For the third consecutive year, Pennsylvania College of Technology has been awarded the Penn State University Athletic Conference Chancellor's Cup, given to the college that earns the most points throughout the year. Penn College ended with 69 points, while runner-up Penn State Brandywine had 55.5.
During the school year, Wildcat teams posted a combined 117-88 won-loss record (.570 percent). In all PSUAC competition only, Penn College went 76-34 (.691), captured three conference championships, and took two seconds and two thirds. As a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, Penn College also found success on the national level, with two fourth-place teams, a fifth and an eighth, as it finished seventh in the Director's Cup standings with 274 points. It was the only PSUAC team among the top 10 in the USCAA.
A sport-by-sport review of the year (alphabetically):
ArcheryFor the second year in a row, the Wildcats finished second in the nation overall and, for the first time in his career, Penn College coach Chad Karstetter was honored with the national Coach of the Year award. Five of his archers were repeat All-Americans this year, including Dan Wido, of Shickshinny; Zachary Plannick, of Coraopolis; and Glen Thomas, of Mercer, all for the fourth time; Aaron Lapinski, of Bloomsburg, for the third time; and Tyler Gale, of Kennedyville, Md., for the second time. Individually, Wido claimed his third consecutive men's compound national championship and Joe Dowdrick, of Lebanon, won the first bowhunter division national crown. (Complete story)
BaseballIt was a season of ups and downs for coach Chris Howard's fifth edition, as the team won nine of its first 11 games, dropped six in a row and then rebounded by winning 11 of 13, including nine straight, to reach the PSUAC playoffs, where it finished third. Overall, the Wildcats were 22-11, including 13-9 in the conference.
Basketball (Men)For the second season in the row, Penn College finished second in the conference after losing in overtime in the championship game. Overall, in coach Gene Bruno's 15th season, the team finished 15-13. It was 14-4 in PSUAC games. Senior Greg Solyak (Lititz) graduates as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,626 points and junior Leroy Joiner (Williamsport) was named to the USCAA Division II All-America First Team for the third time.
Basketball (Women)Under first-year coach Matt Wilt, the Lady Wildcats were 8-15 overall and 6-8 in the PSUAC.
BowlingCompeting in the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association state tournament, Penn College won the men's overall title and had the men's all-events champion in Paul Bouchard (Montoursville). And, for the fourth time in five seasons, coach Debbie Vincenzes was named Coach of the Year.
Cross-Country (Men)Under the guidance of 11th-year coach Mike Paulhamus, the Wildcats won the PSUAC championship and placed fourth in the USCAA national meet. Freshman Jake Shedden (Canton) finished second in the nation individually after earlier winning the PSUAC title.
Cross-Country (Women)Although there weren't enough runners to field a team, senior Tamara Pavlov (Lewisburg) placed eighth in the nation at the USCAA meet.
GolfPenn College finished second in the PSUAC and fifth in the USCAA under Matt Haile, who was in his second season as coach.
Soccer (Men)After being knocked from its perch at the top a year ago (after the team's five-year hold on the conference championship was ended) fifth-year coach Enrique Castillo guided his squad back to No. 1 in the PSUAC with a perfect 11-0 record and it finished among the top four in the USCAA, ending with a 16-4 overall mark.
Soccer (Women)In their first season under coach Markus Rybak, the Lady Wildcats posted a 6-7 record.
SoftballMuch like the baseball team's season that was hampered by poor spring weather, the softball team experienced streaks that included six losses to start the campaign followed by seven wins. It then had streaks of four losses and six wins before reaching the PSUAC playoffs, where it ended third, and being invited to the USCAA tournament, where it placed eighth. Overall during coach Roger Harris' 10th season, the Wildcats finished 14-16, including 10-5 in all conference games.
Team TennisAfter going 8-4 during the regular PSUAC season, Penn College rallied at the end-of-the season conference championships to claim its third straight crown under coach Aimee Plastow. Individual champs included Danielle Trout (Harrisburg) and Rob Kemrer in singles (Milton) and Trout and Rachel Emmons (Washington, N.J.) in doubles.
Volleyball (Men)The Wildcats completed an 11-11 season under eighth-year coach Wes Strayer.
Volleyball (Women)Coach Bambi Hawkins, in her 11th season, guided the Wildcats to a 17-7 overall mark. They finished 14-4 in PSUAC matches and reached the conference semifinals for the second year in a row.
WrestlingReturning to intercollegiate competition for the first time since 1983, coach Schuyler Frey led the team as it tied for 42nd in a 77-team field at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championships.
POSTSEASON AWARDS SoftballAlthough she missed her team's last 14 games after being injured, the performancePenn Collegesoftball shortstop Amanda Baney had during the 16 games in which she played was good enough to earn a spot on the Penn State University Athletic Conference First Team.
Baney, a sophomore from Williamsport, led the Wildcats with a .452 batting average, with 19 hits in 42 at-bats, including seven home runs, two triples and two doubles. She drove in 25 runs, scored 13 and had a slugging percentage of 1.095 and field percentage of .959.
Also honored as a First Team PSUAC selection and as a conference Newcomer of the Year was third baseman Sabrina Reynolds. A freshman from Muncy, Reynolds hit .313, with 20 hits in 64 at-bats, including three home runs. She drove in 16 runs and scored 20 in 20 of the team's 30 games.
BaseballFor the college baseball team, Brett Braker (Northampton) and Ryan Weachock (Pottsville) were named to the USCAA National All-Academic Team.
(Complete rosters and season schedules are available on the college's Athletics Web site . For more information on the PSUAC, visit on the Web; more about the USCAA also is available online.)
Vol. 9, No. 40