William Penn Athletics #4 Story from 2016-2017

William Penn University Athletics

Oskaloosa–Our #4 story from this past year highlights a pair of runs to nationals by our men’s bowling and women’s golf teams.

The men’s bowling squad had been snake-bitten the past few years when it came to the sectional tournaments, but this past March, the team rallied to extend its season another month.

The Statesmen had to overcome a poor start to make its second-ever trip (also in 2012-2013) to the Intercollegiate Team Nationals. At nationals, WPU pulled off a huge upset as the #13 seed knocked off #4 Notre Dame (Ohio). Unfortunately, the road ended there as the navy and gold were defeated in the next two rounds.

Sophomore Nick Walker had a tremendous season with a 204.0 pin average (54 games). Six other Statesmen also broke the 190 mark for their season averages.

Nationals has become the norm for the women’s golf team as it crushed Heart of America Athletic Conference competition to claim its fourth-straight nationals berth. Behind Heart Player of the Year Elise Warne (78.8 stroke average) and eight other all-Heart honorees, the Statesmen rolled to seven tournament crowns. Six different linksters combined for eight Heart Golfer of the Week laurels.

Weather took center stage at nationals as the event was trimmed down and the cut, which WPU did not make, was done after two rounds.