The conference instituted a new policy last year, honoring athletes meeting the academic requirement in only PSAC sponsored sports. This change directly affected Kutztown's acrobatics & tumbling and women's bowling teams, which do not compete under the PSAC banner. Acrobatics & Tumbling is part of the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) and does not have a conference affiliation, while women's bowling is an associate member of the East Coast Conference (ECC). Bowlers are eligible to be named to the ECC Commissioner's Honor Roll, which is usually released in late July. The 2023-24 PSAC Scholar-Athlete total of 4,037 (52% of the entire PSAC student-athlete population) marks the ninth consecutive year the PSAC has awarded at least 40% of its student-athlete population with "Scholar-Athlete" status. The total number of PSAC Scholar-Athletes increased by 199 from 2022-23's total of 3,838.

Kutztown University wrestling had six representatives on the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II Scholar All-American list. Andreo Ferraina, Bailey Gimbor, Dalton Gimbor, Hunter Horton, Wayne McIntyre and Alex Ward all earned Scholar All-America status. It is the second recognition for Ferraina, Horton, Ward and D. Gimbor and the first for B. Gimbor and McIntyre. A total of 363 individuals from 61 institutions were honored as Scholar All-American. This marks the most institutions and individuals honored in the history of the award. In order for a student-athlete to be nominated to the Division II Scholar All-American Team, he must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with that benchmark at 3.25 for those who qualified for the 2024 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships and a 3.0 for those who were All-Americans at the 2024 Nationals. Wrestlers must have competed in four dates of competition.

Jake Skrocki, Trevor Leverington and Dominic Proietto of the Kutztown University baseball team all earned spots on the 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. It is the second Academic All-District recognition for Skrocki and Proietto and the first honor for Leverington. To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50. Skrocki, a graduate student from Royersford and 2023 All-PSAC East Second Team pitcher, started 12 games on the mound for the Golden Bears this season and went 3-5 in 67.2 innings and struck out a team-best 53 batters. He posted a 3.9 undergrad GPA, earning his degree in business administration with a finance concentration and just completed his MBA this spring, finishing with a 3.83 GPA. Leverington, a graduate student pitcher from Kutztown, appeared in 12 games this season, making eight starts on the bump. He went 2-5 in 45.1 innings. He is also a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and D2 ADA Academic Achievement award winner. Leverington earned his undergraduate degree in business administration with a focus in accounting and had a 3.51 GPA. He received his MBA this spring and graduated with a 3.79 GPA. Proietto, a graduate student from Norristown, earned his undergraduate degree in sport management with a 3.99 GPA and held a 3.67 GPA in graduate school. He was an infielder and also a pitcher for the Golden Bears, hitting .261 in 138 plate appearances and started 46-of-47 games played this season, also earning a save on the mound. Proietto is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete, D2 ADA Academic Achievement award winner and member of the Dean's List. The 2024 Academic All-District Baseball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes baseball honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA. The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 Divisions II and III Academic All-America programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.

Freshmen Brooke Graham and Rhi Stutz completed a successful first season on the Kutztown University women's golf team by earning All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference status, as voted on by the head coaches and released by the conference office Wednesday, May 29. Graham was voted to the First Team, while Stutz was named Second Team. The two All-PSAC selections are the most for the Golden Bears since 2018. Graham gives the program a First Teamer for the first time since Shannon Weber in 2018. The freshman from Carlisle was a medalist at this spring's PSAC Championships at the Berkleigh Golf Club, finishing third overall with a 54-hole total of 11-over 227 (75-76-76). She is the highest finishing individual for the Maroon and Gold since Shannon Weber took second at the 2017 PSAC Championships. Graham won three Invitationals during the fall and spring seasons and had three other top-three finishes out of the 10 tournaments. She was a two-time PSAC Golf Athlete of the Week. Stutz, a freshman from Prescott, Wisc., joined Graham in helping to lead KU all season, specifically at PSACs, where the team placed fourth overall. She finished in the top-10 in the field at PSAC Championships. Stutz shot a 5-over par 77 to collect her first collegiate tournament victory at the ESU Spring Invitational, earning that week's PSAC Golf Athlete of the Week.

Kutztown University acrobatics and tumbling reached new heights as a program-record 12 student-athletes were named to the 2024 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association Academic Honor Roll. Elaina Blackstock (Brookhaven, Pa./Sun Valley), Shayla Anderson-Buchanan (Philadelphia, Pa./New Hope Christian Academy), Allison Fernandez (Westfield, N.J./Westfield), Evyn Heberlig (Newburg, Pa./Shippensburg), Cecilia Marshall (Bellingham, Mass./Home Schooled), Jordyn Osner (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown), Ashley Ryan (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus), Destiny Satterlee (Shenandoah Junction, W.Va./Jefferson), Paige Saxey (Clearfield, Utah/Clearfield), Zoe Tuttle (Ocean View, Del./Indian River), Maddie Welsh (York, Pa./Central York) and RoseMary Werkheiser (Easton, Pa./Easton) all earned a spot on the list. The NCATA Academic Honor Roll includes all active Acrobatics and Tumbling student-athletes with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or higher. Kutztown finished with a 6-3 overall record, a program best for wins in a season. The Golden Bears' 5-element heat qualified for an at-large berth to the NCATA National Championships, the first time ever for KU. They finished fourth overall.

Cyrose Conteh and Sam Graf capped off their 2024 seasons in style, getting the nod as Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Second Team All-Americans, announced by the organization Wednesday, May 22. This gives head coach Kristen Nicholson and the Golden Bears back-to-back seasons with multiple All-Americans for the first time in program history. It is just the second time that Kutztown has had consecutive All-Americans since the 1983 and 1984 seasons. The duo is two of just five Golden Bears that achieved All-America status during their careers in Maroon and Gold, joining teammate Emma Meakim, who, along with Graf, were Third Team All-Americans last season. Robin Spector was Honorable Mention for USA Lacrosse All-America status. Conteh, a graduate student defender, was also a First Team IWLCA All-Atlantic Region, USA Lacrosse First Team All-American and First Team All-PSAC performer. She started and played in 20 games this season. She is eighth in the conference with 37 caused turnovers, a career-best, and also has won 67 draw controls and collected 40 ground balls. Conteh has found the back of the net once this season. She is third all-time at KU with 200 draw control wins and is fourth with 88 caused turnovers. Graf, a junior midfielder, was also a First Team IWLCA All-Atlantic Region, USA Lacrosse First Team All-American and First Team All-PSAC performer. She started all 21 games. She ranked third in the conference with 81 goals scored and has also added 21 assists for 102 points, fourth in the PSAC. Graf has tallied 233 career points, tied for most in program history. She also is second at KU in career goals with 175. Graf has also contributed 43 ground balls, won 92 draw controls and caused a career-high 39 turnovers. Kutztown finished the 2024 season 15-6 overall and 9-3 in the PSAC, setting a program record for wins in a season. KU played in the PSAC championship game, finishing runner-up, and also qualified for its second straight NCAA Division II Tournament.

The Kutztown University men's and women's track and field teams combined to earn seven All-Region honors when the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the 2024 Division II All-Region teams. In order to earn All-Region honors, student-athletes must record one of the top five performances in the region in an individual event or be a member of one of the three fastest relay teams in the region. The men's team was led by Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), who brought home two different All-Region awards in the pole vault and long jump. Kevin Givone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly) also received recognition in the javelin and hammer throw, respectively. On the women's side, Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin) earned All-Region in the triple jump, Myah Davies (New Market, Md./Linganore) received All-Region in the pole vault and Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) was tabbed All-Region in the 3000m steeplechase. Kutztown still has two representatives competing this spring in Givone and Jardine as the duo will be participating at the NCAA National Championships from May 23-25 at Emporia State University in Kansas. The javelin (Givone) and pole vault (Jardine) will be taking place on Saturday, May 25.

Bieke Roovers had a breakout campaign in her first collegiate season for Kutztown women's tennis as she earned the 2023-24 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division Freshman of the Year award. She joined Gonzalo Barcelo of the men's side on the All-PSAC East Singles First Team, as voted on by the conference's head coaches and announced Friday, May 17. Roovers gives the Golden Bears the program's first PSAC Freshman of the Year in 14 years after Ridhima Borooah last was recognized in 2010. It is also the first All-PSAC honor for the senior Barcelo, who gives the men's side their first First Teamer since 2017. Roovers finished the year 8-8 overall in singles, primarily in the No. 2 position in the lineup. She was 4-3 in PSAC matches and also went 7-9 in doubles, combining the No. 1 and No. 2 slots in the lineup. Barcelo had a career-best season for Kutztown. He finished 7-7 overall as the No. 1 spot in singles. Barcelo also recorded four victories in the No. 1 doubles tandem with Joaquin Perez.

Kutztown University women's lacrosse has been setting records both as a team and individually during the 2024 season and another one has come to fold. KU had a program record six representatives on the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Atlantic Region teams, the organization announced Wednesday, May 15. Defenders Cyrose Conteh and Summer Davis, midfielder Sam Graf and attackers Lailah ElBouazzaoui and Emma Meakim were voted to the First Team. Shannon Lake, also on attack, appeared on the Second Team. It is the first IWLCA honor for Davis and the second for the other five Golden Bears. Last season, the Golden Bears and head coach Kristen Nicholson had five representatives earn All-Region status, the first selections for All-Region since 1984. These student-athletes are now eligible to be named to a national IWLCA All-America team. The IWLCA will announce the Division II 2024 All-American teams Wednesday, May 22. Lake, a senior, has started all 18 games at attack this season and is third on KU with 47 goals, tied for fifth with 11 assists and fourth with 58 points. She also has collected a career-best 20 ground balls, caused seven turnovers and won five draw controls. Lake went over the 100-career goal mark this season and has accumulated 117 to date, tied for seventh in KU lore. She is also seventh in program history with 146 points. The senior Meakim has started all 20 games at attack and is first in the PSAC with 46 assists. She is the program record holder in career assists with 127 to date and ranks third in points at 210. Meakim has scored 21 goals this season, recorded 27 ground balls, caused seven turnovers and won six draw controls. Graf, a junior midfielder, has started all 20 games. She ranks third in the conference with 80 goals scored and has also added 20 assists for 100 points, fourth in the PSAC. Graf has tallied 231 career points, second most in program history. She also is second at KU in career goals with 174. Graf has also contributed 42 ground balls, won 90 draw controls and caused a career-high 38 turnovers. Conteh, a graduate student defender, has started and played in 19 games this season. She is eighth in the conference with 36 caused turnovers, a career-best, and also has won 65 draw controls and collected 37 ground balls. Conteh has found the back of the net once this season. She is third all-time at KU with 198 draw control wins and is fourth with 87 caused turnovers. ElBouazzaoui, junior attack, has started all 20 games this season and ranks second on KU with 50 goals and has 17 assists for 67 points, second on the team. She has contributed 27 ground balls, caused 12 turnovers and won 25 draw controls. Her 145 career goals ranks third all-time at KU and her 172 points ranks fourth. Davis is a sophomore defender that has started in all 20 games this season. She is fifth in the PSAC with 42 caused turnovers and is fourth at KU with 39 ground balls. Davis has also won eight draw controls. Kutztown is set to take on East Stroudsburg in the Atlantic Region semifinals 3 p.m. Thursday, May 16, from Vonnie Gros Field at West Chester.

Darryl Davis-McNeil of the Kutztown University football team and Emma Meakim of KU women's lacrosse were voted Kutztown University athletics' senior athletes of the year for 2023-24. The awards were voted upon by the athletic department's coaches, administration and support staff, and presented to the recipients at the All-Sports Celebration this past Monday night, May 6. Davis-McNeil is a three-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East selection, earning First Team honors at running back in 2022 and 2023. He ranks second in program history in career rushing yards with 2,743, fourth in rushing touchdowns with 30 and fifth in rushing attempts with 517. He helped KU to PSAC East titles in 2019, 2021 and 2023, PSAC championships in 2021 and 2023 and the NCAA Super Region 1 title in 2023. In addition to his postseason accolades and career rushing numbers, Davis-McNeil produced a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2022 and was the 2023 PSAC Championship Game Most Valuable Player after rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-7 win over nationally ranked Slippery Rock. He now gives the Golden Bear football program back-to-back winners as former teammate, Jerome Kapp, won the award last year. Meakim earned All-PSAC East First Team, IWLCA All-Atlantic Region First Team and IWLCA All-America Third Team honors in 2023 while leading the Golden Bears to their first-ever PSAC and NCAA Tournament appearances. She's expected to receive conference, regional and national accolades again this spring. Emma shattered the program's career assists record, which was 57, with 124 and counting. She ranks second in program history with 204 points, including 80 goals. Meakim's elite playmaking abilities have the Golden Bear women's lacrosse team nationally ranked and playing for a PSAC title and likely the NCAA Tournaments for the second straight season. She is the program's single-game, season and career assists leader.

Kutztown University women's lacrosse has been setting records both as a team and individually during the 2024 season and another one has come to fold. KU had four student-athletes named to 2024 USA Lacrosse All-America teams. Sam Graf was named First Team, Cyrose Conteh was Third Team while Emma Meakim and Robin Spector were Honorable Mention. The senior Meakim has started all 20 games at attack and is first in the PSAC with 46 assists. She is the program record holder in career assists with 127 to date and ranks third in points at 210. Meakim has scored 21 goals this season, recorded 27 ground balls, caused seven turnovers and won six draw controls. Graf, a junior midfielder, has started all 20 games. She ranks third in the conference with 80 goals scored and has also added 20 assists for 100 points, fourth in the PSAC. Graf has tallied 231 career points, second most in program history. She also is second at KU in career goals with 174. Graf has also contributed 42 ground balls, won 90 draw controls and caused a career-high 38 turnovers. Conteh, a graduate student defender, has started and played in 19 games this season. She is eighth in the conference with 36 caused turnovers, a career-best, and also has won 65 draw controls and collected 37 ground balls. Conteh has found the back of the net once this season. She is third all-time at KU with 198 draw control wins and is fourth with 87 caused turnovers. Spector is a senior defender and has started all 20 games. She is tied for fifth in the conference with 50 ground balls and is fourth at KU with 34 caused turnovers. Spector ranks in the top-10 in program history in career ground balls (133) and caused turnovers (68). Kutztown is set to take on East Stroudsburg in the Atlantic Region semifinals 3 p.m. Thursday, May 16, from Vonnie Gros Field at West Chester.

Tyler Whary of the Kutztown University football team and Sadie Doss of KU women's volleyball were voted Kutztown University athletics' senior scholar-athletes for 2023-24. The awards were voted upon by the athletic department's coaches, administration and support staff, and presented to the recipients at the All-Sports Celebration this past Monday night, May 6. Whary graduated cum laude from KU with a degree in business administration (management) in 2022 and had a 3.57 GPA. He's currently pursuing his MBA and has a 3.22 GPA. Tyler is a four-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete, 2x D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipient and 2x CSC Academic All-District Team member. He is a three-time All-PSAC East selection and the 2023 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year. Whary played in 51 career games, compiling 246 tackles and 14 sacks. He helped Kutztown win three PSAC East titles, two PSAC championships and the 2023 Super Region 1 championship. Tyler was a D2CCA All-Super Region 1 selection and Don Hansen All-America Honorable Mention in 2023. He is the first football representative to win senior scholar athlete since 2020, when former teammate, Justin Tindull, won it. Doss graduated summa cum laude from KU in 2023 with a degree in sport management and a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is pursuing a master's degree in student affairs in higher education and also has a perfect 4.0 GPA in her graduate work. Sadie was a 3-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete, 2x D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipient and a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree. She registered 899 kills and 756 digs in three years with the Golden Bears, twice earning All-PSAC East First Team honors and landing on the D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team in 2023. Doss is the first volleyball student-athlete to earn this prestigious award since 2012-13. She is a two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection and 2023 All-Atlantic Region Second Team honoree that amassed nearly 900 kills and more than 750 digs in her three- year KU career.

A near program record seven members of the No. 12 Kutztown University women's lacrosse team received All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference recognition, voted on by the head coaches and announced Wednesday, May 8. Shannon Lake (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland), Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) all were named to the First Team, while Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), Summer Davis (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional) and Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) were on the Second Team. It is the third All-PSAC honor for Conteh, Graf and ElBouazzaoui and the second for Meakim, Lake and Spector. The seven selections are the second most in program history and the most since the program was brought back in 2007. The 1982 team had eight all-conference selections. Lake, a senior, has started all 18 games at attack this season and is second on KU with 47 goals, fifth with 11 assists and fourth with 58 points. She also has collected a career-best 20 ground balls, caused seven turnovers and won five draw controls. Lake went over the 100-career goal mark this season and has accumulated 117 to date, tied for seventh in KU lore. She is also seventh in program history with 146 points. The senior Meakim has started all 18 games at attack and is first in the PSAC with 43 assists. She is the program record holder in career assists with 124 to date and ranks third in points at 204. Meakim has scored 18 goals this season, recorded 27 ground balls, caused six turnovers and won six draw controls. Graf, a junior midfielder, has started all 18 games. She ranks third in the conference with 70 goals scored and has also added 18 assists for 88 points, fourth in the PSAC. Graf has tallied 219 career points, second most in program history. She also is second at KU in career goals with 164. Graf has also contributed 38 ground balls, won 81 draw controls and caused a career-high 35 turnovers. Conteh, a graduate student defender, has started and played in 17 games this season. She is tied for eighth in the conference with 33 caused turnovers, a career-best, and also had won 50 draw controls and collected 35 ground balls. Conteh has found the back of the net once this season. She is third all-time at KU with 183 draw control wins and is fourth with 84 caused turnovers. ElBouazzaoui, junior attack, has started all 18 games this season and ranks third on KU with 45 goals and has 16 assists for 61 points, tied for second. She has contributed 26 ground balls, caused 12 turnovers and won 24 draw controls. Her 140 career goals ranks third all-time at KU and her 166 points ranks fourth. Davis is a sophomore defender that has started in all 18 games this season. She is tied for sixth in the PSAC with 35 caused turnovers and is fifth at KU with 33 ground balls. Davis has also won eight draw controls. Spector is a senior defender and has started all 18 games this season. She ranks fifth in the conference with 48 ground balls and is fourth at KU with 31 caused turnovers. Spector ranks in the top-10 in program history in career ground balls (131) and caused turnovers (65). Kutztown (14-4 overall), the second seed from the East Division, advanced to the semifinal round after a 10-8 victory over No. 11 East Stroudsburg, the three seed, in Tuesday's quarterfinal. KU will take on the top seed from the West, Seton Hill, in the semis in Greensburg on the campus of the Griffins, this Friday, May 10, at 1 p.m.

For the first time in his college career, junior third baseman Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) of the Kutztown University baseball team was named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Second Team, as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon. The Indian Trail, N.C. native impressed at the plate in 2024, posting career-highs in almost every statistical category. Kerley led the Golden Bears in hits (55), RBI (38), home runs (7), slugging percentage (.480), and total bases (82). He sits around the top ten in the PSAC in hits, home runs, RBI, and total bases. The junior was a staple at third base for head coach Eric Folmar throughout the season, making impressive plays at the hot corner consistently. Kerley had 15 multi-hit games in 2024, including a team-high five games with three hits. He led KU with the longest hitting streak of 14 games and reached a base streak of 16 games. Kerley also led the Golden Bears with nine multi-RBI games, including four games with three RBI. Kerley is set to return for his senior season in 2025 and will be a leader for a youthful Golden Bears squad that will need to replace a large chunk of their lineup.

Naya Darnowski, Emily Henn and Brianna Stocklin of the Kutztown University softball team earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division postseason honors, being tabbed to the Second Team, as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced Tuesday, April 30. It is the second All-PSAC recognition for Stocklin and the first for Darnowski and Henn. Darnowski, a junior first baseman from Manchester, N.J., has stepped up this season and is having a career-best year so far. She has started 50-of-51 games played this season thus far and is hitting .317 in 142 at-bats. Darnowski has 45 hits, including a career-high four home runs, and also has 24 RBIs and scored 32 runs. Henn, a freshman left fielder from Matamoras, has hit the ground running in her first collegiate season. She ranks in the top-10 in the PSAC in several statistical categories, including hits (7th, 65), RBIs (8th, 44), triples (2nd, 5) and stolen bases (10th, 19). Henn has started all 51 games and is hitting a team-best .376 in 173 at-bats. She has scored 40 runs and has nine doubles and a team-high eight HRs. Stocklin, a junior returning All-PSAC East Second Team selection in the outfield from last season, has been the leadoff once again for the Golden Bears and the catalyst to runs being scored. If she gets on base, more than likely good things happen. Her 46 runs scored ranks seventh in the conference. Stocklin has started all 51 games and is hitting .356 with 58 hits in 163 at-bats. She has 11 doubles, 17 RBIs and a .432 on-base percentage. Stocklin has 65 career stolen bases, which is sixth-best in program history. Kutztown, the East Division's two seed, opens play in the PSAC Tournament this week with its first game against the third seed out of the West Division, California (Pa.), 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, from Veterans Park in Quakertown.

This week, the National Tenpin Coaches Association announced All-Region teams for the 2023-24 bowling season and Kutztown senior Chloe Sromovski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) was on the list, earning Honorable Mention. Sromovski represented the Northeast Region and was voted on by participating head coaches. She was also named to the All-East Coast Conference First Team for the second straight season. Sromovski has only gotten better as her Golden Bear career has progressed. As of the completion of the Mount Shootout, Sromovski paced Kutztown with a 19.69 Baker frame average and 19.46 traditional frame average while leading the team in frames completed in both formats. Sromovski also owned a team-best 82.8% fill percentage and 47.8% strike percentage in Baker play and an 81.6% fill percentage and 45.5% strike percentage in traditional play. Sromovski has bowled three of the top 10 traditional games in program history this season, including a career-high 280 (third best all-time at KU) against Lincoln Memorial at the Mount Shootout, Feb. 10. Sromovski is just the third player in program history to earn all-conference first team accolades in consecutive years joining hall of famer Kayla Jones (2009, 2011 and 2012) and Jenn Fitts (2016 and 2017).

National qualifiers Bailey Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg), Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) and Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) of No. 18 Kutztown wrestling added onto their postseason accolades as the trio earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors, as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Bailey and Weinberg were named to the First Team, while Dalton was on the Second Team. It is the second All-PSAC recognition for both Dalton and Weinberg and the first time receiving All-Conference for Bailey. Bailey achieved All-America status at nationals in Park City, Kan., just about two weeks ago, recording an eighth-place finish in the 157-pound weight class. He finished the 2023-24 season, his second in Maroon and Gold, with a 22-6 overall record. It was his first trip to nationals after finishing in third at the SR1 Championships inside Keystone Arena earlier this month. Weinberg came within one win of a national championship, finishing runner-up at 184 pounds at nationals, his highest finish to date. He is just the seventh Golden Bear to wrestle in a national championship match all-time. Weinberg is a two-time All-American and went 27-4 this season with his second Super Region 1 title. Dalton, who earned Third Team status last season, made his second straight trip to nationals, winning a match before dropping his next two. He finished this season with a career-high 28 wins (28-8), eight pins, seven technical falls and a regional runner-up finish.

Leila Hurley (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe), Shannon Remolde (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy), Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) and Zara Zerman (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) were named to the 2023-24 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, an award that recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the court and in the classroom. To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50, and compete in 90 percent of the institution's games or must start in at least 66 percent of contests. Hurley, Remolde and Zerman are multi-year members, while this is the first honor for Smelas. Hurley, a sophomore elementary education major, holds a 3.82 grade point average. The guard played in all 30 games and averaged 7.3 points per game, shooting 36.7% from long distance. Remolde is a junior business administration major with a focus in accounting. She has a 3.98 GPA. Remolde played in all 30 games, making 21 starts. She finished second on the team with 40 steals and also had 42 assists, primarily guarding the opposing team's best offensive player. Smelas, a sophomore business administration (accounting) major, boasts a 3.65 GPA. She appeared in all 30 games this season and started in 23 of them. Smelas averaged 8.4 ppg, a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game and led KU with 49 steals. She also was second with 26 blocks and 53 assists. Zerman is a senior sport management major that holds a 3.96 GPA. She started in all 29 games she played in this season. Zerman averaged 9.2 ppg and 3.0 rpg in 27.4 minutes per game. Zerman led the team with 69 assists and added 33 steals. Academic All-District honorees are considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in early April. The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 Divisions II and III Academic All-America programs.

Kutztown University will have 28 student-athletes representing its women's lacrosse program for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview. Kutztown women's lacrosse had a season for the record books in 2023. KU had one of, if not its best season in program history last year and looks to accomplish more in 2024. In one of the biggest single season turnarounds in program history, the Golden Bears had a record-tying 13 wins (finished 13-6), their first-ever IWLCA national ranking and first-ever NCAA Division II Championship tournament appearance. Kutztown also clinched its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship berth in the conference tournament era, finishing 9-3 in the PSAC and defeating No. 15 East Stroudsburg 12-9 in the quarterfinal round. It was the second victory in-a-row over the Warriors, as they also won the regular season finale, 16-14, on Apr. 29, for the program's first win over a nationally ranked opponent since the lacrosse program returned to varsity status in 2008. The Maroon and Gold ended 2023 18th nationally in the poll. Its nine-win improvement over 2022 was tied for the biggest increase in wins in program history. Kutztown enters this season ranked 19th in the country and was picked third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division, behind West Chester and East Stroudsburg at one and two, respectively.

Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly), Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), Taniyah Lawler (Chester, Pa./Chester), Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), and Taylor Funk (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) of the Kutztown University track and field program earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Indoor Track & Field All-Atlantic Region honors, as announced by the organization Tuesday afternoon. To earn All-Region honors, an athlete must either be top five in their event in the region or be a member of one of the region's top-three relay teams. On the men's side, Jardine has been far and away the best and most consistent pole vaulter in the region during the indoor season. The Mohrsville native won the PSAC title with a jump of 5.06m (16'7.25"), which is the best in the Atlantic region, the second-best in KU history, and the 12th-best mark in the country this season. Jardine will have the chance to battle for a national championship this Saturday, March 9 as he competes in the NCAA DII Indoor Championships at the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kan. Solonoski capped off his spectacular indoor campaign with a third-place finish and a personal best of 17.41m (57'1.5") in the weight throw at the PSAC Indoor Championships. It was the first conference medal for the junior from Weatherly, Pa. as his mark was the fourth-best in the Atlantic region this season. On the women's side, the 4x400m relay squad of Young, Lawler, Schearer, and Bonner earned an All-Region nod after becoming the third 4x400 team in KU history to win the PSAC title with a time of 3:54.70. That foursome broke the school record in the event at the Fasttrack National Invitational on Feb. 9 with a time of 3:54.05. When adjusted for track size, their PSAC title-winning race was the second-best mark in the region. Funk competed in four meets for the Golden Bears in the pole vault this past season. The freshman cleared the bar at 3.60m (11'9.75") at the Bison Opener on Dec. 2, which stood as the joint fifth-best mark in the region throughout the season. That jump is also tied for the sixth-best mark in KU history. Outside of Jardine this weekend, the Golden Bears as a team are back in action on March 22-23 to kick off the outdoor season at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational in Lynchburg, Va.