February 28, 2007
KU
BASEBALL TEAM ACHIEVES HIGHEST-EVER NATIONAL RANKING
KUTZTOWN, PA – The undefeated Kutztown University baseball team
achieved its highest-ever ranking in the NCAA Division II
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, released earlier this
week.
Kutztown is tied for fifth in the latest rankings, up four spots
from last week’s poll. KU is tied with Florida Southern. KU’s
previous best came in the 2004 season, when Kutztown was slated
at number eight in the second-to-last poll of the season. KU
finished the year ninth.
Also released this week was the first regular season National
Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Poll. Kutzton is rated
#4, also its highest-ever ranking in that poll.
The
Golden Bears, under fifth-year head coach Chris Blum, are 8-0 so
far in 2007, coming off a 4-0 performance at the Apprentice
School Builder Invitational last weekend.
February 27, 2007
DENNIS NAMED PSAC EAST ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Stephen Dennis (fr. West
Chester/Henderson) of the men’s basketball team, has been
named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern
Division Rookie of the Week.
Dennis closed out the regular season by averaging
24.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He made
63.6% (21-of-33) of his field goal attempts. He scored a career
high 28 points against the University of District of Columbia
and notched 21 in the final regular season game against East
Stroudsburg.
A starter in all 27 of Kutztown’s games this season,
Dennis averaged 15.2 points, 6.0 rebounds per game and led the
team with 88 assists. Dennis was named PSAC East Rookie of the
Week eight times this season. A KU rookie was named 11 of the
13 weeks.
Kutztown finished the regular season with a 17-10
overall record and 6-6 in the PSAC East. The Golden Bears are
the #2 seed in the east and hosts #3 seed Cheyney tonight in a
PSAC Quarterfinal match-up. Tip-off set for 7:00 PM in Keystone
Hall.
February 26,
2007
GOLDEN
BEAR MEN’S BASKETBALL TO HOST CHEYNEY IN PSAC QUARTERFINAL
KUTZTOWN, PA –
The Kutztown University men’s basketball team (17-10, 6-5 PSC
East, #2 seed in East) will host Cheyney (13-14, 6-6 PSAC East,
#3 seed in East) in the quarterfinal round of the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) basketball championship on
Tuesday at 7:00 PM.
The game will be at Kutztown’s Keystone Hall. Tickets will be
$7 for adults and $2 for children. Students from PSAC
institutions, with a valid ID, will be admitted free. By PSAC
policy, no complimentary passes will be accepted.
The game will be broadcast live on the Kutztown University
student radio station, KUR. KUR can be accessed in Kutztown at
88.3 FM, 1670 AM, and on KUTV (Channel 24-Service Electric,
Channel 41-Hometown Utilicom). The game will also be Webcast on
the
Golden Bear Network.
Kutztown, Cheyney and East Stroudsburg ended the year in a
three-way tie for second place in the PSAC East with 6-6
records. The teams split the season series with each other, so
KU earned the #2 seed by virtue of its two wins against PSAC
East regular-season champion Millersville (9-3). Cheyney then
took the #3 seed with its five wins against NCAA Division II
opponents at .500 or better. East Stroudsburg had three such
wins.
Kutztown is making its school-record fifth straight trip to the
PSAC playoffs. KU also has claimed its fifth-consecutive
winning season, a first for the program since the 1910s.
What's at Stake:
A
trip to the PSAC semifinals is one the line for the winner. In
Tuesday's other quarterfinals,
Millersville (#1 East) hosts East Stroudsburg (#4 East),
California {PA} (#1 West) hosts Clarion (#4 West), and Edinboro
(#2 West) hosts Shippensburg (#3 West). This year’s PSAC Final
Four will be held Friday-Saturday, March 2-3, at the highest
remaining Western seed.
KU vs. Cheyney
2006-07:
The teams
split the season series, with each team winning on its home
court.
The Wolves won 76-71 at Cope Hall on Jan. 27. KU trailed by as
many as nine in the second half, before pulling witin three,
65-63, with 3:13 left. CU put the game out of reach scoring the
next five points. Robbie Simpson led the Wolves with 18
points and nine boards. Michael Fryer scored 17. Dawud
Morris and Ed Braswell added 11 points apiece.
Dave Ben scored 19 points and grabbed seven boards for
Kutztown. Stephen Dennis notched 16 points, while
Sean McKeon added 10.
Kutztown erased a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat
Cheyney, 73-70, at Keystone Hall on February 17. McKeon
scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead KU. Nate
Edwards and Dennis added 14 points apiece, while
Ben scored 13. Morris scored 22 for CU. Braswell
notched 15 and Tyrone Smith chipped in 10.
KU vs. Cheyney –
History:
Since the 2000-01 season, when Driscoll took over at KU, the
Golden Bears are 7-7 against the Wolves. KU is 6-1 at home
against CU, including the last three meetings between the
teams. Cheyney’s last win at Keystone Hall came on February 2,
2004 (87-82).
The teams have met just once before in the PSAC Playoffs, back
in the 1981-82 season. Cheyney coming out on top 54-40, at the
Wolves’ Cope Hall.
Scouting the
Golden Bears
Probable
Starters: G-Dave Ben
(so., 6-4, 18.9
ppg, 5.4 rpg), G-Stephen Dennis (fr., 6-4, 15.2 ppg, 6.0
rpg, 3.6 apg), G-Nate Edwards (fr., 5-0, 8.8 ppg, 3.0
rpg, 2.6 spg), F-Terrance Davis (sr., 6-5, 4.3 ppg, 4.1
rpg), C-Sean McKeon (jr., 6-10, 15.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4.2
bpg)
Kutztown is in the midst of one of the most successful five-year
eras in school history under seventh-year head coach Bernie
Driscoll. He has a record of 95-95 (.500), including an
84-55 (.600) mark since the start of the 2002-03 season.
This year’s team has been involved in one nail biter after
another. Of Kutztown’s 27 games, 17 have been decided by six
points or less, including each of the last 11 games and all but
one PSAC East contest. Five of Kutztown’s games have gone to
overtime, with KU holding a 4-1 record in those contests.
Ben is having a stellar sophomore season. He led all
PSAC East players, and ranked second overall in the conference,
scoring 18.9 points per game. He set KU’s single-season record
for free throws made, hitting 146 charity shots this season.
McKeon and Dennis complete KU’s trio of leading
scorers. They rank ninth in the PSAC in scoring, with identical
15.2 ppg. averages.
McKeon leads the PSAC and all NCAA Division II players in
blocks per game with 4.22. His 114 rejections are a school
record (breaking Marty Eggleston’s 1987-88 record of 108) and
are 11 shy of the PSAC record (125, Melvin Hooker, Edinboro,
1979-80). He also ranks fifth in the league in rebounding (8.8)
Dennis, a seven-time PSAC East Rookie of the Week this
season, has been an all-around performer this season. He ranks
16th in the league in rebounding (6.0 rpg), seventh
in blocks (1.11 bpg), 10th in assists (3.26), sixth
in free throw percentage (78.8%). He is the only player in the
league to rank among the league’s top 16 in those categories.
Edwards and Davis round out KU’s starters.
Edwards, who entered the starting lineup after Andre
Woodlin’s season-ending injury on January 7, ranks fourth in
the PSAC in steals (2.26 spg).
Kutztown in the
PSAC Playoffs – History: Kutztown is
3-9 all time in the PSAC playoffs. This is KU's fifth straight
and ninth overall appearance in the PSAC tournament. KU is 2-4
in the playoffs under Driscoll. (2002-03: L, West
Chester, 74-66; 2003-04: W, Mansfield, 76-72 & W,
California {PA}, 91-84 & L, Indiana {PA}, 83-74; 2004-05:
L, Mansfield, 95-90; 2005-06: L, Mansfield, 96-73). KU
appeared in the playoffs five other times (1981-82: L,
Cheyney, 68-40; 1983-84: L, Millersville, 60-53;
1986-87: L, Bloomsburg, 70-62; 1987-88: W, Lock
Haven, 86-84 & L, California {PA}, 73-64; 1998-99: L,
West Chester, 75-60).
All of those games were played away from Keystone Hall.
Kutztown has advanced to the PSAC semifinals twice (1987-88 and
2003-04), appearing in the PSAC Championship game both times.
Kutztown has won three conference championships (1917, 1919 and
1936), but all three came before the formation of the PSAC in
1951.
Scouting the
Wolves
Probable
Starters: G-Ed Braswell
(jr., 6-0, 16.0
ppg, 3.2 rpg), F-Dawud Morris (jr., 6-6, 11.9 ppg, 6.8
rpg), G-Michael Fryer (sr., 6-4, 11.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5
apg), F-Robbie Simpson (so., 6-10, 10.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg),
F-Dominque Curry (so., 6-4, 9.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Cheyney (13-14, 6-6 PSAC East, 5-6 on the road) is led by head
coach Cleo Hill Jr., who is in his fourth season with the
Wolves (53-56).
On the floor, CU is led by Braswell in scoring (16ppg),
Morris in rebounding (6.8 rpg), Fryer in assists
(3.5 apg), and Simpson in field goal percentage (8.4%)
and blocks (38).
Cheyney is coming off of three losses in-a-row to finish up its
regular season, including the 73-70 loss to Kutztown on February
17. The Wolves average 71.5 points per game.
Cheyney in PSAC Playoffs - History:
Cheyney
University is 27-14 all time in the PSAC Playoffs dating back to
1961. In that span they hold 15 championships, more than double
that of second place California (7). However, the last Wolf
title came in 1986 and 12 of their crowns came between 1965-80.
The Wolves have also made the most appearances in the playoffs
with 29, but make their first since 2004. Since 2000, Cheyney
is 2-4 in playoff games.
February 22, 2007
KU INDOOR TRACK & FIELD HEADED TO PSAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University indoor track & field
squads head to East Stroudsburg for the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Championships on Saturday and
Sunday.
The Golden Bear women will be looking for their
fourth-straight PSAC Indoor title, while the men are seeking to
improve upon their third place finish last year under first year
head coach Ray Hoffman.
The women have a number of athletes capable of
bringing home individual PSAC crowns. Doofan Tor-Agbidye
(so. Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg) has the second fastest
time in the 400-meter dash (58.55). Joanna Horstmann (so.
Downingtown/Downingtown West) is the top seed in the 800.
Her best time this season is 2:19.29. Horstmann is also
ranked third in the mile (5:07.86). KU’s distance medley relay
is ranked second in the PSAC (12:23.97). The 4x400 relay, which
finished second last year, is currently seeded sixth (4:03.01).
Kelly Strickland (fr.
Bear,
DE/Caravel Academy)
and Lindsay Runkle (so.
Port Carbon/Pottsville) are ranked second and third, respectively, in
the pole vault. Strickland’s best height this season is
11-3 ¾ while Runkle’s is 10-11 ¾. Runkle finished
second last season. Michelle Hughes (jr.
Warminster/William Tennent) has the third best throw in the shot put (40-1
¼). Renee Marchand (sr.
Hawley/Wallenpaupack), the defending pentathlon champion,
is the second seed with her best score being 3,365. Marchand
placed third in the high jump last year.
The
men’s 4x400 relay team is looking to defend its title. It is
currently ranked fifth (3:23.41).
Steve Tyson (jr. so. Bridgeport/Upper Merion),
the reigning shot put champion,
is second in the shot put. His throw of 52-10 is
well over a foot further than the third seed. Benn Trasatt
(jr.
Mohrsville/Schuylkill Valley)
will look to improve on his third place finish last season. He
is currently ranked sixth (49-6 ¼). Brian Dodds (jr.
Wyomissing/Wilson) is the first seed in the pole vault. His
best height this year is 15-3, four inches higher than the
second seed. Tony Hegedus (sr.
Coopersburg/Southern Lehigh)
is seeded third in the 400 with a time of 49.67.
Ian
Clark (jr.
Troy, NH/Monadnock Regional) will look to move up in the pentathlon. Last
season he finished third. He is currently ranked fifth.
Events will begin at 2:00 PM on Saturday and 11:00 AM on Sunday.
February 22, 2007
KU
BASKETBALL TEAMS ENTER FRIDAY’S FINALE WITH PLAYOFF BERTHS ON
THE LINE
KU-East Stroudsburg Doubleheader to be Webcast at kubears.com
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s men’s and women’s basketball
teams enter Friday night’s regular-season finale at East
Stroudsburg with post-season berths on the line.
The
Golden Bear women face East Stroudsburg at 6:00 PM, while the
men face the Warriors at 8:00 PM at ESU’s Koehler Field House
Friday night. The doubleheader was moved to Friday night due to
ESU’s hosting of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)
Indoor Track & Field Championship this weekend.
The
games will be Webcast live on the Golden Bear Network. (click
here to listen).
Kutztown Men’s
Basketball Playoff Scenarios
Kutztown’s men enter the game at 6-5 in the PSAC East, currently
alone in second place behind Millersville (8-3), which has
claimed the #1 seed. East Stroudsburg is 5-6. A win gives
Kutztown the #2 seed in the upcoming PSAC Playoffs and a home
game in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round against either Cheyney,
West Chester or Mansfield. It would mark KU’s first-ever PSAC
men’s playoff game at Keystone Hall.
A
Golden Bear loss to East Stroudsburg makes Kutztown’s playoff
hopes cloudier. Simply stated, KU would then need Bloomsburg to
beat Mansfield Saturday afternoon to give KU its fifth straight
PSAC playoff berth.
If
Bloomsburg beats Mansfield, KU would host either Cheyney (if
Millersville beats West Chester) or travel to East Stroudsburg
(if West Chester beats Millersville) for Tuesday’s quarterfinal.
If
Mansfield beats Bloomsburg, there would be a four or five-way
tie for second place, in which only three of the teams would
earn playoff berths. Kutztown would be on the short end of the
ensuing tiebreakers in those scenarios.
Kutztown
Women’s Basketball Playoff Scenarios
Kutztown’s women are 5-6 in the PSAC East and have a clearly
defined path to a 12th-straight PSAC playoff berth.
ESU
(10-1, #1 seed), West Chester (9-2, #2) and Millersville (7-4)
have already clinched playoff berths.
For
Kutztown to claim the fourth and final spot, the Golden Bears
must defeat East Stroudsburg Friday night and then have
Bloomsburg defeat Mansfield Saturday afternoon. That scenario
would force a tie at 6-6 between Kutztown and Mansfield. KU
would win the tiebreaker by virtue of the necessary win over top
seeded ESU. KU and ESU would meet again for the quarterfinals
at East Stroudsburg Tuesday night.
After Tuesday’s quarterfinal games, the remaining teams advance
to the PSAC Final Four against the remaining PSAC West teams on
Friday-Saturday, March 2-3. The women’s final four is at the
highest remaining Eastern Division team, while the men’s final
four is at the highest remaining Western Division team.
February 21, 2007
GOLDEN
BEAR GRAPPLERS HEADED TO NCAA EAST REGIONALS
KUTZTOWN, PA –
The Kutztown University wrestling team will take part in the
2007 NCAA Division II East Regional Championships this
Friday-Saturday, February 23-24, at the University of North
Carolina-Pembroke.
Kutztown enters the regionals after completing its dual-meet
schedule with an 11-2 record. The Golden Bears are one of four
teams ranked among the NCAA Division II top 20.
Pittsburgh-Johnstown is ranked fifth, West Liberty State (WV) is
ninth, Newberry (SC) is 16th and the Golden Bears are 20th.
Kutztown placed sixth at last year’s regional, hosted at
Keystone Hall. Pitt-Johnstown won the team title for the fourth
consecutive season.
The
grapplers will be battling for berths to the NCAA Championships,
March 9-10 at Nebraska-Kearney. The top four finishers in each
of the 10 weight classes advance to nationals.
The
Golden Bears have two returning wrestlers who are looking for a
repeat trip to nationals, a standout newcomer who will be a top
contender for a regional title, and several other grapplers
looking to make noise at regionals.
Last season, Chris Chambers (so. Holland/Council Rock South)
and Kevin Kalbach (sr. Downingtown/Downingtown) both
placed second at regionals and moved on to nationals. Chambers
is 19-10 this season and was ranked as high as fifth in the
country at 149 lbs. Kalbach is 12-3 this season. He is ranked
eighth in Division II at 165 lbs., moving up a weight class
after competing at 157 last season.
Perhaps KU’s top contender for a regional champion comes in the
form of standout newcomer Joe Kemmerer (jr.
Mountaintop/Crestwood). A transfer from UNC-Greensboro,
Kemmerer is 24-3 this season and ranked fourth in the country at
133 lbs. Kemmerer has not lost to a Division II opponent this
season. He defeated defending 133 lb. champion Brandon Reasy (UPJ),
4-3, in January. He also defeated last year’s runner up, Matt
Mossor (West Liberty St.), 1-0, at the East Coast Duals in
January.
The
Golden Bears feature several other wrestlers looking for their
first NCAA berth. At 184 lbs., Roy Gecelosky (sr.
Annville/Palmyra) is 19-5. At 174 lbs., Curtis Beardsell
(so. Warminster/William Tennent) is 8-1. At 285 lbs.,
Rich Dalmas (fr. Mountaintop/Crestwood) is 10-10. Cory
Weiss (so. Gilbertsville/St. Pius X), 125; Brett Martinez
(so. Slatington/Northern Lehigh), 141; David Zeek (fr.
Newtown/Council Rock North), 157; and Kyle Davis (r-fr.
Peckville/Valley View), at 197, round out KU’s probable
lineup.
Action gets underway on Friday at 4:00 PM, then continues on
Saturday at 9:00 AM.
KU FIELD
HOCKEY TEAM AND PLAYERS RECEIVE NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARD
KUTZTOWN, PA – Ten members of the Kutztown
University field hockey team were named to the National Academic
Squad by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).
Kutztown was also honored with a 2006
NFHCA Division II National Academic team award, posting the
fourth highest team grade-point average (GPA) of 3.31. Leading
the way was C. W. Post with 3.53. Bellarmine University was
second with a 3.33 GPA. American International was third
(3.32). Rounding out the top five awards was Mercyhurst
(3.25).
Team members
selected to the academic squad are:
A senior elementary education major,
Laura Belfatti (Hatfield/Lansdale Catholic) was
named to the NFHCA All-Academic squad the previous three years,
along with PSAC Scholar-Athlete for three years and a 2005 and
2006 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) first
team honoree.
A junior secondary education major,
Heather Hoxter (Parkesburg/Octorara) was
named to the NFHCA Academic Squad last season along with being a
PSAC Scholar Athlete.
Laura Wieder
(Emmaus/Emmaus), a junior elementary education/early
childhood major, played in 17 games and started 14 of them in
2006.
Jennifer Belfatti (Hatfield/Lansdale
Catholic),
a sophomore speech pathology major, was also named a 2005 PSAC
Scholar-Athlete.
As a sophomore, Courtney
Geibel (Mifflintown/Juniata), a biology major, started all
20 games for the Golden Bears. She was a 2006 All-PSAC second
team honoree and a 2005 PSAC Scholar-Athlete.
Kelley Healey (Toms River,
NJ/Toms River North), sophomore biology major, was named to
the NFHCA Academic Squad last season. She was the 2005 PSAC
Rookie of the Year, named All-PSAC second team in 2005 and 2006,
NFHCA All-American second team both season, and a PSAC
Scholar-Athlete.
Alyssa Matlese
(Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown), a freshman secondary
education-chemistry major, played in 11 games and had one goal
and three points as a midfielder/back.
Kelli Moran (Washington
Twp., NJ/Washington Twp.) is a freshman marine science major
and Anne Waapu (Hastings, NEW ZEALAND) is a
freshman psychology major. Madison Weary
(Palmyra/Palmyra), a political science major, played in two
games for the Golden Bears in 2006 as a freshman.
The Golden Bears finished the 2006
season with a 10-10 record and 5-9 in the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference.
THREE KU WOMEN NAMED LVAIAW
FALL AWARD WINNERS
KUTZTOWN, PA – Three Kutztown University
student-athletes have received an award from the Lehigh Valley
Association Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (LVAIAW) for the
fall 2006 season, as voted on by the coaches of the
participating schools.
|
BELFATTI |
|
BRANDON |
|
WILLIAMS |
Laura Belfatti (sr.
Hatfield/Lansdale Catholic) of the field hockey team,
Sarah Brandon (sr. Gibsonia/Pine-Richland) of the volleyball
team and Stephanie Williams (jr. Harrisburg/Riverside) of
the cross country team were named their sports Player of the
Year.
Belfatti, a midfielder, played
in all 20 contests this season. She scored six goals and
notched three assists for 15 points, good for third on the
team. Earlier this season she was named to the All-Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) first team and the National
Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II All-America
first team.
Brandon, the 2005 LVAIAW Volleyball player of
the Year, had been named to the 2006 Daktronics Division II
All-America and All-Region team, been selected the PSAC Eastern
Division Athlete of the Year and earned first team All-PSAC
East, 2006 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II honors and
the
2006 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II
All-Region team as well as being named an honorable mention on
the 2006 AVCA All-America team.
This season, Brandon finished as the all-time leader in KU
volleyball history in kills with 1,840. She led the PSAC in
kills per game with 4.33. In 107 games, the right-side hitter
recorded 463 kills, 120 digs and 138 blocks.
Williams received All-PSAC and All-Region
honors this season. She was a vital part of the team at the NCAA
Championships, which
finished a
best-ever 14th. The team also won its first NCAA East Regional
title.
The LVAIAW consists of Cedar Crest,
Lafayette, Moravian and Muhlenberg College and DeSales,
Kutztown, and Lehigh University.
February 20, 2007
KUTZTOWN SWIMMERS READY FOR PSAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University swimming teams are set to
travel to
Mechanicsburg,
PA for the 2007 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)
Championships beginning on Thursday.
The Golden Bears will be looking to improve upon their
performances from a year ago, where the men placed sixth and the
women were ninth. Kutztown has several individual swimmers
poised for a shot at All-PSAC status (top three in an event) or
even a PSAC title.
The women are led by junior Ashley Singer
(Lititz/Warwick).
She enters the championships with seven PSAC qualifying times.
She has the second fastest time in the PSAC in the 200 free
(1:55.76) and 1000 free (10:43.92). Singer is ranked fourth in
the 500 free (5:10.75) and sixth in the 100 (53.42). Singer was
a finalist in the 100, 200 and 500 at last year’s meet; placing
second in the 200 and 500, while finishing third in the 100.
Freshman Steph Jeppesen (Bethlehem/Liberty) qualified for
four events. She has the sixth best time in the 200
breaststroke (2:26.96) and ninth best in the 100 breast
(1:08.50).
KU’s top relay seed comes in the 800 free relay, where the team
of Staci McGinty (jr. Jamison/Central Bucks East),
Jill Pantelides (jr. Lansdowne/Archbishop Prendergast),
Nikki Cattell (jr. Warminter/William Tennent) and Singer
swam a time of 8:06.08, good for sixth among PSAC teams.
The
men will be led by junior Sean Bonifas (Lancaster/Hempfield).
Bonifas has the fifth fastest time in the 100 breast (1:00.34)
and the ninth best time in the 200 (2:18.09). Bonifas earned
All-PSAC honors in the 100 breast, placing third last season.
Junior Greg Fournier (Warrington/Central Bucks East)
sports the eighth quickest time in the 1650 free (16:56.69).
The men have two relay teams that are ranked fourth. The 400
free relay team of Derek Orr (so. Easton/Easton),
Steve Krater (fr. Port Carbon/Pottsville Area), Zane
Zwillinger (fr.
Wyalusing/Wyoming Seminary)
and Rich
Reshetar (jr. Pipersville/Central Bucks East) have a time of
3:16.27. The 800 free relay team of Orr, John Pandish
(so. Milford/Delaware Valley), Krater and Reshetar
enter with a time of 7:15.76. The actual participants of the
relays will be determined on the days of the races.
Events begin on Thursday (2/22) and will continue through
Sunday at Cumberland Valley High School in
Mechanicsburg,
PA.
February 20,
2007
McKEON,
EDWARDS HONORED BY PSAC
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Sean McKeon (jr.
Phoenixville/Phoenixville HS) and Nate Edwards (fr.
Philadelphia/North Catholic) have been named the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division
Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively.
McKeon,
a 6-10 forward/center, had a stellar week against a pair of
teams - Cheyney and Millersville - that entered the week atop
the PSAC standings. Leading the Golden Bears to victory in both
games, McKeon shot 68.2% (15-22) from the floor while averaging
21.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 7.5 blocks per game. Against
Millersville, he recorded only the third-ever triple-double by a
Kutztown player with 19 points, 16 rebounds and 11 blocks. The
11 blocks tied a school record. He added 24 points, 10 rebounds
and four blocks in a win over Cheyney.
Through 25 games, McKeon is averaging 15.6 points,
8.8 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game. He leads all NCAA
Division II players in rejections and is eight shy of KU’s
single-season record of 108 (Marty Eggleston, 1987-88).
Edwards, a 6-0 guard, played a key role in
Kutztown’s wins, scoring 14 points in each contest. He scored
12 of his points in the second half to help rally the Golden
Bears from a 17-point deficit against Cheyney. In that contest,
two of his buckets were three-pointers around the four-minute
mark that gave KU the lead. He added five assists and four
steals in that game, and added six boards in the win over
Millersville.
Edwards averages 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.4
steals per game. Since entering KU’s starting lineup
mid-season, he is averaging 10.8 points per game. This is the
second time Edwards has been named PSAC East Rookie of the
Week.
Kutztown is 17-8 overall, 6-5 in the PSAC East. The Golden
Bears are tied for second place in the division with Cheyney.
KU hosts non-conference foe District of Columbia on Wednesday at
7:00 PM before its regular-season finale on Friday at East
Stroudsburg at 8:00 PM.
February 16, 2007
KUTZTOWN BASEBALL RANKED SEVENTH IN LATEST POLL
KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University baseball team is ranked
seventh in the current NCAA Division II poll according to the
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
Tampa and Cal. State-Chico are tied in first.
Florida Southern is third. Kutztown moved up from 12th
place last week to seventh this week. KU swept two
double-headers at Barton, NC last weekend and is currently 4-0
overall. West Chester is the only other Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference school in the poll at #16.
Kutztown will be back in action next weekend when it
travels to the Builder Invitational in Newport News, VA. The
first game is set for Thursday, February 22 at 6:00 PM against
East Stroudsburg.
February 16, 2007
KU’s
BRIAN BINGNEAR NAMED TO FOOTBALL GAZETTE ALL-AMERICA TEAM
|
Brian Bingnear intercepts a pass vs. West Chester
last season. |
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Brian Bingnear (jr.
Boothwyn/Chichester HS), was named to the Don Hansen’s
Football Gazette 2006 NCAA Division II All-America Team.
Bingnear was named to the third team defense. A 6-0, 180 lb.
junior, Bingnear started all ten games last fall. He led the
team with 90 total tackles, 58 assisted and 32 unassisted, one
tackle for a loss, four interceptions, and one forced fumble.
Previously,
Bingnear was named to the Football Gazette All-Northeast Region first team,
Daktronics All-Northeast Region second team and the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East first team.
In three seasons at KU, Bingnear has recorded 158 tackles.
This marks the 19th year the Don Hansen’s Football
Gazette has recognized an NCAA Division II All-America team.
This award is a recognized authority on small college football,
and gave the honor to 165 players from 79 of the 150
football-playing schools in Division II.
The Golden Bears football team finished the season with a 4-6
record and 2-4 in the PSAC.
Feb. 15, 2007
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY TO ADD WOMEN’S LACROSSE, WOMEN’S BOWLING AS VARSITY SPORTS
KUTZTOWN, PA –
Kutztown University President Dr. F. Javier Cevallos has
announced that women’s lacrosse and women’s bowling will be
added to the school’s roster of intercollegiate varsity sports
beginning with the 2007-08 school year.
The
sports will bring the number of varsity sports at Kutztown to
23. They are the first additions to Kutztown’s intercollegiate
athletics department since the 2000-01 school year when women’s
golf was offered.
“We
feel that participation in intercollegiate athletics has a
beneficial effect on students - in the classroom as well as the
field of competition,” Cevallos said. “We are delighted to be
able to make this opportunity available to more of our
students.”
Women’s lacrosse is currently sponsored by 40 NCAA Division II
institutions, including eight members of the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC), with Slippery Rock joining the
league this season. The sport will be returning to KU after a
17-year hiatus. The program was sponsored at Kutztown from
1975-90 and was responsible for the first women’s championship
in school history, winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference title in 1982.
The
team will play a non-conference schedule before competing in the
PSAC beginning in the spring 2009 season. The team is expected
to play its home games on KU’s campus.
“We’re excited to bring women’s lacrosse back as a varsity sport
at Kutztown,” Kutztown University Director of Athletics Greg
Bamberger said. “We hope that the success the program
experienced will help us re-establish women’s lacrosse at KU.”
Women’s bowling will be new to Kutztown. The sport, which
traditionally competes in the winter season, is sponsored by 50
institutions in the NCAA, including 17 predominantly Division II
institutions. Cheyney University is the only other school in
the PSAC to currently offer the sport on the varsity level.
The
team will compete as an independent in the NCAA. The women’s
bowling championship is not divided into divisions, so teams
compete for the opportunity to qualify for the Women’s National
Collegiate Bowling Championship. The team’s practice facility
and site for home events are still to be determined.
“Women’s bowling is an emerging sport on the collegiate level,”
Bamberger said. “With the number of local high schools that
offer girls bowling, especially in Berks County, it was clear
that adding this sport will address the interests of our
students.”
The
addition of women’s sports are necessary to assist in Kutztown’s
efforts to comply with Title IX. More specifically, Kutztown
addresses the second of the Title IX three-prong test of
compliance, demonstrating a continual expansion of opportunities
for the under-represented gender.
Kutztown University’s most recent (2005-06) gender breakdown saw
a 58.9%-41.1% female-male full-time undergraduate ratio, but a
54.3%-45.7% male-female ratio of student-athletes.
“It
is estimated that the new sports will add roughly 40 new
opportunities for females, bringing Kutztown’s female-to-male
student-athlete numbers more in line with the female-to-male
undergraduate population,” Bamberger said.
With the addition of the new sports, Kutztown will now offer 23
varsity sports, including 13 women’s sports (basketball,
bowling, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer,
softball, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field,
volleyball) and 10 men’s sports (baseball, basketball, cross
country, football, soccer, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor
track & field, wrestling). Kutztown is projected to join West
Chester University, which also sponsors 23 varsity sports, as
the largest athletic department in the PSAC.
National searches for head coaches of the two sports will begin
immediately.
Funding for the new programs will come from
Student Government Association, KU Foundation and University
budgets. Individuals who are interested in either participating
or coaching, should contact the KU Athletic Department at (610)
683-4094.
February 13, 2007
DAVE BEN
NAMED LEHIGH VALLEY SMALL COLLEGE BASKETBALL’S TOP PLAYER
BETHLEHEM, PA – Kutztown University’s Dave Ben (so.
Coatesville/Coatesville HS) was named the 2006-07 Peter
Nevins Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Organization
Player of the Year on Tuesday at Starter’s Pub.
|
Dave Ben |
Ben
was chosen in voting conducted by media as well as coaches and
sports information directors from the six participating schools
– Kutztown, Delaware Valley, DeSales, East Stroudsburg, Moravian
and Muhlenberg.
The
award is named after Peter Nevins, longtime sports
information director at East Stroudsburg and a founding member
of the organization. Nevins, who retired from ESU in 2002 but
remained active in the group as a writer for the Pocono
Record, passed away in January after a brief battle with
cancer.
Ben
leads Kutztown and ranks second in the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference, scoring 19.6 points per game. He also
chips in 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists, while connecting on a
team-high 47 three pointers and 121-of-170 (71%) from the free
throw line. Ben is the second-straight KU player to receive the
award, after Bruce Hall was honored last year.
Kutztown is 15-8 overall, 4-5 in the PSAC East. The Golden
Bears host Millersville Wednesday night at 8:00 PM.
February 12, 2007
DENNIS,
MELVIN NAMED PSAC EAST ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Stephen Dennis (fr. West
Chester/Henderson) and Vivian Melvin (fr. Chichester/Chichester),
of the men’s and women’s basketball teams, have been named the
Pennsylvania State Athletic conference Eastern Division Rookies
of the Week.
Dennis accounted for 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and
3.0 steals in Kutztown’s two games last week. He also shot
58.3% (14-24) from the field. He totaled 18 points, five
rebounds and four assists in Kutztown’s game at Bloomsburg.
A starter in all 23 of Kutztown’s games this season,
Dennis is averaging 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists
per game. KU is 15-8 overall, 4-5 in the PSAC East heading into
Wednesday’s game at Keystone Hall vs. Millersville.
Melvin helped Kutztown to a 2-0 week with wins over
Mansfield and Bloomsburg. She shot 60 percent (9-15) to average
9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while adding nine assists
and two steals.
Melvin, who has started all 23 games this season, is averaging
7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this year.
The Golden Bears are 8-15 overall, 4-5 in the PSAC East and will
host Millersville on Wednesday.
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY 36TH IN DIRECTORS’ CUP FOR FALL SEASON
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University is in 36th
place, out of 128 schools, in the Directors’ Cup at the
completion of the fall seasons.
The Sports Academy Directors’ Cup was
developed as a joint effort between the National Association of
Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.
The United State Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Alabama, is
the program sponsor. Points are awarded based on each
institution’s finish at NCAA Championships in up to 14 sports –
seven women’s and seven men’s.
Grand Valley State is first with 400
points. UC San Diego is second (232.5) while Tampa is third
(219). Northern Kentucky finished ahead of Kutztown in 35th
with 100 points. KU has 98 and Edinboro is 37th with
96 points.
Bloomsburg and Lock Haven are the top
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schools tied in
eighth place with 183 points. West Chester is 23rd
with 136 and Indiana (PA) is 24th with 133 points.
Highlights from the fall season
included the women’s cross country team finishing a best-ever 14th
at the NCAA Championships. The team also captured first at the
NCAA East Regionals. The women’s volleyball team claimed its
second-consecutive PSAC Eastern Division title and received its
first bid to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament.
FOUR KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS NAMED DIVISION II ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University Cross
Country team had four runners named to the Division II
All-Academic Team for the 2006 cross country season by the U. S.
Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
For runners to
qualify, the student-athletes must have a minimum cumulative
grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 and finished in the top 30% at
the regional cross country championships.
From the men’s
cross country team, Joe Haughey (sr. Richboro/Council
Rock South) was honored. From the women’s team, Cheryl
Dingman (so. Lansdale.North Penn), Joanna Horstmann (so.
Downingtown/Downingtown West) and Stephanie Williams (jr.
Harrisburg/Riverside) were recipients.
Haughey, a
history major, has a 3.25 GPA and finished 61st at
the NCAA East Regionals. He ran his best time in the 8K this
season was 26:36 at the Paul Short Invitational.
Dingman, a
communication design major and 3.40, placed 30th at
the NCAA East Regionals. Her best run came at the Lafayette
Invitational where she ran the 5K in 21:33.3.
Horstmann, an
elementary education major and 3.29 GPA, finished sixth at East
Regionals. Her best run this season was also at the Lafayette
Invitational with a time of 21:44.8. Horstmann earned
All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) honors,
finishing seventh at the PSAC Championships and All-Region
honors with her sixth place finish at East Regionals.
Williams, a
business major and 3.31 GPA, placed fifth at East Regionals, to
earn All-Region. Earlier she placed ninth at the PSAC
Championships to earn All-PSAC. Her best time this season was at
the Lafayette Invitational where she ran the 5K in 20:59.7.
The women’s team
won the NCAA East Regional and went on to finish a best ever 14th
at the NCAA Championships. The men’s team placed 11th
at the NCAA East Regional.
February 6, 2007
KUTZTOWN’S JEPPESEN NAMED PSAC WOMEN’S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Steph Jeppesen (fr.
Bethlehem/Liberty) has been named the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC) Women’s Swimmer of the Week.
Jeppesen set the Kutztown pool record in the 200-yard
breaststroke with a time of 2:26.96 en route to claiming three
individual honors and a relay win. The freshman also won the
100 breast (1:08.76), the 200 IM (2:15.03) and the 200 medley
relay for the Golden Bears against Rowan on Saturday.
Jeppesen and the Golden Bears finished the regular season with
the meet vs. Rowan. The squad now prepares for the PSAC
Championships, February 21-24 in Mechanicsburg, PA.
February 6,
2007
KUTZTOWN’S BEN, DENNIS HONORED BY PSAC
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Dave Ben (so.
Coatesville/Coatesville HS) and Stephen Dennis (fr. West
Chester/Henderson HS) have been honored by the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with weekly honors.
Ben
was named the PSAC East Co-Player of the Week, while Dennis was
named the PSAC East Rookie of the Week.
Ben
averaged 25.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as Kutztown won a
pair of league games. He started the week by scoring 23 points,
grabbing seven rebounds and picking four steals vs. East
Stroudsburg. He then helped his squad avenge an early season
loss, netting 27 points in a double-overtime win at West
Chester. Ben shared the honor with West Chester’s Aaron
Williams. Through 21 games, Ben is averaging 20.6 points and
5.7 rebounds per game.
Dennis played a key role in Kutztown’s 2-0 week by averaging
15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.5 steals. In a win
at West Chester, he scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebound and
doled out five assists. This is the sixth time this season that
Dennis has been named the PSAC East Rookie of the Week. Through
21 games, Dennis is averaging 14.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3
assists per game.
Kutztown is 15-6 overall, 4-3 in the PSAC East this
season. The Golden Bears return to action on Wednesday when
they host Mansfield at Keystone Hall. Tipoff is at 8:00 PM.
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S
CROSS COUNTRY NAMED
DIVISION II ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University Women’s
Cross Country team has been named a Division II All-Academic Team for
the 2006 cross country season by the U. S. Track and Field and
Cross Country Coaches Association.
For schools to
qualify, the student-athletes must have a cumulative grade point
average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. The Golden Bears finished the
2006 fall semester with a 3.14 GPA.
Kutztown placed
second at the PSAC Championships and first at the NCAA East
Regionals this past season. At the NCAA Championships, the team
recorded its best–ever finish of 14th.
This is the
ninth-consecutive year the cross country team has received this
honor.
February 1, 2007
KU FALL 2006 DEAN’S LIST INCLUDES 74 STUDENT-ATHLETES
KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University recently announced its Dean’s
List for the Fall 2006 semester. Among those recognized were 74
Golden Bear student-athletes.
Students must have a grade-point average (GPA) of at
least 3.60 with the completion of at least 12 credit hours for
the semester to qualify for the Dean’s List. Among KU’s
honorees, 25 achieved a perfect 4.0 for the semester. The
honorees are:
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