Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

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

The Department of Psychology at Kutztown University is proud to present its Fall 2023 Student Award Winners: - Michelle Kenstler, Psi Chi Model Student. - Megan Tewksbury, Scientist/Practitioner Award. - Mandy Maiers, Field Experience Award. - Emma Meakim, Academic Achievement Award. - Samantha Smith, Student Leadership Award.

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

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

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

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

The accolades continued to roll in for Kutztown women's volleyball outside hitter Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) in her final season. On Wednesday, the graduate student was voted to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Atlantic Region Second Team. It is the first All-Region recognition for Doss, who was also voted to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference First Team for the second straight season. She gives the program its second consecutive All-Region performer in as many seasons. Doss is also a two-year team captain. 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. 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.

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.

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

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.

Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), a senior at Kutztown University, is the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2023 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship, announced Thursday evening at the annual banquet at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in Manchester, N.H. Gatehouse, a sport management major, is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete, D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award winner, NFHCA Scholar of Distinction and NFHCA National Academic Squad and Dean's List member, boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA. Back on Nov. 3, at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's final four at East Stroudsburg, Gatehouse was awarded the PSAC Champion Scholar award for the second straight year. Earlier this season, for her success on the field, she was voted the PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year, along with being named to the All-PSAC First Team for the second straight season. Gatehouse has been the backbone of a KU defense that ranks first in the conference and the nation in goals allowed (9) and goals against average (.338), starting all 20 games at center back. She is tied for the team lead with 19 points (7 goals, 5 assists). The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships. Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed. For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.com/elite-90.

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).

Prior to the Kutztown University women's soccer team's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament semifinal matchup against Gannon Friday evening, senior forward Rebekah March (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) was recognized as the 2023 PSAC Champion Scholar. Initiated for the 2011-12 academic year, the PSAC Champion Scholar Awards are modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 award and honor the student-athlete with the top-grade point average who is competing at the site of each of the PSAC's finals sites. The selection criteria for the Champion Scholar Awards is identical to that of the NCAA Elite 90 awards, which honor the student-athlete with the top GPA at each of the championship finals sites of the 90 NCAA championships across all three divisions - I, II, and III. March is a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete and earned a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award during her sophomore year in 2021. The Downingtown native is earning a degree in German Studies: Communication & Culture and has a perfect 4.0 through three years of study. She is the first PSAC Champion Scholar in Kutztown women's soccer program history. Sarah Gatehouse from KU field hockey was also recognized as a PSAC Champion Scholar in her respective sport.

Kutztown University student Jean Kiklikian Herrera (piano) was honored by the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association as part of its performance and composition competition winners.

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.

Prior to Friday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's semifinal round games at East Stroudsburg's Whitenight Field, senior captain Sarah Gatehouse of the Kutztown University field hockey team was recognized as the 2023 PSAC Champion Scholar. It is the second straight year Gatehouse received the award and she is the second player in program history to be crowned PSAC Champion Scholar, joining Hannah Shirk in 2019. The PSAC Champion Scholar Awards are modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 award and honor the student-athlete with the top-grade point average who is competing at the site of each of the PSAC's finals sites. The selection criteria for the Champion Scholar Awards is identical to that of the NCAA Elite 90 awards, which honor the student-athlete with the top GPA at each of the championship finals sites of the 90 NCAA championships across all three divisions - I, II, and III. Gatehouse, a sport management major, is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete, D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award winner, NFHCA Scholar of Distinction and NFHCA National Academic Squad and Dean's List member, boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA. Earlier this week she was voted the PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year, along with being named to the All-PSAC First Team for the second straight season. Gatehouse has been the backbone of a KU defense that ranks first in the conference in goals allowed (7) and goals against average (.338), starting all 18 games at center back. She is second on Kutztown with 18 points (7 goals, 4 assists).

Congratulations to Tammy Starner Wert M'23, executive assistant to the vice president of University Relations and Athletics, for being named the Assistant to the Provost for General Education. Tammy's new appointment will be effective Monday, Nov. 6. Tammy has served the division of University Relations and Athletics for more than eight years and has been with the university since 2007. She has been the lead point of contact for the Daily Brief and university operators, among other duties. Wert earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

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 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.

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 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.

Congratulations to the seven Kutztown University students presenting their geological research success at the annual international Geological Society of America meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa. this week. - Dr. Adrienne Oakley, Gabriella DeMarco (Marine Sciences) and Hannah Cutshaw (Biology) studied sands and mud deposited in the Chesapeake Bay to characterize changes in the environment during the past 20,000 years (after the last ice age). - Dr. Ed Simpson and Alayna Rea (Environmental Sciences-Geology) described a preserved termite mound from the Jurassic dinosaur period. - Dr. Ed Simpson, Jaylin Calistro (Geography and Geology), Jamie Cook (Geology), Joshua Scherer (Geology), Garrett Rogers (Geology) and Dakota Pittinger (Geology) studied microscopic features that help future paleontologists interpret the fate of dinosaur eggs - distinguishing between the different characteristics of eggshells fossilized after immediate burial, delayed burial and transport in a stream before fossilization. These studies were conducted using the Fred and Martha Hafer Scanning Electron Microscope Lab. Dr. Kurt Friehauf helped when he could.

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 announced that 281 students will be part of the university's Honors Program in 2023-2024. The Honors Program at Kutztown University provides high-achieving students with opportunities to engage in scholarship, leadership and service. The program, which is undergraduate in nature and open to full-time students, is comprised of a minimum of 21 credits in Honors courses including a senior Honors capstone project. The 21 Honors credits count toward the students' minimum of 120 credits that are regularly required for graduation. Honors students select specially designed Honors courses, course-by-contracts, independent studies and internships to earn Honors credit. Students are also required to complete 30 hours of community service before graduation. Learn more at https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/honors-program.html.

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.

Four Kutztown University students participated this year in Dr. Phill Reed's Planet-hunting Around the World with Students (PAWS) project. Fatima Kamara, Genevieve Macfarlane, and Philip Jahn spent 10 weeks working as research assistants at University of Southern Queensland and the MINERVA-Australis observatory in Australia, and Lauren Murphy worked on related outreach and broader impacts of the project here at KU's Observatory and Planetarium. The project focuses on discovering and characterizing new exoplanets in collaboration with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, and they explored additional topics including novel polarimetric observations, pulsating white dwarf stars, and the evolution of the Sun's magnetic activity. The PAWS project is three-year program funded by Reed's current $244,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF award #1952545).

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.

The Kutztown University Marching Unit (KUMU), an energetic part of the campus community, provides music, marching and entertainment for all KU Golden Bears football games, select away games, marching band festivals/competitions, professional sporting events, parades and campus spirit building activities. Under the direction of professor Daniel Neuenschwander, KUMU has announced its 2023 roster.

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.