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Black Bear Athletes Receive Post-Season Awards

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is delighted to recognize the following student-athletes for their academic and athletic achievements during the 2019-2020 year.

The following students were named to the NJCAA Region XX Academic Team:

• Brooke Elliott of Windber (women’s volleyball)
• Isabella Nagy of Portage (women’s volleyball)
• Alayna “Rosie” Plaza of Saint Michael (women’s volleyball)
• Christopher Weld of Richland (men’s bowling)
• Caitlyn Guercio of Bedford (women’s bowling)
• Katie Swank of Friedens (women’s volleyball)
• Angela Weber of Williamsburg (women’s bowling)
• Maria Engleka of Berlin (women’s volleyball)
• Joseph Guercio of Bedford (men’s bowling)
• Evan Orr of Homer City (men’s bowling)
• Kendra Fox of Summerhill (women’s volleyball)

Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference All-Academic Team honorees include:

• Ethan Barkley of Berkley Springs, WV (men’s basketball)
• Jorge Castro of Deltona, FL (men’s basketball)
• Matthew Forbes of Pittsburgh (men’s basketball)
• Bryce Huss of Richland (men’s basketball)
• Allison Gustkey of South Fork (women’s bowling)
• Kayla Yoder of Davidsville (women’s bowling)
• Theodore Betcher of Windber (men’s bowling)
• Justin Eckenrod of Johnstown (men’s bowling)
• Todd Rastall of Johnstown (men’s bowling)
• Erica Kovalik of Beaverdale (women’s cross country)

The following student-athletes earned awards for their respective sports:

Region XX

• Brooke Elliott, Honorable Mention (women’s volleyball)
• Taqaurius Belcher of Toledo, OH, First Team (men’s basketball)
• Matthew Forbes, Honorable Mention (men’s basketball)
• Erica Kovalik, Top Medalist (women’s cross country)

Western Pennsylvania All-Conference

• Theodore Betcher (men’s bowling)
• Taqaurius Belcher (men’s basketball)
• Brooke Elliott (women’s volleyball)
• Erica Kovalik, top medalist (women’s cross country)
• Isabella Nagy (women’s volleyball)

Individual honors were awarded to the following student-athletes for demonstrating heart, expertise, and dedication as Black Bears during the 2019-20 season:

Most Improved

• Maria Engleka and Kendra Fox, women’s volleyball
• Ethan Barkley, men’s basketball
• CJ Weld, men’s bowling

Most Valuable Player

• Taqaurius Belcher, men’s basketball
• Theodore Betcher, men’s bowling
• Brooke Elliott, women’s volleyball
• Erica Kovalik, women’s cross country
• Caitlyn Guercio, women’s bowling

Coach’s Awards

• Bryce Huss, men’s basketball
• Isabella Nagy, women’s volleyball
• Evan Orr, men’s bowling
• Kayla Yoder, women’s bowling

Leadership Award

• Angela Weber, women’s bowling

Delonte Fennell Award and NJCAA National Player of the Week

• Matthew Forbes, men’s basketball

Penn Highlands is a chartered National Junior College Athletic Association member college, competing in Region XX. It is the mission of the NJCAA to foster a national program of athletic participation in an environment that supports equitable opportunities consistent with the educational objectives of member colleges. Their goal is to promote and foster two-year college athletics.

The Black Bears are a part of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference. The WPCC was founded in 1972 and currently consists of 10 member institutions.