Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown University baseball players Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge), and Jake Skrocki (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) were all named to All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division teams, as announced by the conference Tuesday afternoon. Moretski earned a first team nod as a utility player, while Martini and Skrocki were named to the second team. It's the first time since 2014 that three Golden Bears have been named to all-conference teams. It's the second All-PSAC nod in Moretski's career, with the other being a second team honor in 2021. The Harleysville, Pa. native was efficient on the bump and at the dish yet again in 2023. Moretski ended the season with a 3.38 ERA, striking out 47 in 37.1 innings pitched. His five saves are tied for the second-most in the PSAC this season and eighth-most in a season in program history. Moretski capped off his season with a 15-strikeout performance against West Chester, the third-most strikeouts in a game in program history. At the plate, Moretski batted .288, with 38 hits, 22 RBI, and three home runs. His batting average was third on KU as he played second base the majority of the campaign. It's the first All-PSAC nod for both Martini and Skrocki. Martini led KU in batting average (.333), hits (57), RBI (40), and tied the team lead in home runs (8). His 40 RBI are the 12th-most in PSAC this season while his OPS (1.003) is top 20 in the conference. Martini was named the PSAC East Athlete of the Week and NCBWA Atlantic Region back on March 14 after strong performances against Chestnut Hill and Lincoln. Skrocki was the ace of the KU pitching staff all season. The right-hander from Royersford went 8-3 on the season with a 3.35 ERA, striking out 48 in 80.2 innings pitched. Skrocki is tied with Chase Nowak and Brent Francisco, both from East Stroudsburg, at the top of PSAC with eight wins. Skrocki tossed a complete game against Mansfield on April 14 in what was a 2-1 KU win and set career bests-in almost every statistical category in 2023. Despite being picked last in the PSAC East preseason coaches poll, the Golden Bears ended the season 26-19, including a 12-12 mark in PSAC East play. KU finished fifth in the East, just missing out on the PSAC Tournament due to a tiebreaker with Shippensburg.

Kutztown University's Department of Biology recently held its annual awards ceremony. We congratulate the following award recipients: - Samuel Gundy Early Achievement Scholarship in Biology: Abbie Banks and Isabelle Mack - Department of Biology Academic Excellence Awards: Sydnie Bisesi, Jessica Haas, Nathan Hoffman, Emily Leggiero and Samantha Mikos - Biology Department Outstanding Student in Major/Track Award: Molecular/Micro/Cell: Nathan Hoffman; PreMed/Health Careers: Samantha Mikos; Allied Health: Ciara Long; Marine Science/Biology: Caroline Weber; Environmental Science/Biology: Emily Leggiero - Ronald R. Rhein Biology Scholarship: Elizabeth Hoffeditz - CPUB Award: Outstanding student in Biology, usually involving research: Sydnie Bisesi - Cyrus E. Beekey Award: Outstanding Graduate in Biology: Nathan Hoffman - Outstanding Student in Biology Award: Emily Leggiero - Biology Department Research Recognition Award: Nicholas Heffelfinger

Congratulations to the following Kutztown University Department of Computer Science and Information Technology students on receiving the department's 2022-2023 Graduation Award for Academic Excellence. - Atom Roese, B.S. Computer Science - Spencer Paukstis, B.S. Information Technology - Luis Feliz, B.S. Game Development - Nathan Zolna, M.S. Computer Science (Combined B.S.)

On Wednesday, May 3, Kutztown University's Department of Communication Studies presented its annual student awards. - Outstanding Senior in Communication Studies for Academic Excellence: Avery Meiners, Perkasie, Pa. - Outstanding Achievement for a Senior in Communication Studies: Lauren Jackson, Stafford, Va., Kyle Golden, Hellertown, Pa. and Wioletta Zieba, Bethlehem, Pa. - Outstanding Senior in Communication Studies for Dedication and Service: Wesley Butler, Reading, Pa. - Outstanding Senior in Social Media Theory & Strategy for Academic Excellence: Kayla Sherry, Tamaqua, Pa. - Outstanding Achievement for a Senior in Social Media Theory & Strategy: Chloe Krempasky, Schnecksville, Pa., Emily Lynch, Fallsington, Pa., Emily Sewilo, Schnecksville, Pa. and Maggie Strawoet, Mercersburg, Pa. - Outstanding Senior in Social Media Theory & Strategy for Dedication and Service: Kaitlin Bilger, Macungie, Pa.

Six Kutztown University women's lacrosse players were voted All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division, including four to the First Team, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon. Defender Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) was named First Team along with a trio of attackers in Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland). Second Team honors went to attack Shannon Lake (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) and defender Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional). The six selections are the most for Kutztown since the program regained varsity status in 2008 and second-most all-time to a record eight picks in 1982. Conteh concludes the trio of all-conference picks that moved from the Second Team in 2022 to the First Team in 2023. The senior from Elizabethtown, Pa., is having a career year for the nationally ranked Golden Bears. In 17 games (all starts), Conteh has caused a team-high 23 turnovers, won 57 draw controls and collected 39 ground balls. Conteh also has one goal on the year. Over the course of her 51-game career, Conteh has compiled 130 draw controls (fourth in program history), 47 caused turnovers and 88 ground balls. She spent her first two seasons as an offensive midfielder, registering 26 goals and 30 points before transitioning to defense under current head coach Kristen Nicholson in 2022. ElBouazzaoui is a repeat all-conference selection after capturing a Second Team spot in 2022. The sophomore from Bridgewater, N.J., leads the Golden Bears and ranks fourth in the PSAC with a career-high 50 goals . She'd been held without a goal in just one of KU's 17 games and has 10 hat tricks to her credit, including a career-high seven goals in a win over Bloomsburg, April 19. ElBouazzaoui has fired 125 shots, second most on the team, and her 24 draw controls rank third. With three points in Kutztown's PSAC quarterfinal win over 15th-ranked East Stroudsburg, Tuesday, ElBouazzaoui surpassed 100 career points (102) in just 34 games. She's seven goals shy of 100 in her career. Graf also has two All-PSAC East honors in as many seasons and is appearing on the First Team for the first time. The dynamic midfielder sits third in the conference in draw controls with a program season record 106, third in shots with 129, fifth in goals with 49 and sixth in points with 65. Graf, a Wayne, N.J., native, has set new career-highs in goals, points, shots, draw controls, ground balls (team-high 43) and caused turnovers (21). She joins ElBouazzaoui with a team-high 10 hat tricks this season. Meakim's development has been on an upward trajectory since she arrived at Kutztown in 2021. The first-time all-conference selection is having an outstanding junior season, setting new program single-season records in assists (58) and points (81), while chipping in 23 goals, 31 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. The Hatboro, Pa., product leads the PSAC in assists and ranks second in assists per game (3.41), while ranking fifth in NCAA Division II in both categories. Meakim is also third in the league in points and points per game (4.76). She has 13 multi-assist performances in 17 games this season, including a career-high eight against Lock Haven, March 11. The Maroon and Gold have counted upon Lake to take on more of a scoring role this spring and she has delivered. The junior from Medford, N.Y., has started all 17 games on attack and heads into Friday's PSAC semifinal against Seton Hill one goal shy of her first career 40-goal season. Lake has produced 39 goals, 13 assists and 52 points, while adding 14 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. She's recorded 13 multi-goal games and has been red hot down the stretch for KU with 23 goals over her last nine games, including a career-high five at Millersville, April 22. Spector is a physical force for the Bears on the backline, where she's supplied a career-high 19 caused turnovers and 30 ground balls. The junior and two-year starter from Northfield, N.J., has also totaled five draw controls. In 42 career games, Spector has 80 ground balls and 33 caused turnovers. Kutztown's four First Team selections were second-most in the conference behind unbeaten and top-ranked West Chester's five. East Stroudsburg added three as the three teams combined for 12 of the 13 picks. Millersville defender Taiyana Goldsborough was the only player from another team to break onto the First Team. The Golden Bears were also second to West Chester in overall all-conference honorees. This year's PSAC East major award winners were West Chester's Hannah Stanislawczyk (Athlete of the Year), East Stroudsburg's Maggie Sell (Defensive Athlete of the Year), East Stroudsburg's Hannah Schiemer (Freshman of the Year) and West Chester's Ginny Martino (Coach of the Year).

Kutztown University's Department of Geography recently held its annual awards ceremony and Gamma Theta Upsilon induction. Congratulations to the following students. 2023 Student awardees: - Emily Leggiero, Justham Family Memorial Award - Patrick O'Brien, C. Josephine Moyer Geography Award - Emily Leggiero, Delaware Valley Geographical Award - Sorrel Langkamer-Smith, Robert and Rosalin Ensminger Award 2023 Gamma Theta Upsilon Inductees: - Anthony DeFusco - Zachary Goodman - Natalie Kamieniecki - Sorrel Langkamer-Smith

Senior Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) and sophomores Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) and Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg) were named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams, voted on by the league's head coaches and released Tuesday. Harvey earned a spot on the First Team, while Stocklin and Gravish are on the Second Team. It is the third All-PSAC recognition for Harvey, who was named First Team last season and Second Team in 2021. The utility/pitcher has found most of her success in 2023 at the plate, leading Kutztown in batting average (.392), slugging percentage (.615), home runs (8) and RBIs (36). Her average and HRs both rank inside the top-10 in the PSAC. Harvey has started 47-of-49 games played this season. She also boasts a winning record as a pitcher, going 6-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 26 appearances. Stocklin was voted All-PSAC for the first time in her career and is having a sophomore surge. She leads the KU lineup in hits (61) and runs scored (42), and is second in batting average (.357), starting all 50 games in the leadoff spot, setting the tone for her team to score runs. Stocklin has three triples on the year, which is tied for ninth-best in the conference. Gravish has followed in the footsteps of last year's No. 1 starter, Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro), admirably in her first real season of action. She has a 17-6 record with a 1.94 ERA in 31 appearances, making 17 starts and throwing 144.2 innings. Her 17 victories is tied for third in the PSAC and her ERA ranks fifth. Gravish has struck out 108 batters, tied for eighth in the PSAC, and opponents are hitting just .256 off the right-hander. Kutztown finished the regular season with a 28-22 overall record and 22-10 mark in the PSAC East. KU is the three seed and will take on the West's two seed, Mercyhurst, in its first game of the PSAC Tournament on Wednesday, May 3, at 12:30 p.m., from Veterans Park in Quakertown.

Five members of the Kutztown University wrestling team were named 2023 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) DII Scholar All-Americans. Andreo Ferraina (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg), Hunter Horton (James Creek, Pa./Tussey Mountain), Alex Ward (Manassas, Va./Battlefield), and Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) were the Golden Bears tabbed for the recognition. In order to be eligible for the award, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. The benchmark for those who qualified for the 2023 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship is a 3.25 GPA, while All-Americans had to maintain a 3.0. Wrestlers also had to have competed in four dates of competition. As a team, the Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, capped off by a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Super Region I Championships. Both Weinberg and Gimbor represented KU at the NCAA Division II Championship, with Weinberg earning All-American status and placing fourth at 184-pounds. That duo both earned All-PSAC nods as well. Horton, a redshirt freshman, competed at the 165 and 174-pound weight classes and finished with a 7-8 overall record, including two pins. Ferraina, also a redshirt freshman, competed at 125 and 133-pounds, finishing with a 6-4 record. Ward, a freshman, wrestled at 174 and 184-pounds, finishing his first collegiate season with a 6-6 record.

KU special education majors (pictured from left to right) Hallie Page, Morgan Pierce and Rosetta Teutonico spoke on a panel along with three students from Elizabethtown College at the 11th annual District HR Exchange Conference held at Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center Thursday, April 27. The three pre-service teachers shared their perspectives on what they hope for in a future teaching position. The conference session was attended by superintendents, HR directors and other district and intermediate unit administrators in an effort to learn what factors are most likely to attract and keep prospective new teachers entering the profession.

Kutztown University wrestling placed All-American Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) and national qualifier Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) on 2022-23 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams. Weinberg is a repeat First Team selection after going 28-3 and placing fourth in the 184-pound weight class at the NCAA Division II Championships. The Philadelphian led Kutztown in wins, wins over nationally-ranked opponents (four), technical falls (four) and pins (14). He went a perfect 11-0 in duals, including 7-0 in PSAC matches, while racking up 52 team points for the Golden Bears. Weinberg finished runner-up at 184 in the NCAA Super Region 1 Championships, before battling back from a first round defeat at nationals to reach the consolation final and ultimately finish fourth for his first All-America honor. Gimbor, in his first year as a Golden Bear, reached the 20-win mark with a pair of victories in the NCAA DII Championships and secured a spot on the All-PSAC Third Team. The Bernville, Pa., native registered a 21-10 overall record, five pins and a team-leading five major decisions. Gimbor posted an 8-3 record in duals and went 5-2 in PSAC duals, earning 33 team points while yielding just nine. He qualified for nationals by virtue of a third-place finish in the 165-pound bracket at the Super Region 1 Championships and went on to win a preliminary round match and consolation match in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Eric Bartos of Mercyhurst claimed Athlete of the Year, while teammate Jake Niffenegger was voted Freshman of the Year. Pitt-Johnstown's Pat Pecora took home his third straight Coach of the Year honor.

Two Kutztown University student-athletes were featured on the 2022-23 All-East Coast Conference teams. Junior Chloe Sromovski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) was voted to the First Team while classmate Megan Hanaway (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) made the Second Team. The all-conference honors are the first of both Sromovski and Hanaway's careers, and mark the first time the Golden Bears have had multiple all-conference selections since 2018. Sromovski has had another terrific season for the Maroon and Gold and is coming off her first career ECC Bowler of the Week nod yesterday. The Wilkes-Barre, Pa., native is Kutztown's workhorse, having put in 500 Baker frames and 295 traditional frames --both team-highs-- heading into this weekend's conference championship tournament. She leads all Golden Bears with a 192.5 traditional average and is second in Baker frame average at 18.71. Sromovski is also tops on the team in fill percentage, strikes, spares and makable spares in both Baker and traditional play. Sromovski is the first KU bowler to earn All-ECC First Team accolades in six years, dating back to Jenn Fitts and Angela Kozma in 2017. Hanaway is enjoying the best year of her career, having developed into a team leader for head coach Angela Reynolds. She currently leads the Bears with an 18.76 Baker frame average across 398 frames and is tied for the team lead in Baker fill percentage with Sromovski at 79.6%. Hanaway, from Forked River, N.J., also sports a 175.9 traditional average. Mercyhurst captured all three major awards with Haley Youker taking Bowler of the Year, Jenna Stretch Rookie of the Year and Micahel Machuga Coach of the Year.

Kutztown University has announced 14 student-athletes will represent its women's bowling team for the 2022-2023 season. Read the full season preview here.

The National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association announced its Academic Honor Roll for the 2023 season, including 10 from Kutztown University. Shayla Anderson-Buchanan (Philadelphia, Pa./New Hope Christian Academy), Allison Fernandez (Westfield, N.J./Westfield), Sydney Gibbons (Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria), Abby Kiely (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro), Cecilia Marshall (Bellingham, Mass./Home Schooled), Jordyn Osner (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown), Ashley Ryan (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus), Paige Saxey (Clearfield, Utah/Clearfield), Emilee Stelma (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) and RoseMary Werkheiser (Easton, Pa./Easton) were all tabbed to the list. The 2023 NCATA Academic Honor Roll includes all active Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athletes with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or higher. In all, 516 Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athletes, from 34 competing teams, were named to the NCATA Academic Honor Roll in 2023. Kutztown finished this season with a winning record at 5-3 overall and was undefeated inside Keystone Arena. The Golden Bears also set several new event records and set a new overall score record along the way.

The Andrew Goodman Foundation (AGF) recognized six Hidden Heroes at the 2023 Hidden Heroes Award and Ambassador Send-Off Ceremony (virtual) Thursday, April 27, including Kutztown University junior Hannah Williams as the Rising Star of the Year. Awardees were recognized for their commitment to ensuring college students on campuses nationwide are registered, informed and civically engaged during election seasons and beyond. The Rising Star of the Year is awarded to an Andrew Goodman Ambassador who is a first- or second-year student and exhibits the qualities of an Ambassador Honoree. Williams is a junior at KU majoring in political science with paralegal studies and minoring in sociology. They plan to work as a paralegal in the field of environmental law. Williams is passionate about civil rights, environmental protection and LGBTQ rights and hopes to encourage students to vote intentionally and effectively. Williams has been a dedicated Ambassador for two semesters, hitting the ground running upon joining the Andrew Goodman Network ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Bringing an unending enthusiasm for community organizing to each project, Williams has flawlessly executed numerous engaging events on campus at Kutztown University. This year, Williams joined Mo Banks, host of The Andrew Goodman Foundation's Live The Legacy Podcast to record Season 3, Episode 5 in which they offered a no-nonsense approach on why young voters are turning out in record numbers. Learn more online. About The Andrew Goodman Foundation The Andrew Goodman Foundation's mission is to make young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy by training the next generation of leaders, engaging young voters and challenging restrictive voter suppression laws. The organization is named after Andrew Goodman, a Freedom Summer volunteer and champion of equality and voting rights who was murdered, alongside James Earl Chaney and Michael Schwerner, by the KKK in 1964 while registering Black Americans to vote in Mississippi. To learn more, visit www.andrewgoodman.org.

13 students were inducted into Kutztown University's Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society Tuesday, April 18. Those inducted were Eric Bittenbender, Nathan Boyd, Sara Cabry, Andrew Carducci, Samantha Dunlap, Melissa Fatzinger, Reilly Hastings, Alex Kowalchuk, Kylie Krantz, Sarah Lazarchak, Olivia Mastroeni, Declan Mullen and Michael Weisser. Learn more about KU's Department of History at https://www.kutztown.edu/academics/colleges-and-departments/liberal-arts-and-sciences/departments/history.html.

Kutztown University presented the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards to six accomplished students Friday, April 21. Students who received awards were nominated by staff and faculty members for meeting one or more of the six areas of achievement: successfully completed research projects, high-quality original artwork, high-quality artistic performances (music, chorus, drama, etc.), original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields, noteworthy achievements in athletics, and outstanding service to the KU community.

This spring, two students from Kutztown University participated in The Washington Center (TWC)'s first Cybersecurity Accelerator Program, including Adam Frederick, a sophomore, computer science major from Exeter, Pa.; and Delijah Joseph, a junior, information technology major from Mount Pocono, Pa. This program was designed to engage historically marginalized learners with career exploration, mentorship and networking in the fastest growing and rewarding field of cybersecurity. Thanks to scholarships provided by select states along with private donors, this program was available at no cost to students. Participants were invited to join The Cyber Guild for a digital Cyber Discovery Experience and to travel to Washington, D.C. for a Cybersecurity Bootcamp Weekend. As part of this weekend experience, students heard from representatives from The White House, United States Cyber Command, CISA (among others) and were able to network with over 35 employers. They also had the opportunity to tour the Verizon Tech and Policy Center and AWS Skills Center. See photos of the bootcamp here. Through this program, many participants were also selected for a virtual micro-internship by a cybersecurity employer, where they received a financial stipend, worked with an employer supervisor and gained access to Teach to Work trained project-based mentorship. About The Washington Center The Washington Center is the largest and most established student internship program in Washington, D.C. Since our founding, we've helped more than 60,000 young people translate their college majors into career paths. We use our scale and expertise to customize each student's experience to be truly transformative. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn.

Congratulations to Kutztown University College of Business students Hernan Machorro and Cameron Baumgardner on their performance at the ninth annual Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Collegiate Financial Plan Competition. There were 222 plans submitted this year and Machorro placed seventh (winning a monetary prize) and Baumgardner received Honorable Mention.

Kutztown University has conferred degrees for more than 430 students for the 2022 fall semester and 2023 winter session. 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 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.

Kutztown University inducted 37 new members into the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology at its annual induction ceremony this spring. Psi Chi is the International Honor Society for Psychology majors, with chapters around the globe. The KU Chapter of Psi Chi holds biweekly meetings and plans other events for its members and other psychology students. Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings, where topics typically center around psychological research and graduate school. To join Psi Chi, you must meet certain membership qualifications (see below). More about the benefits of joining Psi Chi can be found on the Psi Chi Website. The Psi Chi website also has more information about awards, careers, graduate school, preparing research presentations, conventions and chapter information, so check it out! The Kutztown University Chapter of Psi Chi is open to all students who meet the following KU Chapter qualifications for active student membership: Completion of at least 36 credits for undergraduates, 12 of which were taken at Kutztown University; 15 credits for graduate students. Completion of 9 semester hours of Psychology taken at KU. Declaration of a major or minor in psychology. An overall cumulative GPA and a minimum GPA in psychology of 3.30 for undergraduates; 3.75 for graduate students. High standards of personal behavior. Two-thirds affirmative vote of those present at a regular meeting of the chapter.

Kutztown University athletics honored 95 student-athletes Thursday afternoon as a part of the Pennsylvania Alpha Omega Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma in the National College Athlete Honor Society. The luncheon recognized those student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and competition. Chi Alpha Sigma was founded in 1996 by then DePauw University head football coach Nick Mourouzis. His goal was to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected within a fraternal association that aligns their educational and athletic successes for a lifetime. In order to be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, USCAA or NCCAA. The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).

Kutztown University inducted 40 students into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at the induction ceremony held Tuesday, Feb. 28. Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established in 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study.

Kutztown University will have 27 student-athletes representing its women's lacrosse program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview. Kutztown women's lacrosse had a competitive first year of a new regime last season under head coach Kristen Nicholson. The Golden Bears are searching for more in 2023 as they are set to begin their season this weekend. It may not have been the way they had hoped it would have gone from a wins and losses standpoint, but Nicholson was proud of how her team competed all season in her first year in charge. "I think we exceed our expectations of what I thought we would accomplish in year one," said Nicholson. "We were able to compete with the best teams in the country and go toe-to-toe with them. I think our record did not reflect what we accomplished and how much we grew. That has set us up for this season and we know that we belong in any game. Our successes will show. This season isn't about just competing anymore, it's about winning. I want this program to reach the heights that I know we're capable of reaching. We want to win more conference games than we have before. We have goals in reach, but we're going to take it day-by-day until the end of the year." KU finished the 2022 season at 4-13 overall and 1-11 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. However, eight of the losses were decided by just three goals or less, showing that the Maroon and Gold were just a couple of bounces away from a completely different season. The Maroon and Gold have four non-conference games on their schedule, including three in-a-row during the first week of the regular season. A home game with Holy Family (Feb. 25) and contests at Caldwell (March 1) and Wilmington (March 4) will give Kutztown early tests before PSAC play starts with a home game against Shepherd on March 8.

Kutztown University will have 27 student-athletes representing its baseball program for the 2023 season. Read the season preview online. As the spring approaches, Kutztown University baseball is ready to translate its hard off-season work to the diamond in 2023. The Golden Bears struggled on the field in 2022, going 11-35 with a 4-20 mark in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play. KU finished second-last in the conference in ERA and batting average. For fourth-year head coach Eric Folmar, last season is a memory he and his squad are trying to put behind them. "In our first team meeting we talked about last season for maybe five minutes before putting it behind us," Folmar said. "We're focused on this year and what we need to do to improve and put ourselves in a better position on and off the field."

Kutztown University Field Hockey had four student-athletes on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholars of Distinction honors for 2022, announced Thursday. Morgan Benner (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh), Jillian Buchman (Drums, Pa./Hazleton), Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) and Dariane Jones (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) all were recognized by the NFHCA for their hard work in the classroom. This year, more than 100 student-athletes were recognized as NFHCA Division II Scholars of Distinction. The Division II Scholars of Distinction program recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2022-23 academic year. Since nine-year head coach Marci Scheuing arrived prior to the 2013 season, Kutztown has consistently paired high-level of play on the field and academic performance in the classroom. Multiple Golden Bear student-athletes have been honored as NFHCA Scholars of Distinction each season since 2014 --including a program-high seven following the 2016 season. It is the third straight honor for Buchman and Gatehouse and first for Benner and Jones.

Kutztown University will have 20 student-athletes representing its women's acrobatics and tumbling program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview. Amidst the craziness of building a foundation for her first-year program, head coach Karah Paull could finally take a step back last April and be proud of all the Kutztown University acrobatics & tumbling program had achieved. The Golden Bears went 3-3 in their inaugural season, culminating with a victory over East Stroudsburg in which KU set a season-high 219.750 meet score. There were growing pains along the way, but those were offset by strong performances that provided optimism for the level the program aims to compete at, now and in the future. Once the 2022 season concluded, Paull's focus was squarely on what she can do to help Kutztown take the next step forward. The Bears will get the chance to test themselves once again in their opening meet of 2023 when they travel to fourth-ranked Quinnipiac, Saturday, Feb. 11.

The Kutztown University field hockey team had 12 of its members receive recognition on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II National Academic Squad. The program honors student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher through the first semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. 318 student-athletes from 30 Division II institutions have been named to the 2022 NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad. Breann Craley (York, Pa./Central York) is a four-year member of the team. Shannon Barrett (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas), Jillian Buchman (Drums, Pa./Hazleton), Megan Doyle (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), Alyssa Eager (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall), Greenleigh McGehee (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh), Andie Sierer (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Abby Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa./Northampton) are all multi-year members.

Kutztown University will have 20 student-athletes representing its softball program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview. For just the second time in program history and the first since the 2014 season, the Kutztown University softball team enters this season as defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champions. The 2023 season could turn out to be another historic one for KU, looking to repeat as conference champions and be the PSACs first repeat champ since California (Pa.) won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. The expectations are high and the ability to accomplish it is there, as the Golden Bears were picked second in the PSAC East Division preseason poll by the head coaches, and were also ranked 15th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason national poll, released last week. The defending PSAC champion Golden Bears reached the Super Regional round of the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in program history last year--first since finishing as the national runner-up in 2013-- and registered its seventh 40-win season, finishing 40-15 overall.

14 Kutztown University students have been inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) as part of the Fall 2022 class. To be inducted at KU, students must attend an orientation, a three-hour leadership training seminar, three success networking team meetings and three speaker broadcasts featuring leading figures delivering success-related messages to members.

Kutztown University will have 71 student-athletes representing its track & field program for the 2022-23 season. The Golden Bears season is underway, with full schedules and results at www.KUBears.com.