Basketball Academic All-League and Champions of Characters Announced

Oskaloosa--Twelve of Penn's masters of the hardwood were recognized for their hard work in the classroom and beyond as the all-Midwest Classic Conference academic teams and Champions of Characters for men's and women's basketball were announced today.

The Statesmen cagers were represented by eight individuals, while the women's side tallied four student-athletes. Each team had one Champions of Character representative as well.

On the men's side, Travis Cox (Jr., Cape Girardeau, Mo., Oakland City) with a 3.24 Grade Point Average in physical education (technically a senior in academic standing), Victor Finora (Sr., St. Catherine's, Ontario, Redeemer) with a 3.919 GPA in business management, Luke Letzring (So., Alta, Alta HS) with a 3.82 GPA (has not declared a major), Brad Nicholson (Sr., Buffalo, Mo., North Central CC) with a 3.126 GPA in sociology, Ryan Norman (Jr., New Orleans, La., Redeemer-Seton HS) with a 3.052 GPA in sports administration, Jacob Spielbauer (Jr., Wapello, Wapello HS) with a 3.80 GPA in sports administration, Craig Wamsley (Jr., Arapahoe, Colo., McCook CC) with a 3.607 GPA in elementary education, and Justin Wyatt (Sr., Seneca, Mo., Seneca HS) with a 3.161 GPA in physical education, all earned the league laurel.

The four Lady Statesmen honorees were Kari Boscaljon (Sr., Johnston, Southwest State) with a 3.962 GPA in strength and conditioning, Angela Bourrage (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis., Des Moines Area CC) with a 3.164 GPA in elementary education, Jenny Ogden (Sr., Moulton, Moulton-Udell HS) with a 3.429 GPA in sports administration, and Carrie Parker (So., Guttenberg, Guttenberg HS) with a 3.694 GPA in sports administration.

To be eligible for the award, athletes must be of at least sophomore academic standing, a letterwinner in the program, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.

Wyatt was the Champions of Character choice for men's basketball, while Ogden was selected to represent the Lady Statesmen.

The MCC has participated in the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative since it was launched in 2000. In toll, 16 athletes from the league were named this winter from the MCC's two 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.