Oskaloosa--Six student-athletes who participated in Penn's six Midwest Classic Conference-sponsored fall sports have been recognized as Champions of Character, announced by the league office last Friday.

  The MCC has participated in the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative since it was launched in 2000. In toll, forty athletes from the league were named this year from the MCC's seven sponsored sports. They were nominated by their head coach for displaying the five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship as addressed by the NAIA Champions of Character program.

  The following are Penn's fall Champions of Character: James Smith (Sr., Toledo, South Tama HS) for men's cross country, Tyne Crandell (Jr., Heber, Ariz., Mollgolon HS) for women's cross country, Colter De Paoli (So., Calgary, Alberta, Oilfields HS) for men's golf, Fernando Sanchez (Fr., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS) for men's soccer, Jodi Carson (Sr., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Bonneville HS) for women's soccer, and Courtney Thomas (Sr., Ottumwa, Des Moines Area CC) for volleyball.