On the Division III map after making big strides over the past year, including three team championships, Pennsylvania College of Technology is set to enter its 11th season as a member of the United East Conference and eighth season as a full-fledged member of the NCAA.
As students returned to the campus over the last few days, student-athletes are excited to get back to work on their field of dreams.
Fall Openers Scheduled
Friday, Aug. 30
Men’s soccer at Centenary University, 2 p.m.
Women’s volleyball at Lycoming College, 4 p.m.
Women’s soccer at Penn State Altoona, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Men’s/women’s cross-country host Lycoming College, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 6
Men’s tennis at Lycoming College, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7
Women’s tennis at King’s Invitational Day One, 9 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 9
Men’s golf at Albright College Fall Invitational at Olde Homestead Golf Club, 10:30 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 16
Esports, TBA
This season will see several new regular-season conference opponents on the Wildcats’ schedules as former members of the Colonial States Athletic Conference, who joined the UE a year ago, are worked in with longtime UE members.
According to Matthew Blymier, assistant director of athletics, there are “no more divisions. The larger sports won’t play everyone, it will be a yearly rotation. The smaller sports will play everyone.”
2024 Hall of Fame
The addition of three new members will bring the Athletic Hall of Fame total to 51 when they are inducted at 6 p.m. on Sept. 27 during Wildcat Weekend.
This year’s inductees are:
Ned Baumbach (Men’s golf, 2015-19)
Baumbach of Elizabethtown was awarded all-North Eastern Athletic Conference honors during his four years. He was named to the third team as a freshman and the second team in the following three seasons.
During his time as a Wildcat, Penn College placed 10th in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Small College Nationals in Fall 2015, sixth in the NEAC in Spring 2016, fourth in the NEAC in Spring 2017, and third in the NEAC during the spring seasons in 2018 and 2019.
Baumbach also earned NEAC All-Academic honors during his junior and senior seasons.
Courtney Gernert (Women’s volleyball, 2011-14)
An outside hitter, Gernert of Palmyra had a stellar four seasons that saw her finish with more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs while helping her teams to the Penn State University Athletic Conference co-championship in 2012, a second-place PSUAC finish in 2011 and a berth in the PSUAC semifinals in 2013. During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Penn College also competed in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Small College National Championships.
In her sophomore and junior seasons, Gernert was named to the PSUAC first team and earned the USCAA second team, along with being named the team’s MVP, in her junior season. During her senior season, Gernert was awarded NEAC second-team honors.
In addition to her on-court achievements, Gernert stood out in the classroom as she was named to all-academic teams during all four years.
Taylor Krow (Women’s softball, 2016-19)
An outfielder, Krow of Mechanicsburg was a two-time North Eastern Athletic Conference first-team honoree and two-time second-team selection who had a .379 career batting average. She led the team twice in that category as a freshman and sophomore when she batted .397 and .394, respectively. As a freshman, she also led the team in runs, hits and doubles. As a sophomore, she was the team leader in hits and slugging percentage, and as a junior, she again led the team in hits.
Krow also was on the NEAC All-Academic team as a sophomore.
During Krow’s career, the Wildcats reached the playoffs in all four years — three times in the NEAC, where they finished second in 2019, and once in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
In the Classroom (Individual)
2023-24 UE scholar-athletes
A school-record 135 student-athletes were named United East Scholar-Athletes.
To be selected, a student-athlete must achieve a GPA of 3.2 or higher for the fall or spring semester and must have been in good standing on his or her team.
Honored were:
Men’s lacrosse
Brody Borkowski, Eagleville; Alexander Dotson, Wilmington, Delaware; Connor Gentile, Oxford; Colten Hajicek, Redmond, Washington; Alex Hammond, Lincoln University; Daniel Harkins, North Wales; Jayden Hazzard, Easton; Walter Heiser, Easton; Paul Hornberger, York; Ryan Jeffries, Oxford, Connecticut; Cory Johnson, North Huntingdon; Charles Jones, Glenolden; Dylan Keene, Millersville; Emmett Kepniss, Maple Glen; Dylan Luckey, Binghamton, New York; Mike McGinn, Lincoln University; Corbin Moore, Manheim; Sam Nice, Schwenksville; Andrew Osterman, Laurel, Maryland; Devin Page, Pine City, New York; Graham Purdy, Hillsborough, New Jersey; Graham Rex, Abbottstown; Kevin Ronayne, Havertown; Guerin San Agustin, Old Bridge, New Jersey; Marcello Santora, Haskell, New Jersey; Ryan Santora, Norwalk, Connecticut; Harrison Schlachta, Collegeville; Connor Stank, York Haven; Michael Stank, York Haven; William Trimbur, Doylestown; Angelo Varcadipane, Boonton, New Jersey; Colby Williamson, Sinking Spring.
Men’s soccer
Dakoda Buzzy, Oneonta, New York; Cole Catherman, Selinsgrove; Logan Confer, Watsontown; Tom DeGeyter, Long Valley, New Jersey; Jacob Everhart, Huntingdon; Zach Foskey, Gilbertsville; Kegan Foster, Gilbertsville; Hunter Gabloff, Succasunna, New Jersey; William Gallagher, Mechanicsburg; Clayton Gothel, Millerstown; Tyler Hendershot, New Columbia; Mason Kostick, Souderton; Jack Lenosky, Moon Township; Erich McDaniel, Hanover; Matt Neeson, Chadds Ford; Logan Ogden, South Williamsport (also tennis); Logan Pietrzak, Philadelphia; Brandon Ratjavong, Gordonville; Nathan Schwartz, Lancaster; Tad Shellenberger, Port Royal; William Watson, Springfield; Tyler Weimert, Feasterville-Trevose.
Women’s soccer
Makayla Bucks, Lebanon; Sara Darlington, West Chester; Wiley Egan, Northumberland; Emma Fox, Myerstown; BillieGean Hennessy, Holtsville, New York; Cassie Johnson, Richland; Nicole Lichtinger, Erie; Cierra Miller, Dover; Piper Minier, South Williamsport; Shannon O’Day, Honesdale; Sara Pecchia, Jersey Shore; Kaelynn Sheetz, Elizabethtown; Morgan Solano, Shavertown; Gillian Way, Hughesville; Teagan Willey, Towanda.
Baseball
Ethan Eckard, Cogan Station; Zach Ellis, Gilbertsville; Dallas Griess, Williamsport; Wyatt Hershey, McConnellsburg; Benny Hornburg, Pittsburgh; Charlie Hornburg, Pittsburgh; Ty Jenkins, Lancaster; Brandon Shane, Boyertown; Sam Staib, Bloomsburg; Griffin Vollman, Williamsport; David Wagner, Perkiomenville; Ryan Sawyer, Cornwall, New York.
Women’s basketball
Isabella Hitesman, Muncy; Kayleigh Miller, Sayre; Eliza Newcomer, Newell; Emily Pardee, Williamsport; Mia Patterson, Loyalsock Township; Shelby Piatt, Frenchtown, New Jersey; Rachel Teats, Middleburg; Alexis Troup, Huntingdon; Allison Troup, Huntingdon; Emily Woodson, Biglerville.
Women’s softball
Fayth Anderson, Lykens; Kristen Austra, Larksville; Jesse Brumbaugh, McClure; Hailey DeBrody, Cogan Station; Madison Herriman, Danville; Maggie Mangene, Bellefonte; Ivvy Morder, Mechanicsburg; Madison Shaffer, Trout Run; Lexi Snyder, Hegins; Alyssa Armpriester, Mohrsville.
Golf
Gavin Baer, Bainbridge; Luke Brooks, Tyrone; Brady Handy, Huntingdon; Trevor Keaton, Lansdale; Brett Keenan, Lafayette Hills; Peyton Mussina, Montoursville; Will Orwig, Mifflintown; Gunner Redmond, Lock Haven; Brandon Vaughn, Chambersburg.
Men’s cross-country
Dillon Betts, Manchester, New Jersey; Mitchell Campbell, Riegelsville; Chase Ebeling, Bellefonte; Holden Furey, Williamsport; Jacob Parker, Weatherly; Cody Patchell, State College; Alec Rees, Centerport, New York; Matt Woolcock, Oil City.
Men’s basketball
Alec Cooper, Huntingdon; Livingston Cross, Union, New Jersey; Max Jackowsky, Glen Mills; Derek Litzelman, Roaring Branch; Adam McGinley, Bloomsburg; Landon Reeder, Montoursville.
Men’s tennis
Hunter Knosky, Camp Hill; Will Long, Horsham; Logan Ogden, South Williamsport (also soccer); Kyle Shuler, Williamsport.
Women’s tennis
Ellen Buckley, Binghamton, New York; Georgia Macensky, Wellsboro; Faith Murray, Dillsburg; Lauran Peck, South Williamsport.
Women’s cross-country
Elaina Brady, Big Cove Tannery; Skyelar Splain, Liverpool.
Women’s volleyball
Lauren Hergert, Brookville; Cheyenne Stein, Orwigsburg.
Honors Court repeat
Jackowsky, a senior, was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for the second consecutive year.
The NABC Honors Court includes junior, senior and graduate student men’s basketball players who finished the 2023-24 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
Two golfers cited
Mussina and Baer were named 2023-24 Cobalt Golf Division III All-America Scholars by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
The duo are the first in program history to earn the honor.
To be eligible for the Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar nomination, an individual must be a sophomore, junior or senior both academically and athletically in NCAA Division III. In addition, they must participate in 50% of their team’s competitive rounds, have a stroke under 79.0 and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at their college or university.
In the Classroom (Team)
UEC honors
Penn College had a department-best 10 programs earn United East Team Academic Honors. They were men’s cross-country 3.60, women’s basketball 3.527, women’s cross-country 3.525, women’s tennis 3.48, women’s volleyball 3.40, men’s tennis 3.38, women’s soccer 3.37, men’s soccer 3.35, men’s golf 3.34 and softball 3.32.
To achieve the honor, a United East-sponsored sport must achieve a team GPA of 3.25 or higher during the academic year. This year, 109 teams from all 17 core members of the United East, as well as affiliates in track and field and men’s golf, earned the distinction.
Lancaster Bible College, which sponsors 18 United East sports, led all members with 12 programs collecting Team Academic Honors, while Penn College tied St. Mary’s, which sponsors 15 United East sports, for second.
Men’s soccer
Penn College earned its seventh straight Team Academic Award for the 2023-24 academic year, the United Soccer Coaches announced. The Wildcats posted a program-high 3.4 GPA.
Men’s lacrosse
The team earned the 2024 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Team Academic Award. It’s the Wildcats second time earning honor after receiving it in 2022.
The USILA Team Academic Award is given to any NCAA Division I, II or III men’s lacrosse program who achieves a 3.0 grade point average for the 2024 Spring semester. Penn College finished with a 3.18 GPA.
Women’s basketball
The team earned Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Team Honor Roll Special Mention for the 2023-24 academic year, marking the third time earning the honor.
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women’s basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the season.
Penn College posted a 3.624 grade point average, which ranked in the top-50 in Division III and bested its mark of 3.316 last season, with 11 student-athletes securing a GPA above a 3.0.
Men’s golf
The team received the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Outstanding Team Academic Award. The GCAA recognized 240 schools across six divisions with the honor.
To be eligible for All-Academic Team honors, a college or university must submit the grade points earned and hours attempted for each player on its official squad list for the academic year and carry a team GPA of 3.00 or higher.
Penn College’s 11-man roster averaged a 3.32 GPA, including three 4.0s and 10 members securing a GPA above a 3.0.
Odds and Ends
Wrestling
On July 26, it was announced that Pankil Chander stepped down as the head coach to accept another full-time coaching opportunity.
A national search is underway for his replacement.
Highlighting Chander’s two-season tenure were the team’s first NCAA Division III national qualifier and first team point in the national tournament, first tournament title, first winning dual record in the NCAA era (since 2014) and first national tournament team ranking.
Women’s basketball
Head coach Britni Mohney was selected to be a member of the coaching staff of the 2024 NCAA College Basketball Academy in Rock Hill, South Carolina, July 27-29. Mohney also was selected last year for the inaugural College Basketball Academic in Memphis, Tennessee.
UE: PS Brandywine in, Clarks Summit out
On July 1, Penn State–Brandywine joined the United East for the 2024–25 academic year, the first new member after the merger of the United East and Colonial States Athletic Conference one year earlier, and Clarks Summit University left the United East after it abruptly ceased operations.
The United East has 17 NCAA Division III full-member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, St. Elizabeth University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge and Wilson College.
UE men’s volleyball
Although Penn College hasn’t fielded a team since 2011, with the addition of Neumann University as an associate member, the United East will have nine members for the 2025 season. Seven full members include Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, St. Elizabeth University, University of Valley Forge and Wilson College.
Pratt Institute will retain associate membership for the 2025 season. Gallaudet University will reinstate men’s volleyball to varsity status in 2025 after last playing during the 2013 season.
For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website.
For more about the United East, visit the conference website.