KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The Kutztown University track & field program is back and ready for action ahead of the 2023-24 indoor season. Ray Hoffman's Golden Bears have two meets before the end of the fall semester, starting with the Bison Opener this Saturday, Dec. 2 in Lewisburg, Pa.

Women
The women's track & field squad is coming into this indoor season looking to improve upon a ninth-place finish at last year's PSAC Indoor Championships that took place at Bucknell. KU are led by seven captains: Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), Myah Davies (New Market, Md./Linganore), Ana Fratanduono (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), Molly Kutz (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl), and Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy).

Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) returns after capturing her second-career individual conference title, first indoor one, last season in the 400-meter dash. His time of 58.54 seconds gave KU its first indoor championship winner since Meghan Forsythe and Ally Tama back in 2020. 

Brianna Foster (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley Park) also returns after setting a school record in the long jump (5.69 meters (18'8") at last year's PSACs en route to a bronze medal. Her mark in the long jump also earned KU's only NCAA Provisional mark last campaign. Pole vaulter Myah Davies (New Market, Md./Linganore) led a strong group of jumpers with a fifth place finish at PSACs with a jump of 3.50-meters (11'5.75"). She also had the third-best mark in KU history and in the PSAC last season, clearing the bar at 3.66-meters (12'0") at the Gotham Cup. Both Foster and Davies earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors last season.

Other returners include Madeline Barney (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), Andrea Danciu (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Haleigh Davis (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley), Haylee Edwards (Mohnton, Pa./Twin Valley), Julianna Elsesser (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), Mia Grassia (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore), Anna Giannotti (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Morris Catholic), Taniyah Lawler (Chester, Pa./Chester), Jaidah Mitchell (Pemberton, N.J./Pemberton Township), Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), Kate Nolan (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove), Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), Markya Wallace (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East), Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), and Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg).

The Golden Bears also welcome a strong freshman class of 11. Fiona Buffington (Landenberg, Pa./Avon Grove), Sage Dunkleberger (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run), Maura Lenhart (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh), and Kadia Stover (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) were all on the cross country roster in the fall. Other freshmen include Krista Leinbach (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown), Sofia Beard (York, Pa./Red Lion), Taylor Funk (Denver, Pa./Cocalico), Marissa McNamee (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), Brook Smith (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield), and Cassandra Tipa-Bowman (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin). 

Three transfers are also joining the squad in the form of Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin) (Clarion), Mackey Donovan (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) (Central Connecticut State), and Alexis Peet (Greentown, Pa./Wallenpaupack). 

Men
The men's squad capped off an impressive 2022-23 campaign with a fourth-place finish at PSACS, the team's best since 2019. The Golden Bears are led by captains Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), Jack Hollar (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East), Logan Iacobelli (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), Jason Mraz (Edison, N.J./Edison), and Jason Staunton (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow). 

Sophomore sprinter Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic) had a spectacular freshman campaign and will look to build upon that success in 2023-24. The Shepton, Pa. native earned silver in the 60-meter dash at last year's PSACs with a time of 6.93, which is also the second-best mark in KU history. Owen Weaver (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) was another freshman sensation last year, earning the second-highest score in program history in the heptathlon at PSACs (4538).

Jason Mraz (Edison, N.J./Edison) led the pole vaulters with a bronze medal at PSACs with a jump of 4.45-meters (14'7.25"). He also had the second-best mark in the PSAC last season, clearing the bar at 4.60-meters (15'1") at the Gotham Cup. It was also a personal best. Higher jumper TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) will also look to keep the momentum rolling into this season after setting the third-best mark in the conference last year (2.01-meters (6'7")). Both earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors last season

Other returners include Kieran Aponte (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton), Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall), Jordon Floyd (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional), Kevin Givone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Anthony Helmstetter (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), Don Hill (Philadelphia, Pa./Neshaminy), Jacob Huber (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley), Kyle Love (Lansdowne, Pa./Bonner-Prendergast), Kayden Platania (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional), Gabe Sample (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), Cody Schabener (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township), Nate Schaeffer (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly), JT Tamayo (Reading, Pa./Wilson), and James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River). 

Nine freshmen are joining the men's squad this upcoming season in the form of Joe Cavalcante (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), Andrew Diehl (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle), Mason English (Palmyra, Pa./Lower Dauphin), Connor Murphy (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Steele Wrigley (Coatesville, Pa./Octorara), Kyree Butler (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin), Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Brett Pevec (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus), and Luke Maxwell (Estell Manor, N.J./Delsea Regional).

The two transfers joining the squad are Robby Lloyd (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), from Bucks County Community College, and Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley). Jardine joins an already strong group of pole vaulters after spending four years at the University of Kentucky. The Schuylkill Valley product posted a personal best of 5.15-meters (16'10.75") at last year's SEC Indoor Championship.