Statesmen Take Fourth in League Championship; Coach and Two Athletes Earn Awards

Des Moines--The William Penn cheerleading team wrapped up its regular season with a top-half showing at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship Saturday.

WPU placed fourth out of 10 teams with a total score of 84.31 points.  The navy and gold managed a preliminary-round score of 82.02 which accounted for 25% of their end tally.  The Statesmen then improved to 85.07 points in the final round with that tally accounting for 75% of the end total.

Missouri Valley won the league title with 92.92 points.

Competing team members included Omar Anderson (Jr., Lawrenceville, Ga., Business Management), Jaden Creech (Jr., Bloomfield, Iowa, Exercise Science), Lexie Current (Sr., Gilman, Iowa, Nursing), Avree Ebelsheiser (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Nursing), Addison Hanners (So., Stillman Valley, Ill., Nursing), Caleb Hunter (Jr., Davenport, Iowa, New Media), Emma Hynick (Sr., Monticello, Iowa, Human Services and Sociology), Madi Langenfeld (So., Oswego, Ill., Education), Bryar Lish (Fr., Glenpool, Okla., Education and English), Grace McCumber (Jr., Manitou Springs, Colo., Nursing), Olivia Muir (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Psychology and Sociology), Katie Newberry (Fr., West Burlington, Iowa, Biology), and Jennie Robison (So., Moravia, Iowa, Exercise Science).

After the Championship, postseason awards were awarded.  Hunter and Langenfeld both collected honorable-mention all-Heart laurels.  The three all-Heart teams included eight individuals on each squad.

Hunter, who was a first-team pick last year, and Langenfeld, who was a second-team recipient last year, are now both two-time all-Heart honorees.

Their head coach, Abby Reynolds, was tabbed as the Heart Coach of the Year.  It is the first COY accolade of her career; she was also the Heart's Dance Coach of the Year in 2022.

Hailey Stephenson of Missouri Valley was named Heart Cheerleader of the Year.

"Our team really set the bar high this season, and we had an amazing run," Head Coach Abby Reynolds said.  "I am proud of our resilience and fight we had.  To be in consideration for nationals is a huge accomplishment, and I am proud of how we laid a foundation this season to keep building our legacy.  Stay tuned, Statesmen Nation; this program has more work to do."