William Penn Athletics News February 16
William Penn Women's Athletics
Cheer Qualifies for NCA/NDA Nationals
Oskaloosa–The Penn competitive cheer squad put on quite a show in its first competition of the year, landing itself a spot at NCA/NDA Collegiate Nationals.
The team competed at the 2011 Midwest NAIA Regional Competitive Cheer and Dance Invitational in Des Moines last Saturday and won the Small Co-Ed Cheer competition with high marks.
Penn earned scores of 90.2, 90.5, and 96.1 without any deductions from three National Cheer Association judges. The squad defeated St. Ambrose and Midland (Neb.) for the trophy, but more importantly, surpassed the qualifying standard to make it to the next level.
Teams with scores of 75% or higher qualified for the NCA/NCA Collegiate Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla. from April 6-10, so the program easily claimed its bid. The Statesmen did so well that they actually received a Silver paid bid that includes two free rooms for four nights, a discount on additional rooms, and a reduced registration fee for each individual team participant.
The NAIA Regional is the first step the NAIA has made towards being the first collegiate governing body to host Competitive Cheer and Dance as national championship sports.
The criteria for judging included crowd cheer, tumbling, partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses/jumps, projection, choreography, degree of difficulty, overall effect, and collegiate image.
Team members that competed included Shelby Swift, Steph Morris, Tony Rayburn, Jessica DeLeon, Danielette Harmon, Devan Voss, Sadie Rouse, Ashley Becker, Katie Williams, Bethany Gates, and Jackie Schippmann. The competition squad began working on its routine back in August and like most teams, had complications along the way.
“Our squad started out with 18 members and ended up with 11 participating due to injuries and conflicts,” Head Cheer Coach Jill Thompson said. “They persevered through it all, though, and pulled together as a team to pull off a win.”
“Our motto this season was: Coming together is a BEGINNING, keeping together is a PROCESS, working together is a SUCCESS,” Thompson added. “We have a tight knit squad that works hard and well together. The co-ed team was dedicated to success and have now reached its goal of making NCA/NDA Collegiate Nationals.”
Powell, Underwood Garner All-Conference Honors
Oskaloosa–The dynamic duo of Samantha Powell (So., Herriman, Utah, Bingham HS) and Breanne Underwood (Sr., Treynor, Treynor HS) powered the Lady Statesmen bowling team all year and they were recognized for their accomplishments as the inaugural women’s bowling all-Midwest Collegiate Conference team was announced today.
Powell and Underwood were named to the five-person all-MCC team. Joining them was Player of the Year Rachel Schalow of Viterbo as well as Clarke’s Sarah Bunta (Newcomer of the Year) and St. Ambrose’s Memie Williamson. Donna Lawrence of St. Ambrose was selected by her peers as MCC Coach of the Year.
Through 47 games, Underwood averages 181.2 pins with a season-high game of 254. Ranked 102nd in the collegebowling.com rankings, she has two top-20 placings this winter.
Powell has also rolled 47 games and owns a 179.8 clip, including a team season-high game of 267 last weekend. She has three top-20 showings and is ranked 113th on collegebowling.com
The pair were both all-MCC Tournament performers as well.
With just one tourney left on the schedule, Penn, who is #21 on collegebowling.com, has all but assured itself of advancing to postseason competition at the USBC Sectionals in March.
Rangel Named MCC POY; Balta, Coach Van Wyk Honored as Well
Oskaloosa–Sean Rangel (So., Omaha, Neb., Bellevue East HS) certainly has not suffered from a sophomore slump as he topped the inaugural men’s bowling all-Midwest Collegiate Conference team which was announced today.
Rangel headlined the five-person squad as the league’s Player of the Year, while Drew Balta (Fr., Walford, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) joined him. Viterbo’s T.J. York was tabbed as Newcomer of the Year. His teammate Greg Pizl and St. Ambrose’s Bryan Thompson were also honored on the team.
Through 54 games, Rangel has posted a 210.0 average, including a season-high game of 260. The sophomore has placed in the top ten four times this year (eight tournaments), including taking runner-up accolades at the Leatherneck Classic in early December. He is currently ranked 14th in the nation according to collegebowling.com
Balta has rolled 52 games, posting a 195.3 average this winter. The freshman, who is ranked 184th nationally, has a high game of 238 and has two top-ten finishes to his credit.
The pair were both all-MCC Tournament performers as well. Cameron Foster (Fr., West Jordan, Utah, West Jordan HS) joined them on the all-tournament team, topping the standing with a 224.2 average.
Statesmen Head Coach Mark Van Wyk was selected as the MCC’s Coach of the Year. He guided Penn to the conference crown last weekend and currently has the Statesmen ranked 29th in the collegebowling.com standing.
With just one tourney left on the schedule, Penn has all but assured itself of advancing to postseason competition at the USBC Sectionals in March.
