William Penn Athletics News–December 7-8
William Penn University Athletics
William Penn Competes at Simpson Invite
Indianola–The Statesmen wrestling team had some solid individual showings against a talented field at the First Annual Simpson Luther L. Hill Invitational Saturday.
William Penn placed eighth out of 13 squads with 19 points, while #1 Grand View tallied 217 points for the team trophy.
133-pounder Scottie Bonds (Fr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) and 157-pounder Charlton Benjamin (Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Sociology) both placed sixth in their respective weight classes. Benjamin was 4-2 with two falls, while Bonds was 2-2 with one pin.
Marshawn Lacy (Jr., Chicago, Heights, Ill., Computer Science) won twice at 141 pounds (one fall, one major decision), while Joe Sumner (Sr., Delaware, Ohio, Physical Education) also recorded two wins at 184 pounds.
157-pounder Christian Padilla (Jr., Tampa, Fla., Secondary Education) and heavyweight Nathan Veverka (Sr., Montezuma, Iowa, Industrial Technology) both pinned one foe on Saturday as well.
Next: The Statesmen are off until after the holiday break, returning to action Saturday, January 4 to host the William Penn Open in Oskaloosa. The day will begin at 9 a.m.
Edwards, Taylor Qualify in Indoor Opener
Davenport–Alex Edwards (Jr., Knoxville, Iowa, Secondary Education) and Sam Taylor (Jr., Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) blew out of the gates as the William Penn men’s indoor track and field team opened its season at the St. Ambrose Frigid Bee Invitational Friday and Saturday.
Edwards won the 600-meter run with an NAIA ‘A’ standard time of 1:20.98. The time also broke his own school record.
Sam Taylor (Jr., Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) matched his teammate in all of the same respects but one. The junior topped the 55-meter hurdle field by breaking his own school record with a time of 7.77 seconds. His time was not an automatic national-qualifying time, but was good enough to eclipse the provisional mark.
Jaylin Thomas (Fr., Baton Rouge, La.) also took gold in his first collegiate meet, winning the long jump at 22-0.25. The freshman was also fourth in the 55-meter dash (6.75 seconds) and seventh in the triple jump (40-2.25).
Kenbea Walker (Jr., McKinney, Texas, History/Government) was one of several individuals who had multiple high finishes. He was second in the 200-meter dash in 23.24 seconds and ninth in the 400-meter dash at 54.16.
Kalob Gist (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Business Management) claimed silver in the shot put (43-10.5) and bronze in the weight throw (40-7). Cornelius McCastle (Fr., McKinney, Texas) had a second-place showing as well with a high jump of 6-3.25.
Other bronzes came from Chris Gossett (Fr., Park Forest, Ill.), with a triple jump of 41-3.25, and Dustin Ewalt (Fr., Clinton, Iowa, History/Government), with a time of 6:31.83 in the 2,000-meter run.
Stepfon Williams (So., St. Louis, Mo., Industrial Technology) was fourth in the 400 (53.04) and eighth in the 200 (23.91).
Other highlighted top-ten finishes included Colt Brumbaugh (Sr., Keswick, Iowa, Industrial Technology) (fourth in the weight throw at 34-0), Joshua Rankin (Fr., University Park, Ill.) (fourth in the triple jump at 40-8.75), Blake Washington (Sr., Knoxville, Iowa, Public Accounting) (fifth in the 600 at 1:27.43), and Nick Thomas (Jr., Salmon, Idaho, Physical Education) (eighth in the 600 at 1:29.32).
“I thought we did very well this weekend and are further along than I expected,” Head Coach Allen Friesen said. “I am very proud of what we accomplished at this meet.”
Next: William Penn is off until after the holiday break, returning to action Saturday, January 11 in Waverly at the Wartburg Relays.
William Penn Begins Season at Frigid Bee Invite
Davenport–Meaghan Foster (So., Centerville, Iowa, Undecided) guided a strong team effort as the Statesmen women’s indoor track and field team opened its year at the St. Ambrose Frigid Bee Invitational Friday and Saturday.
Foster claimed gold in the shot put at 37-10 and was second in the weight throw at 48-1.
Deja Lewis (Fr., Spring, Texas, Undecided) was also first in a two-person 2,000-meter run field, crossing the line in 8:08.38.
Silvers came from Cierra Threats (So., Allen, Texas) in the 55-meter dash (7.65 seconds) and Alora Simmons (So., Newton, Iowa, Elementary Education) in the high jump (4-11.75). WPU’s 4×400-meter relay squad was also second in a time of 4:23.33.
Shantell Cortez (Fr., Des Moines, Iowa) was a three-time top-ten finisher, highlighted by taking bronze in the long jump at 16-2.25. The freshman’s collegiate debut also included fourth-place finishes in the 55 (7.69 seconds) and 200-meter dash (28.28 seconds).
Samantha Goll (Fr., Eagle River, Wis.) had a pair of high finishes, taking seventh in the 200 (28.58) and eighth in the 55 (7.84).
Sade Myers (Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii, Elementary Education) topped several other strong showings by placing fourth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:05.24. Rosemary Bailey (Sr., Fayetteville, Ark., Communications) was fifth in the half marathon (1:40:37), Kristin Lastovka (So., Brooklyn, Iowa, Business Management) was sixth in the shot put (32-0.25), and Shaniece Dishmon (So., Harvey, Ill.) was seventh in the 55 (7.72).
“I thought we did very well this weekend and are further along than I expected,” Head Coach Allen Friesen said. “I am very proud of what we accomplished at this meet.”
Next: William Penn is off until after the holiday break, returning to action Saturday, January 11 in Waverly at the Wartburg Relays.
