Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

One of the pioneers in an IUP program that would develop into a national power, Denise Raymond Erb was among the school’s first gymnastics All-Americans.

As a freshman in 1982, Raymond placed fifth in the uneven parallel bars event to earn Division III AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) All-America honors. Coach Jan Anthony’s team finished third in the nation behind Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Lady Braves, as they were then known, would become an NCAA Division II program a year later.

Raymond’s freshman year proved something of a breakthrough season for IUP. The Lady Braves held their own against Division I opponents such as Penn State, West Virginia, New Mexico and George Washington before claiming top honors at the Division III AIAW Eastern Regional meet. Raymond finished second on bars and tied for fourth on the balance beam.

At the national meet, hosted by Keene State (N.H.), she and teammate Meg Rogers gave IUP its first-ever All-Americans in the sport.

In her sophomore season, Raymond helped the Lady Braves finish second at the PSAC meet and fourth at regionals.

Coach Dan Kendig, who would later lead IUP to two national titles, came aboard in Raymond’s junior year. The Lady Braves captured their first PSAC title before the home fans at Memorial Field House, beating out both top-seeded Slippery Rock and Clarion, a Division I program, with a school-record score of 172.15. IUP then placed fourth at regionals.

Raymond did not compete as a senior because of stress fractures in both of her tibias.

She graduated from IUP in 1986 with a degree in health and physical education and earned a master’s in school counseling from Duquesne in 1997. Raymond works as a counselor at Shaler Area High School, her alma mater.

She has two adult children, daughter Devon and son Danny, a 2025 graduate of IUP.  Raymond, who is in a relationship with 1983 IUP grad Bret Shugarts, resides in Wexford.