Statesmen Battle Against Strong Foes at Line Game Invite

Fairfield--The William Penn shotgun sports team took on two of the best in the region as it hosted the William Penn Line Game Invitational last Friday through Sunday.

WPU placed second out of three programs with a score of 1,897-for-2,000, falling three shots shy of champion Fort Hays State (Kan.) and its score of 1,900-for-2,000.  Iowa Western CC wrapped up the tight standings at 1,890-for-2,000.

The competition featured Trap, Doubles Trap, Skeet, and Doubles Skeet.

The navy and gold tied for first in Skeet at 493-for-500 with a perfect 100-for-100 from Trenton Giese (So., Muskego, Wis., Mechanical Engineering) pacing the crew.

Brandon Nord (Sr., Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., New Media) was one shot behind at 99-for-100, while the quintet of Ian Darragh (Fr., Eagle, Idaho, Business Management), Cole Henning (Jr., Wilton, Iowa, Industrial Technology), Nathan Roberts (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering), Emily Sjoberg (So., Citrus Heights, Calif., Business Management), and Nikolle Kussatz (Jr., Leighton, Iowa, Biology) all tied at 98-for-100.

William Penn was a close runner-up in Doubles Skeet at 480-for-500 with Roberts, Wyatt Kresser (Jr., Independence, Iowa, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management), and Hayden Lund (So., Beaverdam, Wis., Sports Management) leading the way at identical 97-for-100 scores.

Darragh's 95-for-100 was next, while Cade Bowie (Sr., Benton, Ark., Business Management) also scored for WPU at 94-for-100.

The Statesmen held on for the silver in Trap at 474-for-500 with a score of 98-for-100 by Brianna Thompson (Sr., Campbellsport, Wis., Psychology) heading the team.

The foursome of Kresser, Lund, Trenton Hol (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Industrial Technology), and Izaac Zihlman (Fr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Business Management) all finished at 94-for-100.

WPU also ended up with a tally of 450-for-500 in Doubles Trap.  Zihlman managed the squad's best score at 92-for-100, while Henning and Addison McGehearty (So., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Secondary Education) tied for second on the team at 91-for-100.

Giese finished at 89-for-100, and Morgan Hodge (Jr., West Liberty, Iowa, Nursing) wrapped up the scoring group at 87-for-100.

IWCC had the High Overall Athlete in Gavin Kuck (380-for-400) and the Female HOA in Payton Kruse (376-for-400).  Kresser and Zihlman headlined WPU in the standings by tying for fifth at 373-for-400.

"I am extremely proud of how the team performed," Head Coach Colten Uitermarkt said.  "I have seen a tremendous amount of progression throughout the fall semester.  While the weather played a major factor, our team stayed competitive throughout the weekend.  The competition was stiff with many All-Americans and national champions in the field.  We look forward to topping off a great fall season."

Next Up: The Statesmen wrap up their fall Saturday and Sunday by traveling to Waukee to compete in the Four-Year University State Championship.