Quartet to be Inducted into WPU Athletics Hall of Fame

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Oskaloosa–This Saturday, during halftime of the Statesmen football game against Culver-Stockton, four new members will be inducted into the William Penn University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Katie Burnett came to William Penn in the spring of 2009 and began her race-walking career when the competition was just beginning to gain momentum. She tried race-walking and fell in love with the sport. Seeking a national title, which did not come while a student athlete at Penn, she refused to give up on her dream. She desired to do more, to push herself and in February 2017, at the 2017 USATF National Championships, Burnett raced to two American records and became the 50-kilometer national champion in a time of 4 hours, 26 minutes, and 37 seconds (4:26:37). That win qualified Burnett to complete at the Pan Am Cup in Lima, Peru.

Burnett competed at her first World Championships in 2017 with a fourth-place finish. Competing at the NACAC (North America, Central America, Caribbean) Area Championships, she came away with her first international medal, earning third place. Race-walking is taking her around the world, including to London and Toronto. This past June, Katie competed at the USATF Outdoor Championship, earning her way as the US 50K race-walk record-holder and Outdoor 20K silver medalist. She has just returned from her last race of the season, the IAAF Permit 20K Suzhou International Racewalking and Suzhou Half Marathon held two weeks ago, September 2018, in China.

In her years at William Penn, Katie competed in numerous events in track and field, ranking high in the indoor pole vault and outdoor heptathlon, however Katie shined as a race-walker. She was 7-time NAIA All-American athlete. She has accolades as a 3-time All-American in the indoor 3,000-meter race walk, a 3-time All-American in the outdoor 5,000-meteer race walk, and 1-time All-American in the javelin.

Katie holds the school record in the 3,000-meter race walk, the 5,000-meter race walk, and the javelin. She was not only a great athlete, but a good student. Her dedication to her academics and track & field is how standards are set for athletes in the current program. Burnett is thrilled to be honored by her alma mater and be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Starting her collegiate career at William Penn in 2001, Kelli Crooks (Emery) soon found her pathway on the pitch. Her soccer performance helped the team qualify for regionals three times, win three Midwest Class Conference (MCC) titles, and three MCC Tournament titles. The Statesmen team owned a 60-15-7 record in her career (25-2 MCC). Crooks played in 77 games, ranking her second all time.

While at Penn, Crooks was twice named a second team all-NAIA Region VII performer, earned first-team all-Midwest Conference honors three times (one time as honorable mention), and became the all-time record-holder for career goals (59) and career points (131). Her confidence around the goal was obvious to those who watched her play. Crooks also ranks seventh in career assists with 12. She ranked in the top 10 three different years for single-season goals and points. Crooks tallied three career hat tricks, including a four-goal game.

Originally from Maple Valley, Wash., Crooks was also recognized as an academic all-Midwest Classic Conference honoree. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and was a middle school Physical Education and Health teacher for five years. During those years she married Matt Emery and they have two sons, Crue and Cage. Crooks volunteers with children, youth and adult programs at her local church and stays active as a member of the women’s and co-ed indoor and outdoor soccer teams. She currently is a stay-at-home mom living in Eagle Mountain, Utah with her husband and sons.

Kim Muhl has earned his way into the Athletics Hall of Fame from two directions–his basketball prowess while a Statesmen and his accomplishments as a coach after graduation. Muhl earned his BA from William Penn in 1981 and his MA in Secondary Education from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky.

Muhl is in his 30th season as head coach for the women’s basketball program at Kirkwood Community College. Since coming to KCC, he has led his teams to 26 regional finals, 19 national tournaments, and 7 national titles. He has produced 30 consecutive 20-win seasons including a school-record 37 wins in 2009-2010 and 2016-2017. He is the only coach at Kirkwood to go undefeated, doing so in the 2016-2017 season (37-0). Named Region XI Coach of the Year 18 times, his teams won regional titles those same years.

Accolades continued as Muhl was named the Russell Athletic 2007 JC/CC Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association; he also received the Pat Summit Trophy in 2017. He was inducted into the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. His Kirkwood teams have been ranked #1 in NJCAA Division II polls on several occasions and Muhl was named ‘Outstanding Coach of the Tournament’ at seven NJCAA Division II National Tournaments.

While at Penn, Muhl was a first-team all-Iowa Conference selection in the 1980-1981 season and recognized as an outstanding IIAC athlete. He was 1st in single-season assist average (7.9 in 1978-1979), was 2nd with 465 career assists–a record that stood for more than 3 decades, and was 3rd with 212 single-season assists in 1978-1979–another record that stood for more than 3 decades.

Muhl remembers fondly the he and Gerald Reece were members of the Iowa Conference title team in the 1980-1981 season. He continues to teach and coach at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Equipped with accuracy and length in the javelin throw, Jim Vescovi led the William Penn track and field team to success during his four years on the troupe. From 1972-1976, Jim was awarded 18 medals for his javelin throwing ability. His skills also landed him the javelin title at the IIAC Championships in 1975 and 1976; he placed third and second the years prior.

Over his time at William Penn, Jim was the captain of the track team, a Drake Relays qualifier in javelin, and competed with the football team in 1972. He received the “William Penn Booster Achievement Award”, and Who’s Who in Colleges and Universities award, and collected multiple Industrial Arts awards throughout his four years. Jim graduated with his degree in Industrial Arts with a Coaching minor and went on to become a high school teacher and coach.

Jim taught and coached football, wrestling, and track successfully for 26 years before returning back to school to earn his Master’s degree in school supervision, administration, and principalship. For 13 years, Jim was voted as one of the top wrestling officials in New Jersey, a decision voted on by coaches. He officially retired from education in 2008.

Jim currently resides in Brick, New Jersey with his wife of 45 years, Anne. Jim is honored to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame for his accomplishments during his collegiate years at William Penn.

William Penn will honor Burnett, Crooks Emery, Muhl, and Vescovi at the 2018 Athletics Hall of Fame Reception held during homecoming week. They will receive their awards Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the Penn Activity Center and will then officially be inducted during halftime of WPU’s game vs. Culver-Stockton (2 p.m. kickoff).