KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) of the Golden Bear men's track & field team was announced as Kutztown University's 2020-21 Male Freshman of the Year, Monday, following a standout season that included All-Atlantic Region honors in the long jump and triple jump.
DeFusco's impact was immediate. He finished top five in both the long (second) and triple (fourth) jumps in his collegiate debut at the West Chester Tri-Meet, March 27, and went on to post a pair of victories in each event throughout the season.
The Douglassville, Pa., native won the long jump at the Millersville Metrics, April 3, but his true breakout came at the Moravian-hosted Coach P Invitational, April 17, when he pulled off the trifecta with victories in the long, triple and high jumps. DeFusco set a season-best mark of 7.19m (23-7.25) in the long jump, which was also the fourth-best all-time at Kutztown. He also established a season-best standard in the high jump, clearing 1.85m (6-0.75).
In the team's final tune-up for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Outdoor Championships, May 1, DeFusco won the triple jump and moved into a tie for 10th in program history with a best effort of 14.13m (46-4.25) at the West Chester Last Dance Invitational.
The talented rookie went on to score seven points for the Maroon and Gold at the PSAC Outdoor Championships, securing a fifth-place finish in the long jump and sixth in the triple jump.
DeFusco earned All-Atlantic Region accolades from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) by virtue of his fifth-place ranking within the region in the long and triple jumps. In fact, DeFusco was the Atlantic Region's top-ranked freshman in the triple jump and third-ranked freshman in the long jump.
DeFusco is the sixth track & field student-athlete to claim KU Male Freshman of the Year since the award was first presented in 1993. He's also the program's third winner in the last four years, joining Luke Hoffman (2018) and George Weems (2019).
Kutztown University's annual athletic award winners are selected from a vote of the department's administration, head coaches and support staff.
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
| YEAR |
WINNER |
SPORT(S) |
| 1993 |
Jim Gerner |
Baseball |
| 1994 |
Charles Simpson |
Track & Field |
| 1995 |
Kevin Mobley |
Football |
| 1996 |
John Rozich |
Baseball |
| 1997 |
Steve Fitch |
Baseball |
| 1998 |
Kohlby O'Donnell |
Wrestling |
| 1999 |
Mike de Marteleire |
Football |
| 2000 |
Pete Mendez |
Football |
| 2001 |
Matt Rowan |
Swimming |
| 2002 |
Eric Hillbish |
Swimming |
| 2003 |
T.J. Mann |
Basketball |
| 2004 |
Jason Henley |
Football |
| 2005 |
Steve Tyson |
Track & Field |
| 2006 |
David Ben |
Basketball |
| 2007 |
Stephen Dennis |
Basketball |
| 2008 |
Ryan Washington |
Basketball |
| 2009 |
Shayne Houck |
Baseball |
| 2010 |
Kevin Morton |
Football |
| 2011 |
Rushi Amin |
Tennis |
| 2012 |
Brandan Clark |
Wrestling |
| 2013 |
Ziad Haddad |
Wrestling |
| 2014 |
Josh Johnson |
Basketball |
| 2015 |
Steve Maine |
Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 2016 |
Tajier Jefferson |
Football |
| 2017 |
Collin DiGalbo |
Football |
| 2018 |
Luke Hoffman |
Track & Field |
| 2019 |
George Weems |
Track & Field |
| 2020 |
Wesley Butler |
Basketball |
| 2021 |
Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) |
Track & Field |
