OSKALOOSA — Top-three finishes from 10 different programs helped the William Penn athletics department finish in the middle of the pack as the final 2023-2024 Heart of America Athletic Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings were released recently.
The Statesmen ended up seventh out of 13 institutions with a rating of .587, while MidAmerica Nazarene claimed the Cup at .774. Benedictine placed second overall at .753.
The Commissioner’s Cup is an all-sports award that further recognizes the achievements of its student-athletes and member institutions.
William Penn’s seventh-place finish is highlighted by titles in men’s volleyball and women’s bowling. The Statesmen also secured runner-up placings in men’s bowling, women’s wrestling, women’s golf, men’s outdoor track and field, men’s lacrosse, and men’s soccer.
Third-place efforts from men’s cross country and men’s indoor track and field led the remainder of WPU’s athletic offerings.
The Heart’s 13 schools earn points for the Cup for their finish in the 25 Heart sponsored sports of: men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s volleyball, football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, men’s indoor track and field, women’s indoor track and field, men’s volleyball, men’s wrestling, women’s wrestling, cheer, dance, men’s bowling, women’s bowling, baseball, softball, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s outdoor track and field, and women’s outdoor track and field.
Each conference regular season champion or championship event winner earns a maximum amount of points based on the amount of teams participating in that sport. That number is then divided by the amount of teams participating in that sport.
For example, as the Heart’s men’s volleyball champion, William Penn earned 10 points out of 10 teams competing.
10/10 = 1.00 (First Place)
9/10 = .900 (Second Place)
1/10 = .100 (10th Place)
To compile the final Cup standings, each school’s percentage in each sport they compete in is added up and divided by the amount of total sports in which they compete. Final results are an average cumulative finish for each institution in every Heart sport that they sponsor.
2023-2024 Heart Commissioner’s Cup Standings (FINAL)
1. MidAmerica Nazarene–.774
2. Benedictine–.753
3. Grand View–.718
4. Central Methodist–.653
5. Mount Mercy–.645
6. Baker–.593
7. William Penn–.587
8. Park–.578
9. Missouri Valley–.424
10. Clarke–.385
11. Graceland–.373
12. Peru State–.372
13. Culver-Stockton–.338
