POY Lange Leads Four on All-Heart Team
Oskaloosa–Paced by Olivia Lange (Sr., Porta Westfalica, Germany, Business Management), the William Penn women’s golf team had four players garner 2025 all-Heart of America Athletic Conference recognition as the team was announced this week.
Lange, who was named the Heart’s Player of the Year, was joined on the all-conference squad by Gabriana Franco (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science), Emma Lawson (Sr., Rossville, Ind., Exercise Science), and Bliss Martin (Jr., Hamilton, Ill., Biology).
A total of 16 individuals garnered the honors. The top five placers (including ties) at this week’s Heart Championship were selected for the team, while the others were determined via the Golf Stat individual adjusted scoring average ranking (minimum of 10 rounds played).
The all-Heart honor is the fourth in Lange’s career, while Franco is a three-time winner and Lawson now has two laurels. Martin’s accolade is her first.
The POY award is the seventh in WPU’s history and first for Lange, who became the program’s fifth conference championship medalist this week at the Heart Championship.
The quartet helped the Statesmen to the league crown and a trip to NAIA Nationals next month.
Lange will enter nationals with a 77.3 stroke average in 23 rounds. She has scored in the 60s or 70s in 17 of her rounds with a low of 69 on September 16 at the Central Kansas Classic.
The senior’s dominance was evident in her high placings as she was in the top 10 in all 10 of her events, headlined by six titles.
Franco currently owns a 79.8 average in 21 rounds with 10 rounds in the 70s. Her low of 71 came at the Bethany Classic on April 7. She has one crown to her credit with a total of eight top-10 finishes (worst finish is 11th).
Over Lawson’s 20 rounds of play, she has averaged 83.5 strokes. She has been in the 70s on four occasions with a season-low of 72 coming at the Central Kansas Classic on September 16. The senior has recorded three top 10s with a high of second.
Martin comes into nationals with an 86.2 stroke average in 23 rounds with a low of 78 at the William Penn Statesmen Invitational on September 9. The junior owns five top-10 placings with a best showing of third.
Heart Freshman of the Year laurels went to Anna Korsen of Park, while Park’s Martha Linscott and Baker’s Chris Gilbert shared the Coach of the Year award.
