2025-2026 Golden Bear Highlights 

Contributors: Matt Heffelfinger ’07, Director of Athletic Communications; C.J. Hemerly, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications 

FOOTBALL THREE-PEATS, REWRITES RECORD BOOK AGAIN 

KU football’s unprecedented run of success continued in 2025 with a third straight PSAC championship and a dominant run to the NCAA Division II semifinals that put the campus in the national spotlight with an ESPN-televised game from Andre Reed Stadium. 

The Golden Bears completed the regular season unbeaten for the second year in a row and became just the second team in PSAC history to win three consecutive championship games on their way to a program record 14 victories (14-1). KU scored 50 points or more in each of its three postseason wins to claim the Super Region 1 title for the second time in three seasons. The Maroon and Gold ranked second in NCAA DII in scoring defense, allowing just 14.1 points per game, while the offense put up the fifth most points per game in the nation at 42.9 points per contest. 

Quarterback Judd Novak was a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy (DII’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) after throwing for 31 touchdowns and 3,070 yards against one interception. Offensive lineman Ryan Schernecke, a recent free agent signing of the NFL’s New York Giants, was a national finalist for the Gene Upshaw DII Lineman of the Year award and head coach Jim Clements was recognized as the American Football Coaches Association Division II National Coach of the Year for the first time in his illustrious career. 

The Golden Bears finished the year ranked a program-best third in the final AFCA Division II Poll. 

RECORD WINNING STREAK HIGHLIGHTS FIELD HOCKEY’S RUN TO FINAL FOUR 

The Golden Bear field hockey team put its stamp on a successful fall for KU athletics by completing a perfect regular season, establishing a new program-best 19-game winning streak and reaching the 20-win mark for the first time in program history. 

Head coach Marci Scheuing guided KU to its first-ever unbeaten run through the PSAC in the regular season (9-0) to earn the top seed in the PSAC Championship tournament. The 2025 squad went 18-0 in the regular season overall to become just the second team in school history to achieve an undefeated regular season, joining the 1971 team (5-0-3). 

Kutztown, which held the No. 1 national ranking in the NFHCA Division II Poll in seven of nine polls and never ranked lower than second, earned eight wins over nationally ranked opponents. The Golden Bears finished as PSAC runners-up after appearing in the conference championship game and reached the NCAA DII national semifinals for the third straight season to finish 20-2. 

KU SENDS SIX TO NATIONALS IN FISHER’S FINAL CAMPAIGN, HADDAD NAMED NEW LEADER 

The Kutztown University men’s wrestling team found success with strength in numbers during the postseason last season. 

The Golden Bears brought home a runner-up team finish at the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Championships, matching the program's best-ever regional finish. Six Golden Bears qualified for the NCAA DII Championships by virtue of finishing in the top three of their weight class at regionals, which also matched a program record. Dual sport standout Freddie Retter placed fifth nationally at heavyweight to claim All-America honors for the second year in a row and became just the 11th KU multi-time All-American in the process. Joining Retter at nationals were Nic Allison (125 lbs.), Joey Ortega (141 lbs.), regional champion Dalton Gimbor (174 lbs.), Cole Casilio (184 lbs.) and Wayne McIntyre (197 lbs.). 

Head coach Robert Fisher concluded his storied 25-year coaching career with 258 dual wins, five individual national champions, 34 All-Americans and 24 regional champions. He also led the women’s golf program to the 2017 PSAC championship. Two-time national champion and KU hall of famer Ziad Haddad ’18 was announced as the new head coach of the men’s wrestling program in July.

LAWES INDUCTED INTO NFCA HALL OF FAME, CLOSES IN ON PSAC HISTORY 

Legendary KU softball coach Judy Lawes was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December. Lawes completed her 39th season in charge this past spring, leading the Golden Bears to 39 victories and their third straight appearance in the NCAA DII Atlantic Super Regional. Lawes ranks second among active Division II head coaches and eighth overall with a 1,214-686-2 career record. She will enter the 2027 season needing just two victories to surpass Bloomsburg’s Jan Hutchinson as the PSAC’s all-time wins leader. 

WOMEN’S LACROSSE STEPS UP IN POSTSEASON TO REACH NATIONAL QUARTERFINALS  

A tough regular season schedule prepared KU women’s lacrosse for the postseason and the Golden Bears hit their stride in April and May, knocking off the nation’s last two unbeaten teams and reaching NCAA DII national quarterfinals for the first time in program history. 

KU produced a strong 12-5 record during the regular season but was hungry for more after dropping signature games against its closest rivals. That changed in the PSAC semifinals when the Bears rallied from a 6-2 deficit to stun unbeaten (18-0) and fourth-ranked East Stroudsburg, 10-8, to reach the championship game for the second time in three seasons. 

The Maroon and Gold fell one goal short of the PSAC crown against host Slippery Rock, 11-10, but the story wasn’t complete. KU earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, 12-8, over Wingate in the opening round to set up a rematch with (fourth-ranked) Rock in round two. This time, a stellar defensive effort paved the way for a 9-6 win that sent KU to the national quarterfinals and dealt Slippery Rock its only loss of the season (20-1). 

Kutztown’s run came to a close in the quarterfinals with an 18-12 defeat at East Stroudsburg but the Golden Bears enjoyed their winningest season to date with 16 victories and finished a program-best 11th in the final Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Poll.