PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

From dominant tennis performances to thrilling walk-offs on the baseball diamond, and school records set on the track, it was a week packed with pride and perseverance for the Plymouth Pilgrims. With postseason aspirations rising, here’s a deep dive into a sensational week of Pilgrim Athletics. ⸻ Track & Field: Princess Relays Record, Senior Night Wins, and NLC Showdowns The Lady Pilgrims track team kicked off the week with a strong showing at the Princess Relays at Mishawaka, placing 10th overall. The highlight came in the shuttle hurdle relay, where the team of Amyra Benchaar, Alexis Doll, Eva Macey, and Jersey Hunter shattered the school record with a blazing 1:06.29, good for 2nd place. Distance standout Vivy Miller claimed 4th in the 3200m, and multiple relays finished inside the top six, including a fast 51.76 in the 4x100. On Tuesday, the Lady Pilgrims hosted Senior Night and delivered with a double win over Goshen (76-56) and NorthWood (75-57). Plymouth dominated the hurdles, swept top placements in the shot put and long jump, and saw Miller win both the 800m and 1600m. Seniors were recognized in a fitting display of depth and determination. Meanwhile, the boys track team closed out NLC action at Wawasee, taking a tough loss to both Warsaw (44-88) and the host Warriors (60-72). Despite the final scores, Cole Figg continued to shine with wins in both hurdle events, and Hunter Shipley powered the 400m and anchored the victorious 4x400 relay. Kylen Ellery claimed the top spot in long jump as the Pilgrims gear up for the postseason. ⸻ Softball: Lady Pilgrims Host First ’Grims Invite and Battle Through NLC Slate It was a grind of a week for the Lady Pilgrims softball team, who faced some of the region’s toughest competition. After falling to NorthWood (12-1) on Friday, Plymouth hosted the inaugural Lady ’Grims Softball Invitational on Saturday. The Pilgrims dropped the opener to FW Concordia (7-2) despite 2 RBIs from senior Aubrey Ferguson, and battled in the consolation round before falling to South Central (9-5). On Monday night, Plymouth took on NLC powerhouse Northridge, falling 6-0 despite competitive at-bats from Gracie Patrick, Haylee Busse, Kruyer, and Ferguson. With the first round of conference play behind them, the Pilgrims aim to bounce back in the second half. ⸻ Baseball: Pilgrims Fight Through Extra Innings, Walk-Off Wins, and Rain Delays The Pilgrims baseball program had a dramatic and eventful stretch. On Friday, both JV and Varsity traveled to NorthWood, securing two vital NLC wins. The Varsity emerged victorious in an 11-inning battle, 2-1, behind Preston Wolfe’s 8-inning gem and a scoreless 3-inning save from Dominic Vasquez. The JV won 8-5, paced by multi-hit games from Klynt Verhaeghe and Weston Merritt. After dropping tough contests to Northridge on Monday, the Pilgrims rebounded in wild fashion on Tuesday night, sweeping Culver Academy in two offensive explosions. The JV crushed their way to a 22-12 win, stealing 11 bases and racking up 15 hits, while the Varsity walked it off 17-16 thanks to a bases-clearing double by Ben Shively, who finished with 4 RBIs. On Thursday, the Pilgrims traveled to Mishawaka for round two of NLC play. Despite weather delays, the JV fell 6-5 and Varsity lost a heartbreaker 7-6 in the bottom of the 7th. Still, the offense continued to fire, led by Preston Wolfe, Parker Wolfe, and Ethan Hall. ⸻ Golf: Pilgrims Keep Pace in NLC, Take Down Multiple Opponents The Plymouth golf team continued its stellar season. At the Wawasee Invite at Maxwell Country Club, the Pilgrims placed 4th with a 320 team score, led by Dan Nguyen’s 72 (3rd overall). Caleb Harland added a 78, with Mac Holm, Ben Nguyen, and Bryce Busse rounding out a strong lineup. In NLC action at Bent Oak, Plymouth split the match, beating Concord (169-179) but falling to Warsaw (151-169). Harland shot a 38, while the JV was led by Chase Bowling (42). Back at home, the Pilgrims crushed Culver (149-199) and LaVille (149-217). Nguyen’s 32 led the way, with Holm and Ben Nguyen adding matching 38s. On Thursday, they hosted Wawasee and Mishawaka for a pair of NLC wins, shooting a team score of 153 behind Nguyen (36) and Ben Nguyen (37). The Pilgrims now sit at 15-1 overall and 3-1 in NLC play. ⸻ Tennis: Senior Night Victory Highlights Another Winning Week The Lady Pilgrims tennis team rolled through another successful week on the courts. After a 5-0 sweep of Mishawaka, the Varsity followed it up with a 4-1 win at Bremen and a 3-2 road victory at Goshen. The doubles teams of Emma Jackson & Marley Christy and Marisa Langfeldt & Natalie Sheely remained steady as anchors of the lineup. On Thursday night, the team hosted Northridge for Senior Night, honoring seven seniors with a thrilling 3-2 victory. Hartley won at No. 3 singles in three sets, while both doubles pairings picked up straight-set wins in front of a spirited home crowd. The JV fell 8-3 but had strong wins from Lydia Wray, Allison Grobe, and Addie Hundt & Jayden Trump-Haskins. ⸻ Looking Ahead As May approaches, every performance becomes more meaningful. With sectional seedings on the horizon and conference standings tightening, the Pilgrims are positioning themselves to contend across all sports. Whether it’s breaking school records, launching walk-off doubles, or firing rounds in the 70s, the Big Red P is making its mark this spring.