WPU Records NAIA-Best Seven All-Americans
Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s lacrosse team topped the country in postseason honorees as the NAIA released its All-America teams Friday.
William Penn led the entire nation with seven award recipients, led by Breck Putzier (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn., Exercise Science) on the 13-person First Team.
Four individuals were selected to the Second Team (13 players total), including Boston Romero (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management), Collin Baliva (Sr., St. Louis, Mo., Industrial Technology), Max Standage (So., Gilbert, Ariz., Public Accounting), and Eric Garigan (Grad., Tucson, Ariz., Master’s of Organizational Leadership).
An additional 14 players earned Third-Team recognition, including the duo of Wyatt Christensen (So., Madison, Wis., Biology) and Kenny Bohney (So., Moorhead, Minn., Exercise Science).
Putzier and Romero are both repeat All-Americans; Putzier is on the First Team for the second time, while Romero is on the Second Team for the second time.
WPU now has nine All-Americans in its history.
The seven honorees helped WPU to a 16-3 record, a Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship title, and an appearance in the NAIA National Invitational.
Putzier was the NAIA’s most prolific offensive player this spring, leading the nation in goals (67), assists (75), and points (142). He also tallied 62 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers.
Romero tied for ninth in the nation with 51 goals and was 13th with 69 points. He recorded 18 assists, while also producing 21 ground balls and four caused turnovers.
Baliva, who managed 11 and 13 goals, paced the navy and gold with 103 ground balls, while also finishing the campaign with 15 caused turnovers.
Standage closed out the 2024 season with 11 goals, four assists, 70 ground balls, and 21 caused turnovers.
Garigan ended the year with a 15-3 record and a 6.69 Goals Against Average with 158 saves (.590 save percentage). The goalkeeper paced the NAIA in Goals Against Average, while being ranked fifth in save percentage, eighth in goals allowed (110), and 16th in saves as well.
Christensen tallied 50 goals (12th in NAIA) and 41 assists (6th in NAIA) for 91 total points (7th in the NAIA). He was also able to produce 28 ground balls and four caused turnovers.
Bohney finished 2024 with 38 goals and 11 assists along with 41 ground balls and six caused turnovers.
JR Sess of Reinhardt (Ga.) was named NAIA Player of the Year, while Patrick Johnston of Keiser (Fla.) garnered Coach of the Year laurels.
