William Penn Closes Regular Season with Fifth-Place Effort at Heart Championship

Des Moines--The Statesmen dance team finished off its regular season Saturday with a fifth-place effort at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship.

WPU was fifth out of eight teams with a total score of 84.43 points.  The navy and gold posted a preliminary-round score of 83.33 which accounted for 25% of their complete tally, while their final-round score of 84.79 accounted for the other 75% of the end total.

Grand View claimed the league crown with 95.95 points.

Competing team members included Elizabeth Blake (Fr., Litchfield Park, Ariz., Psychology), Jamison Coffey (Fr., Platteville, Wis., Entrepreneurship and Business Management), Kate Coley (Jr., Streator, Ill., Psychology), Kylie Coley (Jr., Streator, Ill., Business Management), Bianca Cooney (Sr., Little Rock, Ark., Psychology), Emily Garcia (Jr., Davenport, Iowa, Sports Management), Amerie Hemphill (Fr., Clinton, Ill., Kinesiology), and Payton Wiley (Fr., Douds, Iowa, Elementary Education).

After the Championship, postseason awards were awarded, and Hemphill was chosen for the league's first team.  It is her first career honor.  The three all-Heart teams included eight individuals on each squad.

Addison Aleksiejckzyk of Grand View was named Heart Dancer of the Year, while Kelsey Nichols of Grand View was picked as Coach of the Year.

"This team put out their best two performances of the year today," Head Coach Abby Reynolds said.  "We really made an impact this season.  Our scores this year were the best we have had in my tenure here.  We really pushed ourselves this season."

"I am super proud of the strides we made this season," Reynolds added.  "This team has big things coming their way and I am excited to lead them.  We are building our legacy…just wait."