PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

With the postseason heating up, the Plymouth Pilgrims surged into the spotlight with a week of standout performances across track and field, softball, baseball, golf, and tennis. From sectional titles and tournament trophies to record-breaking efforts and walk-off wins, Big Red athletes once again proved their grit, talent, and championship spirit. ⸻ Track & Field: Lady Pilgrims Capture Sectional Crown; JV Shines at NorthWood The Lady Pilgrims track and field team made history Tuesday night at Bremen, capturing the IHSAA Sectional Championship with 124 points, besting the host Lions and NorthWood. Leading the charge was Jersey Hunter, crowned sectional champion in the 100m hurdles, and Arielle Ferman, who claimed the pole vault title. Distance stars Vivy Miller and Lena Jones racked up points in the 1600m, 3200m, and relays, while Eva Macey, Alexis Doll, and Lauren Gurtner delivered crucial top-five finishes. The JV Pilgrims also had their moment at the NLC JV Championships, where multiple athletes earned first-place honors, including Ava Lloyd (100m), Lizbeth Gomez (400m), Jenna Blake (3200m), and William Ogilvie (800m). The girls 4x400 relay team—Morrison, White, Frank, Gomez—sealed the day with gold. The boys varsity team finished a strong 4th at their sectional, paced by Carter Bush’s 2nd place in the 100m, and Aidan Faulstich’s 2nd place in the 800m. Cole Figg grabbed a 3rd in the 300m hurdles, and Kylen Ellery placed 3rd in both high jump and long jump to advance. The Pilgrims now set their sights on Regional competition May 27 (girls) in Warsaw and May 29 (boys) in Goshen. ⸻ Softball: Lady Pilgrims Capture Dramatic Wins and Host Sectional Showdown It was a week of highs and clutch finishes for the Lady Pilgrims softball team, who capped their NLC schedule in thrilling fashion. On Friday night, they edged out Wawasee 2–1, surviving a 7th-inning dust storm and bases-loaded jam thanks to Gracie Patrick’s complete game with 7 strikeouts. After a tough loss at NorthWood, the Pilgrims rebounded with a 9–8 walk-off win against Northridge to close NLC play. Patrick led the charge with a 3-for-4 night and a home run, while Haylee Busse, Liz Derifield, and Lilly Runyan all tallied multi-hit games in the comeback. The Lady Pilgrims now turn to the postseason as they host the IHSAA Sectional at Centennial Park, beginning Monday night with a 7:30 p.m. showdown against John Glenn. ⸻ Baseball: Senior Night, NLC Wins, and Tournament Prep Highlight Week The Pilgrims baseball program finished NLC play in style, picking up two league wins Friday night at Wawasee. The JV racked up 24 runs, led by Klynt Verhaeghe’s 4 hits and Cruz Rosas’ 5 RBIs, while the Varsity won 10–6, fueled by Drake Feece’s 4 RBIs and a 3-hit performance from Preston Wolfe. Senior Night on Monday was a celebration to remember, with the JV winning 20–3 and Varsity taking a 5–1 win over NorthWood. Senior pitcher Nick Manzuk was dominant, throwing 7 innings with 4 strikeouts. Offensive standouts included Trey Delp, Parker Wolfe, and Drake Feece, who was also hit by pitch for the 26th time, tying a state record. With the regular season winding down, the Pilgrims prepare to host the inaugural Tony Ross Memorial Tournament this weekend and begin postseason play next week. ⸻ Golf: Podium Finishes at Culver and Kings of the Valley Invites The Varsity Pilgrims golf team continued to contend at the top of elite fields, taking 3rd place at the prestigious Culver Academy Invite at Warren Golf Course with a team score of 303. Caleb Harland led the team with a 75 (4th overall), followed by Dan Nguyen’s 76 (5th). The JV team also placed 3rd at the Kings of the Valley Invite, shooting a 364 behind Northridge and Elkhart. Bryce Busse finished 3rd with an 85, and Logan Lindstrom placed 5th with an 88. Both squads now shift focus to the NLC Championship this Saturday at McCormick Creek. ⸻ Tennis: Hartley Wins NLC Title, Pilgrims Roll in Sectional Play The Lady Pilgrims tennis team wrapped up the NLC Tournament with multiple top-three finishes. Mia Hartley captured the conference championship at No. 3 singles, while Christy/Jackson and Langfeldt/Sheely both finished runner-up in doubles. Following a 3rd-place team finish in the NLC standings, Plymouth rolled into sectional action, defeating North Judson (5–0) and Triton (5–0) to advance to Friday’s championship match against Culver Academy. Led by the dominant singles trio of Gantz, Cantero, and Hartley, and the ever-reliable doubles pairs, the Lady Pilgrims will look to capture another sectional crown and keep their postseason run alive. ⸻ Coming Up Next: • Girls Track Regional – May 27 @ Warsaw, 6 PM • Boys Track Regional – May 29 @ Goshen, 6 PM • Softball Sectional – Begins May 27, 7:30 PM vs John Glenn • Baseball: Tony Ross Memorial Tournament – May 25, 11 AM • Boys Golf NLC Championship – May 25 @ McCormick Creek, 10 AM • Tennis Sectional Championship – May 24 vs Culver Academy