Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Four members of the Kutztown University women's soccer team were named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Atlantic Region Team, as announced by the organization Tuesday afternoon. Cassandra Baker (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin), and Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) were named to the first team, while Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) earned a second-team nod. The four Golden Bears named to the D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Team are tied for the most in program history. It's the first All-Atlantic Region nod for Baker, Economopoulos, and Endres, while it's the second for Curtis. All four Golden Bears were also named to the All-PSAC East First Team earlier in the month. Economopoulos and Curtis both won major conference awards as they add another prestigious honor to their resumes after a historic season. Economopoulos ended the season with eight goals and five assists for 21 points, the second most on KU, en route to the PSAC East Freshman of the Year award. Curtis was shut down on the backline all season and was named the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year. The junior from Warrington was also named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team. Baker appeared in 19 games this season, allowing only nine goals in almost 1,700 minutes of action. The Harrisburg native's ten shutouts are the fourth most in a season in program history, while her 0.49 goals-against average is tied for the second-best in a season in program history. Endres was the lone Golden Bear on the second team after leading the Golden Bears in goals (10) and points (22). Economopoulos, Curtis, and Baker are all up for an D2CCA All-America nod, which will be announced in early December.

Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South), Skyler Jordan (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), Taylor Rapel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg), Joslyn Stoltz (Levittown, Pa./Calvary Christian Academy), and Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) of the Kutztown University women's soccer team were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, as announced by the organization Wednesday morning, Nov. 22. 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 six Golden Bears recognized matches the same number from last season. It's the second CSC Academic All-District nod for Curtis and Wentz, while it's the first for Jordan, McDonald, Rapel, and Stoltz. Wentz, Rapel, and Stoltz previously won D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award Honorees advance to the Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced on December 20 for women's soccer.

Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) and Gabriela Fialova (Ledec nad Sazavou, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) were at the forefront of the Kutztown women's volleyball offensive attack all season and the duo were rewarded for their efforts, being named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams, as voted on by the head coaches and announced by the league office, Thursday afternoon. Doss earned First-Team honors for the second straight season and Fialova was recognized on the Second Team in her first and only season with the Golden Bears. The duo accounted for 74% of the team's overall kills, tallying 875 out of the 1,190 team kills. Doss, a graduate student from Mechanicsburg, 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. Fialova, a graduate student from the Czech Republic, started in all 27 matches and ended the year with 425 kills, which ranks seventh at KU for kills in a season. She also recorded a team-high 366 digs, 31 assists, 49 service aces and 19 blocks. Kutztown finished the 2023 season with a 10-17 overall record in head coach Allison Keeley's second season at the helm and will look to get back into contention for the PSAC playoffs next season, ending two wins shy of reaching the dance this season.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion Kutztown University football team captured three major awards and placed 12 players on the 2023 All-PSAC Eastern Division teams, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon. Head coach Jim Clements was voted East Coach of the Year for third time in his career. Quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) took East Freshman of the Year honors and linebacker Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) was named East Defensive Athlete of the Year. First Team representatives from the Golden Bears included running back Darryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, Pa./Abington), wide receiver Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle), guard Adam Kase (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser), defensive lineman Nigel Wilson (Bound Brook, N.J./Bound Brook), defensive back Justin Harris (Deptford, N.J./Salem), punter Nate Millard (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) and Whary. The five Second Team players from Kutztown include Novak, guard Billy Everitt (Abington, Pa./Abington), place kicker Dawson Evitts (Auburn, Pa./Schuylkill Haven), defensive lineman Earl Volz (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) and linebacker Kam Wolfe (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin). This marks the ninth consecutive season with 10 or more all-conference selections for Kutztown. The Bears' 12 selections were second most in the East and third most in the PSAC overall behind Shepherd and Slippery Rock, which each had 13. Clements, KU's all-time winningest coach, led the Golden Bears to their third unbeaten run through the PSAC East in the last four seasons with a 7-0 mark this fall. Kutztown is riding a nine-game winning streak and can reach 10 victories in a season for the third time since 2019 and fifth time in program history with a victory over Virginia Union in the first round of the NCAA Division II Championship tournament Saturday. Now in his ninth season at KU, the three-time PSAC East Coach of the Year (2019, 2021, 2023) owns a 76-27 record (.738) and 53-11 mark (.828) against PSAC East opponents. Davis-McNeil and Whary earned their third all-conference honors after being chosen to the 2021 and 2022 teams. Kutztown will open postseason play on Saturday at noon when it hosts CIAA champion and 13th-ranked Virginia Union in a NCAA Division II First Round game at Andre Reed Stadium. 2023 KUTZTOWN ALL-PSAC EAST SELECTIONS Listed alphabetically #26 DARRYL DAVIS-MCNEIL | RUNNING BACK | FIRST TEAM OFFENSE Davis-McNeil is having another outstanding season leading the Golden Bears' backfield. The Roslyn, Pa., native has totaled 668 yards on 138 attempts and seven touchdowns in nine games. He's averaging 4.8 yards per carry and 74.2 yards per game. Davis-McNeil, who earned All-PSAC East First Team accolades in 2022, is coming off a 26-carry, 146-yard, 2 TD performance in the PSAC Championship game against Slippery Rock. During his career, Davis-McNeil has 459 carries for 2,500 yards (sixth most in team history) and 28 TDs (tied for fourth most in team history). #64 BILLY EVERITT | LEFT GUARD | SECOND TEAM OFFENSE Everitt is anchoring the left side of the offensive line, starting all 11 games at left guard. The redshirt sophomore has contributed to Kutztown's success in the run game, where the Bears rank fourth in the league at 160.5 yards per game, and pass protection (third fewest sacks allowed at 1.55 per game). The Abington, Pa., native is setting himself up to have a distinguished career with the Maroon and Gold. #99 DAWSON EVITTS | KICKER | SECOND TEAM OFFENSE Evitts, from Auburn, Pa., is having one of the best seasons by a kicker in program history. The senior has converted 11-of-15 attempts and ranks third in the PSAC in both field goals made and field goal percentage (.733). Evitts is just the third KU kicker to make 10 or more field goals in a season, joining Matt Dineen (17 in 2009, 13 in 2008) and Alec Rosenfeld (12 in 2014). Evitts has a long field goal of 38 yards this season. #5 JUSTIN HARRIS | CORNERBACK | FIRST TEAM DEFENSE All-PSAC honors have been a long time coming for Harris and he was rightfully recognized this season. The redshirt senior from Deptford, N.J., has 34 tackles, one interception and five passes defended. Harris and the defensive secondary have not been easy to solve for opposing offenses this season. Kutztown leads the PSAC in scoring defense, total defense and features the third-best passing defense (170.9 ypg). #56 ADAM KASE | RIGHT GUARD | FIRST TEAM OFFENSE Kase has been a constant up front for the Maroon and Gold, starting 20 games over the last two seasons, including all 11 games in 2023. The senior from Wernersville, Pa., is helping pave the way for KU's successful run game. The Golden Bears rank fourth in the PSAC at 160.5 rushing yards per game and have allowed the third fewest sacks in the conference at 1.55 per game. #91 NATE MILLARD | PUNTER | FIRST TEAM DEFENSE Specialists sometimes tend to fly under the radar, but make no mistake, Millard's role in Kutztown's success cannot be understated. Just a sophomore, he serves as the team's primary punter and kickoff specialist. Millard, a native of Birdsboro, Pa., leads the PSAC and ranks third in NCAA DII at 44.1 yards per punt and is the only punter in the conference with 10 or more 50+ yard punts (11). He's also placed 10 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line, which ranks eighth. #18 JUDD NOVAK | QUARTERBACK | SECOND TEAM OFFENSE (FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR) Novak stepped into the starting quarterback role in week two and has provided the Bears a dual-threat option. He's completed 121-of-230 passes for 1,721 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His rushing prowess has been a difference maker. The redshirt freshman from Manheim, Pa., ranks second on the team with 399 yards and three TDs. Most importantly, he's helped the team to a 9-1 record when behind center. #2 KURTIS RAVENEL JR. | WIDE RECEIVER | FIRST TEAM OFFENSE Ravenel Jr. has shown traits of being a top receiver in the league but earned the opportunity to put those skills on full display this season. The Carlisle, Pa., native has already shattered his previous single-season career-highs of 17 catches and 211 yards with 41 for 659 yards and four TDs. Ravenel ranks third in the PSAC East and sixth overall in the PSAC in receiving yards. His 59.9 receiving yards per game are seventh beset in the league. #50 EARL VOLZ | DEFENSIVE TACKLE | SECOND TEAM DEFENSE Volz is a critical piece of Kutztown's defensive front, helping the team rank among the PSAC and national leaders in scoring defense, total defense and run defense. A veteran of 43 career games, the Philadelphian has produced a career-high 25 tackles, while chipping in two tackles for loss and a sack. #33 TYLER WHARY | LINEBACKER | FIRST TEAM DEFENSE (DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR) After earning a spot on the All-PSAC East Second Team each of the last two seasons, Whary landed division Defensive Athlete of the Year and First Team honors in 2023. The veteran linebacker from Hereford, Pa., leads the PSAC's premier defense with 62 tackles (35 solo), 4.5 sacks, 8.0 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries. Whary also has one interception and one forced fumble to his credit. Behind his leadership, Kutztown ranks first in the PSAC and top 10 in the country in scoring defense (14.0 ppg) and total defense (254.5 ypg), while the run defense ranks second in the league and 11th nationally at 83.5 ypg. #9 NIGEL WILSON | DEFENSIVE END | FIRST TEAM DEFENSE A terror on the defensive line, Wilson is having a breakout year in 2023. He leads the Golden Bears with 8.5 tackles for loss and shares the team lead with five sacks -both career-highs. Wilson, from Bound Brook, N.J., has also set new benchmarks in total tackles (35) and solo tackles (21), helping anchor KU's PSAC-leading defense. #11 KAM WOLFE | LINEBACKER | SECOND TEAM DEFENSE Another of the veteran leaders on a vaunted Kutztown defense, Wolfe has already set new career-highs in total tackles (58), tackles for loss (6.0) and interceptions (two). The Reading, Pa., native has 31 solo tackles on the year. He shares the team lead in interceptions and fumble recoveries (one), ranks tied for second in tackles and solo tackles, third in tackles for loss and tied for fifth in sacks (two).

The Kutztown University women's soccer team racked up a plethora of conference awards Tuesday afternoon. Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) was named the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) the PSAC East Freshman of the Year, and Erik Burstein the PSAC East Coach of the Year. Along with that, Curtis, Economopoulos, Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley), Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee), and Cassandra Baker (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) were named to the All-PSAC East First Team. All the awards and honors come after the program's first unbeaten season in program history en route to the No. 1 seed in the PSAC East. The six Golden Bears named to the All-PSAC East First Team is the most in program history, with the previous best being four in 2005 and 2018. Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) is the second-ever Golden Bear to be named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, joining Jenna Bracken back in 2018. The junior from Warrington has been nothing short of spectacular on the field in 2023. Curtis started in every game this season for KU, contributing to 12 shutouts, the third-most in a season in program history. She also netted a career-high five goals this season, three of which were game-winners. One of those game-winners earned her a PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week nod back on Oct. 16. Already one of the most decorated defenders in program history, it's also the third All-PSAC East First Team honor for Curtis in her three seasons in the Maroon & Gold. Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) becomes the fourth player in program history to win the conference's Freshman of the Year award. The Grantville native burst onto the scene in 2023, netting a seven goals and four assists, the second most on KU in both stats. Her most notable performance came on Sept. 13, when she scored two goals and notched an assist in a dominating 3-0 victory over then-12th-ranked West Chester. That earned her a PSAC East Athlete of the Week honor. Ever since that performance, Economopoulos became a mainstay in the starting eleven and one of the best attacking midfielders in the PSAC. The last major award winner for KU is head coach Erik Burstein, who captured his third career coach of the year award and the fourth in program history. Under Burstein's watch, the Golden Bears have become a nationally acclaimed program over the last 16 seasons, with this regular season possibly being his best one yet. This season was KU's 21st consecutive season with 10 or more wins. As previously mentioned, Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee), Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley), and Cassandra Baker (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) were the other Golden Bears to be named to the All-PSAC East First Team alongside Curtis and Economopoulos. McDonald had a great freshman campaign and followed it up with even more success in her second season in the Maroon & Gold. The Exton native led KU with 22 points on the season, netting six goals and ten assists in the regular season. Her ten assists are the fourth-best in the PSAC and are tied for the third most in a season in program history. McDonald's best performance came in a 3-0 win against Shepherd, where two goals and an assist earned her PSAC East Athlete of the Week honors. It's her first career All-PSAC East First Team nod after making the second team last season. Lexy Endres' (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) second season in the Maroon and Gold was nothing short of spectacular, as the senior finished the season a team-high seven goals. The Medford, N.J. native was on fire to start the season, racking up 10 points (5 goals) in the first four games of the season. Endres earned a PSAC East Athlete of the Week after her performances against Charleston (W. Va.) and Concord to open the season. She also scored the first goal, which was the game winner, in KU's PSAC Quarterfinal win over Bloomsburg on Monday. It's the first career All-PSAC nod for the former Temple transfer. Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) started at fullback for all 19 games this season, helping contribute to a defense that only allowed 7 goals all season, the best in the PSAC. Wentz, along with Curtis and the underclassmen duo of sophomore Skyler Jordan (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and freshman Maura Day (Huntington Valley, Pa./Abington) were lock down almost every game they hit the field this season. Wentz also recorded an assist in the Golden Bears' first win of the season against Concord on Sept. 2. It's the senior's first All-PSAC First Team nod after previously being named to the second team last season. Cassandra Baker (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) was the backstop of the KU backline for the majority of the season. The senior started in 17 games, allowing only six goals against with a 0.357 goals-against average in over 1,400 minutes of action. Her goals-against-average is not only first in the PSAC, but the best in program history (min. 900 minutes). Her 10 clean sheets are also the best in the PSAC and the fourth-most in a season program history. The Harrisburg native made a season-high seven saves against Bloomsburg on Oct. 25, which earned her a PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week honor. It's her first ever All-PSAC nod. After the Golden Bears' PSAC Quarterfinal victory over Bloomsburg Monday night, the PSAC Tournament semifinals and final will take place at Keystone Field this weekend. KU will face off against Gannon in the PSAC Semifinal on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. The other semifinal between Mercyhurst and West Chester will take place at 3 p.m. that same day. The PSAC Championship game will take place on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m.

Senior defender Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) was voted the 2023 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Defensive Athlete of the Year, and was joined by five other Kutztown field hockey student-athletes on the All-PSAC teams, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Gatehouse and Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick) were tabbed to the First Team and Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot), Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York), Mackenzie Kile (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) and Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) were all voted to the Third Team. It is the second time Gatehouse is on the First Team and Donato's second time as an All-PSAC performer, earning Third Team last season. Gatehouse, along with Panati, have been the backbones of a KU defense that ranks first in the conference in goals allowed (7) and goals against average (.338), through 18 games. Gatehouse is second on Kutztown with 18 points (7 goals, 4 assists). Donato has scored three goals and her 11 assists ranks second in the PSAC and is tied for third in DII, starting all 18 games for the Maroon and Gold as an attacking midfielder. Gonzalez has had a breakout sophomore season, leading the attack with eight goals. She tops the KU lineup with 19 points (8 goals, 3 assists), starting in 17-of-18 games played. Harrold has started all 18 games and has recorded two goals and two assists in the middle of the field. Kile has stepped up in a big way in her first and only season with Kutztown, starting all 18 games at midfield and recording five goals and an assist. The Golden Bears (16-2 overall) next play Shippensburg in the PSAC semifinals this Friday, Nov. 3, at 2:30 p.m., from Whitenight Field.

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its men's basketball team for the 2023-2024 season. The Kutztown University men's basketball team was selected seventh in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the conference office Thursday morning. The Golden Bears are coming off of a season where they finished 11-7 overall and 10-12 in the PSAC East. It was the most conference wins for KU since the 2017-18 season. Bernie Driscoll's squad struggled at times, but ended the season on a six-game winning streak, finishing one game short of the program's first PSAC Tournament berth since 2018-19. KU opens the season on Friday, Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. at Elizabeth City State in North Carolina as a part of the PSAC/CIAA Challenge. The first home game will also be the PSAC opener in a crossover match up against Edinboro on Friday, Dec. 1.

Kutztown University has announced 11 student-athletes will represent its women's basketball team for the 2023-2024 season. Kutztown women's basketball was selected second (receiving one first-place vote) in the 2023-24 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division preseason poll, as voted on by the head coaches and released by the league office Thursday afternoon. The Golden Bears finished last season 15-15 overall and 12-10 in the PSAC, third in the East, winning a postseason game for the second straight season. The KU defense finished on top of DII in blocks per game (6.2) and total blocks (187). The Golden Bears primarily have an upperclassmen laiden team this season with seven players with experience that are juniors or older. Kutztown opens the season the weekend of Nov. 11-12 in the MEC/PSAC Challenge against Charleston (W.Va.) and West Virginia State. KU also plays an exhibition game at DI Buffalo on Nov. 26. The home opener is set for Wednesday, Nov. 15, against Georgian Court at 6 p.m., from Keystone Arena.

Kutztown University has announced 32 student-athletes will represent its wrestling team for the 2023-2024 season. Kutztown University wrestling was ranked 24th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's (NWCA) NCAA Division II Preseason Poll. Kutztown returns to the team rankings for the first time since March 2022. The Golden Bears were on the cusp of the top 25 throughout last season, receiving votes in multiple polls. KU finished with a 7-5 record (3-4 PSAC), before placing fourth at the Super Region 1 Championships and 23rd at the NCAA DII Championships. Kutztown begins its 2023-24 season Saturady, Nov. 4, at the Glenville State Invitational.

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its women's bowling team for the 2023-2024 season. Kutztown University women's bowling, which came up one win shy of advancing to last year's East Coast Conference championship match, is once again expected to be among the top teams in the conference. The Golden Bears were picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll and start pursuing their goals when the 2023-24 season begins Saturday at the Bud Whitman Memorial. Kutztown, which won 50 or more matches for the second time in three seasons, enjoyed its highest win total (52) and winning percentage (.598) during Reynolds' tenure last season. The Bears' made it all the way to round seven of the ECC Championship, their longest run since finishing as runner-up in 2015-16. Kutztown is scheduled to play in eight regular season tournaments ahead of the 2024 ECC Championship at AMF Dewey Garden Lanes in Rochester, N.Y., March 22-24. There will be two opportunities to see the team compete in Pennsylvania this season. Kutztown hosts the Golden Bear Invite at Berks Lanes in Sinking Spring, Pa., Oct. 21-22., and travels to Mount Joy, Pa. (Clearview Lanes) for the Mount Shootout Feb. 9-11. Read the full season preview here.

Kutztown University has announced 19 student-athletes will represent its women's swimming team for the 2023-2024 season. Learn more about Golden Bear swimming at www.kubears.com.

Kutztown University has announced seven student-athletes will represent its women's golf team for the 2023-2024 season. Learn more about the Golden Bears at https://kubears.com/sports/womens-golf.

Kutztown University will have 20 student-athletes representing its men's and women's tennis teams for the 2023-2024 season. Read more about the KU tennis teams at www.KUBears.com, including schedules, rosters and match recaps.

Kutztown University has announced 108 student-athletes will represent its football team for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview here. Kutztown football entered last season fresh off winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship. But the start to the year was not how KU had hoped to keep the momentum going from the previous campaign, as it was shutout at Assumption University. Enter 2023 and the Golden Bears head back to Worcester, Mass., looking to not only score some points, but to begin a win streak as they search for another PSAC crown and NCAA tournament berth. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. Kutztown and No. 23 Assumption open up the season against each other for the eighth straight year. KU is 3-4 against the Greyhounds in that span, winning three consecutive games before last season's 3-0 defeat on the road. The Maroon and Gold are back at Brian Kelly stadium hoping to avenge last year's defeat and go 1-0. The Maroon and Gold are once again set to be competitors for the PSAC title, as they were voted second in the preseason poll. They have had five straight seasons of at least eight victories. They went 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC last season under the program's winningest head coach in program history, Jim Clements, including two victories over nationally-ranked programs in California (Pa.) and Slippery Rock. KU will be looking to win the East after taking the division title in back-to-back seasons in 2019 and 2021 (2020 season canceled due to COVID-19), while also trying to get back to the NCAA Championship Tournament, following three consecutive appearances in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Following another road trip to California (Pa.) next Saturday, Sept. 9, the Golden Bears appear at Andre Reed Stadium for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 16, for a 12 p.m., contest against Mercyhurst.

Kutztown University has announced 26 student-athletes will represent its men's and women's cross country teams for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview here. The Kutztown University cross country program is ready to hit the course for the 2023 season. Both the men's and women's teams enter the season ranked No. 6 in their respective Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason polls after strong 2022 campaigns. The season kicks off this Friday, Sept. 1 at the Panthers XC Invite at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. The men's squad enters the 2023 season coming off a seventh-place finish at the PSAC Championships, along with a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. The Golden Bears earned four top-five team finishes over the course of the 2022 regular season, including a first-place finish at the Last Chance Run Fast Invitational. The women's team enters the 2023 season coming off a fifth-place finish in the PSAC Championships, along with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. The Golden Bears found great success last regular season, finishing first at both the DeSales and Last Chance Run Fast Invitationals. They racked up second place and the three other meets, including the Paul Short Run, which was comprised of 42 other teams.

Kutztown University will have 33 student-athletes representing its women's soccer program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview online After a magical run to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the Kutztown University women's soccer team is ready to take the field for the 2023 campaign. The Golden Bears ended last season, and open this season, ranked No. 19 in the United Soccer Coaches Association DII national poll. KU finished the 2022 season with an 11-6-4 record, making it the 20th straight season the Golden Bears won ten or more games. Despite an up-and-down season, including an early exit from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament, the Maroon and Gold earned the final seed in the Atlantic Region of the NCAA Tournament. Once tournament time came around, the Golden Bears found their groove. KU downed No. 2 Frostburg State and No. 3 Gannon en route to the program's second-ever Atlantic Region final against No. 1 West Chester. The Golden Bears went toe-to-toe with the Golden Rams in Albany, but a last minute goal saw the eventual national runners-up West Chester advance. The Golden Bears open the season Thursday Aug. 31 at the Gannon Invitational. KU will match up against Charleston (W. Va.) at 3 pm. The Maroon and Gold will then play Concord on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. as a part of the invitational. The PSAC East slate will start at Keystone Field against Millersville on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Senior Day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21 against Shepherd at noon.

Kutztown University will have 14 student-athletes representing its women's volleyball program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview online Kutztown women's volleyball was knocking on the door of the postseason in 2022, but fell just short of achieving that goal. KU, however, still had one of its best seasons in almost a decade and is motivated as ever to break down the door to postseason action in 2023. Last season, the Golden Bears finished with their most wins in a regular season (13) since 2014, and just missed out on the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament, dropping a five-set thriller to Bloomsburg in the season finale. A victory would have put them into the eight-team playoff field and breaking an 11-year drought as they last appeared in the postseason in 2011. KU went 13-12 overall and 7-7 in the PSAC, the most conference wins since 2014. League head coaches took notice of the success of last season, voting Kutztown fifth in the 2023 PSAC Preseason poll, the highest ranking since 2015. Kutztown's season begins with a non-conference match at Caldwell on Thursday, Aug. 31, followed by two matches against Southern Connecticut State and Bridgeport in New Haven, Conn, the following day. The home opener is set for Tuesday, Sept. 5, against Chestnut Hill, at 7 p.m., at Keystone Arena.

Kutztown University will have 32 student-athletes representing its field hockey program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview online Kutztown field hockey had one of its most successful seasons in program history last season and is poised for more of the same this season. The Golden Bears, which ranked second in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's final national poll, finished 16-3 overall and on top of the PSAC with an 8-1 record last season. They also reached a No. 1 ranking in the NFHCA poll during the season for the first time in program history. Entering the 2023 campaign, Kutztown had its highest preseason ranking in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference poll since the conference went to one division in 2013. KU was voted third by the conference's head coaches. There are 10 opportunities to catch the Maroon and Gold in action at home this season, including five PSAC games. Senior day is set for Saturday, Oct. 21, against Slippery Rock at 3 p.m. Kutztown opens its season Thursday, Aug. 31, with a non-conference game against New Haven at 3 p.m., from Andre Reed Stadium. The PSAC opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 23, against Mercyhurst at 11 a.m., at Andre Reed Stadium.

The Kutztown University women's soccer program named seniors Becca Delp (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove), Sadie Goad (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), and Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) as captains for the 2023 campaign, as announced by head coach Erik Burstein. It's the first time that Delp, Goad, Rossetti, or Wentz have been named captains in their college careers. The foursome have a combined 132 career appearances in the Maroon and Gold. All four played critical parts in last season's run to the Sweet Sixteen, highlighted by Rossetti's All-PSAC First Team campaign. The Cherry Hill, N.J. native finished second on KU with seven goals. The Golden Bears kick off the 2023 season at the Gannon Invitational against Charleston (W. Va.) on Thursday, Aug. 31. That match will kick off at 3 p.m.

Kutztown softball excelled in the classroom during the 2022-23 academic year, earning a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Team Academic Award. Nine Golden Bears also achieved All-America Scholar-Athlete status. In order to be named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honoree, student-athletes must post a GPA of 3.5 or higher for the 2022-23 academic year. Across Division II, Kutztown was one of 99 programs honored by the Association with the Team Academic Award, showcasing a team GPA of 3.29. Similarly, the nine Golden Bears recognized were part of the 1,790 DII student-athletes honored altogether. The nine Golden Bears to receive NFCA Scholar All-American honors were Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township), Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown), Aysha Gibbs (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal), Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg), Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union), Jenna Piatkiewicz (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland), Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent), Alexa Stevens (Covington Township, Pa./North Pocono) and Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township). Kutztown finished last season with its fourth straight 30-win season and earned its third consecutive trip to the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Tournament.

The Kutztown University cross country program will be captained by six student-athletes for the 2023 campaign, as announced by head coach Ray Hoffman. Representing the men's team will be Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), Logan Iacobelli (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), and Jack Hollar (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East). Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), Anastasia Fratanduono (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), and Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) will be the captains of the women's squad. On the men's side, it's the second time that Habalar and Iacobelli have captained the Maroon and Gold, while it's the first time for Hollar. On the women's side, it's the second time that D'Amelio and Fratanduono have been named captains, while it's the first time for Bendetti. Both squads came in ranked No. 6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason rankings and open the season on Friday, Sept. 1 at the Panthers XC Invite. That race will take place at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y.

The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Squad accolades, while eight student-athletes were named to the Division II Academic Honor Roll, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Bears were among 287 teams across Divisions I, II, III, and NAIA recognized as IWLCA Academic Honor Squads. To qualify for this prestigious honor, the team must have posted a 3.2 or higher team grade point average during the 2022-23 academic year. The IWLCA also honored 414 student-athletes from 61 different institutions on the Division II Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. Receiving Honor Roll status from the Golden Bears were Madeline Anemone (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell), Kelly Askins (Galloway, N.J./Absegami), Brooke-Lynn Grim (Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford), Morgan Hurd (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), Shannon Lake (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), Avery Meiners (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge), Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) and Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional). This marks the second straight season that the Bears have earned Academic Honor Squad status under head coach Kristen Nicholson. Grim, Hurd and Meiners each appeared on the Academic Honor Roll for the second consecutive year.

Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading) and Kyree Generett (York, Pa./William Penn) of Kutztown University men's basketball were honored for their academic prowess by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on Thursday afternoon, being named to the 2022-23 NABC Honors Court. The NABC Honors Court includes junior, senior and graduate student men's basketball players who finished the 2022-23 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. Over 1,800 players earned spots on the NABC Honors Court for 2022-23. It is the second straight year that the duo has been named to the elusive list. Butler graduated in May with a degree in communication studies. He is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and member of the Dean's List. Earlier this year, the Reading native earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. In his senior season this past year, Butler eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone for his career and ended his career with 1,138 points, which ranks 21st in program history. He played in 23 games and averaged 12.4 points per game, finishing his time in Maroon and Gold scoring at a 15.4 ppg clip. Generett graduated summa cum laude this May with a degree in elementary education and concentrations in mathematics and social studies. The York native totaled a 3.86 GPA. Generett was also a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and member of the Dean's List, while being named to the CSC Academic All-District Team. This past season on the court, Generett averaged career-highs of 15.1 points, 4.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game on his way to All-PSAC East Second Team honors. He ranks seventh in KU history in free throw percentage at 84.5% (261-of-309). "Education is a core value of the NABC, and we are privileged to recognize these outstanding student-athletes and the coaches and support staff who invest in their development," said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. "The hundreds of teams and thousands of players that qualified for NABC academic awards this season are a testament to our sport's ongoing prioritization of success in the classroom."

Kutztown University women's tennis repeated as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team and four student-athletes captured ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades when the organization released its annual academic award winners this week. The Golden Bears, under the leadership of second-year head coach Wyatt Pauley, achieved a 3.34 team grade point average during the 2022-23 academic year, becoming one of 97 NCAA Division II women's programs to surpass the ITA's 3.2 standard. Four schools represented the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) as ITA All-Academic Teams, with Mercyhurst, Millersville and Slippery Rock joining KU. Jessika Klo (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom), Sarah Lazarchak (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Claudia Makarski and Brianna Wendling (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) each earned their second consecutive ITA Scholar-Athlete honor and were among 623 DII players recognized nationwide. To be eligible for ITA Scholar-Athlete status, student-athletes must have had a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the 2022-23 academic year.

Kutztown University men's tennis was announced as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team for the second year in a row and six players collected ITA Scholar-Athlete honors. The Golden Bears were among 64 NCAA Division II men's teams to surpass the ITA's required 3.2 team grade point average (GPA) during the 2022-23 academic year. Kutztown amassed a 3.487 team GPA this past year, second-highest in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Only three conference teams earned the academic team honor, with Mercyhurst and West Chester joining the Bears. To receive ITA Scholar-Athlete status, student-athletes needed to post a 3.5 GPA during the 2022-23 academic year. The Maroon and Gold were represented on that list by Sebastian Arizpe (Puebla, Mexico/Colegio Humboldt de Puebla), Gonzalo Barcelo (San Pedro, Argentina/Nuestra Senora del Socorro), Justin Gincauskas (Mississauga, Ontario/Cawthra Park Secondary) and Ethan Moyer (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) for the second time, while freshmen Lucas Cherniak (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Escuela Superior de Comercio Carlos Pellegrini) and Emmitt Robinson (Ingersoll, Ontario/Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute) received the honor following their first collegiate seasons. A total of 468 Division II men's student-athletes were honored as ITA Scholar-Athletes overall.

Five Kutztown University women's bowling student-athletes appeared on the 2022-23 National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Academic list, which was announced by the organization this week. Student-athletes must have a 3.4 cumulative grade point average or higher for the academic year to qualify for NTCA All-Academic honors. This year there were 285 student-athletes recognized from 57 institutions that sponsor NCAA bowling. Representing the Golden Bears on this year's list are Alyssa Blood (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone), Jordan Dean (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor), Megan Hanaway (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township), Alexis Schweizer (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) and Ally Sipe (York, Pa./Central York). Blood, Dean and Hanaway are each three-time honorees, while Sipe earned her second All-Academic award and Schweizer her first. Kutztown has had five or more student-athletes recognized on the NTCA All-Academic list in 10 of the last 11 years.

It was another outstanding year in the classroom for Kutztown University student-athletes, with 227 being named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athletes, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon. The 2022-23 academic year marks the fourth in a row that the Golden Bears have eclipsed the 200 honoree mark. 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 this 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. Previous recipients were also affected from various sports that the PSAC doesn't sponsor at other institutions, resulting in a drop of overall honorees across the conference's 18 institutions to 3,795. The percentage of honorees among all student-athletes remained consistent at 52% (3,794-of-7,319) compared to last year's 53%.

One of the most prolific wide receivers in Kutztown University history, Jerome Kapp (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) put up career best numbers across the board in 2022. Kapp was recognized for his outstanding season, Friday, when he was named the 202-23 KU Male Athlete of the Year. Kapp, a Barto, Pa., native and recent New York Jets signee, established new career-highs with 47 receptions, 916 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches as Kutztown finished with an 8-3 record last fall. A two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection, Kapp ranks third in program history with 2,190 receiving yards, tied for fourth with 22 TD catches and 12th in receptions with 122. His 2022 totals rank sixth in receiving yards and tied for ninth in TD catches in program single-season history. Kapp led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with 19.5 yards per catch in 2022. He was tied for third in TD catches, fourth in receiving yards per game (83.3) and fifth in total receiving yards. Kapp was an offensive force as Kutztown won PSAC East titles in 2019 and 2021, an overall PSAC championship in 2021 and reached three NCAA Division II Championship tournaments. The 2021 team advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time in program history. Kapp was also a 2022 Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America Honorable Mention selection and a College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team choice. Presented annually since 1987, the Kutztown University Athletics Male Athlete of the Year award recognizes a Golden Bear for athletic excellence during the course of an academic year. The award is voted upon by athletic department administration, coaches and support staff, and announced each summer. Kapp is the 10th recipient of the award to come from the football program and first since Jordan Morgan in 2017.

Kayla Argen (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) concluded her illustrious career last season and is up there with the best players in Kutztown women's soccer history. She's won numerous awards and her name is all over the program record books, and on Thursday, Argen was named the 2022-23 KU Female Athlete of the Year. A native of Cresco, Pa., Argen closed her Golden Bear career with a team-high 26 points on eight goals and 10 assists as Kutztown women's soccer advanced to the third round of the 2022 NCAA Division II Championship. One of the final 16 teams playing, KU finished as Atlantic Region runners-up. A two-year team captain, Argen is a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American, earning First Team accolades in 2021 and Third Team honors in 2022. She was also a D2CCA All-America Third Team choice in 2021 and two-time All-Atlantic Region First Team selection by both United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA. Argen is a two-time All-PSAC East First Team midfielder and was voted PSAC East Athlete of the Year in 2021. She ranks third in program history with 25 assists, fifth with 75 points and ninth with 25 goals in 73 career games. The Golden Bears made three NCAA Tournament appearances during Argen's career. She was the leader last season for a KU team that went 11-6-4 overall, reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament (Sweet 16) and ranked 19th in the final United Soccer Coaches DII Top 25. Argen led the PSAC in assists and assists per game (0.50) while ranking in the top 15 nationally in both categories. Last month, at the All-Sports Celebration on campus, Argen was voted the Senior Athlete and Senior Scholar-Athlete, becoming just the second female student-athlete at KU to win both awards. Academically, Argen graduated magna cum laude in May 2022 with a degree in sport management, before beginning work towards her Master of Business Administration. She posted a 3.73 undergraduate GPA and currently holds a 3.63 graduate GPA. Argen is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection, six-time KU Dean's List student, four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete and three-time D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipient. Following her senior academic year in 2021-22, Argen was presented with a KU Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award silver medal for notable achievements in athletics. Presented annually since 1987, the Kutztown University Athletics Female Athlete of the Year award recognizes a Golden Bear for athletic excellence during the course of an academic year. The award is voted upon by athletic department administration, coaches and support staff, and announced each summer.

In his first season donning the Maroon and Gold, wrestling's Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) won 21 matches and qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships. On Wednesday afternoon, Gimbor was announced as the 2022-23 Kutztown University Athletics Male Freshman of the Year. Gimbor, from Bernville, Pa., competed at 165 pounds as a redshirt freshman for head coach Robert Fisher and the Golden Bears. He placed fifth at the Centenary (N.J.) Bob Quade Cyclone Open and sixth at the season-opening ESU Open, before making a significant impact as part of Kutztown's dual starting lineup, where he posted an 8-3 record overall and 5-2 mark against PSAC opponents. Gimbor was impressive throughout the season, but really stepped up down the stretch, winning nine of his last 12 matches. He squared off against the most nationally ranked opponents of any Golden Bear (seven) and defeated 10th ranked Dillon Keane of Pit-Johnstown in a road PSAC dual, Feb. 3, with a 9-5 decision. At the Super Region 1 Championships hosted by East Stroudsburg, Gimbor bounced back from a semifinal setback to defeat Mercyhurst's Mike Clark (pin, 2:25) and ESU's Luke Ciampa (dec., 8-2) to claim third in his weight class and the final qualifying spot at nationals. Gimbor went on to win a pair of bouts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, first earning a 9-5 decision over Glenville State's Gaetano DeLeonardis in a preliminary round match before holding off Newberry's Patrick Wunderlich, 9-7, in a first round consolation. Gimbor finished the season with a 21-10 overall record and a team-high five major decisions. He also ranked tied for second on the team in technical falls with three and third in pins with five. Gimbor was an All-PSAC Third Team selection at 165. Presented annually since 1993, the Kutztown University Athletics Male Freshman of the Year award recognizes a first-year Golden Bear for outstanding athletic achievement. The award is voted upon by athletic department administration, coaches and support staff. Gimbor is the second straight grappler to win the award, joining 2021-22 recipient Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan). Other former winners from the wrestling team include Kohlby O'Donnell (1997-98), Brandan Clark (2011-12) and Ziad Haddad (2012-13).