WPU Remains Perfect with Home Win
Pella–The Statesmen shotgun sports team took advantage of home cooking as it remained undefeated this fall with a victory at the William Penn Invitational last Friday and Saturday.
William Penn posted a winning score of 1,427-for-1,500, while Iowa Western CC was second with 1,390 hit targets. The team triumph is the program’s fifth this season and seventh in a row, dating back to last season. WPU is also undefeated all-time as tournament host, having won its home event for the third-straight year.
The competition began Friday evening with Trap under lights by Oskaloosa’s own Musco Lighting. Unfortunately, all shooters, including those from William Penn, struggled in the nocturnal setting as the navy and gold placed second in the discipline at 484-for-500. Iowa Western CC won the discipline at 485-for-500.
Dryden DeKoning (Jr., Newton, Iowa, Business Management) topped his crew at 99-for-100, while Bryon Baca (Grad., Colorado Springs, Colo., Master’s of Organizational Leadership) was next at 97-for-100. The trio of Tanner Muff (So., Lincoln, Neb., General Accounting), Connor Gittings (Jr., Kansas City, Mo., Biology), and Carver Van Zee (So., Pella, Iowa, Industrial Technology) all wrapped up the team scoring at 96-for-100.
Saturday’s action began with Skeet and the Statesmen bounced back by headlining the field at 493-for-500.
Colton Heintz-Kuderer (Fr., Mabel, Minn., Biology), Colten Uitermarkt (Grad., Otley, Iowa, Master’s of Organizational Leadership), and Ashley Hunter (Jr., Indianola, Iowa, Biology) each missed just once, going 99-for-100 to lead the Statesmen.
A total of six William Penn shooters were then one shot back at 98-for-100, including Van Zee, Hunter Block (Sr., Eldridge, Iowa, Business Management), KayLynn Sieber (Jr., Marshall, Minn., Biology), Caytlin Pendleton (Jr., West Jordan, Utah, Communications), Adison Sholes (Jr., Indianola, Iowa, Business Management), and Emily Uitermarkt (Jr., Otley, Iowa, Elementary Education).
A 450-for-500 showing in Sporting Clays gave the Statesmen the discipline victory and wrapped the overall team crown.
Russell Malterud (Grad., North Branch, Minn., Master’s of Organizational Leadership) paced the efforts at 93-for-100, while Jaxon Smith (Fr., Yuba City, Calif., Industrial Technology) was next at 91-for-100. The duo of Muff and Cade Bowie (So., Benton, Ark., Business Management) managed to tie with scores of 90-for-100, while Colten Uitermarkt ended the battle at 86-for-100.
Muff defeated all challengers to win the High Overall Athlete honor at 283-for-30, while Sieber topped all female shooters at 275-for-300.
“Shooting Trap under the lights Friday night seemed to be a struggle for almost all of the athletes, including those from William Penn, but it was well-liked by everyone; it is something we will have to continue practicing,” Head Coach Steven Heaton said. “Saturday, our team bounced back and recorded a great team performance. It is amazing to see how deep this team is getting in each discipline and how they continue to push each other to be better.”
Next Up: William Penn takes a week off before traveling to Cedar Falls on October 28-29 to compete in the Wartburg Invitational.
