William Penn to Join Heart of America Athletic Conference
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–William Penn University has a new home for athletics as it was accepted as a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference announced today.
William Penn, along with Grand View University in Des Moines, will join its new affiliation and begin competing for league hardware in the fall of 2015. The announcement ends the lengthy membership WPU had with the Midwest Collegiate Conference and the Mid-States Football Association which began in the fall of 2001.
“We are excited to be accepted into the Heart of America Conference,” William Penn Athletics Director Greg Hafner said. “This will provide us with stability and good competition for many years to come.”
The additions increase the HAAC’s full-time membership to 12, including current members:
–Avila University in Kansas City, Mo.
–Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. (Charter member)
–Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan.
–Central Methodist in Fayette, Mo.
–Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo.
–Evangel University in Springfield, Mo.
–Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa (Charter member)
–MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan.
–Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. (Charter member)
–Peru State College in Peru, Neb.
One of the most historic leagues in the National Athletic Intercollegiate Association (NAIA), the HAAC was founded in 1971 and is currently marking its 43rd year of existence.
William Penn will bring a rich athletics tradition into the HAAC, highlighted by 59 conference crowns, 32 of them coming during its time as an MCC/MSFA member.
The biggest change for William Penn, outside of its new rivalries, is that the HAAC competes in Division I men’s and women’s basketball (all other NAIA sports only have one division). The HAAC, which has its headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is also the host of the Buffalo Funds NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship in Kansas City.
The Statesmen will be able to compete for conference titles in the following 16 sports: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball, indoor men’s track and field, indoor women’s track and field, outdoor men’s track and field, outdoor women’s track and field, and volleyball.
While a few HAAC institutions have men’s and women’s bowling, competitive cheer, competitive dance, and wrestling programs, there are not enough to allow WPU’s programs to compete for league titles. The HAAC also currently sponsors men’s and women’s tennis, but William Penn has neither of those sports.
