Statesmen Claim Program-Affirming Win at Midland Invite

With five individuals in the top 10 in the individual standings and numerous others providing incredible depth in each discipline, the William Penn shotgun sports team picked up arguably its biggest regular-season victory in program history at the Midland Invitational last Friday through Sunday.

Lincoln, Neb.–With five individuals in the top 10 in the individual standings and numerous others providing incredible depth in each discipline, the William Penn shotgun sports team picked up arguably its biggest regular-season victory in program history at the Midland Invitational last Friday through Sunday.

WPU finished first out of 16 teams with a score of 1,411-for-1,500. NCAA Division II Fort Hays State (Colo.) finished second at 1,403, while fellow NAIA foe Midland was third at 1,382.

For the Statesmen, the victory represents another step in the team’s legitimacy as one of the best in the entire country, all divisions. William Penn had never finished higher than third at the Invitational and had never defeated perennial power Fort Hays State at any event. Those two boxes have now been checked off.

The event opened with Skeet on a perfect Friday afternoon. With a score of 495-for-500, the Statesmen were barely nipped by Midland’s 497. The 495 is also just one target shy of the school record in Skeet.

Cade Bowie (So., Benton, Ark., Business Management) led the way with a perfect 100-for-100; it is his first perfect score in collegiate competition. His score tied with five others and overall he placed fourth in the shoot-off.

Hunter Block (Sr., Eldridge, Iowa, Business Management), Kade Dunkin (Jr., Hamilton, Iowa, Biology), and Colten Uitermarkt (Grad., Otley, Iowa, Master’s of Organizational Leadership) each finished at 99-for-100, while the trio of Colton Heintz-Kuderer (Fr., Mabel, Minn., Biology), Nikolle Kussatz (Fr., Leighton, Iowa, Biology), and Nathan Roberts (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) all owned scores of 98-for-100. Kussatz then went into a seven-person shoot-off for top female and the freshman ended up third.

The squad’s depth was evident in Skeet with six additional members scoring 97-for-100.

Saturday’s weather was by far the worst with overcast skies and drizzle. That did not slow down the navy and gold as they won the Sporting Clays discipline with a score of 446-for-500, which was 11 higher than FHSU.

Uitermarkt topped William Penn at 92-for-100, while Tanner Muff (So., Lincoln, Neb., General Accounting) was next at 90-for-100. Bowie, Noah DeBoef (Jr., Leighton, Iowa, Industrial Technology), and Russell Malterud (Grad., North Branch, Minn., Master’s of Organizational Leadership) capped the team scoring at 88-for-100.

The Statesmen wrapped up a hugely successful weekend with another crown, taking Sunday’s Trap competition at 493-for-500. Fort Hays State was second at 491-for-500. Weather conditions improved greatly from the day before, minus being slightly windy.

Bryon Baca (Grad., Colorado Springs, Colo., Master’s of Organizational Leadership), Raylee Bishop (Jr., Ankeny, Iowa, Engineering), and Caytlin Pendleton (Jr., West Jordan, Utah, Communications) all posted team-best 99-for-100 scores. Last year’s national champion in Trap, Bishop’s 99 is her second of the year, while Pendleton, who was third at nationals last season, managed her first 99 of the campaign.

DeBoef, Uitermarkt and Carver Van Zee (So., Pella, Iowa, Industrial Technology) were right behind them at 98-for-100, while numerous other individuals were in the mix as they tallied scores of 97-for-100.

Uitermarkt used high scores in each discipline to place himself at the top of the High Overall Athlete standings at 289-for-300. The graduate student earned the championship by three shots.

Bowie tied for fourth at 282-for-300, while the trio of DeBoef, Malterud, and Muff all tied for 10th at 280.

KayLynn Sieber (Jr., Marshall, Minn., Biology) was consistent throughout the tournament, going 274-for-300 (95-for-100 Trap, 94-for-100 Skeet, and 85-for-100 Sporting Clays) to finish second in the Female HOA standings.

“This weekend’s result is a tremendous achievement for this program,” Head Coach Steve Heaton said. “Going against some of the best collegiate teams in the country and coming out on top is a great accomplishment. I am so proud of our athletes.”

Next Up: William Penn takes a week off before traveling to Waukee on Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8 to compete in the Grand View Invitational.