Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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

Kutztown University and the Kutztown University Foundation have named 15 students as Presidential Ambassadors for the 2023-2024 school year. Founded in 1997, the Presidential Ambassadors is a Kutztown University student organization that works directly with the President's Office and the Kutztown University Foundation and Alumni Relations. The mission of the group is to support events that connect current students with alumni, faculty, staff and university friends, to act as ambassadors of the university and to create new traditions which enhance KU Pride. The Presidential Ambassadors' major fundraiser is the Tuition Sweepstakes. The winner of the sweepstakes is awarded one semester of in-state tuition to Kutztown University. Proceeds from the sweepstakes benefit ambassador programs and Kutztown University, including support of Dinner with Golden Bears, Grin and Bear It, Professional Headshots for KU Juniors and Senior, Love a Donor Week, Ladies Tea Scholarship, General Fund Scholarship, Play for Kay, Wounded Warrior 5k Race, campus and community wide events as well as many other events geared towards philanthropic efforts. The organization strives to build philanthropy and stewardship with the Kutztown University community. Learn more at https://www.kuf.org/alumni/kupa.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twenty-one Art and Design student-designed pieces were recently selected to be included in the Graphis International 2023 New Talent Annual. There were also gold and silver medals of outstanding achievement awarded to nine students. A gold medal was awarded to Emma Pearl Smith for the diecut album cover the Expansion of Soul from the Advanced Type course taught by Professor Elaine Cunfer, the Gold Medal is recognized internationally as an outstanding honor. Silver medals were granted to Anam Khan for her album cover, website and app for Creme de la Creme and to Hannah Ross for her Right Day for the Wrong Trousers album cover also created in Professor Elaine Cunfer's Advanced Typography course. An advertising print series by Anam Khan for Professor Summer Doll-Myers' Intro to Advertising course won a Silver Medal as well. Bluepr"nt Restaurant design by Em Mirra won a silver medal and was created for the KU Restaurant Design Seminar taught by Professor Vicki Meloney. Spiked Sweets by Olivia King and Flapper Chocolate Sauces designed by Em Mirra for a Package Design course taught by Professor Vicki Meloney also received Silver Medals. Two posters from a Poster Design Seminar taught by Professor Kate Clair received Silver Medals one was for Microplastic Biomagnification by Morghan Straub and Energy of the Future by Haley Wawrzynek. These silver medals from Graphis International are clearly an award of distinction. There were additional honorable mention awards garnered by KU students: three advertising pieces for Professor Summer Doll-Myers, branding for Professors Josh Miller, Mia Culbertson and Summer Doll-Myers, editorial design completed for Professor Elaine Cunfer, wine label designs for Professor Vicki Meloney, branding for Professor Karen Kresge and 12 posters designed for Professor Kate Clair.

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

Kutztown University is pleased to welcome the newest members of the Golden Bear family, including both new incoming freshmen and transfer students, for the upcoming 2023 fall semester.