Women’s
Indoor Track & Field Highlights Winter Sports Season
Kutztown University’s Women’s Indoor Track & Field team won its
third-straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Championship
to highlight the Golden Bears’ winter sports season. The title is the 17th
conference crown in the career of head coach Brian Mondschein, who was named
the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association East
Region Coach of the Year. The Golden Bears won just four individual events, but
the balanced squad had place winners in 16 of the championships’ 18 events.
Renee Marchand set a school record in placing first in the pentathlon, scoring
3,396 points. Laura Kline won the 400. Alison Maurer finished first in the 20-lb.
weight throw. The 4x800 relay team of Chelsea Thomas, Desiree Bower, Talia McKinney
and Cheryl Dingman took the PSAC title.
Also in
the winter, Kutztown’s men’s and women’s
basketball team qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference Playoffs. The men’s basketball team made
its fourth-straight trip to the PSAC playoffs for the first
time ever, and notched its fourth-consecutive winning season
for the first time since the 1910s. KU dropped its quarterfinal
match-up, 96-73, to Mansfield. Bruce Hall was named PSAC
East Player of the Year.
The Golden
Bear women made their 11th straight appearance in the playoffs,
the best current streak in the league. The KU also made its
first appearance in the PSAC final four since 1999. The Golden
Bears were the fourth seed as the playoffs began and traveled
to East Stroudsburg, the PSAC East #1 seed. Kutztown won
a close game, 55-50, to advance to the semifinals, held at
California, Pa. KU’s season came to a close in the
quarterfinals with a loss to Edinboro.
KU’s
men’s indoor track & field team placed third at
the conference championships. Steve Tyson defended his title
in the shot put. Steve Winters pole vaulted his way to first
place. The 4x800-meter relay team of Dave Tidey, Billy Boorse,
Ryan Jagielski and Tony Hegedus finished first and set a
meet record with a time of 7:49.01. The 4x400 relay team
of Steve Hixson, Kendel Dixon, Matt Carroll and Hegedus also
took top honors.
Kutztown’s
men’s and women’s swimming teams placed sixth
and ninth, respectively, at the PSAC Championships. Ashley
Singer highlighted the women’s performance, breaking
the school record in four events this season. Sean Bonifas
Finally,
Kutztown was the host of the NCAA Division II East Regional
wrestling championship at Keystone Hall. The Golden Bears
enjoyed its home-mat advantage, qualifying five wrestlers
for the NCAA Championship tournament, the most in one season
on record for KU. Brandon Clemmer (133 pounds), Chris Chambers
(149), Kevin Kalbach (157), Bret Wade (184) and Andy Freas
(285) each represented KU at the national championships.
