With the 2023-24 college sports seasons now in the past, the Press would like to look back at some local athletes’ performances during the winter and spring seasons of last year’s athletic calendar.

Several former Hornets had success on the fields, courts, diamonds, tracks and pools last school year.

Swimming & Diving

West Chester University senior Devin Metzger earned five gold medals in last winter’s PSAC Championship. In his second-straight season as an All-PSAC performer, Metzger won the 50 and 100 freestyle events and swam on three winning freestyle relay teams (200, 400, 800) at the league championship meet. He finished sixth in the individual 200 freestyle to earn 53 points for the Rams, which won their 36th league crown. His 200-yard freestyle relay team finished 13th and broke its own school record at the NCAA Division II Championships in 2024. He also swam on the Rams’ 400 freestyle relay team that finished 18th at nationals. Metzger, who missed a season due to the pandemic, was a Middle Atlantic Conference champion in the 200 free in 2020 as a freshman at Albright College.

University of Delaware junior Luke Rautzhan was part of a 400-yard freestyle relay team that finished third at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships last winter. The former Hornet also swam in the three individual events at the championships, finishing fourth overall in the 200-yard freestyle while making the B Final in both the 100 (11th place) and 50 (13th).

Rochester Institute of Technology junior Connor Shriver qualified for two events at this year’s Liberty Athletic Conference Championships while helping his team win its third straight league title.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania freshman Andrew Taylor competed in three individual events at this year’s PSAC Championships. He took 10th place in 100-yard freestyle while finishing 22nd in 100 butterfly and 24th in 50 free in his first college season.

University of Texas senior Brendan McCourt won the Big 12 1-meter diving championship in 2024. The three-time honorable mention All-American (2003 1-meter, 2021 1-meter and 3-meter) was part of back-to-back conference team titles the past two seasons. He also qualified for the men’s 3-meter springboard Olympic Trials.

Drexel University graduate student Chelsea Gravereaux was named the Coastal Athletic Association Swimmer of the Year after the 2023-24 season. That award came after she earned the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the CAA Championships. She won three events at the league championship meet, taking first place in 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle while setting program records in the 50 and 100. She also helped a Dragon 200 freestyle relay team earn third place at the meet.

Susquehanna University freshman Catherine Sirignano competed in the Landmark Conference Championship meet during her first college season and finished in the top 10 in all three of her events. She made the A-final in 200-yard individual medley, taking eighth place overall. She won the B-final in the 200-yard backstroke for ninth place and finished 10th in the 100-yard backstroke. The former Hornet two-sport athlete also competes as a thrower on the Riverhawk track and field team.

University of North Carolina Wilmington sophomore Lauren Sharp helped the Seahawks win their second straight Coastal Athletic Association title. The former Hornet earned three top-eight finishes at the league championships, taking second place in 400 individual medley, fifth in 200 breaststroke and eighth in 200 individual medley.

Two former Hornets were part of the Niagara University women’s team that won its second MAAC title in three years last winter. Sophomore Chloe Vlaeminck set a team record in the 400 individual medley (4:26.21) to take second place at the league championship meet. She also took second place in the 200 IM and finished third in the 200 butterfly at the meet. Sophomore Avery King swam in three events at MAACs. She took ninth place in the 1650 freestyle, missing the A final by one place. She also finished in 19th place in the 500 freestyle and was 23rd in the 200 free. The Purple Eagles are coached 2002 Notre Dame of Green Pond graduate Eric Bugby, a 2002 PIAA state champ.

Canisius College graduate student Reilly King competed in 11 meets, including the MAAC Championships. She helped the Golden Griffin 800 freestyle relay team set a program record while taking second place at the conference championships. King made the B final in two individual events (500, 1650) at the meet.

Moravian University junior Sarah Mazzetti was part of a 200-yard medley relay team that finished eighth at the Landmark Conference Championships. The former Hornet also competed in three individual events at the championship meet. She just missed qualifying for finals with a 17th-place finish in the 400 individual medley while placing 22nd in 200 breaststroke and 26th in 200 IM.

Wrestling

Wilkes University sophomore Trevor Gitzki went 7-8 overall and 1-2 in dual meets during the 2023-24 season. Gitzki (285 pounds) has competed in 36 matches in his first two college season with a career mark of 15-21.

Binghamton University freshman Marco Albanese competed in seven matches in his first college season, going 3-4. He recorded his first pin, technical fall and major decision at the Wilkes Open.

Basketball

Marywood University junior Stephanie Klemick started all 24 games for the Pacers during the 2023-24 season. The forward averaged 5.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and was second on the team with 10 blocked shots. Over the past three seasons the former Hornet has played in 72 games and made 70 starts, averaging 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while blocking 83 shots during her college career.

Eastern University junior Tyerra Jarvis played in 22 games and made one start in 2024. The guard/forward pulled down 36 rebounds last winter and has 107 over the past three seasons while playing in 69 games and averaging 11.6 minutes per game for her college career.

Baseball

University of Pennsylvania senior Wyatt Henseler was named the Ivy League Player of the Year for 2024. The third baseman led the league in OPS (1.265) and home runs (19), while batting .371, driving in 47 runs, scoring 54 runs and accumulating 131 total bases. A three-time All-Ivy League selection, Henseler holds program records for home runs in a season (18), RBI (63) and total bases (142). The former Hornet has started 161 games since joining the Quakers, including all of the team’s 147 games over the past three seasons.

Lock Haven University freshman Zachary McEllroy led his team in batting average (.382), one base percentage (.481) and OPS (.917) in his first college season. The third baseman played in and started 38 of the Bald Eagles’ 45 games in 2024.

Matt Madigan played in 35 games at Moravian University in 2024. He batted .295 (third on team) with seven doubles, 24 stolen bases (second on team) and the first two home runs of his four-year college career. Over four years with the Greyhounds the senior outfielder has a batting average of .287 with a .358 on base percentage and .353 slugging percentage. He’s hit 22 doubles, driven in 55 runs and stolen 50 bases while playing in 128 games.

Delaware Valley University sophomore Colin Foley pitched in seven games while going 2-1 and earning one save in 2024.

Softball

Eastern University freshman Danika Barthol earned Third Team NFCA All-American and First Team All-Region V honors, while also being named to the All-MAC Commonwealth First Team and picking up the league’s Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year honors. The pitcher/first baseman went 16-4 on the mount with a .60 ERA and .66 WHIP. She threw 15 complete games, five shut outs and struck out 154 batters in 129 innings over 22 appearances. She set team records for ERA and wins in a season. Barthol led the MAC in ERA and opponents’ batting average (.142) and ranked second in all of Division III in ERA and WHIP. She led the Eagles to their first league title and an NCAA playoff appearance, earning tournament MVP honors in the league playoffs.

Shayla Morgan played in 39 games at Moravian University this spring. The freshman outfielder batted .390 with a .419 on base percentage. She had 23 hits in 59 at bats and scored 20 runs for the Greyhounds, who went 31-10 and won the Landmark Conference to get to the Division III Regional Championships.

Mansfield University freshman outfielder Rachel Sherman played in 23 games and made 11 starts last spring. She recorded one at bat while posting a .500 on base percentage in her first college season. Mountaineer sophomore Sarah Sherman made seven appearances and pitched 9.2 innings for Mansfield in 2024. Over two seasons the former Hornet has appeared in 20 Mountaineer games to throw 31 innings.

Sophomore Brooke Huczko led Elizabethtown College in batting average (.387), slugging percentage (.487), one base percentage (.416), OPS (.903), hits (46), triples (5) and total bases (58). She was tied for second on the team with 11 RBI and was the only Blue Jay player to start all 36 games after starting 33 in her first college. The outfielder earned Second Team All-Landmark Conference honors in 2024.

Men’s Lacrosse

Army senior midfielder Bailey O’Connor recently completed his fourth season with the Black Knights. The former Hornet started 11 games and scored 10 goals while assisting on four in 2024. Over the past four seasons O’Connor has played in 39 games and started 23. He scored 28 goals and assisted on 11 during his college career.

Arcadia University senior attack/midfielder Alex Adamczyk played in 16 games and made nine starts in 2024. He was fourth on his team with a career-high 27 goals last season and led the Knights with three game-winning goals. He also assisted on seven scores. In four seasons Adamczyk has played in 54 games and made 16 starts while scoring and making 14 assists.

Gannon Mesko played in all 18 at Moravian University in 2024. The junior midfielder/forward scored one goal, grabbed 101 ground balls and went 226-for-375 at the X in his third college season. He’s played in 43 games and made 34 starts in his career, with two goals, one assist, 186 ground balls and a 462-828 face off mark.

Hood College sophomore attack Connor Flok played in all 17 games and started 16 in 2024. He was third on his team with 34 goals and 45 points last spring.

Mercy University sophomore defender Sean Higgins played in eight games in 2024. He scooped up seven ground balls and caused a pair of turnovers. Higgins has played in 17 games in two seasons with the Mavericks.

Womens Lacrosse

Three former Emmaus players competed on the Bloomsburg University team in 2024. Sophomore attack/midfielder Julia Cote scored 14 goals and assisted on eight this season while playing in 12 games and making 10 starts. In 29 career games she has scored 36 goals for the Huskies. Sophomore midfielder Mikayla Viola played in 11 games in 2024, while freshman defender Emily Wassel is on the roster but didn’t see action this spring.

Winthrop University freshman attack Emily Hollinger played in nine games in 2024. She scored two goals and assisted on one during her first season with the Eagles, which play in Division I’s Big South Conference.

Ryder University redshirt freshman Marybeth Smith played in all 17 games and made 15 starts for the Broncos in 2024. The midfielder gathered 22 ground balls and tied for a team high with 18 caused turnovers.

Muhlenberg University junior Ellie Ervin started all 17 games in goal in 2024 and has started 43 games over the past three seasons while playing 47 games during her college career. The former Hornet ranked fourth in the Centennial Conference in save percentage (.469) and fifth in goals against average (10.81). In six league games Ervin’s save percentage rose to .476, third in the conference. Ervin has posted a 10.42 goals against average and .452 save percentage in three seasons with the Mules.

Shenandoah University freshman midfielder Hanna Schneider played in six games and scored a pair of goals in her first season.

Men’s Volleyball

Misericordia University junior setter Gannon DeFrain made a career-high 1,044 assists in 2024. He led the team for the second straight season after recording 809 as a sophomore. The former Hornet has 1,978 career assists heading into his senior year.

Marymount University junior Nickolas Blose played in 25 matches and 66 sets in 2024. The outside hitter had career highs with 34 kills and had 58 digs in his third season with the Saints. After seeing the most game action of his career in 2024, Blose has now played in 128 sets and 63 matches during his college career, logging 74 kills and 77 digs.

Track and Field

Charleston Southern University junior Keerstin Augustin led her team in the 5K at the Big South Conference Championships with a sixth-place finish. The former Hornet was an All-Conference runner for the Buccaneer cross country team in fall after finishing third overall at the conference championship.

DeSales University senior Breyanna Roper qualified for the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the second straight season. She ran the 100-meters to a 30th-place finish in 2024.The former Hornet took sixth place in the event during her junior season in 2023.

Shippensburg University junior Mason Boyd earned All-Region honors from the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The honor goes to the top five athletes in the region, which includes schools from three different conferences. Despite battling injuries this season, Boyd won his second straight decathlon at this year’s PSAC Championships while helping his team to its 15th straight league title.

Seton Hill University freshman Blaise Verrastro competed in four events at this year’s PSAC Championships. He was part of a 4x100 relay team that finished fourth at the meet and a 4x400 team that finished ninth. Individually, Verrastro finished 12th in the 200-meter dash and was 10th in the 400.

Lebanon Valley College junior Matt Bruchak competed in the MAC Championships, taking 25th place in the 200-meter dash in a career best time of 23.26 seconds. He was part of a Dutchmen team that won its first ever league title in 2024.

Geneva College junior Gabe Trexler was part of a men’s 4x100 meter relay team that finished fourth at the National Christian College Athletic Association Outdoor Championships. His team placed seventh at the event with a time of 43.29. The team took third place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships in 42.9. Trexler, who also plays linebacker on the Golden Tornado football team, competed in the 100-mter dash at the PAC Championships, running an 11.23 for 12th place.

Tennis

Lehigh University junior Sean Jaeger went 17-4 in singles and 6-1 in doubles play in 2024. The former Hornet was playing his second season at Lehigh after transferring from Baylor University. He went 11-2 in doubles matches and 1-0 in singles play during his sophomore season at Lehigh.

Golf

St. Joe’s University sophomore Matt Zerfass finished 37th in the Atlantic 10 Men’s Championship in April He shot at three-round score of 229 (76-77-76) at the par-72 Evermore Resort’s Cyprus Course in Orlando, Florida. Zerfass opened his 2023-24 season in fall when he led his team with a third-place finish at the Cornell Invitational at Watchtung Golf Club. The former Hornet fired rounds of 71-68 to finish three under par for the event.

Susquehanna University sophomore Patrick Bova made a hole in one during the Gettysburg College Spring Shootout at Penn National Golf Club. Bova’s ace came on the 185-yard par-3 third hole. He led his team at the event with a two-round score of 163 (+19). A week later in the Landmark Conference Championship at Shawnee Golf Resort, Bova finished 31st overall and second on his team with a 16-ovver par 160 (82-78).

Penn State University junior Michelle Cox tied for 23rd at the Big Ten Championship, leading her team with a 3-over par 219 over three days at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace, MD. She won the Columbia Classic in February to help Penn State to a runner-up finish, earning Big Ten Womens Golfer of the Week honors for her performance. Cox competed in all 29 rounds for the Nittany Lions this past season and led the team with a 73.07 average. Her career average is 74.64 in 70 rounds.

If you know of any winter or spring college athletes from the East Penn School District area who deserve recognition, please submit the athlete’s name, sports and school to sports editor Mike Haines at mhaines@tnonline.com.