2022-23 Athletics Brochure

COMPETE

With 28 intercollegiate varsity sports, award-winning coaches, and outstanding facilities, King’s College provides the ideal environment for true scholarathletes.

King’s College competes within the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom, one of the oldest and largest Division III conferences in the nation. There are incredible benefits to competing at a DIII institution, and King’s boasts highly respected athletic programs and extensive regional media attention.

Enjoy the full college experience competing on NCAA varsity teams while also running for student government, performing in theatre productions, or going on SERVE trips. And in the off-season, play intramural sports or join recreational clubs like Ultimate Frisbee and snowboarding.

DIII ADVANTAGE

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Big Rivalries and Quality Competition

Smaller regions mean bigger rivalries, and the MAC Freedom is known for some of the most outstanding tournaments. You’ll compete alongside all-conference athletes without the added pressure of vying for athletic scholarships and build

your sport for the love of the game. DIII studentathletes can focus their time and efforts on pursuing their passions in the classroom and their activities, as well as

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: Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), Freedom

OUTSTANDING FACILITIES

King’s College features some of the finest facilities in the MAC. We are constantly updating, expanding, and improving our venues and equipment to offer our studentathletes the latest and greatest.

Robert L. Betzler Athletic Complex

The 33-acre Robert L. Betzler Athletic Complex is one of the finest facilities in the MAC for football, field hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse.

M cCARTHY STADIUM : A multi-purpose synthetic turf field used by the football, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse teams. The stadium seats more than 3,000 spectators and has lights for evening games and practices.

JOHN J. DORISH FIELD HOUSE : The John J. Dorish Field House has home and visitor locker rooms, athletic training facilities, and equipment and laundry rooms for all teams using the Betzler Athletic Complex.

LIPO FIELD: Home to baseball, Lipo Field was described by one major league scout as “one of the finest natural grass fields in the tri-state region.”

SOFTBALL FIELD: King’s softball field has served as the host site for several MAC Freedom Conference Championship tournaments over the years. The field includes an electronic scoreboard, home and visitor dugouts, a batting cage, and bullpen areas.

LEFFLER FIELD: Leffler Field, which once played home to men’s and women’s soccer and the women’s lacrosse team, serves as an additional practice facility for both soccer and lacrosse teams, as well as football. The teams use the grass field in preparation for upcoming contests on a grass surface rather than the synthetic turf of McCarthy Stadium.

TRACK AND FIELD: Our track at the Betzler Athletic Complex is home to our men’s and women’s track and field team. Additionally, the Monarchs host up to two home meets during their outdoor season.

Kirby Park

Just a walk across the river, the newly resurfaced tennis courts at Kirby Park provide the men’s and women’s teams with a facility of such quality that the MAC Individual Championships are hosted there every year.

Wyoming Valley Country Club

The home course for King’s Golf is the Wyoming Valley Country Club, a par-71, 6,278-yard course where the Monarchs compete in the fall and spring seasons.

William S. Scandlon Physical Education Center

The William S. Scandlon Physical Education Center is home to the basketball, volleyball, swimming, and wrestling teams in addition to a wellness center, indoor recreation center, and sports medicine clinic.

M cGRANE GYMNASIUM : McGrane is the home of the basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams and features an indoor batting cage, pitching areas for baseball and softball, and a wrestling room. The baseball, softball, and lacrosse teams also use this facility for indoor practice during winter. The facility seats 2,550 spectators with bleachers that can be opened or retracted to accommodate the needs of the team using the facility.

SCANDLON NATATORIUM : King’s swim teams practice and compete in the Scandlon Natatorium, an indoor six-lane venue with spectator seating for 150. Over the years, the pool has hosted numerous collegiate meets and tournaments, as well as high school district events.

INTERMETRO WELLNESS CENTER : One of the finest facilities of its kind in Division III, the Wellness Center is a two-story complex featuring the latest in sports training technology, including 5,000 pounds of free weights; five full-rack stations with platforms for strength lifting; 6,000 pounds of dumbbells; eight Hammer Strength units; and several weight-training machines. The Center also features nearly 30 cardiovascular exercise machines, including treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical and rowing machines, as well as an aerobics/dance room.

Scandlon Recreation Center

The new, multi-million-dollar Scandlon Recreation Center expands indoor recreational and exercise opportunities for all students. Located next to the Physical Education Center, the facility provides additional practice space for the College’s intercollegiate teams with several multi-purpose courts and an indoor track. The Center also includes a stateof-the-art sports medicine clinic for on-campus athlete rehab and treatment.

Esports Arena

The brand new, state-of-the-art Esports arena provides gamers with 1,625 square feet of dedicated space. Highperformance, Intel-based gaming desktops with elite competitive peripherals provide gamers with first-class equipment and a player’s lounge within the facility. Most importantly, the College has dedicated a Gigabit fiber network and internet connectivity exclusively for the Arena.

WOMEN’S VARSITY SPORTS

Basketball

Our women’s basketball team stands elite in the MAC Freedom, earning 19 conference playoff berths since 1998 and five trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament since 2000. In 2003, the Monarchs were 24-4 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. In 2005, King’s was 22-4 and ranked 15th nationally. In 2012, King’s finished 24-6 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. The team plays a highly competitive 25-game regular season schedule. In addition to numerous MAC Academic Honor Roll recipients, King’s has produced 60 MAC Freedom All-Conference players and 16 Division III All-Americans.

Cross Country

The women’s cross country team competes primarily in large, multi-team invitational meets, including the MAC and NCAA Regional Championships. In 2015, junior Marissa Durako placed fourth in the MAC Championships and earned a berth into the NCAA Division III National Championships. In 2016, freshman Tara Johnson placed fifth and was the MAC Rookie of the Year. King’s also saw their best team finish in program history as they placed fourth overall in 2017.

Field Hockey

Monarch field hockey is a highly competitive program that has produced several MAC Freedom All-Conference players, including 13 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Regional All-Americans. The team won the 2006, 2007, and 2016 MAC Freedom Conference Championships, advancing to the NCAA Division III National Tournament, and finished second in the conference in 2009, 2010, and 2012. Recognized for academic excellence, 163 players have been named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll since 2000.

Esports

Esports is competitive gaming using video games on various platforms, most often in the form of organized, multiplayer competitions. The King’s program launched in the Fall 2020 semester and is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Sports (NACE), which serves as the largest governing body of intercollegiate Esports in the country. The Monarchs Esports team competes in games such as League of Legends , Rocket League , Hearthstone , Overwatch , Super Smash Bros , and Valorant .

Golf

King’s added women’s golf as a varsity sport in the 2019-20 academic year and has seen immediate success since. Despite missing out on portions of their first two seasons due to the pandemic, the team placed sixth out of 10 teams at the 2022 MAC Championship and saw both Paula Moon and Evie Williams place in the top 20 out of 54 golfers.

Ice Hockey

King’s women’s ice hockey competes in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference and is also sponsored by the MAC. Launched as a varsity sport in the 2015-16 academic year, the program has produced seven MAC All-Conference players, 63 MAC Academic Honor Roll recipients, 58 UCHC All-Academic Team honorees, and 19 AHCA/Krampade All-American Scholars. Additionally, Gracen Mahoney and Meghan Mietlicki have both been named to the Academic All-MAC teams, including two nods for Mietlicki. Home games are played at the Revolution Ice Centre in nearby Pittston, just minutes from campus.

Rugby

Created in 2016, women’s rugby features a highly competitive, team-oriented program that is a part of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union. The women’s program is also an official member of USA Rugby and is expanding and gaining momentum within the King’s community. The King’s squad promotes teamwork, accountability, and success within its players on and off the field.

Lacrosse

Women’s lacrosse is a highly competitive contender within the MAC Freedom, earning playoff berths in 2005, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Since 1998, 32 players have earned MAC Freedom All-Conference honors. The squad also has a tremendous academic history: since 2001, 108 players have been named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll.

Soccer

Women’s soccer competes in a very competitive MAC Freedom Conference and earned post-season tournament berths from 2013-2015, including a second-place finish in 2013. The team plays about 17 matches a season with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament on the line.

Monarchs have earned 40 MAC Freedom All-Conference accolades while 246 have been named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll.

Softball

King’s softball is known as a dominant force in the MAC Freedom, earning 20 of the last 21 conference tournament berths. King’s won 10 MAC Freedom Championships from 2000 to 2011, with second-place finishes in 2006 and 2014. Since 2000, the team has qualified for the NCAA Division III National Tournament on 11 occasions. Since 1993, 121 Monarchs have been named MAC Freedom All-Conference and 38 have been named NFCA Regional All-Americans. Each year, the team prepares for its challenging schedule with a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

King’s swimmers continue to succeed, capturing MAC Championships and finishing among the top finishers in conference meets. King’s broke 25 school records during the 2017 MAC Championships, as freshman star Kirsten Siwy won the MAC Championship in the 400-IM and finished second in the 200-backstroke. Since the 2013 season, all 19 of the women’s records have been broken under head coach Matt Easterday, and the team was ranked nationally by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America for 26 consecutive semesters while under his direction.

Track and Field

An indoor and outdoor club sport since 1997, women’s track and field made its NCAA varsity debut in 2015-16 and found instant success. Marissa Durako won two MAC Outdoor titles in 2016 while Jill Korgeski won four consecutive MAC Indoor shot put titles and qualified for the NCAA Championships in both indoor and outdoor track. In 2019, the team broke seven Betzler Complex records, including two by Tara Johnson in both the 1,500-meter run and the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Tennis

Women’s tennis has been a consistent winner over the years, with the 2007-08 and 2013-14 squads finishing second in the MAC Freedom Conference Tournament. King’s women’s tennis has an outstanding academic history with 106 players named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll since 1993. Emily Fernandez won the MAC Individual Title in 2018 at No. 1 singles. The MAC Individual Tournament is played in the fall, while the team tournament is held in the spring. The team hosts a fall tournament and supplements its schedule with a spring break trip to Florida.

Volleyball

King’s women’s volleyball stands as a traditional contender in the MAC Freedom under veteran head coach Bernie Kachinko, winning 556 matches during his tenure, including three MAC Freedom titles and a spot in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2002. That year, the team’s 39-2 record was the second best in the nation at any level. Since 2000, 37 King’s players have earned MAC Freedom All-Conference honors, while 133 were named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll. The team plays approximately 25-30 matches, including several tri-matches.

MEN’S VARSITY SPORTS

Baseball

Among our baseball team’s many successful seasons, 2006 stands out with the Monarchs winning the MAC Freedom title and a trip to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Monarchs have reached the post-season in nine of the last 15 seasons. Since 2000, 65 players have been named to the MAC Freedom All-Conference team. A fall program prepares the team for its spring slate, as does their annual spring break trip to Florida.

Basketball

Men’s basketball has a long, rich history at King’s as they have earned their most recent MAC Freedom Championship titles in 2005, 2007, and 2008. The Monarchs reached the NCAA Division III Tournament from 1990-1992, while the 2005 team advanced to the Elite Eight. Since 1978, King’s has produced 46 MAC Freedom All-Conference players, including six Players of the Year. The team plays a 25-game regular-season slate, including 16 matchups with MAC Freedom opponents. The program also excels academically as 101 players have earned MAC Academic Honor Roll status since 2002.

Cross Country

King’s men’s cross country has seen its roster size and success increase dramatically in recent years. In 2014, the team finished fifth at the MAC Championships, and Ben Siegel was named MAC Rookie of the Year. Approximately every four years, the team takes part in the National Catholic Championships at the University of Notre Dame. Active in the fall, the team mainly competes in large, multi-team invitational meets, including the MAC and NCAA Regional Championships.

Esports

Esports is competitive gaming using video games on various platforms, most often in the form of organized, multiplayer competitions. The King’s program launched in the Fall 2020 semester and is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Sports (NACE), which serves as the largest governing body of intercollegiate Esports in the country. The Monarchs Esports team competes in games such as League of Legends , Rocket League , Hearthstone , Overwatch , Super Smash Bros , and Valorant .

Golf

The Monarchs have finished among the top three teams 18 times in the conference tournament, winning two MAC titles and placing as runner-up ten times. In 2015, King’s won the MAC Freedom Conference title and qualified for the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Forty-six players have finished among the top 10 players in conference championships, and four have captured the MAC Freedom Individual crowns. The team prepares in the fall for a challenging spring slate that includes a series of tournaments. King’s is a co-host of the Glenmaura National Collegiate Invitational at nearby Glenmaura National Golf Club, which has hosted the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic on the Nationwide Tour.

Football

King’s football competes in the MAC, which is regarded by many as the premier and most competitive Division III football conference in the nation. In 2002, King’s won the MAC Championship and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA National Playoffs. In 2006, King’s earned a berth in the ECAC Southeast Bowl. Since 1993, nine players have been named Division III All-Americans and 130 have earned places on MAC All-Conference. Since 2010, 204 Monarchs have been placed on the MAC Academic Honor Roll. In 2021, King’s earned the program’s first MAC Rookie of the Year in running back Brennan Robinson.

Ice Hockey

Launched as a varsity sport in the 2015-16 academic year, King’s men’s ice hockey competes in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference and is also sponsored by the MAC. The team plays a highly competitive 25-game schedule, playing home games at the Revolution Ice Centre in nearby Pittston just minutes from campus. During the 2021-22 season, Michael DiSchiavi became the program’s all-time leader in points, while first-year Jack Cooper rewrote the record books for single-season statistics on his way to earning MAC Rookie of the Year.

Rugby King’s rugby is a highly competitive program that plays in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference in addition to maintaining a membership within USA Rugby. With four consecutive conference championships, our men’s rugby program is growing in size and success rate since its start in 2015. King’s rugby’s culture is based on discipline, sacrifice, camaraderie, accountability, modesty, humility, respect, service, gentlemanlike behavior, and continuous self-improvement.

Lacrosse

A varsity sport for two decades, men’s lacrosse has continued to rise competitively in the MAC with the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2018 squads reaching the semi-finals of the MAC Freedom Conference Tournament. Since 2012, 31 players have earned All-Conference honors. The team plays a 14-game schedule on average; home contests are held on the synthetic turf field at McCarthy Stadium.

Soccer

Nearing its 40 th season as a varsity sport, the men’s team is recognized as one of the premier programs in the MAC Freedom Conference. King’s earned three straight trips to the MAC Freedom Conference title game, with championships in 2013 and 2014 and a second-place finish in 2015. The Monarchs also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014. Since 2001, 63 players have been named MAC Freedom All-Conference and 173 have been named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll. The Monarchs play a competitive schedule of approximately 18 games, including tournaments.

Swimming

Men’s swimming continues to grow and excel, with several swimmers capturing MAC Championships and many others finishing among the top finishers in conference meets. The team has set several new program records during the past seven seasons, including 25 at the 2017 MAC Championships. Academically, the men’s squad has ranked nationally by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America 24 of the last 26 semesters under head coach Matt Easterday. Individually, Jared Stephan has rewritten both the King’s and the MAC’s record books, holding five King’s records and two MAC records, while finishing his career as a seven-time All-MAC honoree.

Track and Field

An indoor and outdoor club sport since 1997, men’s track and field made its NCAA varsity debut in 2015-16. Prior to the pause in varsity athletics, the outdoor track and field team posted the most points and highest finish at the MAC Outdoor Championships, finishing seventh with 73 team points. Individual success has also been seen in the last several years as Mitch Forgash and Jackie Ni became the first Indoor All-Americans, and Justin Le Cadre earned the Bronze Medal in the shot put at the 2021 NCAA Division III Indoor National Championships.

Tennis

In 2000, the Monarchs won the MAC Overall Championship and MAC Freedom Conference crown and placed second ten times between 1994 and 2015. In addition, the Monarchs reached the semi-finals of the MAC Freedom Conference Tournament every year from 2011-2018 and advanced to the title game five of the past eight seasons. King’s prepares itself each year by hosting its own fall tournament and with several matches against outstanding squads during its annual trip to Florida.

Volleyball

After becoming a varsity program in the 2019-20 academic year, the men’s volleyball team completed its first full season in 2022 after the pandemic. The Monarchs finished an impressive 17-6 in their abbreviated 2020 season, with their 17 wins tied for third among NCAA Division III institutions.

In 2022, Jared Piontkowski became the first All-MAC honoree, earning Honorable Mention accolades as well as the program’s first Academic All-MAC recipient.

Wrestling

Monarchs have enjoyed 27 winning seasons in the past four decades, achieving a Top 25 national ranking several times. King’s grapplers have won numerous individual conference titles, competed in the Division III National Tournament, and earned All-American status with many having been selected to the NWCA Scholar All-American Team. Kade Kravits was the most recent example of individual success in the 202122 season as he was the first NCAA Division III National Championship qualifier since 2014.

HEALTH SCIENCES (B.S.)

Athletic Training 5-Year (B.S. / M.S.)** Clinical Lab Science and Medical Technology Exercise Science

Exercise Science 5-Year (B.S. / M.S.N.D.)** Nursing (B.S.N.)

Occupational Therapy 6-Year (B.S. / O.T.D.)** Physician Assistant 5-Year (B.S. / M.S.)**

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (B.S.) Biology

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Chemistry

Computer and Information Systems

Computer Science Engineering – Civil Engineering – Mechanical Engineering 3+2 Accelerated (B.S. / B.S.)* Environmental Science

General Science Neuroscience Physics Psychology

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (B.A.)

Communications Criminal Justice Economics Education Education – Reading 5-Year (B.A. / M.Ed.)** English – Literature English – Professional Writing Environmental Studies General Studies French History Mathematics

Philosophy Political Science Sociology

Spanish Theatre Theology

THE WILLIAM G. MCGOWAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (B.S.B.A.) Accounting Management – Business Administration Management – Entrepreneurship Management – Finance Management – Healthcare Management – Human Resources Management – International Business Marketing

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

Athletic Training (M.S.) Education (M.Ed.) Healthcare Administration (M.S.) Nutrition and Dietetics (M.S.N.D.) Nutrition Science (M.S.N.S.)

PRE-PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

The following programs facilitate the later pursuit of graduate or professional studies: Health – Chiropractic Health – Dental Health – Medical Health – Pharmaceutical Health – Veterinarian Law Law 3+3 or 4+3 Juris Doctor

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FINANCIAL AID FOR ATHLETES

As an NCAA Division III institution, King’s College cannot award full or partial athletic scholarships. However, we do provide student-athletes with competitive merit-based and need-based financial aid offers. In fact, 99% of our first-year students, including athletes, receive financial assistance in the form of academic scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs, and King’s College students are guaranteed a scholarship upon acceptance.

We encourage you to apply for financial aid regardless of your financial situation. Be sure to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) starting October 1 to determine your eligibility for aid, including loans, grants, and work-study.

Statement of Non-Discrimination: King’s College is committed to equal opportunity in the admission of students, the administration of its educational programs and activities, and for employees and applicants for employment without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, or disability in accordance with applicable laws.

average merit award for first-year student-athletes was

UNWAVERING SUPPORT

I chose King’s College not only for their great engineering program but also the tight knit community I felt, day one, on campus. It’s why I continue to visit the College whenever I’m home.

I played on the Women’s Basketball team all three years, and I still maintain great relationships with my coaches who helped develop me into the best player and teammate I could be.

As a student, I was involved in a mentor circle for Women in STEM. To this day, I’m still involved and remain in contact. We all share updates about our lives and changes that are happening back on campus.

These experiences and relationships I have formed and maintained have taught me the importance of communication and relationships with people.

Starting my engineering career, virtually at one of the largest aerospace companies in the world, was not easy; however, I wasn’t afraid to pick up the phone and talk to people, even people outside my group. It’s these connections and conversations that have helped me gain more knowledge about myself but also about other areas of the company I would never have known about. I’ve also had the great responsibility of presenting to regulators and chief project engineers.

I am forever grateful for my time at King’s and all the friendships I have made, because I would not be where I am today without their support.

Erin Schmidt ’20 Flight Deck Engineer at The Boeing Company in Seattle, WA King’s College 3+2 Dual Degree Engineering Program with the University of Notre Dame

Coaching and Athletic Training

Our Athletics Department is full of dedicated individuals who care about their students as much as they care about their sport. On average, our head coaches spend 12 years with King’s College, developing long-standing relationships with students beyond graduation.

King’s has eight full-time athletic trainers on staff that work out of three facilities, including our brand new Sports Medicine Clinic.

Academic and Student Services

Our Athletics Department has a dedicated Academic Support and Student Services Center designed to help student-athletes balance the demands of competition with their studies through tutoring, academic counseling, and mentoring.

Student-athletes can also take part in programs designed to support their transition to life at King’s, such as the College Entry Program , offered to incoming students each summer to master academic skills and build confidence for college, or the Achievement Plus Program , offered to highly motivated firstgeneration college students who need assistance with advisement, counseling, tutoring, and financing their education.

Additionally, faculty provide progress reports for each student-athlete’s classroom performance to identify those who might need extra resources to succeed through our Academic Skills Center.