EAST STROUDSBURG – College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced on Wednesday afternoon that East Stroudsburg University women's soccer midfielder
Rebecca Kotula was named to the CSC Academic All-America First Team.
Kotula becomes the first Warrior in program history to be named to the CSC Academic All-America First Team and the first two-time Academic All-American in ESU women's soccer history.
"I am so unbelievably grateful to be named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American this year," said Kotula of her historical honor. "I can't put into words what this award means to me. I could not have achieved this honor without the unwavering support of my family and support system at school. I owe everything to this program, and I am so grateful to represent ESU Women's Soccer. I am beyond honored!"
Kotula, a 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team selection was ESU's lone All-PSAC East First Team honoree this season. The Wyomissing native recorded four goals and an assist for nine points. Her goals came when it mattered, with three of her four goals being game-winners. She earned her bachelor's degree with a 4.0 GPA as a political science and philosophy major this past Spring. Kotula currently holds a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a master's degree in management and leadership in organizational behavior.
Among all ESU's 22 sports, Kotula is the first CSC Academic All-America First Team selection since the spring of 2018, when Sydney McCarthy (At Large/Field Hockey) earned the honor.
She joins an exclusive club of now 11 Warriors to earn Academic All-America twice in her collegiate career and is the first in ESU women's soccer program history.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022-23 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
ESU Women's Soccer Academic All-American Selections
| Year |
Name |
Team |
Pos. |
| 2023 |
Rebecca Kotula |
1st Team |
M |
| 2022 |
Rebecca Kotula |
2nd Team |
M |
| 2019 |
Monica Wood |
3rd Team |
M |
| 2018 |
Nicole Abbott |
2nd Team |
M |
| 2016 |
Andrea Polanco |
2nd Team |
B |
| 2016 |
Hannah Gombos |
2nd Team |
B |
ESU Two-Time Academic All-Americans
| Name |
Years |
Season |
Sport |
| Rebecca Kotula |
2022, 2023 |
Fall |
Women's Soccer |
| Tiffany Lapotsky |
2019, 2020 |
Winter |
Women's Basketball |
| Christina O'Connor |
2014, 2015 |
Spring |
Track & Field/Cross Country |
| Brendan McKeown |
2013, 2014 |
Spring |
Wrestling |
| Khriswayne Wallace |
2012, 2013 |
Fall |
Men's Soccer |
| Nemanja Nikolic |
2011, 2013 |
Fall |
Men's Soccer |
| Corinne Fitzgerald |
2012, 2013 |
Spring |
Track & Field/Cross Country |
| Matt Freed |
2009, 2010 |
Fall |
Football |
| Paul Wagner |
2009, 2010 |
Spring |
Track & Field/Cross Country |
| Kamar Samuels |
2002, 2003 |
Fall |
Men's Soccer |
| Rob Stone |
1996, 1998 |
Spring |
Track & Field |
ESU CSC Academic All-America First Team Selections
| Year |
Name |
Sport |
Team |
| 2023 (fall) |
Rebecca Kotula |
Soccer |
1st, M |
| 2018 (spring) |
Sydney McCarthy |
Women's At Large/Field Hockey |
1st |
| 2017 (fall) |
Devon Ackerman |
Football |
1st, OL |
| 2017 (spring) |
Alex Zubko |
Men's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2016 (fall) |
Devon Ackerman |
Football |
1st, OL |
| 2016 (spring) |
Alex Zubko |
Men's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2015 (fall) |
Jon Schnaars |
Football |
1st, WR |
| 2015 (fall) |
Devon Ackerman |
Football |
1st, OL |
| 2015 (spring) |
Christina O'Connor |
Women's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2014 (fall) |
Bryan Thomson |
Football |
1st, DL |
| 2013 (spring) |
Corinne Fitzgerald |
Women's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2013 (spring) |
Rose Mascoli |
Women's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2013 (spring) |
Matt Tholis |
Men's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2012 (spring) |
Rose Mascoli |
Women's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2012 (spring) |
Dan Johnson |
Men's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2010 (fall) |
Matt Freed |
Football |
1st, LB |
| 2010 (spring) |
Paul Wagner |
Men's Track/Cross Country |
1st |
| 2009 (fall) |
Matt Freed |
Football |
1st, LB |
| 2004 (fall) |
Matt Crispell |
Football |
1st, DB |
| 1987 (spring) |
Michelle Knapik |
Women's At Large/Field Hockey |
1st |
| 1979 (spring) |
Mike Petruny |
Baseball |
1st, IF |
