Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown University is pleased to welcome the newest members of the Golden Bear family, including both new incoming freshmen and transfer students, for the upcoming 2024 fall semester.

Kutztown University athletics recorded a new department high as 133 student-athletes earned Division 2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award status. The 133 Golden Bears eclipses the 2021-22 previous record of 128. For a student-athlete to qualify for the award, they must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have completed a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work at a two-year and/or four-year institution and also been an active member of an intercollegiate team during the last academic year. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tallied 1,919 student-athletes on the list. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 17th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. In total, there was a record-breaking 19,774 student-athletes from 192 institutions recognized for the 2023-24 Academic Achievement Awards, which is the highest total of student-athletes recognized since the beginning of the awards program. Kutztown's 2023-24 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipients are online.

Gabby Cohen, Brooke Graham and Rhi Stutz of the Kutztown University women's golf team were recognized as 2024 Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars. It is the first WGCA scholar recognition for each Golden Bear. A total of 1,497 golfers across multiple divisions were named All-American Scholars. To be eligible, a student-athlete must hold a cumulative grade point average better than 3.50 and must have played in at least 50 percent of the institution's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year nominated through the team's conference championship. Graham was a First-Team All-PSAC performer last season and gave the program a First Teamer for the first time since Shannon Weber in 2018. The freshman from Carlisle was a medalist at this spring's PSAC Championships at the Berkleigh Golf Club, finishing third overall with a 54-hole total of 11-over 227 (75-76-76). She is the highest finishing individual for the Maroon and Gold since Weber took second at the 2017 PSAC Championships. Graham won three Invitationals during the fall and spring seasons and had three other top-three finishes out of the 10 tournaments. She was a two-time PSAC Golf Athlete of the Week. Stutz, a freshman from Prescott, Wisc., joined Graham as an All-PSAC golfer, earning Second Team honors. She helped KU to a fourth-place finish overall at PSACs. Stutz finished in the top-10 in the field at PSAC Championships. She shot a 5-over par 77 to collect her first collegiate tournament victory at the ESU Spring Invitational, earning that week's PSAC Golf Athlete of the Week. Cohen, a sophomore from Jeffersonville, N.Y., competed in all 13 rounds during the fall and spring regular season tournaments and then placed 27th overall at PSACs with a weekend score of 263 (89-87-87). Kutztown has now had multiple honorees in seven of the last eight seasons.

Kutztown University women's lacrosse earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Squad accolades, as well as 12 members landing on the Academic Honor Roll. KU was among 324 programs at the NCAA Division I, Division II Division III and NAIA to be named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad. To qualify for the prestigious honor, the team must have posted a 3.2 grade point average or higher for the entire 2023-24 academic year. The Golden Bears recorded a 3.57 GPA. The 12 student-athletes on the honor roll include Madeline Anemone, Kelly Askins, Jenna Blesson, Kayla Brooks, Emily Christiansen, Olivia Eilbacher, Marissa Giancola, Sam Graf, Shannon Lake, Emma Meakim, Rory Nilsen and Robin Spector. It is the second straight appearance for Anemone, Askins, Lake, Meakim and Spector. To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater. This marks the third consecutive season that Kutztown has earned Academic Honor Squad status under head coach Kristen Nicholson.

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

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

Kutztown University's men's and women's track and field teams were honored as 2024 NCAA Division II All-Academic Teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while men's team members Anthony DeFusco and Joe Jardine added All-Academic Athlete recognition. To qualify for All-Academic Team status, a program must have a cumulative GPA for all student-athletes of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Led by head coach Ray Hoffman, the Golden Bear women continued their impressive streak of academic excellence with a 3.43 GPA to appear on the list for the 18th year in a row -a streak that started in 2008. The men secured their fourth All-Academic Team honor in the past six years with a 3.06 GPA. Berks County natives DeFusco and Jardine earned All-Academic Athlete honors by having a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale, completing at least 24 semester hours through the end of the semester of competition and achieving an automatic or provisional qualifying mark during the indoor or outdoor season. DeFusco, a repeat honoree from 2023, graduated in May with a degree in geography/planning and 3.76 GPA. The Douglassville, Pa., native's NCAA provisional qualifying mark came in the triple jump (47'8"/14.53m) at the Bucknell Bison Open during the indoor season. Jardine, a graduate transfer from the University of Kentucky, made a massive impact in his only season with the Maroon and Gold. Originally from Mohrsville, Pa., Jardine qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the pole vault, bringing home All-America honors both times with a sixth-place finish indoors (First Team) and 12th-place showing outdoors (Second Team). Jardine also set an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the outdoor long jump. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration and has a 3.89 GPA.

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

Kutztown University women's bowling had seven members that earned a place on the 2024 East Coast Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. Alyssa Blood, Natalie Conrad, Megan Hanaway, Brooke Heimbach, Kayla Mackney, Alexis Schweizer and Ally Sipe all were a part of the list. The Commissioner's Honor Roll is awarded to student-athletes who receive a 3.25 or better cumulative grade point average. This annual recognition, in addition to the conference's Scholar-Athlete awards, helps to uphold the East Coast Conference's mission of promoting the total person and the ability to excel not only in the athletic arena, but also in the classroom. Kutztown finished last season with a 58-33 record. The 58 wins are the most for the program since 2018-19 and the Golden Bears enjoyed their sixth consecutive winning season.

Kutztown University has conferred degrees for nearly 1,100 students for the 2024 spring semester. Kutztown University announces degree conferment twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Commencement exercises are held in May and December; however, students finish the requirements for graduation throughout the entire year. The following students have been awarded degrees following the 2024 spring semester. The cumulative grade point average necessary for honors distinction is: with honor (cum laude) 3.40; with high honor (magna cum laude) 3.60 and with highest honor (summa cum laude) 3.80. Students who have requested privacy (FERPA) are not listed publicly.

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

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

Eight Kutztown University student-athletes were recognized with 2024 Academic All-District At-Large honors by College Sports Communicators (CSC). Earning spots on the NCAA Division II Women's At-Large Team were field hockey's Sarah Gatehouse and Mackenzie Kile, along with lacrosse's Sam Graf, Shannon Lake, Emma Meakim and Robin Spector. Twin brothers Bailey Gimbor and Dalton Gimbor of the wrestling team were recognized on the NCAA Division II Men's At-Large Team. The CSC Academic All-District At-Large teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom across NCAA Divisions I, II and III, and NAIA. Academic All-District honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Advancing to the Academic All-America At-Large ballot from Kutztown were Gatehouse, Bailey Gimbor and Dalton Gimbor.

Kutztown University men's and women's track and field were well represented on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams, as five each and 10 total were announced to the teams Tuesday, June 18. The men's representatives consisted of Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall), Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) and TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg). The Golden Bear women included Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Myah Davies (New Market, Md./Linganore), Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional), Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) and Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg). GPAs for each include Brocato (3.54), DeFusco (3.76), Fellin (3.52), Jardine (3.89) and White (3.57) for the men, and Beard (4.0), Davies (3.87), Knerr (4.0), Sienko (3.51) and Young (3.57) for the women. The 2024 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Track & Field teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the track, in the field, and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes men's track & field honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

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

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

1,990 students have been named to the Spring 2024 Dean's List at Kutztown University. To be eligible for the Dean's List, an undergraduate student must be registered for at least 12 credits and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60.

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

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

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

Kutztown University softball student-athletes Naya Darnowski, Haley Gravish, Alexa Stevens, Morgan Slomkowski and Kristin Geesey were all named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators Division II Academic All-District Softball Team, an award that recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom. The five Golden Bears are the most Academic All-District honorees in a single season in program history. It is the second straight CSC recognition for Gravish and the first for the other four student-athletes. KU finished the 2024 season with a 37-25 overall record, playing in NCAA Super Regionals for the second time in the last three seasons. Darnowski, a junior first baseman from Manchester, N.J., had a 3.73 GPA. She earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Second Team honors this season. She started in 61-of-62 games played and batted .316 in 177 at-bats, including a career-best four home runs. Darnowski had 56 hits, 28 RBIs and scored 38 runs. Gravish, a junior pitcher from Hamburg, had a 3.86 GPA. She appeared in 41 games, making 34 starts inside the circle. She went 23-13 overall and had a 4.07 ERA. She ranked second in the conference in victories and was tops in innings pitched with 223.2. Her 23 wins is sixth-most in program history in a single season and the 41 appearances is tied for third-most. Stevens, a sophomore second baseman from Covington Township, had a 3.82 GPA. She started all 62 games and batted .333 in 186 at-bats. Her 10 home runs led the team and was tied for eighth in the conference. The 10th HR was a big one as it helped KU defeat East Stroudsburg 1-0 in 10 innings in regionals. Stevens also had 45 RBIs and scored 44 runs. Slomkowski, a sophomore third baseman from Toms River, N.J., had a 3.70 GPA. She started in 60-of-61 games played this season. She batted .255 with 40 hits in 157 at-bats, including 11 doubles and seven HRs. Slomkowski also had 41 RBIs and scored 30 runs. Geesey, a junior shortstop from Bainbridge, had a 3.93 GPA. She started in all 60 games she played in this season. She hit .271 in 166 at-bats, including seven doubles and a home run. Geesey also had 22 RBIs and scored 14 runs. The Academic All-District Team is selected by the College Sports Communicators.

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.

The College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced that Kutztown University men's tennis student-athletes Sebastian Arizpe, Gonzalo Barcelo, Justin Gincauskas and Emmitt Robinson, along with women's tennis student-athlete Sarah Lazarchak were named to the Academic All-District Team, announced this week. 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. 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 June. Arizpe, a graduate student from Mexico, accumulated a 3.86 undergraduate GPA and received a degree in commercial music. He currently is pursuing his masters degree and has a perfect 4.0 GPA. Arizpe is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and Dean's List member. Barcelo, a senior from Argentina, recently graduated with a 3.96 GPA and earned his undergrad degree in business administration (finance). He is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and Dean's List member. Gincauskas is a senior from Canada. He graduated this month with a 3.97 GPA with an English (professional writing) degree. Gincauskas is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and Dean's List member. Robinson is a sophomore from Canada. He is currently pursuing a degree in psychology and is sporting a 3.80 GPA. Robinson is also a PSAC Scholar-Athlete and member of the Dean's List. Lazarchark, a senior from Nazareth, recently graduated with a degree in secondary education. She had a 3.99 GPA. Lazarchak is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and Dean's List member.

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.

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.

Kutztown University's Jazz Ensemble I has been honored by the DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards with the Outstanding Performance Award in the category of Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble College Performance. The DownBeat Student Music Awards recognize the top jazz ensembles at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Nine judges evaluate the participating groups based on several performance criteria including overall sound, proper interpretation, improvisation, creativity, intonation, phrasing and dynamics. The honorees are selected from a competitive pool in which winners must demonstrate a distinct voice in addition to technical proficiency. The DownBeat Student Music Awards are considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education. Since its founding in 1976, hundreds of musicians, music educators and music industry professionals received their first international recognition as DownBeat Student Music Award winners. This is the 10th win for the KU Commercial Music program but the first for the Jazz Ensemble. Other winners in this category were Vanderbilt University and University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

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.