Bedier Earns Heart’s Nomination for A.O. Duer Award
Oskaloosa–William Penn junior baseball player Tanner Bedier (Bondurant, Iowa, Business Management) has been recognized for his myriad of achievements on and off the field as he was selected as the Heart of America Athletic Conference’s nominee for the NAIA’s A.O. Duer Award.
The A.O. Duer Scholarship Award has been presented by the NAIA since 1967 to one male and one female junior student-athlete in any sport who have excelled in scholarship, character, and citizenship. A.O. Duer was a long-standing executive secretary for the NAIA.
“Stoked is the only word that comes to mind when I heard I won this award,” Bedier said. “To receive this award is something a college athlete dreams of. It means the world to have my coach, teammates, and family to push me beyond my limits and be along for the college journey. I cannot thank my supporters enough. This is something I will always be proud of and will never forget. One of my biggest goals is to make my mom proud, looking over me throughout all of these experiences.”
Bedier has not only excelled on the diamond, but is also a leader on William Penn’s campus. In three years as a Statesmen, he owns a .396 batting average with 133 hits, including 26 doubles, three triples, and 11 home runs. Bedier has driven in 86 runs and has scored 91 times as well. He is a three-time letterwinner and was a first-team all-Heart pick in 2021.
A tremendous student who boasts a 4.0 Grade Point Average, he has served as a member of WPU’s Association of Student-Athletes and is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete and one-time Heart Scholar-Athlete.
“Tanner epitomizes what William Penn baseball is all about,” William Penn Head Baseball Coach Mike Laird said. “He has tremendous ability, character, and dedication, while being a great competitor and teammate. He has all the qualities coaches build their teams around. We are very fortunate to have him as a Statesmen.”
Bedier will now be considered for the NAIA’s national award. The national winner will be announced in September as part of the NAIA’s National Awards Day. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship that their institution will used towards his/her’s tuition or other approved expenses.
