Kutztown University

The following are press releases for the Kutztown University Athletic Department, released during the time listed above. For more information, contact the sports information office.

January 30, 2006

TRISH DUDECK NAMED PSAC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Trish Dudeck (sr. Shamokin/Shamokin), of the women’s basketball team, has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Player of the Week.

Dudeck led Kutztown to a 2-0 week with wins over West Chester and Mansfield. She averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, while hitting 68.2% of her field goals. Dudeck scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 11 boards against West Chester. She also scored 11 points, KU's only player in double figures, in a 50-45 win at Mansfield.

Through 18 games, Dudeck is averaging 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She leads the PSAC in field goal percentage, hitting 65% of her shots (65-of-100).

Kutztown is 12-6 overall, including a 4-0 mark in the PSAC East. Kutztown returns to action on Wednesday at Millersville.

January 30, 2006

NCAA BASKETBALL MASCOT TO APPEAR AT KUTZTOWN FEBRUARY 4
J.J. Jumper appearance part of KU’s Take a Kid to the Game Day

KUTZTOWN, PA – Fans of Kutztown University basketball might be surprised to see a not-so-familiar 6’5” creature lurking around Keystone Hall on February 4 during their doubleheader versus East Stroudsburg.

There’s nothing to be alarmed about, though, as that creature is none other than J.J. Jumper, the official basketball mascot of the NCAA. He is scheduled to appear at Kutztown University during the games as part of the school’s “Take a Kid to the Game” promotion.

J.J. Jumper, originally created in 1999, is 6’5” and green with a shock of orange hair. His purpose is to allow the NCAA to connect to a younger audience, while at the same time educating them about healthy physical and emotional values. This will be J.J.’s second trip to Keystone, after his entertaining appearance in Kutztown last year.

In addition to the NCAA giveaways, skits and mingling with the fans, J.J. Jumper also aims to educate children about healthy physical and emotional values. J.J. also tries to reach fans of both genders and all races.

The 2005-06 season is the program’s fifth full season. During the past four seasons, J.J. Jumper has made more than 275 visits at member institutions, appearing at almost 600 men’s and women’s basketball games. J.J. performs at men's and women's basketball regular season games in all three divisions, conference tournaments and all NCAA basketball championships.

As part of the Take a Kid to the Game promotion, all children 14 and under will receive free admission for the game, when accompanied by a paying adult. Other ticket prices are as follows: Adults - $5.00, Senior Citizens - $3.00, non-KU students (ages 15 and older) - $2.00. All KU students, faculty and staff are free with a valid Kutztown ID. There will be free NCAA giveaways for the first 250 kids.

The women’s game on February 4th is set to tip off at 1:00 PM, with the men’s contest following at 3:00 PM. Tickets for the East Stroudsburg games are available by calling (610) 683-4094 or can be purchased on game day at Keystone Hall.

January 25, 2006

KUTZTOWN WRESTLERS READY FOR PSAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University wrestling team is set to travel to Slippery Rock for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships this Saturday.

Kutztown will have its hands full this weekend as most of the competition is Division I. Kutztown and Shippensburg are the only Division II teams at the meet this weekend. The Golden Bears have had 34 place winners over the last 10 years at the PSAC Championships. Kutztown enters this weekend with a record of 6-6 thus far in dual meets.

KU will be led by Ryan Wasser (sr. Northampton/Northampton) at 174. Wasser was one of two NCAA qualifiers for Kutztown last season. He leads the Golden Bears with an 18-7 record and has four wins by falls and three technical falls. He finished sixth as a freshman at the PSAC Championships and fifth last season. Wasser was sixth at the East Regional as a freshman and third last season.

Brandon Clemmer (so. Upper Perkiomen/Upper Perkiomen) has been very impressive at 133. After he qualified to the NCAA Championships as a freshman, Clemmer has not let down as a sophomore. So far, he is 14-7 on the season with five falls. Last year, he finished 22-10 overall and second at the East Regional.

Bret Wade (sr. Phoenixville/Phoenixville) has been impressive at 184. Wade is 14-8 thus far with five falls. He finished 17-10 last season and was fifth at the East Regional.

Kevin Kalbach (jr. Downingtown/Downingtown) has compiled a 12-4 record this year at 157. Kalbach finished 17-15 last season and sixth at the East Regional.

Andy Freas (jr. Trexlertown/Emmaus) has been KU’s heavyweight this year. Freas is 8-5 on the season. He placed fourth at the PSAC Championships as a freshman and fifth last season. Freas finished sixth at the East Regional the past two seasons.

The remaining probable starters for the Golden Bears this weekend include Cory Weiss (fr. Gilbertsville/St. Pius X) at 125, Brett Martinez (fr. Slatington/Northern Lehigh) at 141, Chris Chambers (fr. Holland/Council Rock South) at 149, Jon Shaffer at 165 (sr. Conshohocken/Plymouth-Whitemarsh) and Curtis Beardsell (r-fr. Warminster/William Tennent) at 197.

The wrestling action starts at 9:00 AM. The championship session is set to start at 6:00 PM.

January 25, 2006

STEVE TYSON HONORED BY PSAC

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University track and field athlete Steve Tyson (So, Bridgeport/Upper Merion) has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.

Tyson won the shot put at the Ursinus Invitational on January 20 with a toss of 51-8 ½. This throw was a season best for Tyson, topping his prior mark by over a foot (50-5), and the best in the PSAC.

One week prior, Tyson placed first in the 35-pound weight throw at the Kutztown Invitational. His throw of 46-5 ½ ranks him fifth in the PSAC for that event.

The Kutztown University indoor track and field teams will compete next at the Penn State National Open as well as the Bucknell Bison Open this Friday through Saturday.

January 25, 2006

SIXTY-SIX GOLDEN BEARS NAMED TO FALL 2006 DEAN’S LIST

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University recently announced its Dean's List for the Fall 2005 semester. Among those honored were 66 Golden Bear student-athletes.

A grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.60 and the completion of at least 12 credit hours for the semester are needed for selection to the Dean's List.

Kutztown's 66 athletes, including 18 with a 4.0 GPA for the fall, represent 21 sports. They are as follows:

Baseball
Jeffrey Craig (jr. Wilkes-Barre/Bishop Hoban)
Steve Craig (fr. Wilkes-Barre/Bishop Hoban)
Matthew Dierolf (so. Boyertown/Boyertown)
Matt Jones (so. Lititz/Warwick)
Phillip Rummel (so. Exeter/West-Mont Christian)

Women’s Basketball
Lara Dellgrotti (fr. Berwick/Berwick)
Katie Harlor (so. Danville/Danville)
Kelley Healey (fr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) (also Field Hockey)

Cheer Team
Meghan Ghaffari (jr. Howell, NJ/Howell)
Sarah Ruth (so. Hershey/Hershey
Jessica Wert (Belleville/Indian Valley)

M. Cross Country/Indoor, Outdoor Track & Field
Ryan Friedman (fr. Pomona, NY/North Rockland)
Tony Hegedus (jr. Coopersburg/Southern Lehigh)
John Pyne (fr. Harrisburg/Bishop McDevitt)

W. Cross Country/Indoor, Outdoor Track & Field
Sandra Creason (so. Harrisburg/Central Dauphin)
Hailey Dell (fr. Saranac Lake, NY/Saranac Lake)
Laura Deller (so. York/Dallastown)
Felicia Gonzalez (so. Reading/Holy Name)
Kristin Green (so. Camp Hill/Camp Hill)
Rebecca Griffin (fr. Cape May C.H., NJ/Middle Twp.)
Erica Kabbeko (fr. Bridsboro/Twin Valley)
Julie Karaszkiewicz (fr. Boothwyn/Garnet Valley)
Laura Kline (sr. Reading/Reading) (also Field Hockey)
Megan Lacy (jr. Richboro/Villa Joseph Marie)
Renee Marchand (jr. Hawley/Wallenpaupack)
Chrissy Procopio (sr. Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills)
Amy Schaeffer (sr. Richland/ELCO)
Corri Speakman (fr. Reading/Exeter)
Erin Waters (so. Waymart/Western Wayne) (also Volleyball)
Stephanie Williams (so. Harrisburg/Riverside)

Field Hockey
Amanda Behney (sr. Lyons/Kutztown)
Laura Belfatti (jr. Hatfield/Lansdale Catholic)
Trista Hershey (sr. Fredericksburg/Tulpehocken)
Heather Hoxter (so. Parkesburg/Octorara)
Jamie Kennally (sr. Lansdale/Lansdale Catholic)
Lauren McCabe (sr. Shohola/Delaware Valley)
Laura Wieder (so. Emmaus/Emmaus)
Kate Zelazny (fr. Danville/Danville)

Football
Michael Baldwin (sr. Philadelphia/Dobbins Tech)
Larry Baumgardner (so. New Oxford/New Oxford)
Chris Branco (sr. Hellertown/Saucon Valley)
Dan Chominski (jr. Boothwyn/Chichester)
Tom Cressman (so. Sellersville/Pennridge)
Brett Harbach (jr. West Lawn/Wilson)
Greg Mitchell (sr. Bethlehem/Bethlehem Catholic)
Dustin Woodward (jr. Lancaster/Penn Manor)

Women’s Golf
Amy Miller (so. Schuylkill Haven/Shuylkill Haven)

Women’s Soccer
Allyson Dattola (so. Langhorne/Neshaminy)
Julie Folsom (so. Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland Regional)
Lesley Freer (fr. Honesdale/Honesdale)
Erin Gallagher (sr. Voorhees, NJ/Eastern)

Softball
Jackie Messina (so. Allentown/Parkland)

Men’s Swimming
John Pandish (fr. Milford/Delaware Valley)

Women’s Swimming
Colleen Brady (sr. Harleysville/St. Pius X)
Ashley Singer (so. Lititz/Warwick)

Men’s Tennis
Lukas Beman (jr. Woodend, AUSTRALIA)

Women’s Tennis
Kristen Bodalski (sr. Media/Cardinal O’Hara)
Priya Pachkawde (jr. Nasik, INDIA)

Volleyball
Stephanie Biester (so. Lansdowne/Arch. Pendergast)
Sarah Brandon (jr. Gibsonia/Pine-Richland)
Shelby Bunting (jr. Green Lane/Pennridge)
Krystalee George (jr. Alburtis/Emmaus)
Shannon Sullivan (sr. Pine Grove/Pine Grove)
Dani Witherite (jr. PA Furnace/State College)

Wrestling
Jarod Fisher (fr. Birdsboro/Governor Mifflin)
Charles Kolb (so. Easton/Easton)

January 18, 2006

BALDWIN, KLINE NAMED TO PSAC FALL TOP TEN

KUTZTOWN, PA – Two Kutztown University student-athletes, Michael Baldwin (sr. Philadelphia/ Dobbins Tech) of the football team and Laura Kline (sr. Reading/Reading) of the field hockey team, have been named to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Top 10 list for the fall 2005 season, as selected by the PSAC sports information directors.

The Top 10 award recognizes student-athletes who differentiate themselves in the classroom and competition. To be a candidate, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and must be a starter or key reserve in their respective sport.

Michael Baldwin -
PSAC Top 10

Baldwin has a 3.78 GPA in criminal justice. The PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Year, Baldwin started all 10 games for KU in 2005, and finished fourth on the team with 61 tackles. He blocked five kicks, including two punts, two field goals, and an extra point. He had two interceptions, nine pass breakups, forced a pair of fumbles and recovered two others. He returned one fumble for a school-record 98 yard TD against Clarion. In his career, Baldwin appeared in 38 games. He had 203 career tackles, 24 pass breakups and three interceptions. Other awards Baldwin has received this post-season include first-team All-PSAC East, first-team Daktronics All-Northeast Region, first-team Academic All-District II, second team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America and 2005 Associated Press Little All-America second team.

Laura Kline -
PSAC Top 10

Kline has a perfect 4.00 GPA as a special education major. Kline started all 21 games this season. She scored two goals, one game winner, and recorded 13 assists. The 13 assists is the record for most in a season. In her three year career at KU, Kline finished with four goals, 19 assists and 27 points in 59 games. Other honors for Kline include the National Field Hockey Coaches Association North/South All-Star game and All-America first team. Kline was named to the Top 10 last year in both the fall and spring seasons. She was named the PSAC and Regional Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2004-05.

Joining Baldwin and Kline of the Top 10 list are Camilo Hinestroza (soccer) and Llyod Price (football) from California, Jimmy Terwilliger (football) from East Stroudsburg, Julie Nemergut (cross country) and Kelly Richards (cross country) from Edinboro, Chris Robson (cross country) from Lock Haven, Charity Learn (cross country) from Mansfield, and Julie Karcher (soccer) from West Chester.

January 17, 2006

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY TO BEGIN SEARCH FOR HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University Director of Athletics Greg Bamberger has announced the beginning of a search for a new head football coach for the Golden Bears. The search is the result of the non-renewal of Dave Keeny’s contract, who will leave the position effective immediately.

“We appreciate Dave Keeny’s years of service with our football program and wish him the best,” Bamberger said. “After careful consideration, we feel it is necessary to move in a new direction at this time. Our main focus now is to bring in the very best person to lead our football program into the future.”

Keeny served as head coach of the Golden Bears from 1998-2005. Keeny compiled a record of 38-45 in his eight seasons. He had a 23-25 record against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opponents. In 2005, Keeny’s final season, the Golden Bears were 2-8 overall, including a 2-4 mark in the PSAC East. He leaves as the third-winningest coach in school history.

Keeny, a 1983 graduate of Kutztown University, was a running back for the Golden Bears from 1978-81. He returned to KU as the offensive coordinator in 1993 under then head coach Al Leonzi.

The current assistant football coaches remain under contract and will handle the day-to-day duties of the football program.

January 17, 2006

RICH RESHETAR NAMED SWIMMER OF THE WEEK

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Rich Reshetar (jr. Pipersville/Central Bucks East), of the men’s swimming team, has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) men’s swimmer of the week.

Reshetar won one individual event and took second in another in a close dual with Albright. He won the 50 free in a season best 22.21 and then swam another season best in the 100 free with a time of 48.97 to place second.

On the season, Reshetar has qualified in three events for the PSAC Championship. In addition to the 50 and 100 free, he has also qualified in the 200 free, with a season-best time of 1:48.95 at the Indiana (PA) Invitational.

Kutztown returns to action this Saturday at 1:00 PM vs. Bloomsburg.

January 17, 2006

DAVID BEN NAMED PSAC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s David Ben (r-FR. Coatesville/Coatesville), of the men’s basketball team, has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Player of the Week.

Ben helped Kutztown to a 2-1 week, which included a win over Cheyney on the opening night of divisional play. He shot 60.5% (26-43) from the field in that three-game span, averaging 23.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. Ben netted over 20 points in each contest, highlighted by a 26-point performance against Edinboro.

On the season, Ben is averaging 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, both second on the team. He is also shooting 44.7% from the field, 40.0% from three-point range and 78.2% from the free throw line.

Kutztown, 10-6 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC East, returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to Bloomsburg. Tipoff is 7:30 PM.

January 9, 2006

DELLEGROTTI NAMED PSAC EAST ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Lara Dellegrotti (fr. Berwick/Berwick) has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) women’s basketball rookie of the week.

Dellegrotti led all players with 19 points in Kutztown's 69-65 cross-over victory over Clarion. She hit three of five 3-pointers and was perfect from the charity stripe. Dellegrotti also added in six rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Through 12 games, Dellegrotti has started seven games. She is averaging 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. The Golden Bears are 8-4 overall and return to action on Wednesday when they host Cheyney in the PSAC East opener at Keystone Hall.