William Penn in Top 10, Receiving First-Place Vote for First Time Ever
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The red-hot Statesmen women’s golf team is making history these days and the raters are noticing as the NAIA’s first top-25 poll was released Friday.
WPU is a program all-time best ninth in the nation with 368 points; the previous best ranking was 12th. What is even more impressive is one national rater has truly fallen in love with the navy and gold, giving them one of the 20 first-place votes. It is the first time WPU has ever received a first-place nod.
The Statesmen, who have won six regular-season tournaments in a row dating back to last year, are joined in the poll by fellow Heart of America Athletic Conference foe Mount Mercy at #35. Morningside also represents the state of Iowa at #22.
Keiser (Fla.) is the new #1 with 527 points and 16 first-place votes, while SCAD Savannah (Ga.), Dalton State (Ga.), Cumberlands (Ky.) (two first-place votes), and William Carey (Miss.) (one first-place vote) round out the top five.
William Penn travels to Oklahoma City, Okla. Monday and Tuesday to compete in the NAIA Preview.
NAIA Women’s Golf Rating #1 — October 14, 2018
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Keiser (Fla.) (16)
2. SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
3. Dalton State (Ga.)
4. Cumberlands (Ky.)
5. William Carey (Miss.)
6. British Columbia
7. Oklahoma City
8. Loyola (La.)
9. William Penn (1)
10. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
10. Southeastern (Fla.)
12. Oregon Tech
13. Indiana Tech
14. Taylor (Ind.)
15. Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
16. Northwestern Ohio
17. Texas Wesleyan
18. SCAD Atlanta (Ga.)
19. Victoria (B.C.)
20. South Carolina Beaufort
21. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
22. Morningside
23. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
24. Indiana Tech
24. Tennessee Wesleyan
Others Receiving Votes: Cumberland (Tenn.) 106, Coastal Georgia 101, Milligan (Tenn.) 51, Saint Francis (Ind.) 40, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 34, Faulkner (Ala.) 30, Brenau (Ga.) 18, William Woods (Mo.) 17, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 4, Mount Mercy 3.
