All Female Programs Earn Scholar Team Honors, 18 Total Squads Garner Recognition

Oskaloosa–The William Penn athletic programs set a new standard for academic achievement as the NAIA announced its 2025-2026 Scholar Teams.

A new record of 18 teams earned the title, breaking the old mark of 14. To qualify as a Scholar Team, the combined Grade Point Average of all varsity members must be 3.0 or higher.

As a complete athletic department, the Statesmen owned a varsity GPA of 3.20, including a 3.45 for women and a 3.05 for men. All 11 women’s teams were lauded as NAIA Scholar Teams.

The department headliner was women’s wrestling, previously led by Jake Kadel, with a 3.71 GPA.

Softball, which is coached by Laura North, was close behind at 3.66, while Lauren Eldridge’s women’s volleyball squad was next at 3.59. Competitive dance, then led by Abby Reynolds, was also at or above the 3.50 threshold at 3.50.

Women’s basketball, then coached by Sheawn Bedford, posted a 3.49 mark, while cheerleading (Abby Reynolds) and women’s soccer (Kaleb Preston) tied at 3.44.

Men’s golf (3.40) and women’s golf (3.36), both skippered by Darin Fisher, were next on the list, while the quartet of baseball (Mike Laird), men’s soccer (Joe Minton), women’s bowling (Kirstin Foster), and women’s cross country (Caleb Silver) all tied at 3.35.

Silver’s men’s cross country team held a 3.31 GPA, while men’s volleyball, guided by Luke Bentley, finished the school year at 3.24.

Men’s bowling (Foster) was at 3.08, while men’s wrestling (previously coached by Drew Sams) (3.05) and women’s track and field (previously coached by Victoria Vinokur) (3.04) wrapped up the listing.

Though not NAIA-sponsored, the shotgun sports team, led by Colten Uitermarkt, also performed extremely well with a 3.53 GPA.