Preview video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0oAuxmtKNs

2015 Heart Finish:10th out of 14
Letterwinners returning/lost: 4/3

Notable returners:
Guadalupe Gonzalez      Jr.        Houston, Texas
(Letterwinner, season-best 5K 19:52)
Deja Lewis                    Sr.        Spring, Texas
(Letterwinner, season-best 5K 20:44)
Alexys Devlin                Sr.        Davenport, Iowa
(Letterwinner, season-best 5K 22:15)
Arianna Davis                Jr.        New Sharon, Iowa
(Letterwinner, season-best 5K 24:31)

Notable losses:
Addison Kepner
(Two-time letterwinner)

Notable newcomers:
Charlotte Hackett           So.       Las Vegas, Nev.
Bree’Anna Lee               Fr.        Broken Arrow, Okla.
Rachel Surbaugh           Fr.        Knoxville, Iowa

A solid crew of returners should bolster the women’s cross country program as William Penn enters the 2016 campaign.

The Statesmen claimed 10th place at last year’s Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships and Coach Sean Gosewisch expects that a handful of experienced bodies will make a move up the ladder quite possible.

Guadalupe Gonzalez (Jr., Houston, Texas, Exercise Science) proved with her top 5K time of 19:52 (ranks fifth all-time) that she is capable of running with the lead group at any event.  She will be joined by three-time letterwinner Deja Lewis (Sr., Spring, Texas, Psychology) at the front of WPU’s pack.  Lewis’ top time from last year was 20:44.

Alexys Devlin (Jr., Davenport, Iowa, Physical Education), with a top finish of 22:15, and Arianna Davis (Jr., New Sharon, Iowa, Biology), with a top finish of 24:31, round out the quartet of returners.

Charlotte Hackett (So., Las Vegas, Nev., Psychology) has been on campus since last winter and has trained well, so Gosewisch feels that she will also be a significant factor in the navy and gold lineup.  Bree’Anna Lee (Fr., Broken Arrow, Okla., Biology) and Rachel Surbaugh (Fr., Knoxville, Iowa, Biology) look to have strong starts to their collegiate careers as well.

Schedule/Conference

The 2016 schedule is identical to 2015 with the Augustana Twilight again serving as the opener on September 2.  The Heart Championships will be hosted by Mount Mercy, therefore basically making the NAIA Seminole Valley Stampede on October 22 a preview meet.  Benedictine and Mount Mercy are favored to be at the top of the standings in November.

Preview video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx4MRHjOQLE

2015 record: 7-4 (3-2 Heart, T-2nd)
Starters returning/lost: 9/17 (including special teams)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 29/42

Notable returners:
Hunter Barry                  Sr.        Morris, Ill.
(First-team all-Heart, 27 tackles, 2 sacks)
Jake Baptiste                Jr.        Salt Lake City, Utah
(Letterwinner, 80 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries)
Nate VanVeldhuizen       So.       Oskaloosa, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 608 rushing yards, 4 TDs)
Van Parker                    Jr.        Muskegon, Mich.
(Letterwinner, 4 receptions, 74 yards)

Notable losses:
Hea Tuifua
(Two-time All-America)
Tyler Hafner
(Second-team all-Heart)
Jatavius Stewart
(Two-time all-conference)
Isaac Samek
(Three-time all-conference)

Notable newcomers:
LeeAndre Fisher            Jr.
Sage Ehresman             Fr.        Lynnville, Iowa

Talent looks to trump inexperience as the Statesmen football team prepares for the 2016 season.

William Penn is coming off a solid debut in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, going 7-4 overall (3-2 North) last year.  A large group of gridiron stars have since graduated, but Head Coach Todd Hafner is excited to see which of his young talents will step up and win those open spots this fall.

Senior defensive lineman Hunter Barry (Sr., Morris, Ill., Physical Education) is the most decorated member of the navy and gold posse with two first-team all-league honors and is poised to lead WPU.

Quarterback

No matter who takes over the role behind center for the August 27 season opener at home against Missouri Valley, that individual will be taking his first collegiate snap.  Van Parker (Jr., Muskegon, Mich., Physical Education) moves over from wide receiver to face off with fellow newcomer Eric Cooper (Jr., Aguanga, Calif., Human Services).  While he has not trained as a collegiate quarterback until recently, Parker is not at all foreign to the option attack as he was the QB of his high school’s option offense.

A quartet of newcomers will vie for time as well.

Slot Back

The most polished positions on offense will be behind the signal caller as returners Jonathan Ward (Sr., Terry, Miss., Undecided) and Carl Sivels (Jr., Washington, Iowa, Physical Education) lead the slot crew.

Sivels rushed for 221 yards and a score, while Ward ran the ball for 68 yards (also one TD).

Loads of depth will also come from new Statesmen.

Fullback

The 1-2 punch of Nate Van Veldhuizen (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) and Amos Johnson (Jr., Rock Island, Ill., Mechanical Engineering) also returns to bolster the William Penn running game.

Van Veldhuizen gobbled up 608 yards (most of all returners) and four touchdowns, while Johnson managed 519 yards and five TDs (tops for returners).

2015 redshirt Lyle Jennings (Jr., Toronto, Ohio, Exercise Science) is also deep in the mix at fullback.

Another returner, Brandon Polito (Sr., St. Louis, Mo., Psychology), will bunch in with several more capable young men, including 2015 redshirt Jake De Hamer (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa, Physical Education) to produce incredible strength at fullback.

Wide Receiver

While not utilized much in the Statesmen offense, the receiving corps has the ability to be a stout one with Desmond Douglas (Sr., Decatur, Ala., Physical Education) headlining.  The senior hauled in 10 catches for 117 yards and two scores a year ago.

Hunter Anfinsen (So., Farmington, Utah, Undecided), who is transitioning from quarterback, is part of a sizeable group who may get their numbers called from time to time as well.  Topping that list is Tyler Wood (Fr., Newton, Iowa, Education), Tyler Phillips (So., Altus, Okla., Physical Education), and Jeremiah Benson (Fr., Kansas City, Mo., Physical Education).

Tight End

Cory Fitzjarrell (Jr., Anderson, Calif., Industrial Technology) hits the turf as the incumbent at tight end, but is expected to get a push from newcomer Tanner Krieg.

Offensive Line

Two-time All-American Hea Tuifua is gone as is the rest of the 2015 line, but WPU’s coaching staff is pleased with the individuals who have been waiting in the wings.

Sione Mafua is ready to take over at center, while the likes of Nick Jackson (So., Broken Arrow, Okla., Biology), Beau Picard (So., Ozark, Mo., Biology), Michael Ott (So., Broken Arrow, Okla., History/Government), Hunter Dailey (So., Texarkana, Texas, Biology), Haydn Stender, and Joe Reschman (Jr., Poteet, Texas, History/Government) are busy battling for the other starting roles.

Defensive Line

While Barry will undoubtedly receive a lot of attention, his fellow defensive linemen should also make life difficult for opposing offenses.  Barry stopped 27 ball carriers and sacked two quarterbacks.

Malik Young (Sr., Peoria, Ill., Physical Education) is on the mend and the ETA for his return is unknown, but Marcus Bell (Jr., River Rouge, Mich., Business Management) andAzia Seei (So., West Valley City, Utah, Undecided) are available to pick up the slack in the middle.  Seei is moving across the line from a fullback spot last season.

Cooper Gosch (So., Reeds Springs, Okla., Education) is slated to be the class leader on the outside, while Resean Coleman (So., River Rouge, Mich., Exercise Science),Dalton Haddock (So., Reeds Springs, Mo., Education), Anthony Jackson (So., Detroit, Mich., Physical Education), and others will also compete for snaps.

Linebacker

Jake Baptiste (Jr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Psychology) enters 2016 as the best tackler on the squad with 80 stops a year ago.  Mason Rohr (Jr., Nixa, Mo., Biology) (48 tackles) and Mason Wisse (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education) (11 tackles) have waited and are also ready to finally put their own stamps on the Statesmen program.

Aaron Allen (Sr., Bolivar, Mo., Secondary Education), Justin Beener (So., Prairie City, Iowa, Physical Education), and newcomer LeeAndre Fisher have also made the short list of those will should make big impacts in 2016.

Defensive Back

Depth may be a bit of a concern early on for the navy and gold secondary, but a lack of talent is not.  Antonio Brown (Sr., Midwest City, Okla., Undecided) (41 tackles, four interceptions) and Dajon Shaw (So., Highland Park, Mich.,  Undecided) (27 tackles) both return from last year as do safeties Walter Eastwood (Sr., Garden City, Mo., Computer Science) (56 tackles, four interceptions) and Kyle Baldassarre (Jr., Webb City, Mo., Industrial Technology) (41 tackles).

Newcomer Winston Green is on the radar for playing time as well.

Special Teams

Samson Tamijani (So., Houston, Texas, Communications) will be lifted by a big 2015 campaign (48 extra points, four field goals), but newbie Hunter Behm is bringing in a big foot that should, at the very least, improve the Statesmen’s kickoff coverage.

Aaron Allen will partner up with Tyler Wood to return WPU to a two-punter formation.  Limited to just one punter hamstringed the coverage team a year ago, so Hafner is pleased to put a second rugby-style kicker back into play.

Delivering the ball to his team’s kickers will once again be longsnapper Cody Brigham (Sr., Spencer, Iowa, Elementary Education).

Conference

With a schedule identical to last year (only the locations have switched), William Penn opens with six North-South crossover games within the Heart.  The Statesmen finally play a ‘league’ game on October 15 when they host Peru State for Homecoming.  Navy and gold fans will get to see their gridiron stars at home six times this year.

Defending North champion Grand View has the preseason nod from the coaches, but WPU figures to be in the thick of it at season’s end.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

Today, we take a look at Class A District 5 in high school football.

BGM is the only area team in this district, and it will not be easy for the Bears to duplicate their outstanding 11-1 season a year ago.

The Bears lost in the third round of the playoffs to eventual state champion Gladbrook-Reinbeck, who they will have to face in District 5. G-B finished last year 12-2 with that state title, and will be among the favorites to be competing for the title in 2016.

BGM will have to scratch and claw to make the playoffs as a pair of teams in this district went 8-3. Colfax-Mingo and Hudson had deep runs before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs. C-M lost All-State QB Jared Myers from last season, but will still have a solid team. Hudson comes from Class 1A and will be looking to keep up their positive momentum in 2016.

Those four teams will be duking it out, but there are two more teams in this district that had winning records in 2015.

Belle Plaine and Grand View Christian School both went 5-4 last season. BP has shown the capability to beat top teams in their district, and should not be taken lightly. GVC is coming up from 8-Player football, which could prove to be a tough transition, but they do have some great athletes that have led the Thunder to success in recent years in several sports.

Rounding out the district is GMG (1-8) and North Tama (0-9). These two teams will have a hard time beating anyone except each other in this district in 2016.

It is going to be a ultra-competitive race in Class A District 5 and every single week will have a marquee matchup or two that could go a long way to determine who will claim a playoff berth.

Also, with the current wild card system, with as many good teams as this district will likely produce, there is a solid chance one of those wild cards could come from this district.

We’ll keep rolling with our district previews next Tuesday by looking at Class A District 6, which includes Cardinal, Lynnville-Sully, Montezuma, North Mahaska, and Pekin.

Preview video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4q3DRfGwIM

2015 record: 6-23 (1-10 Heart, 11th)
Starters returning/lost: 4/3
Letterwinners returning/lost: 13/6

Notable returners:
Savanna Hartman          Sr.        Morgan Hill, Calif.
(Letterwinner, 254 kills)
Shawni Wills                  Sr.        Oskaloosa, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 169 kills, 173 digs)
Claire Simmons             So.       Williamsburg, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 227 kills, 241 digs)
Ashley Miller                 So.       Kalona, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 177 digs)

Notable losses:
Leyra Jusino
(Honorable-mention all-Heart)
Danielle Breeher
(Honorable-mention all-conference)
Erika Getz
(Two-time letterwinner)

Notable newcomers:
Kathleen Steffen           So.       Vinton, Iowa
Lilly Martinez                 Jr.        Oakland, Calif.
Raquel Toy                   Fr.        Elizabeth, Colo.
Nesreen Iskandrani        Fr.        Lawrence, Kan.

With the foundation set, a versatile William Penn volleyball team will seek to make a move up the league ladder in 2016.

Head Coach Jennifer Carlson and her Statesmen were just 6-23 last year (1-10 Heart), but the skipper believes a lot was done to set the groundwork for a bright future on the court.

WPU’s depth is its strongest in years, led by returning all-Heart of America Athletic Conference performer Savanna Hartman (Sr., Morgan Hill, Calif., Psychology).  Several other letterwinners are also back to bolster a squad filled with individuals who are capable of finding success at numerous positions.

Right Side Hitter

The most versatile of everyone in the navy and gold, Hartman is among a trio who will pace the right side.  She managed 254 kills a year ago and is expected to see time on the other pin as well as in the middle.

Fellow senior Shawni Wills (Oskaloosa, Iowa, Biology) is set to go out with a bang as well after posting a 169-kill, 173-dig campaign in 2015.

Karissa Wilcoxson (Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Education) is poised to break into the varsity lineup as well.

Outside Hitter

Claire Simmons (So., Williamsburg, Iowa, Psychology) has done great work to build on a productive freshman year that included 227 kills and 241 digs.

Newcomer Raquel Toy (Fr., Elizabeth, Colo., Undecided) has looked solid in preseason camp and should also earn swings.

Middle Hitter

Lilly Martinez (Jr., Oakland, Calif., Psychology) finally makes her Statesmen debut after redshirting last season and is ready to headline the middle attack.

Nicole Harrison (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Biology), with 46 kills, and Sawyer Woodworth (Sr., Parsons, Kan., Physical Education) are pushing for time, while freshman newcomer Nesreen Iskandrani (Lawrence, Kan., History/Government) is turning heads with her athleticism.

Setter

Haley Smith (So., Adrian, Mich., Elementary Education) has the inside track at the setter slot by recording 88 assists in 2015, while returner Katelyn Crothers (So., Mishawaka, Ind., Biology) and newcomer Kathleen Steffen (So., Vinton, Iowa, Biology) are right in the mix.

Libero/Defensive Specialist

Ashley Miller (So., Kalona, Iowa, Exercise Science) has continued to improve and will be leading a deep corps of defensive players.  She had 177 digs, while Haley Vampran(So., Fort Worth, Texas, Exercise Science) is also near the top with 37 digs last year.

2015 redshirt Rafaela Macias (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Physical Education) is throwing her proverbial hat in the ring as are Brittany Weikel (Sr., Remsen, Iowa, Undecided) andIsabella Potter (So., Spokane, Wash., Undecided).

Schedule/Conference

William Penn will takes its first collective steps onto the court on August 19-20 with three matches at the Huntington Tournament.  Three more tournaments and a handful of other single matches will cap the non-conference slate as the Statesmen ready themselves for work in the Heart.

Evangel and MidAmerica Nazarene both made deep runs at last year’s NAIA Nationals.  The rest of the league, which appears to get stronger each season, will make for tough battles each time out for WPU.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

The Old Shoe Football Scrimmage will take place on August 19th with gates opening at 4:30. Admission to watch the game will be one Sports Drink.

The Freshman vs. Junior Varsity game will begin at 5:30 pm, and Varsity will warm up at 6:30 pm with scrimmage starting around 7:15 pm.

Scoring system for varsity contest:

Defense: Offense:
Touchdown= 7 points Touchdown= 6 points
Turnover= 3 points Explosive Play= 1 point
3 & Out= 1 point 3 Consecutive 1st Downs= 1 point
Sack= 2 points PAT= 1 point
No Score= 4 points Field Goal= 3 points
PAT Block= 1 point

*Explosive play is a run of 12+ yards or pass of 16+ yards
*No Score occurs if a score does not happen on the 10 play series

Varsity contest will be in 10 play segments.
Slight break in between each segment.

Activities Department will be at the stadium to sell Activity Passes, Reserved Football seats and VIP Suite Silent Auction for all home games.

Today’s football district is Class 1A District 5 including Pella Christian and Pleasantville.

This district is much like District 4 in that there is going to be a free-for-all for the last playoff spot.

Mount Ayr is at the top, a team that is perennially in the mix in Class A. They went 10-3 last season and lost in the state semifinals. It will be interesting to see how they handle the jump up to Class 1A this year.

After that, Pella Christian and Pleasantville have the two best records returning. Pleasantville went 9-2 last year, losing in the second round, and PC went 7-4, also losing in the second round.

PC will absolutely be in the mix to grab the top spot in this district with returning QB David Kacmarynski and athlete Levi Jungling. The Eagles would be the safest bet to be at the top in this district.

Pleasantville lost a lot of their key playmakers, but still could make some noise in 2016. They’ll have to contend with some adjustments, as they, too, are moving up to Class 1A with Mount Ayr from Class A. Mount Ayr actually was responsible for the only loss that Pleasantville suffered in the regular season last year.

Outside of those teams, Interstate 35 went 5-5 with a first round loss, Des Moines Christian went 4-6 with a first round loss, and no one else made the playoffs.

Woodward-Granger went 4-5, Central Decatur went 3-6, and Woodward Academy went 1-8. All of those teams will have to make big strides if they are going to compete in this district for a playoff spot.

This district, much like District 4, will be unpredictable, but overall, there will be several opportunities for teams to steal wins and position themselves for a playoff berth.

We’ll look at another interesting district tomorrow, as we hop down to Class A and look at District 5, represented by BGM.

We continue our looks at each of our area football districts at the high school level with a peek at Class 1A District 4.

Sigourney/Keota is the lone area team in this district, and the Savage Cobras have to feel good about their group.

S/K knows the one team they’ll have a hard time beating is a perennial powerhouse, and that’s Iowa City Regina. The Regals went 13-1 last year and again claimed the Class 1A State Championship, their sixth in a row.

With a team like that in the district, the Cobras know it won’t be easy to get to the top. But that second playoff spot is up for grabs, and S/K has the best 2015 record of any of the other teams in the district.

Sigourney/Keota went 6-3 in the regular season before losing at home in the first round of the playoffs to Hudson in a thriller. They do lose big-time players in Peyton Crawford and Blaine Gretter, but could be in a good spot to claim that #2 position in the standings.

They’ll be battling with Highland, who went 4-5 last season and missed the playoffs. S/K knows the Huskies well, having played them the last couple of years in district play. Wilton, a 5-4 team who lost in the first round, is a similar team on paper to Highland, and could pose a threat to S/K’s chance to get that second spot.

The only other team that made the playoffs in this district in 2015 is Columbus Community, and they went 3-6 in the regular season and backed their way into a berth before losing in the first round. Sigourney/Keota has also handled Columbus in district play in previous years.

Louisa-Muscatine and Wapello are new teams for Sigourney/Keota, and both went 3-6 last year, missing the playoffs. L-M played in Class 2A last year and handed Central Lee their only regular season loss in district play. They could be easily forgotten, but they might have the biggest advantage to stake a claim to a playoff spot.

Wapello is cut out of a similar cloth of L-M, just without the signature win from a year ago.

Van Buren rounds out the district, and the Warriors went just 1-8 last year in Class A, and in all likelihood, they will not be a factor in the district race.

There are plenty of variables in this district from top to bottom, but the one known fact is that Regina will be the team to beat. Of the teams chasing them, it will be as unpredictable as any district in our area with who will emerge as the top threat.

We’ll keep in Class 1A for our district tomorrow, which is District 5 involving two successful teams from 2015: Pella Christian and Pleasantville.

Class 2A District 6 is bound to be a toss-up in 2016, as we continue our look at all the districts in our listening area.

In this district, Albia is the no-doubt headliner. The Blue Demons went 12-1 last season, falling to Mount Vernon in the state semifinals at the UNI-Dome, 24-21, to end their year.

While Albia should always be in the mix, Head Coach Jerry Staton will be needing to address the losses of All-State players Blake Bayer and Carter Isley. The loss of the senior class is sure to bring Albia back to the field at least a little bit.

Central Lee was a surprising contender last season, going 9-2, falling to Mount Vernon in the second round of the playoffs, 41-28, at home. The Hawks will also be looking to address some big-time holes on offense and defense, but could again be in the mix at the top of their district.

These two teams from different districts in 2015 will join PCM, who competed in Albia’s district last year en route to an impressive 7-3 season. The Mustangs were 7-2 in the regular year, before losing at home in the first round of the playoffs to Mid-Prairie. PCM was led by Logan Gilman, who was one of the best quarterbacks in the listening area last year. He’ll need replaced, as will several other important spots for the Mustangs.

With those three teams needing players to step up to continue their success, the other five teams are looking to build on non-winning seasons.

Chariton bounces down from Class 3A to 2A after a 5-5 season. The Chargers lost in the first round of the playoffs to Gilbert, and lost five of their last six games. They also have to deal with losing tight end TJ Hockenson, who rewrote the record books in receiving in the state.

Centerville had a tough 2-7 season in 2015, but return QB Brett Kauzlarich and the Big Reds could see at least a doubling of their win total. Clarke, Davis County, and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont all finished last year at 1-8, and are going to battle each other to stay out of the basement of this district in 2016. EBF went 1-8 in Class 1A last year, and now will have to contend with a Class 2A district.

From week-to-week, this district could be unpredictable until the dust settles in the last third of the season.

Until then, we’ll be paying close attention as the jockeying should be unpredictable from start to finish.

Next week, we’ll continue to look at our area districts by highlighting Class 1A District 4, which features Sigourney/Keota.

2015 record: 5-12 (2-8 Heart, 10th)
Starters returning/lost: 7/4
Letterwinners returning/lost: 14/5

Notable returners:
Alyce Correia                Sr.        Perth, Australia
(Second-team all-Heart, 3 goals, 2 assists)
Camila Parra                 Sr.        Brisbane, Australia
(Letterwinner, 1 goal, 2 assists)
Graciela Belmontes       Sr.        Salinas, Calif.
(Letterwinner, 1 assist)
Francis Lee                   Jr.        Fort Dodge, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 3 goals, 2 assists)

Notable losses:
Silvia Munoz
(Two-team all-conference)
Lauren Abbas
(Three-time letterwinner)
Mary Richards
(Two-time letterwinner)

Notable newcomers:
Andreya Ventura            Jr.        Granada Hills, Calif.
Bre Johnson                 Jr.        Arvada, Colo.
Ashley Broeker              So.       Ankeny, Iowa

A more experienced Statesmen women’s soccer squad will venture onto the field this year as William Penn looks to become a player in the 2016 league race.

Head Coach Willie McGowan guided WPU to a 5-12 mark (2-8 Heart) last year and seniors Alyce Correia (Perth, Australia, Elementary Education) and Camila Parra(Brisbane, Australia, Biology) return to pace their squad in another year in the stiff Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Forward

Parra was needed in William Penn’s backfield last fall and her scoring totals dropped significantly to just one goal and two assists.  Now that she is back in her comfort zone up top, she is expected to have a big senior campaign to pace the forwards.

Francis Lee (Jr., Fort Dodge, Iowa, Exercise Science), with three goals and two assists last year, and Hannah Baker (So., Adelaide, Australia, Biology), with one goal and two assists, are also capable of putting up big numbers in 2016.

Fellow returners Kathy Lopez (Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Business Management) and Vanessa Martinez (So., Las Vegas, Nev., Communications) should earn quality minutes as well.

Midfield

Correia will enjoy one last go on the pitch, returning from a season in which she scored three times and assisted twice.  The 2015 second-team all-Heart honoree will be flanked by returners AnnaMarie Urps (So., Wilton, Calif., Physical Education) and Graciela Belmontes (Sr., Salinas, Calif., Biology).  Urps led the Statesmen with five assists a year ago (also had two goals), while Belmontes is looking forward to an injury-free year.

Junior college transfer Ashley Broeker (So., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) has also turned a lot of heads in preseason practices.

Defense

With three sophomores headlining the crew, the back line is by far the youngest segment of William Penn’s squad, but the time gained in 2015 should help complete a formidable lineup.

Mariah Voight (So., La Mesa, Calif., Sociology/Psychology) had one assist last year and will be joined by a trio of returners in Isabelle Lucking (So., River Falls, Wis., Elementary Education), Laura Cartwright (So., Brisbane, Australia, Business Management), and Katie Salinas (Sr., Fort Dodge, Iowa, Exercise Science).

Bre Johnson (Jr., Arvada, Colo., Information Technology) performed well at her junior college and is slated to be a defensive standout for the navy and gold.

Goalkeeper

A stiff head-to-head battle is taking place between the pipes this preseason as returner Adriana Borjon (Sr., Willits, Calif., Exercise Science) is taking on newcomer Andreya Ventura (Jr., Granada Hills, Calif., Psychology).  Borjon had a 2.16 Goals Against Average and 110 saves last year; she posted three shutouts.

Schedule

Following a trio of scrimmages, WPU’s season will finally open in Omaha, Neb. against Saint Mary (Neb.) and Grace (Neb.) on August 26 and 27.  Three more matchups, including two at home versus Waldorf and Columbia (Mo.), conclude the non-conference schedule before the navy and gold venture into its demanding 12-game Heart slate.

Conference

Benedictine made it to the 2015 NAIA national semifinals and should be the team to beat yet again, while William Penn will be searching to take down a few more teams in one of the nation’s toughest leagues.

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks take centerstage as we break down Class 2A District 5 in high school football.

District 5 will be an absolute gauntlet every single week, as five of the eight teams had winning records last season including two teams that managed 11 wins.

Mid-Prairie had a very successful season, finishing the year 8-3. They were 7-2 in the regular season, finishing third in their district. They would then upset PCM on the road in the first round and lose to UNI-Dome-bound Albia in the second round.

The Golden Hawks will look to duplicate that success, but the spotlight is likely to fall on Anamosa and Mount Vernon.

Anamosa had an unbelievable season, going 11-0 before bowing out in the quarterfinal round against Mount Vernon, losing 33-20. That game was a rematch of an instant classic that saw Anamosa outlast MV, 45-42, in the regular year. Mount Vernon eventually would play in the state championship game in Class 2A, falling to Spirit Lake.

These two know each other well, and it would not be a surprise to see them at the top once again.

Joining Mid-Prairie in the tier just below those two schools is Williamsburg and Mediapolis.

Williamsburg went 6-3 in the regular season last year. The Raiders beat Tipton in the first round and fell in the second round of the playoffs to Anamosa, 42-14.

Mediapolis went 6-3 in the regular season as well, but they lost in the first round to Central Lee, 55-28.

Both of these teams will be battling Mid-Prairie to squeeze into the playoff picture, but it is very hard to determine which team is in the best position.

Rounding out the teams in Class 2A District 5 are Camanche (2-7), Northeast Goose Lake (2-7), and West Liberty (1-8). None of these teams are expected to challenge the top five.

The top two are the only teams that will automatically qualify for the playoffs, while two teams out of the seven districts outside the top two will get selected as wild cards to fill out the bracket. With all of the talented teams in District 5, that third position will be important as there very well could be a wild card from this group.

We’ll continue our look at area football districts with a gander tomorrow at Class 2A District 6, featuring Albia, Centerville, Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, and PCM.