Natasha Camy, a former NCAA Division III athlete in the women’s basketball program at Widener University, who is now an NCAA Division I women’s basketball official, served as the keynote speaker for Penn State Schuylkill's 2022 Student-Athlete Recognition Ceremony.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — On Friday, May 6, Penn State Schuylkill recognized student-athlete achievement in a ceremony held in the John E. Morgan Auditorium. The inaugural event featured keynote speaker Natasha Camy, a former NCAA Division III athlete in the women’s basketball program at Widener University, who is now an NCAA Division I women’s basketball official. Camy shared her story and struggles with the audience and the lessons she has learned as she has earned a stellar reputation as a premier NCAA official.
Recognizing student-athlete success
The evening was dedicated to Penn State Schuylkill’s student-athletes whose character, efforts, service to team, and school spirit are notable as are their outstanding academic achievements.
The Penn State Schuylkill athletic program had a standout year for 2021-22. Every athletic team qualified for postseason play in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) and both the women’s soccer team and softball team earned a bid to play in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national championship series — the USCAA Small College World Series (softball) began this week.
Schuylkill athletes made a strong showing in the PSUAC All-Conference Awards, and this year, three coaches earned Coach of the Year honors across the entire conference in their respective sports. The women’s soccer team swept all of the major PSUAC awards, including Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Player of the Year. And for the second year in a row, fourth-year student-athlete Jake Leininger was named PSUAC Player of the Year East in baseball.
Athletic milestones and new records
This year noted several individual and team milestones and new school records.
Fifth-year student-athlete Alyssa Gerber is the first Penn State Schuylkill women’s basketball player to reach both 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. She is now the leading points scorer with 1,342 career points and this year’s PSUAC Player of the Year. Gerber's final season was the first time that women’s basketball celebrated 20-plus wins under Coach Charles Killian. A three-season athlete, Gerber also achieved 100 career hits in softball and was named to the PSUAC All-Decade Team in women’s soccer.
Fourth-year softball ace Sierra Santarsiero helped her team to a 20-plus win season, retiring as Penn State Schuylkill's all-time strikeout leader with 326 career strikeouts. Softball coach Darle Cresswell also reached his 200-win career milestone.
Men’s basketball guard Wilvens Fleurizard — in his first season at Penn State Schuylkill — scored 691 total points, surpassing the previous record set by PSUAC All-Decade Team member Kody Jacoby in 2017-18.
First-year women’s soccer player Ariana Trautz was both PSUAC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year with a record-breaking 50 points and 24 goals. Trautz scored four goals in each of three games during the 2021 season, helping lead her team to the PSUAC championship game at University Park.
Penn State Schuylkill Athletic Awards
Nia Bronson was the recipient of the Penn State Schuylkill Lion's Award and PSUAC All-Conference First Team for women's soccer.
Lamonttea Brown was the recipient of the Penn State Schuylkill Coaches Award for men's basketball.
Isabella Caruso receives the Penn State Schuylkill Lion's Award for women's cross-country.
Maddy Felty receives Penn State Schuylkill Most Valuable Player Award for women's volleyball.
Max Hoffman earns the Penn State Schuylkill Lion's Award for men's cross country.
Ryan Jarboe receives the Penn State Schuylkill Coaches Award for baseball.
Nadia King earns Penn State Schuylkill's Most Valuable Player Award for women's basketball.
Evan Kosar receives the Penn State Schuylkill Lion's Award for baseball.
Jontae Martin receives the Penn State Schuylkill Lion's Award for women's volleyball.
Matthew O was named Penn State Schuylkill Most Valuable Player for men's cross country.
Andrew Sepp receives the Penn State Schuylkill Lion's Award for men's basketball.
In addition to being named to both All-Conference and All-Academic lists, Sierra Santarsiero earned the Penn State Schuylkill Lion's Award for softball.
Penn State Schuylkill Coaches Award
The Coach's Award is given annually to the student-athlete who demonstrates, throughout the season, the true spirit of Penn State athletics. It recognizes both effort and personal improvement, as well as the drive and willingness to learn and grow. This student-athlete fully participates in the program and shows a true partnership with the coaching staff and teammates.
- Baseball – Ryan Jarboe
- Men’s Basketball – Lamonttea Brown
- Men’s Cross Country – Jonathan Boyd
- Men’s Golf – David Hinchey
- Softball – Ashley Pentz
- Women’s Basketball – Alyssa Gerber
- Women’s Cross Country – Mikayla Kupstas
- Women’s Soccer – Zoe Gannon
- Women’s Volleyball – Jocelyn Marshall
Penn State Schuylkill Lion’s Award
The Lion’s Award recognizes individuals who promote sportsmanship, ethical play in competition, commitment to the team, and service to their community.
- Baseball – Evan Kosar
- Men’s Basketball – Andrew Sepp
- Men’s Cross Country – Max Hoffman
- Softball – Sierra Santarsiero
- Women’s Cross Country – Isabela Caruso
- Women’s Soccer – Nia Bronson
- Women’s Basketball – Sherly Valentin
- Women’s Volleyball – Jontae Martin
Penn State Schuylkill Most Valuable Player Award
The MVP Award recognizes a student-athlete for their outstanding contributions to their team throughout the season.
- Baseball – Jacob Leininger
- Men’s Basketball – Wilvens Fleurizard
- Men’s Cross Country – Matthew O
- Softball – Meghan Stokes
- Women’s Basketball – Nadia King
- Women’s Cross Country – Malak Mowafi
- Women's Soccer – Ariana Trautz
- Women’s Volleyball – Maddy Felty
Penn State Schuylkill Female Athlete of the Year
- Alyssa Gerber
Penn State Schuylkill Male Athlete of the Year
- Jacob Leininger
PSUAC All-Conference Awards
Zoe Gannon was the PSUAC Defensive Player of the Year as well as USCAA All-American Honorable Mention for women's soccer. Gannon also earned the Penn State Schuylkill Coaches Award.
Alyssa Gerber was the PSUAC Player of the Year in women's basketball. Gerber was also Penn State Schuylkill's Female Athlete of the Year.
For the second year in a row, Jake Leininger was named the PSUAC Player of the Year East. Leininger was also Penn State Schuylkill's Male Athlete of the Year and Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Ashley Pentz earned the Penn State Schuylkill Coaches Award for softball as well as a spot on the USCAA's Honorable Mention list.
Tajae Stevenson was the PSUAC Rookie of the Year and First Team pick in women's basketball.
Meghan Stokes was named PSUAC Co-Player of the Year as well as Penn State Schuylkill's Most Valuable Player in softball.
Ariana Trautz was both the PSUAC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year for women's soccer. Trautz also earned Penn State Schuylkill's Most Valuable Player Award.
Owen Zimmerman was named PSUAC Newcomer of the Year East.
Kaely Walshaw earned a spot on the PSUAC All-Conference First Team for women's soccer and PSUAC All-Conference Second Team for softball.
PSUAC All-Conference Major Award Winners
- Baseball – Ryan Culbert, 2021–2022 PSUAC Pitcher of the Year East and PSUAC All-Conference First Team East
- Baseball – Jacob Leininger, 2021–2022 PSUAC Player of the Year East (for the second consecutive year) and PSUAC All-Conference First Team East
- Baseball – Owen Zimmerman, 2021–2022 PSUAC Co-Newcomer of the Year East and PSUAC All-Conference Honorable Mention
- Softball – Meghan Stokes, 2021–2022 PSUAC Co-Player of the Year and PSUAC All-Conference First Team
- Women’s Basketball – Alyssa Gerber, 2021–2022 PSUAC Player of the Year and PSUAC All-Conference First Team
- Women’s Basketball – Tajae Stevenson, 2021–2022 PSUAC Rookie of the Year and PSUAC All-Conference First Team
- Women’s Soccer – Zoe Gannon, 2021 Defensive Player of the Year and PSUAC All-Conference First Team
- Women’s Soccer – Ariana Trautz, 2021 PSUAC Rookie of the Year, PSUAC Player of the Year, and PSUAC All-Conference First Team
PSUAC All-Conference First Team
- Baseball – Steele Fekette
- Baseball – Ryan Jarboe
- Baseball – Ethan Naftzinger
- Men’s Basketball – Wilvens Fleurizard
- Softball – Alyssa Gerber
- Softball – Sierra Santarsiero
- Softball – Alyssa Youst
- Women’s Soccer – Nia Bronson
- Women’s Soccer – Nancy Le
- Women’s Soccer – Kaely Walshaw
- Volleyball – Maddy Felty
PSUAC All-Conference Second Team
- Softball – Kaely Walshaw
PSUAC All-Conference Honorable Mention
- Baseball – Sean Duffy
- Cross Country – Matthew O
- Women’s Soccer – Samantha Palacz
PSUAC Coach of the Year
- Softball – Darle Cresswell
- Women’s Basketball – Charles Killian
- Women’s Soccer – Jon Hummel
United States Collegiate Athletic Association Conference Awards
USCAA National Championship All-Tournament Team
- Women’s Basketball – Alyssa Gerber
- Women’s Basketball – Tajae Stevenson
USCAA All–American First Team
- Women’s Basketball – Alyssa Gerber
- Women’s Soccer – Ariana Trautz
USCAA All–American Second Team
- Men’s Basketball – Wilvens Fleurizard
- Softball – Meghan Stokes (Spring 2021)
- Women’s Soccer – Nia Bronson
- Women’s Soccer – Zoe Gannon
- Women’s Basketball – Tajae Stevenson
USCAA All–American Honorable Mention
- Baseball – Jacob Leininger (Spring 2021)
- Softball – Ashley Pentz (Spring 2021)
- Softball – Sierra Santarsiero (Spring 2021)
- Volleyball – Maddy Felty
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Awards
NAIA Continental Athletic Conference (CAC)
Honorable Mention
- Men’s Basketball – Wilvens Fleurizard
- Women’s Basketball – Alyssa Gerber
- Women’s Soccer – Ariana Trautz
Conference Academic Awards
It is not just on the field that Penn State Schuylkill student-athletes shine. In addition to dean’s list recognition, Schuylkill student-athletes have earned athletic conference recognition for their academic achievements.
PSUAC All-Academic Team
The PSUAC All-Academic Team recognizes student-athletes with a 3.0, or higher, GPA during the semester of competition or a cumulative 3.0, or higher GPA and completion of 24 credits. 49 student-athletes from spring 2020-2021 and fall 2021-2022 earned this recognition.
- Kelsey Atkinson
- Alahnna Balbach
- James Bell
- Tiffany Bohner
- Jonathan Boyd
- Jada Brant
- Nia Bronson
- Charles Buehler
- Isabela Caruso
- Allison Crockett
- Ryan Culbert
- Sean Duffy
- Zoe Gannon
- Alyssa Gerber
- Caitlyn Goggin
- Kyle Ferguson
- Wilvens Fleurizard
- Mahea Kelley
- Devin King
- Evan Kosar
- Mikayla Kupstas
- Garrett Lehman
- Kaden Lengle
- Jacob Leininger
- Ryan Jarboe
- Jocelyn Marshall
- Jontae Martin
- Emily Maher
- Kristina McConnell
- Stephen Mellon
- Malak Mowafi
- Sydney Morton
- Joahlana Najunas
- Samantha Palacz
- Kayla Peterkin
- Jillian Phillips
- Aaron Polansky
- Patrick Ryan
- Sierra Santarsiero
- Lucas Centola E Silva
- Melanie Torrales
- Sherly Valentin
- Kaely Walshaw
- Rachel Wiest
- Alex Witmer
- Kallie Wolfe
- Makena Wong
- Elyssa Yeagley
- Alyssa Youst
USCAA National All-Academic Team
These students have earned 24 or more credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. The following includes student-athletes from spring 2020-2021 and fall 2021-2022.
- Kelsey Atkinson
- Charles Buehler
- Sean Duffy
- Wilvens Fleurizard
- Caitlyn Goggin
- Evan Kosar
- Garett Lehman
- Jacob Leininger
- Emily Maher
- Kristina McConnell
- Stephen Mellon
- Joahlana Najunas
- Samantha Palacz
- Patrick Ryan
- Sierra Santarsiero
- Lucas Centola E Silva
- Rachel Wiest
- Alex Witmer
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Samantha Palacz
A biology major with a 3.97 GPA, Palacz has made the dean’s list in all five semesters of attendance.
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Jake Leininger
A criminal justice major with a 3.99 GPA, Leininger has appeared on the dean’s list in all six semesters of attendance.
Penn State Schuylkill’s athletic department leads a robust program that supports athletic and academic accomplishment while building and recognizing character and leadership within the student-athlete population. Learn more about Penn State Schuylkill athletics.
