Fourteen Penn College Spring-Sports Athletes Honored

Fourteen Pennsylvania College of Technology spring sports athletes have earned postseason honors, capping the most successful year ever in Wildcat athletic history.

Earning All-American status were archers Ryan Romberger (Pillow), who won the national collegiate outdoor male compound title; Ryan Benny (Burnham) and Michelle Wright (Kendall, N.Y.).

Taking All-Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association accolades were John Vitovsky (Western Wayne) in baseball; Theresa Burrill (Jersey Shore) and Kristie Boyd (Parkland) in coed tennis; and Kristen Proctor (State College) in softball.

Receiving All-Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference honors were Andy Roth (Catasauqua), Chris Faerber (Newport) and Vitovsky in baseball; Mandy Thompson (Bellefonte), Rachel Sledzinsky (Wayne) and Proctor in softball; and Adam Cleland (East Pennsboro), Mike Ceresini (Lebanon), John Lafferty (Lansdale), Burrill and Boyd in tennis.

The individual awards completed a year during which 12 of 14 Penn College teams reached the postseason playoffs and five won state championships.

In golf, the Wildcats went 45-0, claimed the PCAA and EPCC titles, had the individual champ in Matt Haile of Shikellamy and had the coach of the year in Chet Schuman; in cross country, Penn College went 22-16, won the men's team title, had the individual state champ in Paul Merces (Seabright, N.J.) and had the coach of the year in Mike Paulhamus; in tennis the Wildcats went 5-0, claimed the PCAA and EPCC championships, had the women's singles champ in Burrill and women's doubles champs in Burrill and Boyd and saw Charlie Baum named coach of the year; in bowling, Penn College women won the PCAA women's team title; and in archery, Penn College was seventh in outdoor nationals after winning two state indoor team titles, two Eastern Regional crowns and finishing second at the indoor nationals.

Also, the men's volleyball team placed second in the PCAA championships and Wildcat teams reached playoffs in spring and fall baseball, softball, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball.

"The 2003-04 athletic year was a banner season for Penn College in that 12 of our varsity teams were involved in post season activities and that's the first time that has ever happened," said Mike Stanzione, coordinator of athletics.

Commenting on the school's three "coaches of the year," Stanzione said, "Two things have to happen to have a successful team. One, you have to have sound coaching philosophies and sound coaching ability. Then, if you get the athletes to complement that, you're going to reap the benefits. It's a combination of coaches who are very good at what they do and getting some student-athletes who are extremely talented."

Looking to the future, Stanzione said, "Every year is different and (continued success) depends on the quality of athlete that comes into Penn College. This has been a banner year for quality athletes at Penn College. When you have quality athletes, then your team is going to do quite well.

"Another recruiting year begins right now. We're identifying and getting freshmen student-athletes in here who can help to continue our success at the level we're at."