KUTZTOWN, PA (July 30, 2010) -- Stephen Dennis of the basketball team was named the Male Athlete of the Year and Steph Jeppesen (Bethlehem/Liberty) of the swimming team, was tabbed the Female Athlete of the Year.
The pair also earned the Kutztown Senior Male and Female Athletes of the Year during the awards banquet on April 26. Dennis is the third men's basketball player, and first since Butch Hills in 1989, to be named Kutztown Male Athlete of the Year. Meanwhile, Jeppesen is the second swimmer to be named Kutztown Female Athlete of the Year. Claudine Gruver won the honor in 1997.
Dennis was named the Daktronics' Division II National Player of the Year. In addition, he was named the Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year, PSAC East Player of the Year and NABC first team All-America. He received the nation's top honors after leading Division II in scoring (26.6 points per game) and helping the Golden Bears post a 23-8 overall record and earn a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II tournament.
Dennis also averaged 5.8 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game and 2.1 steals per game. He also made an incredible 228 of 303 free-throws. Dennis broke his own school record for points scored in a season with 817 after scoring 710 points a year ago. He scored 30-or-more points nine times. He was previously named the Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year on March 11. Dennis broke Kutztown's career scoring record and his 2,406 points ranks third in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) history. He scored a career high 42 points in an 87-84 victory over East Stroudsburg.
Jeppesen helped the Kutztown University swimming team enjoy its best season in school history. The Golden Bears finished fourth as a team at the PSAC championships and 16th at nationals. The Golden Bears also set a school record for wins with 15. At the PSAC championships, Jeppesen won three individual events: 100 breaststroke (1:03.99), 200 breaststroke (2:16.49) and 200 individual medley (2:04.59). At the NCAA championship meet, Jeppesen finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke in a school record and PSAC record setting time of 2:15.11 and third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.23). Overall, Jeppesen finished her career with four individual school records and being a member of five record setting relay teams.
The nominees for KU's year-end awards were voted upon by members of the KU athletics department staff. The awards will be formally presented at halftime of the Sept. 11 football game vs. Mercyhurst.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR WINNERS
1987 Fran Metz, Basketball
1988 Sharon Toth, Softball
1989 Gwen Kerr, Field Hockey
1990 Lisa Marrella, Field Hockey
1991 Missy Boettger, Basketball/Softball
1992 Shayn Mosley, Field Hockey, Diving
1993 Daphne Hoyt, Cross Country/Track
1994 Lorie Erie, Softball
1995 Deidre Lynn Rhodes, Track & Field
1996 Deidre Lynn Rhodes, Track &Field
1997 Tara Crozier, Track and Field
Claudine Gruver, Swimming
1998 Tara Crozier, Track & Field
1999 Amy Wahl, Basketball
2000 Kristi Braine, Track & Field
2001 Megan Seefeldt, Cross Country/Track
2002 Kellie Evans, Softball
2003 Missy Klein, Volleyball
2004 Jessie Didier, Volleyball
2005 Kerstin Kloeffer, Tennis
2006 Laura Kline, Field Hockey/Track
2007 Steph Denlinger, Softball
2008 Ashley Fitzgerald, Softball
2009 Steph Denlinger, Softball
2010 Steph Jeppesen (Bethlehem/Liberty), Swimming
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1987 Mike Cantrel, Track & Field
1988 Marty Eggleston, Basketball
1989 Butch Hills, Basketball
1991 Bart Wasiolek, Cross Country/Track
1992 Mark Steinmeyer, Football
1993 Todd Wiley, Cross Country
1994 Mike Fantanarosa, Football/Track
1995 John Mobley, Football
1996 John Mobley, Football
1997 Andy Bausher, Baseball
1998 Ryan Vogelsong, Baseball
1999 Chris Spinozzi, Baseball
2000 Paul Schmitt, Track & Field
2001 Tim Bausher, Baseball
2002 Glenn Woolard, Baseball
2003 Scott Eisenhart, Track & Field
2004 Justin Collins, Track & Field
2005 Matt Keller, Baseball
2006 Mike McCardell, Baseball
2007 Joe Kemmerer, Wrestling
2008 Elfren Quiles, Football
2009 Joe Kemmerer, Wrestling
2010 Stephen Dennis (West Chester, PA/Henderson), Basketball
