KUTZTOWN, PA. (December 9, 2009) -- Individual Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion Jason Rowles (Broomall/Marple Newtown), senior thrower and school record holder Jason Rebuck (Southampton/William Tennent), pole vaulter Justin Germani (Birdsboro/Daniel Boone), senior hurdler T.J. Longmore (Manheim Township/Manheim Township) and senior sprinter Kendel Dixon (Atglen/Octorara) lead a talented and young group of athletes on the Kutztown University men’s track and field team into the 2009-10 season. 

Rowles, Rebuck, Germani and Longmore were members of the all-PSAC track and field teams last year after placing in the top three in their events. 

Rowles won the 400-meter hurdles at the PSAC championships with a time of 54.33 seconds. Rebuck was third at the PSAC championships in the discus. Rebuck is the school record holder in the discus (163 feet, 11 inches). Germani finished third in the pole vault at last year’s PSAC outdoor championships with a clearance of 15 feet, 7 inches, which was a NCAA provisional qualifying mark. He is expected to be among the top pole vaulters in the conference this year. 

Dixon finished fifth in the 400-meter dash at the PSAC championships with a NCAA-provisional qualifying time of 47.95 seconds. 

Dixon will lead a young corps of sprinters that includes freshman Greg Crawford (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown), sophomore Percell Berry (Norristown/Methacton), freshman Kori Meshaw (Lancaster/Hempfield) and freshman Manny Morris (Coatesville/Octorara). Dixon is poised to have a breakout season. He will lead the Golden Bears’ 4 x 100-meter relay team, which could include Berry, sophomore Matt Cannell (Douglassville/Daniel Boone), and Crawford. 

“We have great leadership with Kendell,” KU head coach Ray Hoffman said. “We’re pretty young in the sprints and we’re relying on freshmen.” 

While the Golden Bears may be young in the sprints, they are deep and experienced in the distances. Redshirt freshman Eli Weeks (Pottstown/Owen J. Roberts) was one of the top 800-meter runners in the state of Pennsylvania in high school. Joining Weeks in the mid-distances will be sophomore Ryan Reich (Oley Valley/Oley), Daniel Pelletier, junior Matt Reightler (Bethlehem/Northampton), junior Joe Tavormina (Hellertown/Saucon Valley), Jon Bryne and senior Shaun Crump (Boyertown/Boyertown). 

Reich is also expected to compete in the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter. Meanwhile, senior Ben Loht (Lewistown/Indian Valley) and junior Kevin Rodgers (Clifton Heights/Upper Darby) will run the 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000-meter distances. Sophomore Frank Nick (Kintnersville/Palisades), who participated in the PSAC championships, last year, returns. Pelletier will also compete in the steeplechase. 

“Our mid-distance runners should give us a pretty solid distance medley relay and 4 x 8-relay team,” Hoffman said. 

Kutztown appears to be solid in the hurdles. Joining Rowles and Longmore will be junior Shane Harvey (Pattenburg/North Hunterdon), who placed sixth in the 110-hurdles at the outdoor PSAC championship meet in 15.05 seconds.  

Meshaw and Morris are accomplished hurdlers and could make a significant impact for the Golden Bears. Meshaw placed third at the outdoor Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) class AAA championships in the 300-meter hurdles. He was third in the 60-meter hurdles at the indoor state championships and was the District 3 runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles. Morris was one of the top three 60-meter hurdlers in Pennsylvania. 

Freshman Jacob Murray (Pine Grove/Pine Grove) was third in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth in the 110-meter high hurdles at the outdoor PIAA class AA championships. He was also the Pennsylvania District XI champion in the 110-meter high hurdles. 

Joining Germani in the pole vault will be Berry, sophomore Will Hodges and sophomore Craig Sherwood (Perkasie/Pennridge). Sherwood, a multi-event standout, will also compete in the decathlon. 

The Golden Bears should be strong in the javelin with sophomore Jack Iouse (Manheim/Manheim Central) leading the returnees. He was sixth in the javelin at the PSAC championships with a NCAA-provisional throw of 194 feet. Sophomore Travis Miller (Danville/Danville Area), a Villanova transfer, and freshman Alec Bleacher (Lancaster/Hempfield) provide depth in the javelin. Bleacher placed 13th in the javelin at the PIAA AAA outdoor championships last year. Miller was the 2006 PIAA Class AA javelin champion. 

Hoffman is expecting sophomore Greg Senatore (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional) to enjoy a breakout season in the discus, shot put, hammer and 35-pound weight throws. Freshman Hale Paul (Cheltenham/Cheltenham) will concentrate on throwing the shot put. Paul was 18^th in the pole vault at the PIAA Class AAA championship meet. Freshman Michael Stramara (Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) is expected to throw the discus, shot put, hammer and 35-pound weight.

Cannell leads the KU jumpers. He will compete in the long and triple jumps. Sophomore Robert Clews (Ashland/North Schuylkill) and Sean Gentry will participate in the triple, long and high jumps.

Freshman Sean Gentry (Lansdale/North Penn) was one of the top jumpers in the state of Pennsylvania as a senior. He was the Pennsylvania indoor state champion in the long jump. In addition, Gentry was second in the high and long jumps at the indoor state meet. Gentry placed fifth in the high jump, sixth in the long jump, and eighth in the triple jump at the outdoor PIAA AAA championships.

We have a nice blend of good senior leadership and a very good freshman class that shows the maturity of upperclassmen,” Hoffman said. “We’re going to rely on our freshmen to make an impact right away.”

The Golden Bears will battle Shippensburg, East Stroudsburg, Indiana (Pa.) and Lock Haven for PSAC supremacy. Kutztown finished in sixth place at both the PSAC indoor and outdoor championships last year.

“I believe we had an outstanding recruiting year,” Hoffman said. “We’re looking to take a step up from last year. I like our chances of finishing in the top four at (the PSAC) indoor and outdoor championships. We want to remain in the top 25 national power rankings and if that happens then we’ll be happy.”

--KU--