Kutztown University Athletics Names 2025-26 Athletes of the Year

Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) reached new heights this past fall, not only on the individual side, but from a team perspective in leading Kutztown football. To cap off his redshirt-junior season, Novak was voted the 2025-26 KU Male Athlete of the Year.

Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) collected numerous, high-end individual accolades following the 2025 field hockey season for Kutztown. The recent graduate added another one to her resume as she was voted the 2025-26 KU Female Athlete of the Year.

Novak was one of the top quarterbacks in the country as a dual-threat last season. He quarterbacked the Golden Bears to program single season records of 14 victories, 14 consecutive victories and 645 points scored. He completed 215-of-328 passes for 3,070 yards, 31 touchdowns and just one interception, rushed for 547 yards (6.9 yards per carry) and seven TDs. Novak led the PSAC and ranked top 10 in DII in passing efficiency (174.8), passing TDs and points responsible for (228), while also ranking second in the PSAC and 10th nationally in passing yards.

Just this past season, the Manheim native was a Harlon Hill Trophy national finalist for DII Player of the Year, PSAC Fall Top 10 recipient, PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Year, D2CCA Second Team All-America, All-PSAC East First Team and D2CCA All-Region First Team.

Through the last three seasons, he is a three-time All-PSAC East selection and went 37-4 as a starter. Novak ranks fourth in program history in passing TDs (72), fourth in passing yards (7,313) and fifth in completions (537).

He is the second straight member of KU Football to receive the end of year recognition, joining teammate Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown), who was the selection last year as a football and wrestling student-athlete. Jerome Kapp also was voted Male Athlete of the Year for the 2022-23 year to give the Golden Bears three of the last four winners.

Novak is a sport management major, who holds a 3.62 GPA. He is expected to graduate in May with his undergraduate degree.

Gonzalez swept the major end of year female awards for the 2025-26 athletic year, also having earned the Female Senior Athlete of the Year at the All-Sports Celebration back on April 29. Adding to her locker this year, she was tabbed the PSAC Athlete of the Year and was a First Team NFHCA All-American, All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC performer. Gonzalez received one of the highest honors a Kutztown student could receive in their time on campus, as she was given a Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Silver award for noteworthy achievements in athletics.

A native of East Earl, Gonzalez's other career accolades include NFHCA All-American Second Team in 2024, a Second Team All-PSAC selection in 2024 and Third Team in 2023. She ranks seventh all-time at KU with 47 career goals, and also has 18 assists, 112 points and 15 game-winning goals. She set new career-highs in all offensive categories in 2025, finishing with 17 goals, eight assists, five game-winning goals and 42 points in 22 games.

Gonzalez graduated in May with a degree in business administration. She is the ninth field hockey student-athlete to achieve the female athlete of the year honor.

Presented annually since 1987, the Kutztown University Athletics Athlete of the Year awards 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.