William Penn Athletics News – March 13
William Penn University Athletics
Spring Opens with Fourth-Place Finish for Men’s Golf
Springfield, Mo.–The Statesmen men’s golf team was still working off some of its winter rust as it began the spring season at the Evangel Invitational Friday and Saturday.
William Penn placed fourth out of six teams with a two-day tally of 643 (325-318) at the par-72 Rivercut Golf Course. Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) took the title at 601 (309-292), while LBU’s Keith Murphy led the 48-player field with a three-under 141 (72-69).
Spencer Skipper (Sr., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Business Management) headlined the navy and gold effort, tying for sixth with a score of 154 (79-75). His second-round posting was the fourth-lowest of the day and helped WPU move up a spot after a tough first 18 holes.
Frederik Lundsgaard (So., Jebjerg, Denmark, History/Government) was next in 20th at 162 with a pair of 81’s, while Clay Tucker (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education) was one notch below him in a tie for 21st at 163 (79-84).
Justin Bothma (Sr., Boksburg, South Africa, Business Management), in a tie for 25th (86-80–166), and Brandon Dizon (So., San Leandro, Calif., Sociology), in 35th place (89-82–171), rounded out the varsity scoring.
Ben Roberts (Sr., Albia, Iowa, General Accounting) was by far the best linkster competing as an individual as the senior narrowly missed the top 10 in a tie for 12th at 158 (81-77). Zach Swink (Jr., Burlington, Iowa) (T-33rd, 85-84–169), Kyle Hashimoto (Jr., Acampo, Calif., Exercise Science) (36th, 87-85–172), and Bradley Hamilton (Fr., Earlham, Iowa, Physical Education) (46th, 95-90–185) also swung the sticks over the weekend.
Next Up: William Penn takes a week off before traveling to Maryville, Mo. on March 25-26 to compete in the Graceland Invitational. Play will be contested at the Mozingo Golf Course.
Keen Named a Scholar-Athlete
Oskaloosa–Antonia Keen (Jr., Charlotte, N.C., Elementary Education) was honored for her excellence in the classroom as she was named a 2015-2016 Daktronics-NAIA Competitive Cheer Scholar-Athlete Friday.
Keen, who owned a 3.56 Grade Point Average entering this spring, joined a list of 78 competitive cheerleaders and dancers from within the NAIA to be awarded the laurel.
To be eligible for the award, athletes must be of at least junior academic standing, maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale, and have attended the nominating institution for at least one full academic year.
For a complete list of all the NAIA Competitive Cheer Scholar-Athletes, go to http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/Championships/2016CCD/2016%20CCD_SA_for%20website.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=27900
WPU Competes at NAIA Dance Invitational
Davenport–The Statesmen competitive dance team faced the nation’s best as it competed in the NAIA Cheer and Dance National Invitational Friday and Saturday.
William Penn, which earned an at-large berth to the Invitational, placed 12th out of 12 programs with 73.35 points. St. Ambrose defended its title with 112.56 points, holding off runner-up Midland (Neb.) (110.74) by less than two points.
The navy and gold improved more than two points from their preliminary round score of 71.63 points on Friday.
“It was such an honor for our team to earn a spot at the NAIA Invitational,” Head Coach Lisa Conner said. “We gave an outstanding performance. The bar has been set and our team is hungry to grow and advance. We are proud of each member for their hard work and dedication.”
Also over the weekend, two dancers were awarded Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition. Madison Mitchell (Jr., New Sharon, Iowa, Elementary Education), who owned a 3.89 Grade Point Average entering this spring, and Paige Smith (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education), who had a 3.75 GPA, joined a list of 78 competitive dancers and cheerleaders from within the NAIA to be awarded the laurel.
To be eligible for the award, athletes must be of at least junior academic standing, maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale, and have attended the nominating institution for at least one full academic year.
For a complete list of all the NAIA Competitive Dance Scholar-Athletes, go to http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/Championships/2016CCD/2016%20CCD_SA_for%20website.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=27900
Statesmen 18th Entering Spring Campaign
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s golf team did not experience any change in its ranking as the NAIA released its second top-25 poll Friday.
The Statesmen remain #18 in the nation with 208 points. They are the only representatives from the Heart of America Athletic Conference as well as the state of Iowa in the entire poll.
Keiser (Fla.) is still #1 with 465 points and 14 first-place votes. SCAD Savannah (Ga.) is second, while William Woods (Mo.) (other three first-place nods), Dalton State (Ga.), and Oklahoma City round out the top five.
WPU will be in Memphis, Tenn. Monday and Tuesday to compete in Battle on Beal Street. Play will be contested at TPC Southwind Golf Course.
NAIA Women’s Golf Rating #2 – March 11, 2016
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Keiser (Fla.) (14)
2. SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
3. William Woods (Mo.) (3)
4. Dalton State (Ga.)
5. Oklahoma City
6. Cumberlands (Ky.)
7. South Carolina Beaufort
8. Bellevue (Neb.)
9. Texas Wesleyan
10. Wayland Baptist (Texas)
11. Coastal Georgia
12. British Columbia
13. Thomas (Ga.)
14. Campbellsville (Ky.)
15. SCAD Atlanta (Ga.)
16. Victoria (B.C.)
17. Indiana Tech
18. William Penn
19. Milligan (Tenn.)
20. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho
21. Marian (Ind.)
22. William Carey (Miss.)
23. Mobile (Ala.)
24. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
25. Southeastern (Fla.)
Others receiving votes: Madonna (Mich.) 76; Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 67; Faulkner (Ala.) 62; Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 52; Bethel (Ind.) 16; Tennessee Wesleyan 15; Lawrence Tech (Mich.) 13; College of Idaho 9; Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 7; Cumberland (Tenn.) 4; St. Thomas (Texas) 3; Oregon Tech 3.
Statesmen Finish Seventh, Kaune Just Misses Individual Qualification
Addison, Ill.–The William Penn men’s bowling team slowly crept up the ladder as the weekend progressed, but could not make up enough ground to keep its season alive as it competed at the Intercollegiate Team Sectionals Saturday and Sunday.
William Penn finished the 64 games of Baker play in seventh place out of 24 teams with 12,306 pins. Morehead State (Ky.) won the sectional with 12,923 pins, while Purdue (Ind.), Wisconsin-Whitewater, Calumet-St. Joseph (Ind.) will also advance to April’s national tournament. WPU ended 155 pins out of the last qualifying spot.
The navy and gold were in 10th place after the first 16 games and then jumped to eighth and then seventh after the next two rounds. Unfortunately, the squad stalled out there and could not join the qualifiers.
The individual sectional tournament was held Friday as well and Jacques Kaune (Sr., Anchorage, Alaska, Business Management) was a strike and some change away from continuing his collegiate career. Instead, the senior placed 11th out of 225 bowlers with 1,227 pins in six games (204.5 average), finishing just 11 pins and three spots away from qualifying for next month’s national event.
Lucas Perdieu (Jr., DeWitt, Iowa, Public Accounting) was also in striking distance, placing 20th with 1,201 pins.
Quincy Bruce (So., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, General Accounting) was next at 1,154, while Michael Applegate (Sr., Council Bluffs, Iowa, Secondary Education) also eclipsed 1,100 pins with a total of 1,122.
Logan Mason (Fr., Knoxville, Iowa, Business Management) (1,085), Jason Forsyth (Fr., Weatherford, Texas, Business Management) (1,074), Stian Hoff (Jr., Orkanger, Norway, General Accounting) (1,066), Ryan Howard (Jr., King, N.C., Information Technology) (1,065), Cory Rissman (Sr., Yorkville, Ill., Industrial Technology) (1,057), Curtis Majka (So., Elgin, Ill., Mechanical Engineering) (1,052), and Travis Scott (Sr., West Saint Paul, Minn., Physical Education) (1,042) were all in the 1,000-plus pin club.
Nick Walker (Fr., Zeeland, Mich., Business Management) (979), Rylie Reidel (So., Knoxville, Iowa, Business Management) (948), and Cody Adair (Jr., Kearns, Utah, Industrial Technology) (919) were on the lanes as well.
WPU Closes Year at Sectionals
Addison, Ill.–The Statesmen women’s bowling squad improved over the weekend, but in the end, could not put itself in contention at the Intercollegiate Team Sectionals Saturday and Sunday.
William Penn finished the 64 games of Baker play in 11th place out of 19 teams with 10,836 pins. St. Francis (Ill.) took the sectional title with 12,049 pins, while Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wright State (Ohio), and St. Ambrose will join USF at April’s national tournament.
WPU had a rough first 16 games and unfortunately never recovered. The team did, however, jump three spots after sitting in 14th after the initial set of games.
The individual sectional tournament was held Friday as well. Briell Newberry (So., Holland, Mich., Secondary Education) guided her teammates in the tournament with 1,070 pins in six games (178.3 average).
Audra Farley (So., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Education), with 1,064 pins, Montana Pence (Sr., Stronghurst, Ill., Elementary Education), with 1,054 pins, Stephanie Adams (Jr., Souris, Manitoba, Business Management), with 1,049 pins, and Amber Ovel (Fr., Waterloo, Iowa, Business Management), with 1,042 pins, were not far behind Newberry.
MacKenzie Boyd (Jr., Knoxville, Iowa, Human Services/Sociology) (947 pins) and Cybil Lennie (So., Ottumwa, Iowa, Undecided) (927) also competed on Friday.
