Three Win Player of the Week Awards
William Penn University Athletics
National Qualifiers Earn Athlete of the Week Honors
Oskaloosa–Jalen Wilson (So., Desoto, Texas) and Alex Edwards (So., Knoxville, Iowa) have earned the opportunity to compete against the NAIA’s best in March, and for their accomplishments last weekend they also picked up Midwest Collegiate Conference Athlete of the Week honors Monday.
Wilson, now a two-time winner in his career, was named Field Athlete of the Week, while Edwards received his first Track Athlete of the Week laurel.
In surpassing the division’s automatic-qualifying standard, Wilson also broke the school record in the long jump with a distance of 23-8 at the UNI Open.
Edwards was on a similar plane of success, breaking the program’s 800-meter run record with an NAIA “B” standard time of 1:56.30.
William Penn has now received three weekly awards this season.
Thomas Nets Third Accolade
Oskaloosa–Orielle Thomas (Sr., Waynesville, Mo., Physical Education) led her squad to a pair of convincing wins last week and for her efforts she was named Midwest Collegiate Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week Monday.
Thomas, now a three-time winner this year (four in career), received the laurel by helping William Penn to wins over AIB and Clarke. The Lady Statesmen (11-7, 2-1 MCC) are four games over .500 for the first time this year.
The senior fell just shy of averaging a double-double, posting 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Her week was highlighted with a 20-point, ten-rebound showing versus AIB. She shot 84.2% from the floor (62.5% FT) and also notched 2.5 steals, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks per contest.
For the year, Thomas is averaging a double-double of 13.9 points and 11.7 rebounds (eight double-doubles). She is shooting 48.8% overall as well in addition to 27 steals, 20 assists, and seven blocks. The forward leads the league in rebounding, is third in scoring, and is fourth in shooting percentage and steal average. She is also third nationally in rebounding.
