March 7, 2008
(release courtesy of Matt Turk, Simpson College sports information director)

INDIANOLA, IOWA . . . Simpson College Women's Basketball player Katelyn Whiton (Sr., Panora, Iowa, Perry H.S.) was selected today by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) as one of 40 finalists for the 2008 State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team. Whiton, the 2008 Iowa Conference MVP, earned honorable mention State Farm Coaches' All-American honors last season.

Whiton was selected Iowa Conference MVP Mar. 4. The 5-10 forward is the fourth Storm player to be awarded the honor. She Whiton led Simpson in scoring with 16.5 points per game and ranked second in rebounding with 7.5 rebounds per game in 27 contests, ranking third and seventh in the Iowa Conference in the respective categories. She shot a team-high 55.0 percent from the floor (188-of-342), which was third in the IIAC. Whiton led the Storm in scoring 15 times, in rebounding 11 times and in both categories seven times.

In 16 Iowa Conference games, Whiton averaged 15.6 points (4th in IIAC), 6.8 rebounds (t-6th), and 1.94 steals per game (5th). She shot 57.6 percent from the floor (2nd) against Conference opponents. She was named Iowa Conference Player of the Week for the second time Mar. 3. She averaged 24.5 points and 5.5 rebounds during the Iowa Conference Tournament as the Storm won their fourth IIAC Tournament title in the nine-year history of the meet.

Whiton has moved past Michelle Stover (1,458, 1998-02) for third in school history in career scoring with 1,552 points. With her appearance against Gustavus Adolphus Mar. 7, Whiton has broken Tessa Van Oosbree's (115, 2002-06) record for most games in a career with 116.  Whiton has started 87 in a row.  With 17 field goal attempts against Loras Jan. 26, she reset the school record for most field goals attempted in a career.   Whiton has made 1,272 career field goal attempts, breaking the old record of 1,136 which was set by Laurie Sankey (1981-85).  Whiton has now moved into second in school history in career steals with 229.  The Simpson school record is 253 which was set by Lisa Cowling from 1997-2001. Whiton is now third in school history in career rebounds (682), third in made field goals (670), ninth in career made free throws (213), ninth in career free throws attempted (319). 

Whiton was named as one of 10 finalists for the Josten’s Trophy Feb. 26.  The Josten's Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. Thetrophy models the Rotary motto of “Service above Self” by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well rounded Division III student-athlete. This year’s class marks the 11th year the award has been presented.She is active in her community.  Whiton has stocked shelves at the Perry (Iowa) Food Pantry and prepared and served food at the Perry Soup Kitchen.  The 5-10 forward worked at a Des Moines (Iowa) homeless shelter, doing yard work and has served as a member of the Perry Recreation Department by giving basketball, golf, and volleyball clinics.  She has also served as a volunteer at the Village in Indianola where she assisted the senior residents with devotions, and preparing their desserts. Whiton joins Stover as the only two players in school history to be nominated for the award.

The 40 finalists, who are voted upon by WBCA member coaches in each of the eight WBCA award regions, are now in the running for selection to the 10-member State Farm Coaches' All-America Team.

The finalists are:

Region 1
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Jaime Capra Brandeis University Sr. G 5'10
Meg Coffin Bates College Sr. C 6'2
Ashley McFetridge Eastern Connecticut State University Jr. C 6'2
Natalie Moyer U.S. Coast Guard Academy Sr. G 5'7
Shaina Pollack Amherst College Sr. C 5'6

Region 2
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Amanda Baker Medaille College Sr. F 6'0
Dani Dudek Stevens Institute of Technology Jr. G 5'5
Jessica Laing SUNY Cortland So. F 5'11
Julie Marriott University of Rochester Jr. C 5'11
Marisa Vespa William Smith College Sr. G 5'4

Region 3
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Melissa Beyruti Kean University Jr. G 5'8
Chari' Cooper Kean University Sr. C 6'2
Kristen Daly York College of Pennsylvania Sr. F 5'11
Elizabeth Hickey University of Mary Washington Jr. C 6'3
Hillary Klimowicz The College of New Jersey Jr. C 6'3

Region 4
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Lauren Boyle Muhlenberg College Jr. G 5'9
LeighAnn Burke DeSales University Jr. G 5'8
Kathleen Daly University of Scranton Fr. G 6'0
Nikki Lobach Messiah College Sr. G 5'9
Sarah Meisenberg Franklin & Marshall College Jr. G 5'8

Region 5
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Stacey Blalock Howard Payne University Sr. C 6'2
Meia Daniels Howard Payne University Sr. G 5'8
Ashley Farrell Rhodes College Sr. G 5'8
Heather Phillips Virginia Wesleyan College Sr. F 5'10
Tarra Richardson McMurry University Sr. C 6'1

Region 6
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Emilee Ackerman Westminster College (Pa.) Sr. G/F 5'8
Jordyn Boles Hope College Sr. G 5'10
Anne Dugan Kenyon College Sr. C 6'0
Katie Streck Wilmington College Sr. F 5'9
Jayme Thiem Thomas More College Jr. C 5'7

Region 7
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Michelle Burns Wisconsin - Eau Claire Sr. F 5'11
Tamika Curtis Benedictine University (Ill.) Sr. C 6'0
Crystal Hoewisch Carroll College Sr. G 5'9
Haley Houghton Wisconsin - Stevens Point Sr. G 5'11
Lindsay Ippel Millikin University Sr. C 6'2

Region 8
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Marissa Cain University of Puget Sound Sr. F 6'0
Katy Campbell George Fox University Sr. F 6'1
Melanie Hageman Concordia College (Minn.) Sr. F 5'11
Jess Vadnais Gustavus Adolphus College Sr. G 5'6
Katelyn Whiton Simpson College Sr. F 5'10

Worcester State's Karen Tessmer will announce the State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team at the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Banquet on Thursday, March 20, at Hope College in Holland, Mich.

About State Farm
State Farm(r) insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 75 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.6 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No.22 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com(r) or in Canada statefarm.ca(tm).

About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For additional information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

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