Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Kutztown University Field Hockey team had 17 of its members receive recognition on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II National Academic Squad, announced Wednesday, Feb. 14. The program honors student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher through the first semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. 383 student-athletes from 34 Division II institutions have been named to the 2023 NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad. The NFHCA will announce the Scholars of Distinction on Monday, Feb. 19, and the National Academic Team awards on Wednesday, Feb. 21, and the National Scholar-Athlete on Monday, Feb. 26. A list of KU's award winners can be found below: National Academic Squad (17) *Four-year member *Shannon Barrett (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas) Shae Bennett (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) Paige Bucher (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) *Jillian Buchman (Drums, Pa./Hazleton) Megan Doyle (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) *Alyssa Eager (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) *Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) Alexis Hanlin (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) *Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) Hannah McConnell (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) Greenleigh McGehee (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) *Lulu O'Neill (Collingswood, N.J./Collingswood) *Andie Sierer (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) Jordan Stroup (Millerstown, Pa./Greenwood) Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) Ella Weidenhammer (Newport, Pa./Newport) *Abby Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa./Northampton)

Kutztown University will have 23 student-athletes representing its women's acrobatics and tumbling program for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview. Kutztown University acrobatics & tumbling made substantial strides as a second-year program in 2023, finishing with its first winning record and first victory over a nationally ranked opponent. The Golden Bears will try to carry that momentum forward into a new season and elevate their goals for 2024. The 2024 schedule pits KU against a nice mix of familiar and new opponents. The Golden Bears open at home with a tri-meet against fourth-ranked Gannon and East Stroudsburg, Saturday, Feb. 10, at Keystone Arena.

Kutztown University will have 30 student-athletes representing its baseball program for the 2024 season. Read the season preview online. The Kutztown University baseball team came in ranked No. 5 in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the conference office Thursday afternoon, Jan. 25. It's the highest preseason ranking for the Golden Bears since the 2015 season, where they were also ranked fifth. KU entered last season ranked seventh in the division before head coach Eric Folmar led a 15-win turnaround, winning 26 games, the most since the 2014 season. The Golden Bears finished tied for fourth in the PSAC East, but just missed out on the conference tournament for the first time since 2014 due to a tie breaker. Having only graduated three players, the Golden Bears return the majority of their roster. The Golden Bears kick off the 2024 season Saturday, Feb. 17 with a doubleheader against Mount Olive in North Carolina. The first game is set to start at noon.

Kutztown University football placed four players on the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams, the organization recently announced. Trey Bernstein (York, Pa./William Penn), Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), Nick Lovenguth (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) and Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) were the Golden Bears' representatives. The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The program recognizes honorees in four divisions --NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. In order to be nominated for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically and have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average. Graduate students must have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA as an undergraduate and grad student unless they are in their first semester of grad school. Athletically, student-athletes must have competed in 90% of their institution's games or started at least 66% of their team's games. Academic All-District honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot based on academic and athletic merit by an organization-appointed committee. Whary, the 2023 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, advanced to the Academic All-America ballot from Kutztown. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced Jan. 23, 2024. Whary led the Golden Bears with a career-high 89 tackles (46 solo), while compiling 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. The Hereford, Pa., native graduate posted a 3.57 GPA as an undergrade, earning his degree in business administration. He is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration. Bernstein, from York, Pa., started all 15 games at center for the PSAC and Super Region 1 champions. A senior criminal justice major, Bernstein held a 3.73 GPA at the time of his nomination. He helped pave the way for KU's potent rushing attack, which ranked fourth in the PSAC at 157.9 yards per game. DeVose appeared in all 15 games at linebacker, starting a pair. The senior out of Lansdale, Pa., registered a career-high 58 tackles (33 solo) along with an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. DeVose is a psychology major with a 3.79 GPA. Lovenguth, a junior from Downingtown, Pa., is a key member of Kutztown's special teams unit and a tight end. The biology (pre-medicine) major, who has a 3.53 GPA, served as the Golden Bears' long snapper and was a short-yardage red zone threat. Lovenguth recorded five catches for 32 yards and three touchdowns on offense. He also collected four tackles in his special teams role.

Kutztown University women's soccer junior defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) was named a Third Team Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators (CSC), as announced by the organization Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 20. Curtis becomes the third Academic All-American in program history, joining Katie Oliveri (2013) and Maria Borland (2011). To be nominated for the award, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.50 GPA and meet high athletic standards. A select group of student-athletes advance to the national ballot from the All-District teams, which CSC members then vote on. In the classroom, Curtis is studying Biology & Chemistry and currently has a 3.80 GPA. She is one of four PSAC student-athletes to earn this award along with Rebecca Kotula (East Stroudsburg), Karah Van Horn (Mercyhurst), and Ella Fadale (Gannon). On the field, Curtis was named the 2023 PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year. The Warrington native started in all 22 games this season, leading the team to 12 shutouts, which is tied for the third-most in a season in KU history. She also chipped in a career-high five goals, including three game-winners. The Central Bucks South product has already won a plethora of awards this season, most notably a First Team All-America nod from United Soccer Coaches. Throughout her career in the Maroon & Gold, Curtis is a three-time All-PSAC East first-teamer, a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region first teamer, a two-time D2CCA All-Atlantic Region first teamer, and a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree. Curtis will return for her senior year in 2024 with the chance to become one of the most decorated Golden Bears in program history.

Kutztown University will have 24 student-athletes representing its softball program for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview. With the dawn of a new season here, preseason expectations are at an all-time high for every team. On Wednesday afternoon, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced the East and West Division softball preseason polls, as voted on by the head coaches; Kutztown was voted fourth in the East. The Golden Bears finished last season 30-26 overall and 22-10 in the conference. It was the fourth-straight season they won at least 30 games, not including the shortened 2020 COVID season. They went 1-2 at the PSAC Tournament at Veterans Park the first week of May and qualified for the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament for the third-straight season, where they defeated No. 19 and host Charleston in the opener before dropping the next two to Shippensburg and the Golden Eagles to end the year. In 2024, Kutztown is set to return seven of its 10 starters that were in the lineup at PSACs and NCAAs. The regular season begins for Kutztown at the UNC Pembroke Invitational for a three-day event running Feb. 2-4. KU takes on Felician in the season opener that Friday at 10 a.m. and then will play the host Braves following that game at 12:30 p.m. The Golden Bears will then face off against West Virginia State on Saturday at 10 a.m. before squaring off against the Golden Falcons again on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Andrew Diehl (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) of the Kutztown University men's cross country team has been named the 2023 PSAC Freshman of the Year, as announced by the conference office Thursday afternoon, Dec. 14. Diehl was spectacular in his first season in the Maroon & Gold and becomes only the second runner in program history to earn this award, joining two-time national qualifier and four-time All-PSAC finisher Steve Maine (2014). The Carlisle native paced the Golden Bears in four out of six meets this season and was the highest freshman finisher at the PSAC Championship at Bloomsburg in October, coming across the line in 16th for an All-PSAC Second Team finish. His performance at PSACs lifted KU to a sixth-place team finish, the highest for the program since 2019. Diehl opened his collegiate career with a first-place finish at the Panthers XC Invite. He then racked up three more top-20 finishes and an impressive 24th-place finish at the Lehigh Paul Short Run in September. Shippensburg's Garrett Quinan was named the PSAC Athlete of the Year along with his coach Steve Spence, who was named the PSAC Coach of the Year.

Junior Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick) and senior Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) of the national champion, Kutztown Field Hockey team, capped the best seasons of their careers with one of the top honors in the sport. This week, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) recognized the duo as First Team All-Americans. It is the second straight season that Gatehouse has earned All-America First Team honors and it is the first All-America accolade for Donato. Earlier this season, Gatehouse was voted the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Defensive Athlete of the Year, along with being named to the All-PSAC First Team for the second straight season. The Sinking Spring native was the backbone of a KU defense that finished first in the conference and 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 and NCAA Elite 90 awards. Donato, who also received PSAC First-Team honors earlier this season, ranked second in the PSAC and tied for third nationally in assists with 11. She was also fifth on the team in points with 17 and started all 22 games as an attacking midfielder, facilitating the offense all season. Kutztown concluded its best season in program history in 2023, finishing 19-3 overall and 7-2 in the PSAC, winning the program and university's first NCAA team championship, knocking off defending champion East Stroudsburg 2-1 in the championship game on Nov. 19, 2023. KU's 19 wins is a new program record and it also set a new record for shutouts in a season with 14.

Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) and Cat Farole (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) of the Kutztown University women's volleyball team were honored Tuesday, Dec. 12 as a part of the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division II Academic All-District honorees, an award that recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom. In order to be eligible for this honor, student athletes must have been a starter or key reserve on their respective teams throughout the 2023 season, must have participated in at least 50 percent of their team's games and must have at least a 3.50 GPA. It is the second Academic All-District recognition for Doss and first for Farole. Doss, who earned All-PSAC First Team and D2 CCA All-Region Second Team honors this season, started in all 27 matches and finished the 2023 campaign with 450 kills, which is fourth-most in a single season in program history. She ended her career with 899 kills, eight shy of top-10 in program history for kills in a career. Doss also had 254 digs, 17 assists, 12 service aces and a career-high 25 blocks this season. Farole started all 27 matches and appeared in 105 sets as a senior setter. She had a career-best year, finishing with 803 assists, 215 digs, 28 service aces and 13 kills. The duo is now among those eligible for consideration for the Academic All-America Team that will be announced Jan. 9.

After a historic 2023 season for Kutztown women's soccer, junior defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) and freshman midfielder Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) were named All-Americans by United Soccer Coaches, as announced by the organization Thursday. Curtis was named to the first team, while Economopoulos was named to the second team. The duo becomes the ninth and tenth Golden Bears in program history to earn All-American status during their career in the Maroon & Gold. It's the fourth time that two Golden Bears have earned All-American in the same year, with the other times coming in 2016 (Alaina Curry, Maddie Mohr), 2017 (Maddie Mohr, Emily Zwiercan), and 2018 (Maddie Mohr, Jenna Bracken). Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) becomes only the second defender in KU history to be named an All-American, joining Chelsea Deeter after the 2010 season. She is the first defender in program history to be named to an All-America first team and joins Maddie Mohr (2017, 2018) and Kayla Argen (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) (2021) as the only first-team selections in program history. It's a well-deserved honor for the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, who blossomed into one of the best center backs in the nation over the course of the 2023 season. Curtis started in all 22 games this season, leading the team to 12 shutouts, which is tied for the third-most in a season in KU history. The Central Bucks South product was a steady presence at the back and a weapon on set pieces, netting five goals, three of which were game-winners. As she enters her senior year in 2024, Curtis has made 60 career appearances, 59 starts, in the Maroon & Gold. She is a three-time All-PSAC East first teamer, a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region first teamer, a two-time D2CCA All-Atlantic Region first teamer, and a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree. Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) joins Maddie Mohr in 2016 as the only freshman in program history to be named an All-American. She is one of two freshman to be named an All-American this season along with Gannon's Brooklyn Respecki. The Grantville native burst onto the scene in 2023, making 20 appearances while starting 18 games. She notched her first collegiate assist in a win over Lock Haven on Sept. 9 and followed it up with a spectacular two goal and one assist performance in a 3-0 win over No. 12 West Chester. Economopoulos ended the season second on KU in goals (8), assists (5), and points (21). It's the most points for a KU freshman since Mohr's All-American campaign in 2016. Economopoulos was also named the PSAC East Freshman of the Year, along with nods to the United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region teams.

The awards continue to rack up for the Kutztown University women's soccer team, as Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South), Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin), Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley), Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee), and Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Team, as announced by the organization Tuesday. Curtis and Economopoulos were named to the first team, while Wentz, Endres, and McDonald were named to the second team. The five Golden Bears named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Team are tied for the most in a season in program history (2018). The three second-team selections are the most in program history. This award comes after the Golden Bears had four named to the D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Team and the coaching staff of Erik Burstein, Maddy Reed, and Rob Miller were named the Atlantic Region Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches. The PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) and the PSAC East Freshman of the Year Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) were named to the first team. It's the second time Curtis has been named to the All-Region team by United Soccer Coaches, with her first nod coming after her freshman season in 2021. Curtis was also named to the CSC Academic All-District Team and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Team this year. It's Economopoulos' first nod of her career after already earning a D2CCA All-Region nod. The Grantville native finished second on KU in goals (8), assists (5), and points (21). It's the first time Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley), Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee), and Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) have been named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Team. Wentz started all 22 games at fullback this past season, helping form one of the most formidable defensive units in the region. The Conestoga Valley product also added an assist in a win over Concord on Sept. 2. Endres led the Golden Bears with 10 goals on the season, while McDonald led KU with 10 assists. McDonald and Endres were already named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, with Endres also being named to the D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Team. The Golden Bears ended the season 15-2-5 (12-0-4 PSAC East) and went unbeaten in the regular season for the first time in program history. KU won its first PSAC Tournament game since 2017 and won an NCAA Tournament game for the second straight year.

The Kutztown University football team won its first-ever NCAA Division II Super Region One championship Saturday, Dec. 2, with a 28-16 victory at Slippery Rock. The victory sends the Golden Bears (12-2) into the national semifinals 3:30 p.m. EST, Saturday, Dec. 9, against No. 1 Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. The semifinal games will be carried on ESPN+. Kutztown also set a new school record for wins in a season and extended its school record for consecutive wins (12) by knocking off The Rock for the fourth time in a row and seventh time in their last 10 meetings dating back to the 2011 PSAC Championship game. KU won the 2023 Pennsylvania State Athletic Championship (PSAC) Championship Nov. 11, 31-7 at home vs. Slippery Rock, its third in program history. Media interested in speaking with members of the KU football team ahead of Saturday's game should contact Bryan Salvadore, director of communications, at salvadore@kutztown.edu.

A quartet from the national champion Kutztown Field Hockey team continued to rack up postseason recognition as Alyssa Eager (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) and Greenleigh McGehee (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) were named to the 2023 NCAA Division II Championship All-Tournament Team. McGehee scored arguably the biggest goal in program history, as her redirected shot found the back of the cage to break a 1-1 tie with just 8:33 left to play in the national championship game victory over defending champion, East Stroudsburg, back on Nov. 19. The junior midfielder finished with three goals and three assists and started all 22 games this season. In the two national semifinal and final, combined, Kepler made 12 saves and allowed just two goals, seeing 14 shots on goal. The senior goalie, along with Eager and Gatehouse in front of her, helped break the previous program record with 14 shutouts this season. Kutztown set a new program record for wins in a season with 19 in 2023. It is the first All-Tournament honor for all four Golden Bears.

Three student-athletes from the PSAC champion Kutztown University football team were named to the Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Super Region 1 Teams, Thursday. Linebacker Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen), the 2023 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, and punter Nate Millard (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) were First Team picks, while guard Adam Kase (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) secured a spot on the Second Team offense. For all three players, the all-region selection is the first of their respective careers. Whary leads the team in total tackles (78), quarterback hurries (eight) and is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (8.5). The Hereford, Pa., native also ranks second in solo tackles (40), pass breakups (five) and third in sacks (4.5). Whary has created matchup issues for the Golden Bears' opponents throughout the season and has pieced together back-to-back eight-tackle games in KU's NCAA DII playoff victories over No. 13 Virginia Union and No. 24 Charleston (W.Va.). After an outstanding freshman season that saw Millard average 40.2 yards per punt and land All-PSAC East Second Team honors, he's been even better in his follow up campaign. The native Berks Countian from Birdsboro continues to lead the PSAC and Super Region while ranking ninth nationally at 43.4 yards per punt. Millard has punted 51 times for 2,212 yards, placed 13 inside the opponent's 20-yard line and booted 12 50+ yards. He's also sent 31 of his 64 kickoffs for touchbacks and connected on his only field goal attempt of the year from 44 yards. Millard was an All-PSAC East First Team selection this fall. Kase, an All-PSAC East First Team offensive lineman, has started 22 games over the last two seasons, including all 13 this season. The Golden Bears rank fourth in SR1 in fewest tackles for loss allowed (4.23 per game), fifth in passing yards per completion (14.62), ninth in fewest sacks allowed (1.31 per game) 14th in rushing offense (168.0 ypg). Kutztown's three all-region selections were tied for the fourth most of any team behind only Slippery Rock (seven), Tiffin (five) and Charleston (four). The PSAC garnered the most picks of any conference with 20, while the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) had 13, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) 12 and Northeast-10 six. The Golden Bears have advanced to the national quarterfinals for the second time in three years and will try to bring home their first Super Region 1 title in program history when they face No. 15 Slippery Rock on the road Saturday, Dec. 2, at noon.

Kutztown University will have 72 student-athletes representing its track & field program for the 2023-24 season. Read the season preview online. The Golden Bears have two meets before the end of the fall semester, starting with the Bison Opener Saturday, Dec. 2 in Lewisburg, Pa.