Rok Kostric, Coach Brooks Highlight All-Heart Awards List
Oskaloosa–There was a serious case of déjà vu for the William Penn men’s bowling team Sunday as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference teams were announced.
The Statesmen recorded five honorees, all of whom were selected for recognition last year and all of whom were selected to the exact same team as in 2019-2020. The lone difference was one of them also garnered the top award in the league.
Rok Kostric (Sr., Koper, Slovenia, Sports Management), Aleksander Kostric (Sr., Koper, Slovenia, Sports Management), and Jayson Miner (Jr., Silvis, Ill., Business Management) were named to the first team (five total members), while Jake Cook (Jr., Keokuk, Iowa, Physical Education) and Brandon Freese (Sr., Marshalltown, Iowa, Software Engineering) both received second-team laurels (five members).
Rok Kostric was also named Heart Player of the Year, marking the fifth time (first since 2013-2014) that a William Penn men’s bowler was selected as the top roller in the conference.
The awards are the third in the careers of both Kostric brothers, while Miner, Cook, and Freese are all now two-time recipients. The quintet led the navy and gold to the program’s first Heart title Sunday; it is WPU’s third league crown ever.
Guiding the Statesmen throughout this difficult year was Heart Coach of the Year Brandon Brooks, who earned his third career laurel.
Rok Kostric currently owns a 201.1 pin average in 17 games with a high game of 279. He has won one tournament this year. Brother Aleksander Kostric is close behind with a 199.4 mark in 22 games (high of 254); Aleksander has managed three top-10 efforts this season.
Miner’s 205.1 average (15 games) leads William Penn, while he has two top-10s to his credit. The junior has a high game of 265.
Cook owns a 198.9 clip (15 games, high of 255) with two top-10s, while Freese averages 196.1 pins over 17 games. Freese has a high game of 279 with one top 10 and one top 25.
Caden Ziegler of Grand View earned the Heart’s Newcomer of the Year award.
