KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Dual sport Kutztown student-athlete Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) starred on the gridiron in the fall and the mat in the winter, garnering both individual and team glory. For his successes both athletically and academically this past year, Retter was voted the 2024-25 KU Male Athlete of the Year.
 
Retter continues a run of football and/or wrestling male student-athletes to win the annual award for the fourth straight year and six of the last seven years.
 
From a football perspective, Retter had a breakout season with career-highs of 22 solo tackles (43 total), 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumbles forced, two fumbles recovered and three blocked kicks. The redshirt sophomore from Quakertown, Pa. was the 2024 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year. Retter was an All-PSAC East First Team, D2CCA All-Super Region One First Team and D2Football.com Elite 100 Second Team selection. He was also recognized as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District pick.
 
Retter also earned the prestigious award of PSAC Fall Top 10, awarded to student-athletes that excel in both the classroom and athletic competition at the conclusion of the fall, winter and spring athletic seasons.
 
After joining the wrestling program at the start of the spring semester, he hit the ground running and quickly established himself as one of the top grapplers at 285 in Division II. Having qualified for NCAA Championships following a bronze medal finish at Regionals, Retter earned All-America status with a fifth-place standing at Nationals. He was a Second Team All-PSAC performer and finished the season 11-3 overall and 5-0 in duals. In the classroom, Retter was named a NWCA Scholar All-American.
 
Presented annually since 1987, the Kutztown University Athletics Male Athlete of the Year award recognizes a Golden Bear for athletic excellence during the course of an academic year. The award is voted upon by athletic department administration, coaches and support staff, and announced each summer.