First real taste of NFL for Kutztown pair
RB Reynolds sees game action for Redskins while OL Morgan logs time with Jets
Our regular update from around the Lehigh Valley:
Kutztown U. products in NFL training camps: Kutztown University alums Craig Reynolds (Class of 2018) and Jordan Morgan (2016) got their first chances to impress their new NFL teams during preseason games last week.
Reynolds earned a free-agent contract with the Washington Redskins in May following a successful showing at the team’s rookie minicamp. The running back debuted on the opening play of the second half during Washington’s 30-10 loss at Cleveland last Thursday night.
Reynolds paced the Redskins in rushing yards (21) and carries (nine) while also catching his only target for 5 yards.
Morgan, an offensive lineman, signed with the New York Jets in February. The 2017 fifth-round draft pick totaled 26 snaps (37%), third-most by a Jets guard, while playing the entire second half in a 31-22 setback to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium last Thursday.
Morgan helped lead the way as the Jets drove 68 yards on 15 plays to cap their final possession with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Luke Falk to Greg Dortch with 14 seconds remaining.
This Thursday, the Jets are at Atlanta and the Redskins host the Bengals.
ESU assistant women’s lacrosse coach returns from international competition: Recently hired East Stroudsburg University women’s lacrosse assistant coach Rachel Ward returned from Netanya, Israel, where she and Ireland’s Senior National Team competed in the 2019 ELF European Championship.
Ireland, which qualified for the 2021 World Championships, placed seventh out of 16 teams. Ward, who was a standout on the lacrosse field for Lock Haven University, made her third appearance overall for Ireland.
Ward finished the tournament with 10 goals and one assist while adding 24 ground balls and 27 draw controls. Ireland finished with an overall record of 3-5.
ESU, KU football stars of the past honored by PSAC: In recognition of College Football’s sesquicentennial season, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is presenting The PSAC’s 150 Contributors.
With various league and on-campus celebrations planned for the upcoming season, nominees were comprised of representatives from each current member institution. Those in consideration were identified by each institution as individuals who had made significant contributions to college football.
East Stroudsburg University was represented on the list by eight former student-athletes and longtime head coach Denny Douds, current coach Jimmy Terwilliger, Pat Flaherty, James Franklin, Jeff Johnson, Kevin Nagle, Evan Prall, Mike Reichenbach and Ray Yakavonis.
Kutztown was represented on the list by Dave Borden, Bruce Harper, John Mobley, Jordan Morgan, Kevin Morton, Andre Reed and Mark Steinmeyer.
Bethlehem Steel FC goalie earns weekly honor: After making seven saves in a shutout of Nashville, recently acquired Bethlehem Steel FC goalkeeper Todd Morton was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week.
Bethlehem Steel FC is off this weekend before returning to Talen Energy Stadium to host Birmingham Legion FC at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25.
The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Rutgers hires former Lafayette assistant White: Rutgers women’s lacrosse head coach Melissa Lehman has named Ana White as an assistant coach.
White, who spent the past five seasons as an assistant at Lafayette, played collegiately for the Leopards and was an all-conference student-athlete during her time in Easton. She was a four-time All-Patriot League and three-time allregion selection in the midfield during her playing career on College Hill.
Running for a cause: The charity organization MS Run the US is conducting a 3,260-mile, ultra-relay running event across America for multiple sclerosis (MS). Each runner runs an average of 160 miles in six days and commits to fundraising $10,000 for the cause.
Tuesday in Easton, Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., resident Jamie Woyce met up with 40 runners from the Easton High School cross country team and ran together for a mile to reach the town square. Local cyclist brings home gold for USA at Pan Am Games: Famed local cyclist Kim Geist of Emmaus recently returned from a successful stint at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Geist, actively training for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo while running a coaching business, has represented the U.S. in several World Championship and World Cup competitions, winning titles and setting records.
At the Pan Am Games, Geist won gold medals in the team pursuit and Madison events.
Local cyclist shines at event in Reading: Laura Van Gilder, 54, finished third in the women’s race at the recent West Reading Criterium.
Gilder, a Pocono Pines native and East Stroudsburg University grad who has represented the U.S. in previous Road World Cycling Championships, finished behind 16-year-old Kaia Schmidt and Sam Schnieder.