Oct 10, 2025 By Chris Dugan 6 min read

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference was founded on March 11, 1951 as the Pennsylvania State Teachers College Athletic Conference. It had 14 members in that first year.

Today the conference is one of the largest in NCAA Division II with 17 full-time members and one associate member.

This is the conference’s 75th year and the PSAC has been celebrating that milestone by naming its 75 best male athletes and 75 best female athletes. It also named 75 honorees who were designated as “Made in the PSAC,” a group that recognizes former student-athletes that have gone on to influential careers after graduation in the sports industry, but not necessarily as a professional athlete. Another 75 people were chosen as the PSAC’s Distinguished Keystones, recognized for being historically influential in the conference, whether it be staff, coaches or administrators.

There were many former athletes, coach and administrators from Penn West California – before that California University, California State College and California State Teachers College – who were recognized by the PSAC for their accomplishments, along with several natives of Washington and Greene counties.

Among them were:

Male Athletes

Bill DePaoli – A Chartiers-Houston High School graduate, DePaoli was a two-time NAIA national wrestling champion for California, a six-time All-American and finalist at the 1979 Division II championships. DePaoli never lost a dual-meet bout during his career. He had a 124-8 record.

Aaron Dinzeo – A seven-time All-American (2010-15) in cross country and track and field at California. He was a three-time PSAC champion and holds the conference record in the 10K. Dinzeo was the PSAC’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2015.

Brian Ferrari – A three-time national champion at California, Ferrari competed in track and field and cross country from 1981 to 1984. He was a five-time All-American and eight-time PSAC champion.

Cary Kolat – Jefferson-Morgan graduate wrestled for Lock Haven (1995-97) and was a two-time NCAA Division I champion (1996 and 1997). Represented Team USA in 13 different international events, winning a gold medal at the 1999 Pan American Games and was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team. Is currently the head wrestling coach at the Naval Academy.

Josh Koscheck – Waynesburg native was a standout wrestler for Edinboro from 1998-2002. Was a four-time All-American and won the 2001 national championship at 174 pounds. Was a four-time PSAC champion and two-time Eastern Wrestling League champion. After college, he joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship and competed for the UFC welterweight title.

Rick Krivda – California baseball standout lefthanded pitcher (1989-91). He holds the school all-time school records for ERA and strikeouts. Krivda played four years in the major leagues with Baltimore, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Was also a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team.

Female Athletes

Kristin Erb – Recently hired as the head softball coach at California. Erb played at Lock Haven (2005-09) and was twice named the NCAA Division II Woman of the Year. She was a four-time All-American and led Lock Haven to national championships in 2006 and 2009. Erb holds six NCAA records, six PSAC records and 10 Lock Haven records. She is the all-time winningest pitcher in Division II history.

Divonne Franklin – One of the best female athlete in California history. Franklin ran track and field for the Vulcans (2019-23) and was a two-time NCAA champion (60 and 200 meters), eight-time All-American, won 12 PSAC individual titles and set four all-time PSAC records.

Melissa Gates – Swimmer at California (2009-12) who won three NCAA championships (50 and 100 freestyle). She was a 10-time All-American and won five PSAC titles. Competed twice at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Jenise Lockhart – Track and field standout at Cal (1982-85) was a two-time national champion in the 4×110-meter relay and high jump and a seven-time All-American. She won two PSAC individual titles.

Sara McKinney – One of the best all-all-around basketball players in PSAC history, McKinney was a three-time All-American at Cal and a starter on the Vulcans’ national championship team in 2004. She was the first player in school history with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Danielle Penner – A dominant pitcher for Cal (1995-98) who was a three-time All-American and a key player on the Vulcans’ 1997 and 1998 national championship teams. Penner ranks first in D-II history in winning percentage and third with 141 victories.

Becky Siembak – A basketball player who began her career at Slippery Rock before transferring to California, Siembak helped Slippery Rock win 23 games and a regional championship as a freshman. After transferring to Cal, she led the Vulcans to wins in 68 of 71 games, including the 2003-04 national championship. Was a four-time first team All-PSAC selection.

Lith Webb -California softball player (1995-98). Was a four-time first team All-American and member of Cal’s national championship teams in 1997 and 1998. She is the Vulcans’ all-time leader in hits (256), batting average (.442) and runs (195).

Made in the PSAC

Robert Lippencott – Played football at California (1963-64) and later served in the U.S. Secret Service for 26 years and worked with multiple U.S. Presidents. Played linebacker at Cal and earned NAIA Little All-America honors in 1963. He played semi-pro football with the Pennsylvania Mustangs and Atlantic City Senators.

Michael Perry – A Cal football player (1959-62) who was a Navy aviator with more than 200 carrier landings. He later flew for United Airlines while co-founding a financial company.

Jack Zduriencik – Baseball player for California (1970-74) who became a professional baseball executive and had stints with the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers. He was the first non-GM to be named Baseball America’s Executive of the Year (2007). Became executive vice president and general manager with Seattle Mariners from 2008-2015. Was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcasting team.

Distinguished Keystones

Angelo Armenti – Former president of California (1992-2012) and during his tenure Vulcans athletics won three national championships, expanded scholarships, constructed several new home facilities, was runner-up in Director’s Cup and won PSAC’s Dixon Trophy.

Rick Bertagnolli – Highly successful softball coach (1994-2024) who had a 972-389 record at Cal (most wins); won the 1997 and 1998 NCAA national championships, six NCAA Regional championships in 21 appearances and seven PSAC championships.

Karen Hjerpe – A Gannon graduate, Hjerpe was California’s volleyball coach, administrator and is currently the athletic director. She was part of two NCAA Division II women’s basketball titles and 38 PSAC titles in her role as an athletics administrator; served in variety of leadership roles in PSAC and NCAA, focused on mentoring and developing future women leaders.

John Luckhardt – Football coach at Cal (2002-11) who had an 88-33 record. Luckhardt coached the Vulcans to three Division II semifinal appearances and five playoff berths. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Jess Strom – Current women’s basketball head coach at Cal. Has a 281-87 record (most wins in California history). Guided the Vulcans to the 2015 NCAA championship and 10 NCAA tournament appearances. Cal has won three PSAC titles under Strom.

Darcie Vincent – Was the head women’s basketball coach at Cal from 2000 to 2008 after holding the same position at Slippery Rock. Vincent had a 212-47 record at Cal and coached the Vulcans to the 2004 national championship, three NCAA Elite Eights in seven NCAA tournament appearances and four PSAC championships.