Statesmen 63rd After Successful Winter Season
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–National tournament berths by two programs and solid points from two other squads has lifted the Statesmen athletics department into elite status as the final winter Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings were released Thursday.
William Penn entered the winter season without any points, but has now vaulted all the way to 63rd (nearly 250 institutions are in the NAIA) with 165.5 points.
The men’s basketball team’s run to the national semifinals topped the list with 83 points, while the women’s basketball squad reaching the NAIA’s final event was good for another 25 points. Derek Seddon (Sr., Knoxville, Iowa, Physical Education) collected 30.5 more points for the men’s track and field after finishing fifth in the weight throw. Wrestler John Altieri (So., Warwick, R.I., Sociology) added 27 more points for WPU with his effort at nationals.
Last year’s champion, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is currently first with 532 points, while Oklahoma City is a close second with 501.5 points. Hastings (Neb.) (482 points), Eastern Oregon (479), and Biola (Calif.) (464.5) round out the top five.
COMPLETE STANDINGS at http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nacda/sports/directorscup/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/March23NAIAOverall.pdf
William Penn ranks fifth in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, while MidAmerica Nazarene is at the head of the class at #20 with 306.5 points
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 12 sports-six men’s and women’s.
