Making A Difference – PennZone

PennZone members pose with the William Penn Men’s Basketball team after they clinched the MCC Championship.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The dust may be settling from the historic run to the national tournament by William Penn University Men’s Basketball Team, but one group of supporters has their eye on next year.

The PennZone was there from day one, when the team stepped onto the court. Before that first basketball hit hardwood, that student filled section could be heard leading the chant from the stands. This group can be found at football games, as well.

William Smead was one of this year’s leaders, of sorts, of PennZone. He’s a member of the William Penn Band, that could be found at every game, and the percussionist enjoys every minute of the game.

Meeting with the PennZone members over the weekend, Smead introduced us to the core of PennZone. Ryan Poe, Joseph Smith, Allison Wogan, Cory Fisher, William Smead and Libby Eickert made up the core of the group this past year, but it didn’t just stop with them.

The PennZone has gained a lot of attention through the basketball season. Their constant presence throughout the year made them a force on the court as well. They, as a group, decided that the players needed to know they were supported, and they wanted to give them something more.

During the year, the crowds continued to grow, and with it, the student section did as well. Both the team and the fans fed off each others excitement.

PennZone is quick to point out that not only has the success of the basketball team been a reason for them to cheer, but also the success of women’s golf, bowling and football. “It’s kind of an uprising of William Penn Athletics.” Smead said.

PennZone students are like many other college students, poor. Yet every game, they would show up, with new signs, and new costumes; at home and away. The group self-funded their journey to the national tournament in Branson.

PennZone and Penn fans react to the last second win by Penn during the Penn vs. Midland game at the national tournament.

The creative thoughts seem to arrive around 1am, Libby Eickert explained. “Me and Allison usually are the ones writing the signs. A couple of the other girls do it too.”

A large “troll face” was made as well. This monster sign was made from 20 plus sheets of paper broken down in Photoshop because they didn’t have the money to have a larger one printed.

The trip to Branson was, “completely out of pocket,” Allison Wogan said. “There was a lot of mass Spaghetti-O’s buying and canned foods, stuff like that,” in conjunction with a cheap motel, helped the cash strapped students make the journey. The Foxborough Inn “comes recommended, their service is amazing for $29.00 a night on Priceline” Smead says laughing.

The group not only made the trip to Branson, but they travelled to nearly every game Penn played here in Iowa. They remember the Grinnell game as one they only had a few members at, but a recent Grand View game was better attended, and the group was supplemented by their fellow students.

One of their favorite away games was the Central game. “Renewal of an old rivalry,” Smead said.

One of the favorite games of the year was the Midland game in Branson. After the missed shot by Beasley, “there’s James Devlin to pluck the ball from going out of bounds and putting up the last second shot for the win.” Smead says of his favorite memory.

They, like most other fans, lost their minds in that moment. Smead remembers, “A bunch of people are hugging and screaming. I know I hugged a bunch of people, and not all of them were PennZone, I don’t know who. I know that I went down to the court to yell and cheer and stuff, and I accidently shoved an NAIA photographer. I turned to look at him and say sorry, and he just said ‘I understand’, so I hugged him too.”

Allison Wogan (right) is seen here cheering at a Penn home game.

The Thursday before the trip to nationals, Coach Henry called PennZone member Allison Wogan to his office. “I went into his office and there, sitting on his desk, was a dozen roses from the basketball team. Thanking me for the dedication that I had for the team.”

This meant so much to Wogan, who suffers from a type 3 brain aneurysm and was set to have brain surgery within the week.

Something like brain surgery wasn’t going to stop Allison from cheering on her team at the national tournament. The day after having the surgery, she was in a car making the 7 hour trip to cheer on her William Penn Statesmen, having only missed the opening round in the playoffs.

When asked what the group is doing now, and if they are having difficulty acclimating to no basketball, Smead said, “The memories from this year are so fresh, and they will still be fresh 50 years down the road. They will still feel like they happened yesterday. I know, for me, they will still be crystal clear, and so I guess I’m still feeling extremely happy and overjoyed at the run we made.”

Allison added, “I feel like we need the break so we can appreciate the next season.”

In the end, the group ended with those simple but powerful words, “GO PENN GO.”