SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Penn State Schuylkill’s golf team captured its first Penn State University Athletic Conference championship on , overcoming a three-stroke deficit to complete a historic week for the program.
The Lions finished the two-day tournament with a combined score of 628, shooting 311 on the Blue Course during Sunday’s opening round and 317 on the White Course in Monday’s final round.
Historic Week for Penn State Schuylkill Golf
The PSUAC championship came just six days after Penn State Schuylkill recorded the first team victory in program history at Penn State Hazleton.
“We went from winning the first match in our program’s history to winning the PSUAC Championship all within the span of a week. It almost doesn’t feel real,” Hayden Lee said.
Yelinek and Maziekas Earn All-Conference Honors
Cole Yelinek and Lee led Penn State Schuylkill during the final round, each shooting a 77.
Yelinek opened the tournament with a team-leading 74 and finished fourth individually with a two-day score of 151, earning All-Conference honors.
Jude Maziekas also received All-Conference recognition after finishing with a total of 158. Lee followed at 161, Hogan Troutman at 162, Rylen Matlock at 170 and Blake Deiter at 184. Troutman shot an 81 in each round.
Lee’s final-round 77 marked the best score of his collegiate career and represented a seven-stroke improvement over his opening round.
“Being able to bounce back and put up a 74 and a 77 was amazing, and I was really glad to help the team,” Yelinek said.
Despite their strong finish, the Lions did not know they had won until the awards ceremony. Maziekas said he and Troutman attempted to calculate the results while waiting for the announcement.
“One of the best sports moments of my life,” Maziekas said. “Looking at how much that meant to everybody on the team was the best moment.”
JD Powis Named PSUAC Coach of the Year
The championship also marked a milestone for coach JD Powis, who has led the Penn State Schuylkill golf program for 21 years and was named PSUAC Coach of the Year.
“My first win as a coach took place after 21 years of coaching. Yet somehow, it’s been rewarding just the same,” Powis said.
Lee credited Powis with helping make the team’s accomplishments possible, describing him as an example and role model throughout the past two years.
Matlock was also presented with the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award.
For Powis, the championship was an accomplishment shared with the former players who helped build the program.
“I want to thank this year’s team, as well as my former players, for helping to contribute to the success we enjoyed this season,” Powis said. “The 2026 PSUAC Championship was won by the Penn State Schuylkill Golf Team, but it can be celebrated by all of us.”
Lions Turn Their Attention to Nationals
Penn State Schuylkill will now attempt to carry the momentum from its conference championship into national competition.
“It was a great day for our team, and hopefully we can carry this momentum into nationals,” Troutman said.