Penn Sports
Baseball
Baseball was Penn College's first major sport, beginning in the Spring of 1874. After World War II, Penn Baseball was the first sports team to be restarted under the coaching of Roland Ortmeyer and then Bud Knox. Penn Baseball really took off in 1975, under the direction of Mike Laird, with consistently winning seasons.
Basketball
Basketball at Penn really started taking off in 1900. The men's team became Hawkeye Conference champs in 1914-15, and Iowa Conference champs in 1970-71. Both men's and women's basketball went on to become state champs multiple times during the 70's and 80's. The Lady Statesmen won the national title in 1981.
Football
The first football team at Penn was formed in 1892, with James R. Howard serving as captain. John Outland was also on the first football team and the Outland Trophy, named in his memory, is still awarded to the best interior lineman each year. The first full season of football was in the year 1896. Penn's first undefeated football team was in 1904 (7-0), and Penn's first Iowa Conference Championship win was in 1930. Penn College has always fielded a team since 1892, with the exception of the Great War and World War II. They were conference champs in 1972 as well.
Tennis
Tennis began at Penn College in 1887. It started taking off in the 1890's when tennis clubs were formed, and two tennis courts were built on campus. Around the year 1900, Penn really began gaining recognition in tennis, with championships being won, and records being broken in both men and women's tennis. Tennis ended at Penn in 1999-2000 with the last women's tennis team.
Track
The first Field Day was held at Penn in June of 1891 where various track and field events took place. Meets were held for several years on Penn's campus. Penn participated in its first intercollegiate meet in 1897 at Simpson College. Participation in track was not consistent until the 1960's.