Penn College Athletes Prepare for Openers

Published 08.23.2015

News
Athletics
Wildcat Weekly

With the first week of classes under their belts, Pennsylvania College of Technology fall sports athletes are busy preparing for their upcoming seasons.

Scheduled to open Tuesday, Sept. 1, are the men’s and women’s cross-country teams, at Misericordia University at 6 p.m.; the men’s soccer team, hosting Central Penn College at 7 p.m.; the women’s soccer squad, at King’s College at 7 p.m.; and the women’s volleyball team, at Keystone College at 7 p.m.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams begin their seasons hosting Wilkes University at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and the golf team takes to the links at Keuka College at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16.



Over the summer, the college reported the hiring of several new head coaches, announced its Hall of Fame class of 2015 and received word that the National Collegiate Athletic Association has given approval for it to advance to its second year of provisional membership in Division III, effective Sept. 1. The five-year NCAA membership process consists of an exploratory year and four years of provisional membership.

“We are extremely pleased to be moving forward in this process,” said Scott E. Kennell, director of athletics. “There’s a lot of time, work and energy that goes into this, and we couldn’t have successfully completed this first year without the support of our administration and the hard work and dedication of the athletics department.”

New Coaches
Additions to the college’s coaching staff include:

  • Tom McLaughlin, women’s volleyball

  • Nick Patton, cross-country

  • Jackie Klahold, softball

  • Ryan Callahan, men’s basketball


Most recently, McLaughlin was Swarthmore College’s men’s club head coach. He also coached 16-under and 12-under girls volleyball in East Brunswick, New Jersey; served as a coach at Kean University’s boys volleyball camp; and played and coached for Rowan University’s men’s club team.

“Tom’s experience is perfect for our volleyball program,” Kennell said. “He’s coached at all levels and that should help our program succeed on the court, in the classroom and on the recruiting trail.”

McLaughlin graduated from Rowan University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in education.

Last season, Patton coached at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was responsible for recruiting, practice schedules and transportation, among other duties. Patton was a decorated runner at Bloomsburg University and IUP in both track and field and cross-country. He was the PSAC 10,000-meter champion in 2013 and earned multiple academic honors.

“Nick brings exceptional credentials, both as a runner and an assistant coach,” Kennell said. “That experience will benefit our cross-country teams, both on the course and off.”

Patton earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bloomsburg in 2013 and a master’s degree in sport science from IUP in 2015.

Klahold comes to Williamsport after three years as head coach at SUNY Canton. She averaged double-digits in wins in three years, and coached three United States Collegiate Athletic Association First Team All-Americans, four Second Team All-Americans and four USCAA All-Academic players.

“I am very pleased to welcome Jackie to the Penn College community," Kennell said. “She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, both as a player and coach. She’s exactly what this department needs and what our softball team must have to progress our department and softball program.”

Prior to coaching at SUNY Canton, Klahold was an assistant coach at Susquehanna University in 2012, helping the Crusaders win the Landmark Conference regular season and being a member of a staff that was named Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. She spent one season as an assistant coach a Division I Iona College, helping the Gaels to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Regionals. Klahold also served as director of softball operations at Frozen Ropes, in Plains.

Klahold earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida Atlantic University, where she was a four-year starter for the Division I softball team. She helped the Owls win four Atlantic Sun Conference titles and make two NCAA Tournament regional appearances. She twice was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference all-conference team and the all-tournament team. Klahold ranks in the top six in 10 major statistical categories at Florida Atlantic. She earned a second bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Wilkes University.

Klahold also serves as the college’s senior woman administrator.

Callahan served as an assistant coach at Penn State Abington last season, which followed three years as an assistant coach at Alvernia University. In his positions at Abington and Alvernia, Callahan was in charge of recruiting, creating and implementing practice plans, player development and film exchange, among other duties.

He was a staff member on two NCAA Tournament teams, two Middle Atlantic Conference championship teams and one ECAC Tournament championship team at Alvernia.

“Ryan’s coaching experience at an established program like Alvernia and an upstart team like Abington will serve our program well,” Kennell said. “He knows how to get our program to where we want it because he has experienced a well-established and successful program.”

In addition to his collegiate coaching, Callahan also has coached at the AAU level since 2010 and was an assistant high school coach in 2010 at Hopkinton High School in New Hampshire.

Callahan began his playing career at Division I Wagner in 2007 before transferring to Division II Mansfield, where he was a two-time team captain and an All-PSAC selection.

Callahan earned his bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Mansfield in 2010, and a master’s degree in organization leadership from Alvernia University in 2014.

In addition to the new coaches, the college hired Joanna Baltz as a second full-time athletic trainer (she joins Derrick Winters) and it appointed Tom Zimmerman, associate professor of psychology, as the faculty athletics representative who serves as a liaison between the faculty and the athletics department.

Hall of Fame
The college’s 2015 Hall of Fame class includes five inductees:

  • Hannah Miles

  • Bridget Metzger

  • Coleby Frye

  • Devon Liquori

  • Lindsey (Fackler) Kornbau


Miles, Class of 2009, helped guide the women’s soccer team to a 9-4-1 mark in 2008, which included a trip to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament. Miles, a Williamsport native, was named USCAA First Team All-America and USCAA Academic All-America in 2008.

Metzger, Class of 2010, was a captain of the 2008 women’s soccer team that finished 9-4-1 and reached the USCAA national tournament. Metzger, of Montoursville, was named USCAA First Team All-America in 2008.

Frye, Class of  2009, helped lead the men’s soccer team to a 13-2 mark en route to the Penn State University Athletic Conference championship in 2008, and a 15-5-1 record and PSUAC runner-up finish in 2009. A York native, Frye was named USCAA Honorable Mention All-America in both 2008 and 2009.

Liquori, Class of 2010, was a key member of the baseball teams from 2006-09, which won three PSUAC championships. Liqurori, of Hawley, earned PSUAC First Team and USCAA First Team All-America honors in 2009.

Kornbau, Class of 2010, was a member of the archery team for four years and was a three-time captain. A native of York, Kornbau, was one of three members of the 2009 women’s compound national championship team and a two-time All-American in 2008 and 2009. She also was an elected member of the United State College Archery board as a student representative in 2009 and 2010.

The inductees will enter the Hall of Fame on Oct. 9.

PENN COLLEGE SCHEDULES
Men’s, Women’s Cross-Country
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – at Misericordia University, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – at Misericordia University, 11:15 a.m.

Men’s Soccer
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – host Central Penn College, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3 – host Summit University, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5 – at Alfred State, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6 – at Alfred University, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 9 – at King’s College, 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – at King’s College, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5 – host Keystone College, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6 – host Gwynedd Mercy University, 1 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11 – at Morrisville State College, TBA

Women’s Volleyball
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – at Keystone College, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4 – triangular at King’s College with Penn State Abington, 3 and 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5 – quadrangular at Wilkes University with Lycoming College and Summit University, TBA
Wednesday, Sept. 9 – host Elmira College, 7 p.m.

Men’s Tennis
Saturday, Sept. 12 – host Wilkes University, 3 p.m.

Women’s Tennis
Saturday, Sept. 12 – host Wilkes University, 3 p.m.

Golf
Wednesday, Sept. 16 – at Keuka College, 11 a.m.

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