Men Ranked 2nd, Women 7th in Final NAIA Poll

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Oskaloosa–The William Penn bowling teams will enter postseason action among the best in the NAIA as the Association released its final top-20 poll.

The Statesmen men are second with 4,891 points, while the women are seventh with 4,158 points. The points are based off of collegebowling.com’s power rankings.

Among the programs that have declared with the NAIA, Grand View is the top men’s program (5,383 points), while Pikeville (Ky.) is #1 for the women (5,863 points).

The NAIA Invitational is scheduled for March 28-30 in Topeka, Kan. The champions of the five conference and unaffiliated group tournaments will all receive automatic berths (the WHAC will receive two auto berths). The remaining six bids will be given to the six highest-ranked teams in the rankings that did not receive an automatic berth.

Due to their positions in their respective polls, both the William Penn men and women are guaranteed to at least garner at-large bids for the NAIA Invitational. Both squads will battle for an automatic qualification, though, this Saturday and Sunday as they head to Topeka, Kan. for the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships.

Curtis Majka (Sr., Elgin, Ill., Mechanical Engineering) leads the WPU men at 209.7, while three others are also above the 200 mark. Majka ranks 11th nationally as an individual.

Kayla Gifford (Jr., Camanche, Iowa, Biology), with a 187.9 average, heads three Statesmen women who are over the 180 average. The junior ranks 127th nationally.

MEN TOP-20 POLL
1. Grand View
2. William Penn
3. SCAD-Savannah (Ga.)
4. Lawrence Tech (Mich.)
5. Midland (Neb.)
6. Indiana Tech
7. St. Francis (Ill.)
8. Hastings (Neb.)
9. Martin Methodist (Tenn.)
10. Pikeville (Ky.)
11. Concordia (Mich.)
12. Rio Grande (Ohio)
13. Madonna (Mich.)
14. Kansas Wesleyan
15. Cumberlands (Ky.)
16. Campbellsville (Ky.)
17. Baker (Kan.)
18. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
19. Morningside
20. Huntington (Ind.)

WOMEN TOP-20 POLL
1. Pikeville (Ky.)
2. Indiana Tech
3. Midland (Neb.)
4. SCAD-Savannah (Ga.)
5. St. Francis (Ill.)
6. Grand View
7. William Penn
8. Hastings (Neb.)
9. Campbellsville (Ky.)
10. Martin Methodist (Tenn.)
11. Cumberlands (Ky.)
12. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
13. Judson (Ill.)
14. Huntington (Ind.)
15. Ottawa (Kan.)
16. Baker (Kan.)
17. Morningside
18. Viterbo (Wis.)
19. Kansas Wesleyan
20. Concordia (Mich.)