Neugebauer Earns CoSIDA Academic All-District Award
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–William Penn sophomore linebacker Jace Neugebauer (McArthur, Calif., Business Management) was honored for exemplary work on the football field and in the classroom as he was named NAIA All-District 3 as part of the Google Cloud Academic All-America program by CoSIDA.
The all-district accolade recognizes student-athletes not only for their athletic prowess but also their successes academically. The NAIA is in its second year of having its own exclusive division; prior to that, it was grouped in with other associations as part of the College division. The Academic All-America program began in 1952.
Neugebauer, who owns a 3.97 Grade Point Average, finished the 2018 campaign third on the team with 48 tackles (18 solos, 30 assists), including 2.5 stops for a loss of 6.5 yards. The president of William Penn’s Student Government Association, he recorded at least five tackles on four separate occasions with a high of nine against Missouri Valley.
Neugebauer is one of eight individuals from the Heart of America Athletic Conference on District 3’s squad and will now be on the Academic All-America ballot.
To be eligible for the award, athletes must be of at least sophomore academic standing, be a starter or key reserve player (other playing requirements where applicable), maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or above on a 4.0 scale, and have attended the nominating institution for at least one full calendar year.
