Lafayette College Athletics

Ferency-Bermender, a dual-sport athlete, excelled on the track and field and volleyball teams at Lafayette. 

The Lehigh Valley Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women selected her as the most outstanding volleyball player as well as the top athlete for the 1990-91 year. That season, she was the lone captain and led the volleyball program in five categories as a right-side hitter: hitting percentage, kills, kills average, aces and blocks. She set a new school record in career kills (237) and started every game of her four-year career on the court. During her freshman and sophomore years, Bermender was a second-team East Coast Conference all-star and added a first-team All-Patriot League laurel before graduating. 

In track and field, Bermender made history by becoming the first Leopard woman to win an ECAC title for her first-place finish in the 20-lb. weight throw (16.55) as a senior. She also dominated the Patriot League Outdoor Championships that year with wins for discus (39.30) and shot put (10.63), as well as second place for her hammer throw. In 1988, she topped the shot put competition during the East Coast Conference Outdoor Championships. Indoors, the Red Lion, Pa. native also earned titles in shot put and the 20-lb. weight throw as a senior for her 55'11" attempt.

Overall, she won a record-setting 10 individual league track and field championships and was honored as the Charles L. Albert '08 Award recipient.

Following her graduation with a bachelor's degree in Art (Marketing), Bermender remained in the Lehigh Valley to complete her Elementary Education certification and met her first husband, Paul Ferency. In just two years, she accepted a position as assistant coach for Lafayette volleyball, but stepped up into the head coaching role right before the season started. 

Bermender spent three years with the Leopards, helping to turn around the record and compete well in the Patriot League. She kickstarted a recruiting regimen for the program, traveling to watch club tournaments in the offseason.

Her next stop took her to the Wilson Area School District, including the opportunity to coach track and field part time. She and Paul got married at that time as her certification studies were completed. 

After the Wilson stint, Bermender taught in an Easton Area middle school for over 28 years. While working and raising her two boys, Elek and Odin, she earned her master's degree in Education from Wilkes in 2011. At that time, she stayed on as Wilson's assistant track coach for 16 years, amassing over 20 state qualifiers.

Her sons, Elek and Odin, were state qualifiers during their high school years at Easton, taking after her and their late father, Paul Ferency, who passed away in 2019. Elek is a 2023 graduate of Muhlenberg College and was a thrower for the track and field team. Odin is currently attending Charleston Southern University on an academic and track and field scholarship, set to graduate in 2027. 

Over the past year, Bermender retired from a successful career and moved to Tampa, Fla. with her new husband, Andrew Bermender. She enjoys traveling to see her sons, friends and family in Pennsylvania and spending her time shelling on the west coast of Florida or relaxing with her husband.