February, March Player of the Month Honorees Announced

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Oskaloosa–The William Penn University Athletics Booster Club has announced the recipients of the February and March Player of the Month awards.

Sophomore men’s track and field athlete Tristen Elmore (Ovied, Fla., Physical Education) earned the February Male award, while sophomore women’s basketball player Kate Ylitalo (Maple Plain, Minn., Biology) took home the Female honor. The award is the second for Elmore and the first for Ylitalo.

In March, senior men’s basketball player Terrell Thompson (Indianapolis, Ind., Wellness and Recreation) and junior women’s basketball player Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) were named the monthly award recipients. The honor is Thompson’s first and Nwagbaraocha’s third of her career.

Elmore was terrific at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, highlighted by winning the long jump at 23-5.25. He was also second in the high jump (6-6), sixth in the 200-meter dash (23.02 seconds), and seventh in the 60-meter dash (7.12 seconds).

In seven games, Ylitalo averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in addition to 19 steals, 10 assists, and one block. She shot 50.6% from the field, including a 47.5% clip from the perimeter. She recorded three games with at least 20 points.

Thompson had a strong March, averaging 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. The senior also managed three steals and one block and shot 46.2% from the floor. He was 78.3% from the line and reached double digits four times with a high of 26 points.

Nwagbaraocha averaged a near double-double of 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game over a span of four contests. She also had 12 assists, eight steals, and one block, while making 52.8% of her field goals and 76.5% of her free throws. The junior reached double figures all four games with a high of 30 points; she also had one double-double.