WPU Starts 2017 at #23
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steilage
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen football team will begin its 2017 campaign as one of the top programs in the nation as the NAIA’s preseason top-25 rating was released Monday.
William Penn (7-4 in 2016, 4-1 Heart North) gained two positions from the spring poll, improving to #23 with 51 points.
The Heart of America Athletic Conference has a total of five representatives in the poll, including #2 Baker, #9 Grand View, #12 Missouri Valley; Benedictine is also 27th nationally.
Defending national champion Saint Francis (Ind.) is #1 with 366 points and all 16 first-place votes. Baker, Reinhardt (Ga.), Morningside, and Marian (Ind.) round out the top five.
William Penn’s 2017 season opens August 26 with a road trip to Baldwin City, Kan. to face Baker in a Heart crossover game at 1 p.m.
NAIA Football Spring Rating – August 7, 2017
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Saint Francis (Ind.) (16)
2. Baker (Kan.)
3. Reinhardt (Ga.)
4. Morningside
5. Marian (Ind.)
6. Montana Tech
7. Eastern Oregon
8. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
9. Grand View
10. Tabor (Kan.)
11. Doane (Neb.)
12. Missouri Valley
13. Robert Morris (Ill.)
14. Sterling (Kan.)
15. Dickinson State (N.D.)
16. Southeastern (Fla.)
17. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)
18. Arizona Christian
19. Montana Western
20. Kansas Wesleyan
21. Georgetown (Ky.)
22. Langston (Okla.)
23. William Penn
24. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
25. Southern Oregon
Others receiving votes: Concordia (Neb.) 28; Benedictine (Kan.) 23; Faulkner (Ala.) 19; Carroll (Mont.) 19; Pikeville (Ky.) 9; Warner (Fla.) 5; St. Ambrose 5.
