Jan. 29, 2008 

WASHINGTON CLAIMS SECOND STRAIGHT ROOKIE OF THE WEEK HONOR

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Kutztown University basketball player Ryan Washington (r-fr. Glenside/Wissahickon) was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Rookie of the Week for his efforts on the week of Jan. 20 to Jan. 26.

 This past week, KU went 2-0, with Washington scoring 18 points, grabbing 20 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists on the week. In their contest on Jan. 23 against Millersville, he pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds, dished out five assists and blocked three shots.

Against Bloomsburg on Jan. 26, Washington was a rebound short of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards. He also had five assists and three blocks.

Washington, who joined the team midseason after transferring to KU from Indiana (Pa.), is averaging 8.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in eight contests. This award is Washington’s second consecutive rookie of the week award.

KU is currently on a six-game winning streak and will look to make it seven Wednesday at the University of District of Columbia in a non-conference matchup. Tipoff from the nation’s capital is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Jan. 24, 2008 

KUTZTOWN’S KELLEY HEALEY NAMED TO PSAC FALL TOP 10 

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Kutztown University’s Kelley Healey (jr. Toms River, N.J./Toms River North), of the field hockey team, was named to the 2007 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Fall Top 10 list. 

The Top 10 Awards, selected by the PSAC’s sports information directors, recognize five female and five male student-athletes who distinguish themselves in the classroom as well as in the arena of competition. The conference designates Top 10 Award winners after each of the sports seasons: fall, winter and spring.

Healey holds a 3.90 cumulative grade-point average as a biology major. She earned first-team National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-America honors, her third-career All-America award, this season. She tallied 17 goals and set a single-season school record with 14 assists.  Healey was also named to first-team All-PSAC honors. 

Healey's 48 points in 2007 put her career total at 131, placing in her second all-time in school history and 31 behind KU’s leader Lisa Marrella (1986-89). The junior forward is also second on the all-time goals list with 52, which is 20 behind Marrella. Healey is in third in assists with 27.        

To be a candidate for the Top 10 Awards, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative grade point average and must be a starter or key reserve with legitimate athletic credentials. Only student-athletes from the fall sports season are eligible for the Fall Top 10 Awards. Those sports are: men’s and women’s soccer, football, field hockey, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country. 

Healey was joined on the top ten list by Jen Blasko (Slippery Rock, Volleyball), Mike Butterworth (Slippery Rock, Football), Anthony Cellitti (IUP, Football), Chris Cummings (Mansfield, Men’s Cross Country), Kristi Fiorillo (Clarion, Volleyball), Amber Hackenberg (Bloomsburg, Women’s Cross Country), Trevor Harris (Edinboro, Football), Rachel Lanzel (Edinboro, Women’s Cross Country), Brandon Shelton (Millersville, Football). 

At the end of the academic year, the league announces the Scholar-Athlete Awards, which recognize student-athletes on all PSAC squads with 3.25 cumulative GPAs or better. Top 10 Award winners are eligible for the league's Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, given to one male and one female candidate at the end of the academic year.

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Jan. 22, 2008

TRIO OF KU HOOPSTERS TAKE HOME CONFERENCE HONORS

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Mercedes Van Wager (sr. Mullica Hill, N.J./Clearview Regional), Stephen Dennis (so. West Chester/Henderson) and Ryan Washington (r-fr. Glenside/Wissahickon) were honored by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tuesday for their efforts on the hardwood last week.

Van Wagner was named Eastern Division Player of the Week, as she capped off a record-breaking week, posting double-doubles in the Golden Bears’ contests against Mansfield and West Chester last week. The senior averaged 15 points and 11.5 rebounds on the week. However, the crowning achievement of her week was her five blocks against the West Chester, which broke the school record in her career for blocked shots, giving her 168.

This is Van Wagner’s first PSAC East Player of the Week honor on the season. The second-team All-PSAC East selection from a year ago is averaging 8.1 points and 6.5 rebounds a contest. She currently ranks fourth in the conference in blocked shots with 32, averaging 1.88 swats a game.

Dennis, of the men’s team, was named Eastern Division Co-Player of the Week, along with Charlie Parker, of Millersville. Dennis helped guide KU to a 2-0 week with division wins over Mansfield and West Chester. The sophomore guard had 27 points, seven boards, six assists, three blocks and three steals against Mansfield. He followed that performance up with an 11-point, five-rebound and five-assist game against West Chester on Saturday. Combined, Dennis shot 15-of-28 from the field in the two games.

This is Dennis’ second-straight PSAC East Player of the Week honor and third on the season. He ranks near the top of the conference in several statistical categories, as he is third in the conference, averaging 19.3 points per game, and is fourth in the conference in steals (2.53 per game) and blocks (1.80).

Washington, a redshirt freshman, earned the PSAC Eastern Division Rookie of the Week award, averaging 14.5 points per game and six rebounds in the two wins. In the road victory against West Chester, Washington had career highs with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Washington, who joined the team midseason after transferring to KU from Indiana (Pa.), is averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in his five games wearing maroon and gold.

Both the men’s and women’s squads will next play Wednesday night against PSAC East foe Millersville at Keystone Hall, with the women tipping off at 6 p.m. and the men following at 8 p.m.

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Jan. 18, 2008 

QUILES EARNS D2FOOTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICA HONORS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University wide receiver Elfren Quiles (sr. New Britain, Conn./New Britain) has added another honor to his already full resume.   

            Quiles was named to second-team All-America honors by d2football.com.  Teammate Brian Bingnear (sr. Boothwyn/Chichester) received honorable mention.   

            Quiles led the Golden Bears with 64 receptions for 1,187 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. Quiles also ranked highly on the national level, as he ended his senior season averaging 118.7 yards a game, good for second in Division II, and averaged 6.4 catches a game, ranking him 16^th in the nation.

            His prowess on the field earned him an invitation to the 2008 Cactus Bowl, a Division II all-star game.  Also this season, Quiles was named to third-team Associated Press Little All-America, first-team Daktronics and Football Gazette All-Northeast Region, and first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division honors.

            Quiles was also a third-team All-America selection as a freshman while at Merrimack in 2004.  He transferred to Kutztown prior to the 2006 season and amassed 2,003 receiving yards in two seasons – fourth on KU’s career list.  His 43 TD catches (9^th), 4,136 career receiving yards (11^th) and 252 receptions (13^th) all rank among the all-time Division II leaders. 

            This season, Bingnear led the PSAC in tackles with 118 total and 71 solo. He averaged 10.7 tackles per game and had four interceptions and five pass breakups. 

            The D2Football.com All-America Team was selected by the staff of D2Football.com with input from coaches and sports information directors from around the country.

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Jan 16, 2008

Bonifas, Singer Awarded PSAC East Swimmer of the Week Honors

KUTZTOWN, Pa.- Kutztown University senior swimmers Sean Bonifas (Lancaster/Hempfield) and Ashley Singer (Lititz/Warwick) have been named PSAC East Swimmers of the Week for their efforts in the pool for the week ending January 15.

Bonifas qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships in two events. In the 100-yard breaststroke, Bonifas clocked a time of 1:01.55, and finished the 200 breaststroke in 2:18.46. The senior also added a first-place performance in the 200 medley relay (1:41.30).

 This is Bonifas’ first swimmer of the week honor on the season and the second of his career, as he also received the honor a season ago. Bonifas was KU’s top finisher at the 2007 PSAC Championships, as he took fifth in the 100 breaststroke.

Singer, who also serves as one of the women’s team tri-captains, has been a steady force to the Golden Bears throughout her time at KU, with this year being no different.

Last week, she won five individual events and set two pool records as the team went 2-0 on the week.

 In the 156-98 victory at Albright, Singer posted first-place finishes in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Her times of 1:56.41 and 5:15.01 were good enough to establish new Albright pool records.

 On Saturday at Millersville, Singer won the 100 butterfly (1:00.75), the 200 freestyle (1:57.23) and also chipped in to help win the 200 medley relay in 1:54.74, as the Golden Bears downed the Marauders 122-78.

 This is Singer’s second swimmer of the week honor this season, as she previously received the award on Nov. 6.

 Bonfias, Singer, and the rest of the Kutztown University men’s and women’s swim teams will return to Keystone Natatorium this Saturday at 1 p.m. to take on PSAC foe Bloomsburg University.

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Jan 15, 2008

Quiles,Bingnear Attain First-Team Football Gazette All-Northeast Region Honors

KUTZTOWN, Pa.— Kutztown University seniors Elfren Quiles (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) and Brian Bingnear (Boothwyn/Chichester) have been named to the Football Gazette All-Northeast Region First-Team football squad for their outstanding efforts in the 2007 season.

Quiles led the Golden Bears with 64 receptions for 1,187 yards and eight touchdowns on the year.

Quiles also ranked highly on the national level, as he ended his senior season averaging 118.7 yards a game, good for second in Division II, and averaged 6.4 catches a game, ranking him 16^th in the nation.

His prowess on the field earned him an invitation to the 2008 Cactus Bowl, a Division II All-Star Game which features the nation’s top players and allows the participants to be evaluated by pro scouts. In the contest, Quiles grabbed one reception for 13 yards.

In Kutztown’s first contest of the season against Southern Connecticut State, Quiles had 12 catches for 211 yards and a score. However, Quiles went on to outdo that performance later in the season.

In his performance against PSAC rival Bloomsburg on Oct. 6, the senior torched the Husky defense for an NCAA Division II season high of 308 receiving yards.

For his career, Quiles was named first-team All-PSAC East this season to go along with the all-region honors.

A year ago, he set the Kutztown University single-season touchdown record for a season with 12, and was named team MVP.

Quiles ends his two-year career at KU with 118 catches for 2,003 yards and 20 touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, Bingnear was a rock in the secondary for the Golden Bears the past four seasons.

This season, Bingnear moved from free to strong safety, and led the PSAC in tackles with 118 (71 solo, 47 ast.) and averaged 10.3 tackles a contest. The defensive leader also had four picks, which tied him for second in the conference.

This honor is Bingnear’s second Football Gazette All-Northeast Region honor. He is also a two-time Daktronics Northeast All-Region and PSAC East first-team award winner. Last year, he was a Third Team Football Gazette All-American.

Bingnear ends his illustrious career in maroon and gold with 276 tackles and 8 interceptions.

Under the guidance of second-year head coach Raymond Monica, the Golden Bears finished the season with a record of 5-6 and went 2-3 against PSAC East competition.

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Jan 14, 2008

Dennis, McQuade garner PSAC Player, rookie of the week honors

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Kutztown University guard Stephen Dennis (so. West Chester/Henderson), of the men’s basketball team, has been named PSAC East Player of the Week, while guard Melissa McQuade (fr. Pittsburgh/Shaler), of the women’s basketball team, has been named the PSAC East Rookie of the Week.

Dennis led the Golden Bears to a 2-0 record, playing a vital role in road victories against Philadelphia University and California University (Pa.) to earn his second player of the week award this season.

Against Philadelphia, Dennis registered his second double-double of the season, scoring 20 points and pulled down a career high of 16 rebounds in the 81-75 victory over the Rams of Philadelphia University.

Dennis then followed up his fantastic performance only four days later with a 24-point, six-steal and four-rebound performance in a PSAC crossover overtime victory against the Vulcans of California (Pa.)

For the week, Dennis shot nearly 50 percent from the field, while scoring 44 points to go along with 20 boards. Dennis also played 81 of the possible 85 minutes in both games.

On the year, Dennis is averaging 19.4 points and 6.5 rebounds a contest, ranking him second and 14^th in the conference in both respective categories.

For the women, McQuade continued her stellar freshman campaign in maroon and gold as she was named the PSAC East Rookie of the Week for the third time this year.

On the week, the guard averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds in Kutztown’s 1-1 week.

In a 79-54 win over Lincoln, McQuade matched her season best of 19 points to go along with 13 boards, while also chipping in three assists and two blocks. In the 72-61 loss to California (Pa.) she contributed 11 points and nine rebounds to go along with three assists and two steals.

With this being her third rookie of the week honor, she is now tied with fellow freshman sensation Kristin Murray, of East Stroudsburg, for the most rookie of the week honors in the division this season.

On the season, McQuade is second on the team averaging 10.0 points a game and leads the team in rebounds as a guard with an average of 7.1 a contest.

Both KU squads return to action Wednesday at Keystone Hall to take on Mansfield University with the women tipping off at 6 p.m. and the men to follow at 8 p.m.

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Jan 8, 2008 

KU IN 10TH PLACE IN DIXON TROPHY STANDINGS AFTER FALL SEASON