Penn, who finished 7-5 on the year and 5-2 in the Midwest League, was led on the squad by Steve Steele (Sr., Freeland, Mich., Nouvel Catholic HS) who ranked third among all recipients with a 3.98 Grade Point Average in secondary education with an emphasis in biology.

A total of 77 players garnered the academic recognition throughout the Association as Cory Anderson of Taylor (Ind.) owned the top grades with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Steven Thomson (Sr., Jewell, South Hamilton HS) was next for Penn with a 3.68 GPA in sports administration, while Mat Weigle (Sr., Meridian, Idaho, Mountain View HS) owned a 3.52 GPA in mechanical engineering.

Jared Barthelman (Sr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS), with a 3.39 GPA in education (science), Brandt Smith (Sr., Chariton, Chariton HS), with a 3.31 GPA, Cody Hackett (Sr., State Center, West Marshall HS), with a 3.27 GPA in industrial arts, and Ryan Van Dalen (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), with a 3.21 GPA in criminology, also earned the academic recognition. It is Smith's second scholarly honor of his career.

To be eligible to be on the team, athletes must be of at least junior academic standing, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or above on a 4.0 scale, and must be a varsity starter or key reserve player.