Kutztown University Athletics

Clyde Rothenberger ’31 was a multi-sport athlete at KU.  He was one of the first track & field conference champions in school history, and was a starter for the men’s basketball team.  In 1928, Rothenberger was the first-ever Pennsylvania State Teachers’ College Champion in the mile with a time of 5:00.  He and a pair of fellow KU Hall of Famers, Sammy Spayd and Arlan Baver, led the team to a second-place finish, the best finish for the program until 1982.  Rothenberger repeated as the champion in the mile at the 1929 championship with a time of 4:56.  Along with Spayd, he was the last individual champion for Kutztown until 1963.  He finished second in the event in 1930 and third in 1931.   Rothenberger served as team captain for the 1930-31 seasons.  He also excelled on the basketball court, starting at guard for four years before graduating in 1931.   A native of Leesport, PA, Rothenberger passed away in February of 1987.  He and his late wife, Elizabeth, had two children - Kent, who is also deceased, and Linda, as well as two granddaughters, Sara and Amy.