SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Penn State Schuylkill celebrated the achievements of its student-athletes during the annual Student-Athlete Recognition Ceremony, known as “The Nittanys,” held April 28 at Catalpa Grove.
The off-campus event featured a red carpet-style atmosphere and recognized student-athletes from 15 teams for their accomplishments in competition, the classroom and the community.
Guest speaker Ryan Ehrie, commissioner of the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC), highlighted the strength of the campus athletics program and presented the John S. Egli Outstanding Student-Athlete Award.
Ashton Owens, a multi-sport athlete competing in cross-country, men’s volleyball and track and field, received the John S. Egli Outstanding Student-Athlete Award, recognizing him as the top male student-athlete in the PSUAC. Owens is only the third male student-athlete from Penn State Schuylkill to earn the honor and marks the second consecutive year a Schuylkill athlete has received the award. He thanked his coaches, professors, family and teammates for their support in a heartfelt speech.
“Through it all, I learned that being an athlete here is about more than just the game,” Owens said. “It’s about resilience, teamwork, and growth. Every sport, every season, and every moment good or bad shaped who I am today. And the person I will become in future.”
The ceremony also recognized longtime softball coach Darle Cresswell for his 23 years of dedication to the program. Ryan Stevens, founder of cATalyzing Coaching & Consulting, was honored for stepping into the athletic trainer role throughout the year, helping support student-athletes and maintain team operations.
A highlight of the evening included the presentation of championship medals and a banner to the women’s soccer team, which captured the PSUAC title for the second consecutive year.
Student-athletes were recognized with a variety of conference and national honors, including Player of the Week, Rookie of the Year, All-Academic Team, Player of the Year and the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award.
Penn State Schuylkill also presented campus awards, including Athletes of the Year, awarded to Cole Yelinek and Olivia Dress, and Scholar Athletes of the Year, awarded to Jake Moser and Sierra Wishnefsky. Additional honors included Coaches Awards, Lions Awards and Most Valuable Player recognitions for each team.
In a unique addition to the ceremony, the 20-graduating student-athletes received custom Funko Pop figures as a keepsake to commemorate their time at Penn State Schuylkill.
The athletics department also recognized work-study students for their contributions behind the scenes in supporting athletic events and operations.
The ceremony concluded with remarks from graduating student-athlete Sierra Wishnefsky, who reflected on the shared experiences and accomplishments of her fellow athletes.
“Being an athlete gave us all a routine, consistency, and discipline,” Wishnefsky said. “All are very important ... but more than anything, being a college athlete is about the people. It's your teammates that became your support system, your hype squad, and sometimes ... the only reason you make it through the tough week. It’s your coaches who push you past what you think your limits are in order to be the best version of yourself you didn’t think was possible. It is every single person in this room who understands what it takes to commit to something bigger than yourself. Personally, it gave me a sense of belonging. And I think that is something very important to remember, especially on a day like today.”
The evening was expertly hosted by Alivia Payne, media content specialist, who kept the energy high and the program flowing.
"It was incredible to see all of the athletes and coaches dressed up and coming together one final time before the year ends,” Payne said. “We take great pride in honoring our athletes and giving them a moment that is truly theirs. It is well deserved. We also want to extend one more congratulations to our graduating seniors, as well as to our two-time PSUAC champion women’s soccer team."