William Penn Athletics News April 13
William Penn University Athletics
Stevens Claims MCC Honor
Oskaloosa–Dena Stevens (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) tied her own school record last weekend and those scores earned her Midwest Collegiate Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week honors.
Stevens was the individual medalist at last weekend’s Clarke Spring Invitational and helped the Lady Statesmen to a tie for third place (out of five teams).
The senior, who has now been chosen twice in her career, claimed her first collegiate tournament gold with rounds of 85 and 81. The postings allowed her to match her two-round school mark of 166. She finished one shot ahead of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Kelsey Lieving, making up a one-stroke deficit entering the final day. Stevens posted 17 pars over the two-day event, including ten in the final round.
Stevens’ title is the first for the William Penn program since its reinstatement in the fall of 2008. She currently owns a team-leading 90.9 scoring average over 12 rounds of competition. The 2009 honorable-mention all-MCC performer has tallied five rounds in the 80s.
It is the first honor for the Lady Statesmen program since Stevens also won it on April 14, 2009.
Whitehead Tabbed for Pitching Laurel
Oskaloosa–Jennifer Whitehead (Fr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) produced paltry numbers in the circle last week in earning Midwest Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Week honors.
Whitehead helped William Penn (26-11, 7-5 MCC) to a 3-1 record in the games in which she appeared, including a league victory over Ashford Sunday. The Lady Statesmen finished the week 5-3.
The first-time winner of the weekly award was 3-1 with a 1.67 Earned Run Average in 27 innings of work. She struck out 20 and walked just four batters. Opponents hit only .245 against the southpaw.
Whitehead recorded at least four strikeouts in each of her starts and was most dominant over the weekend, giving up only two earned runs in 21 frames. She shut out Midland (Neb.) Friday on a five-hitter, striking out six in the process.
For the year, Whitehead is 13-6 with a 3.79 ERA in 123 1/3 innings. She has 18 complete games, four shutouts, 77 strikeouts, and 34 walks. Opponents are hitting .260 against Whitehead. The freshman has limited opposition to one or no runs in seven starts.
The award is the fifth for the William Penn softball program this spring.
Burnett’s Record-Breaking Walk Earns MCC Accolade
Oskaloosa–Katie Burnett (Sr., Mesa, Ariz., Arizona) got the better of a national champion last weekend and the impressive performance helped her net Midwest Collegiate Conference Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week honors.
Burnett, a two-time MCC recipient this year (five awards in her career), claimed the 5,000-meter race walk title last Saturday at the ASICS-Central Methodist Invitational. Her time of 25:49.75 was more than 26 seconds better than Jessica Ching of Lindenwood (Mo.), who is the defending indoor national champion.
The senior broke her own school record in the event by more than 32 seconds and eclipsed the NAIA’s ‘A’ standard. She has now qualified for nationals in both the race walk and the javelin (‘B’ standard of 129-7).
Burnett’s time currently ranks third in the NAIA, while only five individuals have thus far qualified.
The award is the first for the William Penn track teams in the outdoor season, but it is the fifth overall, including four in the indoor campaign.
