BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Grove City College women’s water polo coach Jocelyn (Hinkle) Bernhardt is part of the 2024 Hazleton (Pa.) Area Sports Hall of Fame class slated for induction on Sunday, September 15, at Capriotti’s Palazzzo in Banks Township, Pennsylvania.
The second member of her family to earn a spot in the Hazleton Area Sports Hall of Fame following her mother Michele Yakubowski – who served as head swimming and water polo coach at Hazleton Area High School – Bernhardt was a standout in both sports on her mother’s teams.
A water polo star at Grove City College and now the head water polo coach at her college alma mater, she was part of Hazleton Area’s first water polo team as a freshman in 2007.
She went on to become the Lady Cougars’ all-time leader in goals, assists and steals, marks that she still holds. She was named to the All-State team in both 2009 and 2010 and a regular on the All-Conference team throughout her high school career. A team captain, she was Pennsylvania’s top goal scorer in 2010.
As a Hazleton Area swimmer, she was a four-year letterwinner and team captain. She broke the school record in the 200 yard individual medley and she was part of the Lady Cougars’ record-breaking 400 freestyle relay team as a senior in 2011. She eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in her career and she was an All-Wyoming Valley Conference selection. She earned District 2 medals and received the Key Club Award as the best teammate.
At the YMCA level, she qualified for district and state meets, earning medals in the former. She swam legs on record-breaking 200 yard medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.
A member of the Hazleton Area High School class of 2011, the National Honor Society member was honored at the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Academic Achievement Award banquet and the West Hazleton Improvement Club’s Scholar-Athlete Banquet.
She received the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award, the United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award and the Bill Radzwich Memorial Scholarship for Academic and Athletic Excellence, the latter two in 2011.
At Grove City, Jocelyn was one of the most decorated players in the 20-year history of the women’s water polo program at the institution. She started all four seasons for the Wolverines from 2012 through 2015. She earned First Team All-Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III honors during her career and she captured Honorable Mention All-America honors as a senior.
She concluded her career by earning the CWPA Division III Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in 2015. Bernhardt graduated as the program’s all-time leader with 128 assists. She also ranks second with 237 goals and third with 273 career goals.
She then worked as an assistant water polo coach for the Wolverines during the 2018 season. The college promoted her to head coach in November 2019.
Bernhardt is entering her sixth season at the helm of the women’s program at her alma mater. During her tenure, Grove City has produced at least one All-America selection in four of Bernhardt’s five seasons as head coach.
The Freeland (Pa.) native graduated from Grove City in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. She lives in nearby West Middlesex with her husband, Jonathan, and their three children.
