KUTZTOWN, Pa. (September 8, 2011) – Jenna Gregory (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) and the rest of the Kutztown University field hockey was pumped to begin the season earlier this week at Mansfield. Then Gregory looked out the window, and got the text message, which turned her mood as gloomy as the wet weather when she learned that KU's season-opener was postponed.
With the relentless rain soaking the region and turning it into a giant version of Wildwater Kingdom, the Golden Bear field hockey team has not been able to enjoy a consistent practice routine or the thrill of playing against somebody else. That should change this weekend when Kutztown hosts the annual Joshua W. Wesner tournament Friday and Saturday at University Field.
The Golden Bears (0-0 overall) will welcome Mercy College (0-2), Slippery Rock University (0-1) and Bellarmine University (0-1) to campus for an action-packed two days of field hockey fun. The Golden Bears will play Slippery Rock at 3 p.m. and Mercy at 5 p.m. Friday afternoon and then Bellarmine at 12 p.m. Saturday. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $2 for students and $1 for Kutztown students with identification. Additionally, there will be a 50-50 raffle. All proceeds will benefit the Joshua W. Wesner Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Gregory will be excited once the whistle blows to finally start the Golden Bears' much-anticipated 2011 campaign. Kutztown was picked third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason coaches' poll and were ranked seventh in the preseason Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) poll.
“We're real excited this year and we have a core group of returners,” Gregory said. “Everybody has been working hard since preseason. I think we're all on the same page as a team and we're just looking forward to getting started because I believe we're going to do some good things this year.”
The affable Gregory has done plenty of wonderful things during her first two years as a Golden Bear. She enters the season with 21 goals, 12 assists and 54 points. The sports management major has scored four game-winning goals. Last season as a sophomore, Gregory was named a second-team All-American and to the All-PSAC East second team.
She also ranked 10th in the PSAC in goals per game (0.55). Gregory had a team-high eight assists, including two multi-assist games, and was fifth in the PSAC in assists per game (0.40). She also led the team with 30 points and was ninth in the PSAC in points per game (1.50).
“My goal this season is to help my team win the PSAC championship,” Gregory said. “Everybody's heads are on the same level. As for me, I learned from the older girls during the first two years, which has helped me improve my game. We're going to take everything one game at a time, one play at a time and work hard.”
Gregory started playing field hockey in fifth grade. It has been a love affair ever since. Gregory also played basketball and lacrosse at Phillipsburg High School just across the Delaware River. She did admit that she had a tough decision to choose between lacrosse and field hockey. Gregory put her lacrosse stick in the closet and brought her field hockey talents to Berks County. Gregory would like to coach field hockey one day and work for her favorite pro football team, the New York Giants.
“I am really happy I decided to come to Kutztown.” Gregory said. “The team bond we share is awesome and everybody is very supportive of each other. The friendships I've made here is something special and it's something I know will continue after we all graduate.”
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WESNER GOLF TOURNAMENT OUTING STILL ON: The annual Joshua Wesner Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at the Willow Hollow Golf Course in Leesport. The tournament will start at 8 a.m. and is $140 per two person team and $70 for an individual. The entry fee includes cart, lunch buffet, beverages, and prizes. CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM
The tournament is named after Josh, the son of KU field hockey coach Betty Wesner. Josh died in 2000 after a battle with Hodgkin's Disease. He was 23.
All profits from this tournament are donated to the scholarship funds for Kutztown University and Exeter High School. Anyone wishing to be a sponsor may do so by making a donation. If you are interested in donating prizes or have any questions regarding the tournament, please contact Dick Houck (610)468-9348.
Joshua W. Wesner Tournament Schedule
Friday, September 9, 2011
Bellarmine vs. Mercy, 1 p.m.
Slippery Rock vs. Kutztown, 3 p.m.
Mercy vs. Kutztown, 5 p.m.
Bellarmine vs. Slippery Rock, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Mercy vs. Slippery Rock, 10 a.m.
Kutztown vs. Bellarmine, 12 p.m.
