General | 7/2/2026 2:30:00 PM

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Gannon University senior men's soccer standout Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) was named the 2025-26 Pete Nevins PSAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while East Stroudsburg volleyball middle blocker Ana Coulter was selected as the conference's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced Thursday.

The PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards are presented annually to the conference's top male and female student-athletes who have achieved at least a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average while competing at an outstanding athletic level. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must have previously earned recognition as a PSAC Fall, Winter or Spring Top 10 Award recipient.

The Scholar-Athletes of the Year are selected by the conference's sports information directors and were renamed in 2007 in honor of longtime East Stroudsburg sports information director Pete Nevins. Nevins served in the role for 33 years and is estimated to have written articles on more than 12,000 East Stroudsburg athletic events while covering over 5,000 student-athletes throughout his distinguished career.

"Sverre has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades during his incredible career here, as his statistics and accomplishments are truly impressive," said Gannon Director of Athletics Meghan Morphy. "He was a standout leader in our men's soccer program, and we are excited for him to be recognized with this meaningful honor."

A finance major from Orsta, Norway, Orten maintained a 3.84 cumulative grade-point average while putting together one of the most accomplished seasons in program history. The senior midfielder becomes the fourth Gannon student-athlete to be named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, joining Kyle Goldcamp of men's basketball (2008-09), Joseph Westrick of men's cross country (2019-20), and Samantha Pirosko of women's basketball (2023-24).

Orten also becomes the first men's soccer student-athlete in program history to receive the award and just the third male recipient in Gannon history.

Orten is also Gannon's Male Student-Athlete of the Year and a two-time PSAC Fall Top 10 Award recipient, earning the prestigious conference academic honor in both 2023-24 and 2025-26.

During the 2025 season, Orten helped lead Gannon to a 15-3-4 record, the program's first PSAC Championship, and a final No. 11 national ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. He started all 22 matches and emerged as one of the nation's most dominant offensive players, leading all of NCAA Division II with 17 goals and 46 points while tying for third nationally with 12 assists.

His performance helped guide the Golden Knights to the program's first PSAC Championship and an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance, the eighth in program history. Orten is one of the most highly decorated players in Gannon men's soccer history, becoming the first player to earn PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons since Slippery Rock's Jeremy Deighton in 2008 and 2009.

He also concluded his career as a four-time All-PSAC West First Team selection and became just the third Golden Knight in program history to earn first-team all-conference honors four times, joining Bautista Corti (2021-24) and Robbie Bennett (2011-14).

"This is a tremendous capstone to a truly outstanding career for Sverre," said Gannon head coach Billy Colton. "He had high standards both on and off the field, and that has once again been proven by being the first Gannon men's soccer student-athlete to win this award. His desire to achieve high grades in the classroom, while pushing himself and those around him on the field, has culminated in a plethora of awards that are very much deserved."

Orten's remarkable campaign was recognized nationally as he was named the D2CCA Ron Lenz NCAA Division II All-American Player of the Year, becoming the top player in Division II men's soccer. He also earned D2CCA First Team All-America honors, United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America recognition, and was selected as the 2025 Academic All-America® Men's Soccer Team Member of the Year by College Sports Communicators. In addition, Orten earned CSC Academic All-America® First Team and CSC Academic All-District® honors.

At the regional and conference levels, Orten repeated as the D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year and earned D2CCA Atlantic Region First Team recognition for the second consecutive season. He is now a four-time D2CCA Atlantic Region honoree after earning first team accolades in each of the last three seasons and second team recognition in 2022. Orten also earned back-to-back PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year honors after helping guide the Golden Knights to one of the most successful seasons in program history.

A proven performer in the biggest moments, Orten recorded four game-winning goals during the season, including the decisive tally in Gannon's NCAA Tournament first-round victory over No. 11 Bentley. He also scored in the Golden Knights' NCAA Atlantic Region semifinal win over No. 22 Franklin Pierce and was recognized during the season as the D2 CIDA Men's Soccer National Player of the Week on Oct. 28 and the PSAC West Athlete of the Week on Oct. 27.

Beyond his single-season accomplishments, Orten leaves Gannon as one of the most accomplished players in program history. He concluded his career ranked second all-time in assists (46), seventh in points (116), tied for fifth in game-winning goals (10), tied for second in matches played (82) and tied for fourth in matches started (75).
 
Gannon All-Time Pete Nevins PSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorees

• Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) (Men's Soccer) – 2025-26
• Samantha Pirosko (Women's Basketball) – 2023-24
• Joseph Westrick (Men's Cross Country) – 2019-20
• Kyle Goldcamp (Men's Basketball) – 2008-09