Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown University women's soccer senior defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Atlantic Region First Team. It is the third time that Curtis has been named to the All-Atlantic Region First Team, earning the honor for the second straight season after a stellar year leading Kutztown's back line. The Warrington, Pa., native adds this honor to her First Team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division nod she earned earlier in November. This comes after she earned United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year in 2022. The upperclassman is a four-year starter for Erik Burstein's squad, starting every game for the Golden Bears while leading a defensive unit that recorded nine shutouts on the season while contributing three goals and two assists in 2024. Her contributions were vital in a pair of victories over Charleston (W. Va.), scoring a goal in their early season victory at Keystone Field while sending in the game-winning tally to defeat the Golden Eagles in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship. Curtis and the Golden Bears capped off their season with a 12-5-6 record that included a pair of upset victories in the PSAC Championships and a 2-1 win over Charleston in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship.

Six members of the Kutztown University women's soccer team have been named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Among the Golden Bears honored are senior defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South), sophomore midfielder Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin), junior forward Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), graduate midfielder Taylor Rapel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg), senior midfielder Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) and senior defender Dana Wentz (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley). The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be eligible for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must have reached sophomore status academically and athletically and hold a 3.50 or greater cumulative grade point average. On the field, nominees must compete in 90% of their team's games or be a starter in at least 66% of their team's games. Curtis, from Warrington, Pa., is a repeat CSC Academic All-District selection from 2023. She also went on to earn Academic All-America Third Team honors last year. Curtis is a leader on the back line for the Maroon and Gold, helping KU to eight shutouts in 2024. A business administration (marketing) major with a 3.79 GPA, Curtis is a four-time All-PSAC East First Team, two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region and 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team pick. Academically, Curtis is a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. Economopoulos recently captured her second All-PSAC East honor in as many seasons. The 2023 PSAC East Freshman of the Year has produced nine points (2 goals, 5 assists) for a Kutztown team which qualified for the NCAA Division II Championship tournament for the fourth year in a row. The Grantville, Pa., native claimed United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team and All-America Second Team honors as a freshman. Economopoulos is majoring in business administration (finance) with a 3.97 GPA. McDonald appears on the CSC Academic All-District team for a second consecutive season. The business administration (finance) major from Exton, Pa., holds a 3.95 GPA. McDonald is a two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection and three-time all-conference pick overall. She also earned United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Second Team honors last year. This year, McDonald has totaled nine points (3 goals, 3 assists). Rapel, from Phillipsburg, N.J., is also a repeat selection to the CSC Academic All-District team. The business administration (marketing) major recently received her first All-PSAC East First Team nod and is a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. Rapel holds a 3.68 GPA. Rossetti is one of the top goal scorers on this year's team with eight goals and 16 points. The native of Cherry Hill, N.J., is a two-time All-PSAC East honoree, including a spot on the Second Team this fall. Rossetti is majoring in biology (allied health) with a 3.59 GPA and is a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. Wentz is KU's fourth Academic All-District repeat selection. The defender from Lancaster, Pa., is a three-time All-PSAC East selection, including First Team honors in 2023. Wentz was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Second Team last year and is a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. She is a public relations major with a 3.97 GPA. Based on their academic and athletic achievements, the trio of Curtis, Economopoulos and Wentz were selected as finalists for Academic All-America honors by CSC. The national ballot will be voted on by CSC members and Academic All-America teams will be announced Dec. 11.

Jim Clements was voted the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's East Division Coach of the Year and Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) earned East Defensive Athlete of the Year recognition to lead the PSAC champion Kutztown football team on All-PSAC teams, as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced Wednesday, Nov. 20. KU tied a program record with 15 All-PSAC selections. It is the fifth coach of the year award for Clements, who was also named the AFCA Division II Region I Coach of the Year on Tuesday. It is the first major award for Retter, who gave the Golden Bears (11-0 overall) two Defensive Athletes of the Year in the last two seasons, joining Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) from 2023. There were nine All-PSAC East First Team selections, including offensive linemen Ryan Schernecke (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland), Billy Everitt (Abington, Pa./Abington) and Adam Kase (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser), defensive linemen Brayden Pohlman (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Mainland Regional), Retter and Masen Wilson (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna), linebackers Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) and Eden Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and defensive back Drew Hensor (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury). The six selections on Second Team included quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), running back Jaedyn Stewart (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional), offensive linemen Trey Quinones (York, Pa./William Penn) and Andrew Stackhouse (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond), wide receiver Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle), and defensive back Khi'on Smith (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township). Clements has led Kutztown to the first unbeaten regular season in the program's modern era, Kutztown has achieved its highest national ranking in the AFCA Division II Poll with its current No. 3 rank, won a school record and Division II-best 20 consecutive regular season games (dating back to 2023) and captured a second straight PSAC championship. The winningest coach in program history, Clements is 10 wins shy of 100 in his KU career (90-28, .763) and boasts a 60-11 (.845) record in PSAC East games after his team went a perfect 7-0 this fall for its fourth unbeaten run through the division and PSAC East crown in the last five seasons. Schernecke is All-PSAC for the first time in his career. He has started all 11 games this season at tackle. Schernecke is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Everitt is a two-time All-PSAC performer, his first time on the First Team. He has started all 11 games at guard. Everitt is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Kase has now earned back-to-back All-PSAC First Team honors. He has started all 11 games at guard. Kase is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Pohlman is All-Conference for the first time in his career. Through 10 games this season, he has accumulated career-highs in 27 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks. Retter is a first-time honoree on the All-PSAC team. In 10 games this season, he has 42 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, two passes defended and two blocked kicks, along with scoring his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery in the season opener against Assumption. Retter also earned the PSAC's Champion Scholar. In 11 games at defensive end, Wilson achieved All-Conference for the first time in his career. He has had a career best year, totaling 25 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three passes defended. DeVose is a first-time All-PSAC performer. So far this season, starting all 11 games at linebacker, DeVose has tallied 50 total tackles, five tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, two interceptions, including a pick-six, two passes defended and two fumble recoveries. Johnson was voted All-Conference for the first time in his career. In 11 games as a linebacker this season, he has recorded 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and six passes defended. Hensor is another first-timer on the All-PSAC teams. The defensive back, who has started all 11 games, has tallied 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, three interceptions and six passes defended. Novak, the reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Year, is now a two-time All-PSAC performer. He has completed 146 passes for 1,925 yards and 20 touchdowns. On the ground, Novak has added 76 carries for 354 yards and three scores. Stewart, the PSAC championship game MVP, earned postseason accolades for the first time in his career. In 10 games played at running back this season, he has rushed 102 times for 544 yards and five TDs. Stewart also has caught seven passes for 59 yards and a score. Quinones is on All-PSAC for the first time. He has started all 11 games as the center. Quinones is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Stackhouse is a first-time All-Conference performer. He has started in 10 games at tackle. Stackhouse is one of the anchors on the line that has helped pave the way for a Maroon and Gold rushing attack that ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (157.1), second in total yards (1,728) and second in scoring (30.5 points per game). Ravenel Jr. is now a two-time, All-PSAC First Teamer. He has started all seven games he's played in this season at wide receiver. Ravenel Jr. has caught 34 passes for 418 yards and tied a career-high with five touchdowns. Smith is All-PSAC for the first time. He has started all 11 games as a defensive back. Smith has tallied 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, a fumble recovery and five pass breakups. Kutztown hosts the winner of Slippery Rock/New Haven in an NCAA Second Round game next Saturday, Nov. 30, at Andre Reed Stadium.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced their women's soccer All-Conference Team members for the 2024 season Thursday, Nov. 14, and the Kutztown University squad is well represented with six honorees representing the Golden Bears across both East Division teams. Kutztown features a First-Team All-PSAC East Division honoree at each level of the field, with forward Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), midfielder Taylor Rapel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) and defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) all being recognized among the 13 best players in the division. McDonald has appeared in all 19 games for the Golden Bears, starting 17 on the front line - the most of any Kutztown forward this season. She has been a punishing presence for KU, taking a team-high 29 shots on goal this season while recording 9 points across five games, including a two-goal game in the win at Mansfield in early October. The Exton, Pa., native makes her third straight appearance on the All-PSAC Team, earning First Team recognition for the second straight season. Rapel makes her first All-PSAC Team after a strong fourth season in a primarily defensive midfield role. She is one of four Golden Bears to start all 19 games, and she helped pace a potent midfield that controlled a majority of the action throughout the season. Curtis anchored the Golden Bears defense in her senior season, with her play earning her a fourth straight All-PSAC East First team honor, the third KU student-athlete to accomplish the feat after Kim Kelty (2004-07) and Chelsea Deeter (2007-10). The Warrington, Pa., native has dominated the back line, regularly making game-saving plays while striking fear into any opposing attacker. She tallied a pair of goals and an assist for Kutztown in a year where she started every contest for the second straight season. The second team features another trio of Golden Bear student-athletes, with forward Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), midfielder Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and defender Dana Wentz (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) recognized as Second Team All-PSAC East Division players for their performance this season. Rossetti makes her second appearance on the All-PSAC First Team after a stellar fourth year on the attacking side. She led the team in goals (8) and points (16) while converting on a third of her 24 shots on frame. The Cherry Hill, N.J., native's performance was pivotal against Lock Haven this year, as she scored all four tallies in 2-0 wins at Keystone Field in mid-September and at Lock Haven in mid-October. Economopoulos follows up her PSAC East Freshman of the Year season with a second consecutive All-PSAC Team appearance that featured her in 17 games on the year. The attacking midfielder assisted on a team-high five goals while being one of the primary corner takers for a team that was top five in the nation in that category. Wentz earns her third All-PSAC Team recognition after another season as a key cog on the defensive line for the Maroon and Gold. The Leola, Pa., native patrolled the outside line for the Golden Bears, starting all 19 games for one of the strongest defensive units in the conference. Similar to Curtis, the presence of Wentz on the back line often forces opposing players to think about a different route to the goal to avoid the increased difficulty of facing the graduate student.

Five members of third-ranked Kutztown University field hockey were voted to 2024 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams, as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced Monday, Nov. 11. Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick) and Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) earned First-Team honors, Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) and Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) were tabbed to the Second Team and Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York) was recognized on the Third Team. All five are repeat All-PSAC selections. Donato, a two-time First Teamer and a Third Teamer in 2022, has started all 19 games this season in the midfield. She has scored a career-best four goals and added five assists. Donato's 29 career assists ranks third all-time in program history. Gatehouse found her name on the All-PSAC First Team for the third consecutive season. The graduate student defender has recorded six goals and five assists so far this season and started all 19 games at the center of a KU defense that has seven shutouts this season. Gonzalez, a Third Teamer last season, leads KU with 11 goals and has started 18-of-19 games played this season as a forward. She ranks seventh in the conference in scoring and has added a career-best five assists. Panati, voted to the All-PSAC Third Team last season, has started all 19 games this season as a defender. She is a captain and leader of a defensive unit that has recorded seven shutouts so far this season. Panati also has three defensive saves. Harrold is a two-time Third Teamer, earning All-PSAC honors last season. She has started in all 19 games this season and has tallied one goal and a career-high five assists.

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its men's basketball team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. The Kutztown University men's basketball team hopes that returning players, incoming transfers and a more aggressive attack can put the Golden Bears back in the upper echelon of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division in the 2024-25 season. The Golden Bears are looking to outperform preseason expectations. Kutztown was tabbed as the sixth-best team in the East Division preseason poll. Kutztown will open its season at the PSAC/CIAA Challenge Nov. 9-10, at East Stroudsburg. The Golden Bears will play Lincoln on Saturday at 5 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. tip against Elizabeth City State on Sunday. The home opener is set for Wednesday, Nov. 13, against Jefferson at 7:30 p.m.

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its women's basketball team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. Kutztown women's basketball enters the 2024-25 regular season with some new and old faces, but the talent up-and-down the roster is evident. The Golden Bears finished the 2023-24 season with a 15-15 overall record and 12-10 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, earning the three seed in the PSAC Tournament. They won a postseason game for the third straight season, defeating Mansfield in the First Round. KU was tabbed third in the PSAC East preseason poll. Kutztown's 2024-25 regular season campaign opens this weekend at the D2 CCA Tipoff Classic at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. KU first takes on Adams State on Friday, Nov. 1, at 12 p.m., and then plays Lubbock Christian on Saturday at noon.

Kutztown University has announced 17 student-athletes will represent its women's bowling team for the 2024-2025 season. The Kutztown University women's bowling team enters the 2024-25 season with high expectations as one of the front runners in the East Coast Conference, and their growth over the past several years signifies another big step forward is set to take place this upcoming season. Read the full season preview here. After finishing last season with a 58-33 mark and just one match outside of championship Sunday at the conference's postseason tournament, the Maroon and Gold are among the favorites for the ECC crown and the conference's automatic NCAA Championship qualifier. Their odds are boosted even further with the departure of back-to-back conference champion Mercyhurst to the Division I ranks. According to the ECC coaches, the Golden Bears are slotted in as the second-best squad, earning 66 points and garnering a first-place vote in the ECC Preseason Polls. The Golden Bears open their 11-tournament regular season slate at the Mercyhurst Invitational, hosted by Division I newcomer Mercyhurst, now a member of the Northeast Conference. Kutztown will host its home tournament, the Golden Bear Invite, at Berks Lanes in Sinking Spring, Pa., on Oct. 19-20.

Kutztown University has announced 28 student-athletes will represent its wrestling team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. The 11th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team heads into the season with a tremendous amount of momentum behind them as they open the 2024-25 season this weekend. The Golden Bears finished last season with a 5-2 dual record, finishing third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference while earning a first-place finish at the Fairmont State Invitational. KU came in third at the NCAA Super Region I Championships with 113.5 points, headlined by a 184-pound title from Matthew Weinberg. Their mark last year, as well as their returning squad, earned them an 11th-place ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll Monday, Oct. 28, tied with the 2021-22 squad for the highest preseason ranking in program history. The Golden Bears open the season at the 57th ESU Open Sunday, Nov. 3, at East Stroudsburg's Koehler Fieldhouse. They host their first dual of the season against Felician on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. at Keystone Arena.

Kutztown University has announced seven student-athletes will represent its men's swimming team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. After a 15-year hiatus, the Kutztown University men's swim team makes its long-awaited return in 2024-25. The Golden Bears last competed as a varsity program in 2008-09 and will take the first steps in rebuilding towards their past success. Kutztown's roster this season is comprised of seven swimmers, all underclassmen. Dual wins will be difficult to come by with limited numbers against larger established rosters but improving times throughout the season and achieving PSAC qualifying cuts will be tangible goals for the Golden Bears to shoot for.

Kutztown University has announced 21 student-athletes will represent its women's swimming team for the 2024-2025 season. Read the full season preview online. The Kutztown women's swim team is more motivated than ever heading into the 2024-25 regular season. With the reemergence of the men's swim program, there is a new sense of excitement and energy inside Keystone Natatorium as the new season begins this week. The Golden Bears open their campaign with the first meet of the season, a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference dual meet at Shippensburg Wednesday evening, Sept. 25. Following the meet with the Raiders, Kutztown will compete in the PSAC Fall Invite with several other conference teams Friday, Oct. 11. The home opener is set for Saturday, Oct. 26, against East Stroudsburg.

Kutztown University has announced 110 student-athletes will represent its football team for the 2024 season. Read the full season preview here. The anticipation is over for 10th-ranked Kutztown University football as the 2024 regular season is here. On the heels of the most successful season in program history last year, KU still wants to, and can, accomplish more in 2024. The Golden Bears are coming off a historic season in which they won a program-record 12 consecutive games on their way to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East, PSAC and Super Region I titles. Kutztown advanced to the NCAA DII semifinals for the first time in program history before falling to top-ranked and eventual national runner-up Colorado School of Mines to finish the 2023 season with a 12-3 record. The Golden Bears open their 2024 campaign with a Thursday night matchup against Assumption at Andre Reed Stadium at 7:30 p.m., on Sept. 5.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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 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'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 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.