Kutztown University Athletics

Men's Cross Country 08.30.23 Connor Donohue, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Kutztown cross country prepped for success in 2023

KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The Kutztown University cross country program is ready to hit the course for the 2023 season.

Both the men's and women's teams enter the season ranked No. 6 in their respective Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason polls after strong 2022 campaigns. The season kicks off this Friday, Sept. 1 at the Panthers XC Invite at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y.

Men's Team

The men's squad enters the 2023 season coming off a seventh-place finish at the PSAC Championships, along with a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. The Golden Bears earned four top-five team finishes over the course of the 2022 regular season, including a first-place finish at the Last Chance Run Fast Invitational.

Similar to last season, KU enters the season with a youthful roster comprised of only three upperclassmen. Sophomores Adam Broacato and Cody Schabener (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) come off a season where they both finished All-PSAC Second Team, becoming the first All-PSAC freshmen for KU since 2014. The upperclassmen trio of Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), Jack Hollar (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East), and Logan Iacobelli (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) were all named captains by head coach Ray Hoffman.

Kayden Platania (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional) and Jacob Huber (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) are two other runners that saw action for KU last season. Andrew Diehl (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle), Mason English (Palmyra, Pa./Lower Dauphin), Connor Murphy (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), and Brett Pevec (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) join the men's squad as a part of the freshmen class.

Women's Team

The women's team enters the 2023 season coming off a fifth-place finish in the PSAC Championships, along with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. The Golden Bears found great success last regular season, finishing first at both the DeSales and Last Chance Run Fast Invitationals. They racked up second place and the three other meets, including the Paul Short Run, which was comprised of 42 other teams.

Despite some roster turnover, KU returns experience and talent. Junior and Kutztown native Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) earned All-PSAC Second Team and All-Regions honors last season for the second time in here career. The trio of Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), Ana Fratanduono (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), and Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) saw significant action last season and will captain the women's team in 2023.

Julianna Elsesser (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), Madeline Barney (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), and Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) are other experienced Golden Bears that will be relied upon this upcoming season. 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) represent the freshman class, while Mackey Donovan (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) and Taylor Barnett (Mohnton, Pa./Home School) are two new sophomores to the squad.

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Players Mentioned

Port Habalar: 6' 0"; Junior

Jack Hollar: 6' 3"; Junior

Jacob Huber: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Logan Iacobelli: 5' 5"; Senior

Kayden Platania: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Cody Schabener: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Andrew Diehl: Freshman

Mason English: Freshman

Connor Murphy: 5' 9"; Freshman

Brett Pevec: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Port Habalar
: 6' 0"; Junior

Jack Hollar
: 6' 3"; Junior

Jacob Huber
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Logan Iacobelli
: 5' 5"; Senior

Kayden Platania
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Cody Schabener
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Andrew Diehl
: Freshman

Mason English
: Freshman

Connor Murphy
: 5' 9"; Freshman

Brett Pevec
: Freshman