SPORTS

Senior Softball Night

Destiny Crumb ‘27 and Brody Thurman ‘27

Senior Madisyn Harris is sad about this being her last year of playing high school softball. Harris has been playing for 8 years, and she says it is a sport that she and her dad bonded over. One memory that Harris will remember forever is breaking her nose. Harris does not plan on playing softball after high school because she has a bad shoulder. Harris states that she is going to miss the relationships she has built along the way.

Senior Jennifer Batista said she is going to miss everyone. Batista says some advice that she would give to the underclassmen coming up would be to “never give up, that the road to finishing high school is not as long as it appears, and that you will always stay with your friends.” Something Bastista is going to miss is the team and the fun memories she's made. She enjoyed getting to be a part of the team.

Track Injury Reverse

Alex Miller ‘27 & Zo Willis ‘27

Aubrie Campbell and Dre’shaun Bailey, who are currently in track season, have not been able to participate as much as everyone else. Campbell, a senior who usually runs the 100m, 200m, and 4x1 relay, hasn't been able to compete at all this season. She’s recovering from nerve and tissue damage in her knee, an injury that doctors say could take months or even years to fully heal. “I miss running,” Campbell said. “But helping coach the younger runners has been a cool experience.” Instead of stepping away, Campbell has stayed involved by helping coach the underclassmen, especially with their block starts. One of the girls she coached even got 2nd place in her race, she says, “That made me really happy.” Campbell hopes to recover and run again.

Bailey, a junior sprinter and top performer for the team, pulled his hamstring earlier in the season and has only been in two meets so far. “This season feels really different since I haven’t run as much,” Bailey said. “But I’m still trying to enjoy it.” He’s hoping to return to compete in the 100m, 200m, 4x1, and 4x2 relays. “I just want to compete and win,” he says. Even though they aren’t racing as much this year, Campbell and Bailey are showing what it really means to be athletes. Through tough injuries, they’ve stayed positive and shown their teammates support.

Lacrosse with Ethan

Brody Thurman ‘27

Junior Ethan Bowen plays on the Pennfield High School lacrosse team. Bowen plays offensive midfielder. Bowen mainly goes in for offense, but if he is needed for defense, he can take on that position. Ethan believes his team could use more effort this year in practice, although we have little to no practice due to the games per week. Bowen’s favorite game memory is when he broke somebody's rib when they were talking smack from the game. “The outcome was that I got an assist from him. After I hit him, he was puking like crazy on the sidelines.”

Soccer

Destiny Crumb 27’

Sophomore Olivia Lampert has just started playing soccer this year. Lampert’s favorite thing about soccer is creating bonds with her teammates and being given the opportunity to learn something new every day. Lampert typically plays holding mid, and sometimes she plays wing or full back. Lampert's favorite memory with her team so far is their team dinner and team bonding.

Junior Marin Crandall has been playing soccer for 3 years. She started playing when she was a freshman. Crandall's favorite thing about soccer is the friendships that come with it and the new bonds that are created. Crandall usually plays wing, but sometimes holding mid. Crandall's favorite memories are the team bondings and the fun drills that they do in practice. Crandall says that her strengths as a player are having a positive mindset and being a utility player on the team.

relay meet fun

Tyler McKenzie ‘27 & Amiel Bradd ‘28

Treven Straham is a junior at Pennfield High School. He participates in track during the spring. Straham believes that relay meets are an exciting type of meet because of the races you don’t normally see; many different races are added. He believes the most important thing is making sure everyone knows their steps. Knowing your steps in a relay meet prevents you from getting run over or missing the handoff. A hard challenge during the meet for Straham is learning handoffs with his teammates and knowing different rules for each relay. Treven says, “Coach Hickerson takes the sprinters, and we practice handoffs until they are perfect in his eyes.”

Dre’Shaun Bailey is also a junior. Bailey believes relay meets are fun and exciting for some of the events. He added, “People just seem happier during relay meets.” He believes the overall strategy is to do the best you can and, hopefully, pull out with a win. According to Bailey, a few challenges you may have are not having enough time to prepare or handling the baton.

Middle School Track

Mia Wells ‘28

Brooke Wells is the varsity volleyball coach and decided to become the middle school track coach. Wells said, “Track was one of my favorite sports. I hope to help grow the program and have the kids enjoy the sport as much as I do.” She stated that they have a lot of new runners who have never run track before. She also said that there are a lot of kids with great potential. Wells thinks that they will have a successful season. She is looking forward to seeing the personal growth of each individual. Wells stated, “Track is not just about winning races. It is about setting personal goals and pushing themselves to reach those goals.” When Wells went to Pennfield, she was a sprinter; she ran the 100m, 200m, and 400m dash, and she did the long jump. Her favorite event was the mile relay (4x400). It was her favorite because they had a good group of runners, and they broke the school record three times in one season. Their 4x400 team placed 6th in the state with two freshmen and two sophomores.

Tennis- Emma BoyD

Amber Draper ‘27

Sophomore Emma Boyd says tennis interests her because of the environment and her best friend. “I love being outside with my best friend playing the sport we both enjoy,” Boyd states that she wanted a spring sport to keep her active while basketball season was over, and her best friend seemed to enjoy tennis. Although Boyd likes to do her own thing and listen to music before a game, the team will always do a final send-off before the match to get everyone hyped. Boyd enjoys playing singles more but still enjoys doubles. “I like playing singles more because I don’t have to worry about letting down a partner, and I get to focus on myself individually.” The team has its first game on April 19th. Go check them out!

Tennis

Mia Wells ‘28

Freshman Avreen Kaur is playing tennis this spring. Kaur has been playing tennis for 4 years, and her goal for this season is to play singles. She thinks the season will be great because they have great players with great attitudes. Kaur states that she likes to play doubles because it allows her to play with someone and have someone help get the ball, she thinks that she will play doubles because she doesn’t have much singles experience. Kaur said, “The team will do great because we all have a special bond and that is what you need in a team.”

Varsity Baseball

Alex Miller ‘27 & Lorenzo Willis’27

Junior Kaesen Anderson is trying to make a name for himself for this year's varsity team. Anderson has been playing baseball for over ten years and is enjoying his first year on the varsity team. He plays several positions, including second, third, and pitcher. He finds this variety keeps the game fresh and engaging. His favorite baseball memory is from last year's final game when a hit by the foreign exchange students secured the game-winning run. Anderson has always wanted to hit a home run and believes this year will be the one.

Matthew Martinez, a junior at Pennfield, has high hopes for this year, with over 20 wins and a goal to hit over .300. Martinez, a returning starting pitcher and first baseman, said there were some struggles last year, but thinks that they will be better this year and the team can compete with everyone they play. He said his favorite memory goes back to last year when the team had breakfast before the all-city tournament.

Varsity Softball

Brody Thurman ‘27 & Destiny Crumb ‘27

Sophomore Willow Schantz is on the Pennfield Varsity softball team and has been playing softball for 2 years and seems to like it. Last year Schantz played right field and some left field and is working on playing first base this year. Schantz's favorite softball memory is the bus rides to and from games because she always got to sit with her friends. Schantz states her that biggest strong suit is her ability to always learn something new. Schantz enjoys learning new positions and different ways to play the game. Schantz hopes to become a starter player this season and become a better player. She also hopes to improve her batting average.

Sophomore Tyler Primm is on the Pennfield Varsity softball team and says that she has been playing softball since kindergarten but was never really passionate about playing until a few years ago. Primm has played 2nd base for a few years and just started playing right field last year. Primm says “My favorite softball memory would have to be being able to play with my best friend Lexi Downs who is now graduated. Primm hopes to improve her batting skills and be a part of the wins that they will have this year. Primm says that her biggest strong suit would have to be helping other teammates and making new friends with the new people on the team.

Coach Kipp/Former Student to now Bowling Coach

Alex Miller ‘27 & Lorenzo Willis ‘27

For Coach Kipp, bowling isn’t just a sport—it’s something he’s loved for years. As a bowler, he hit two huge milestones: a 300 game and an 800 series. His coaching journey started back in high school when he was deciding whether to bowl in college or stick with his local program. “At the time, program director Mike Roach was looking for a JV coach, and that’s what made me want to start coaching.” Since then, he’s led his teams to some big wins, including back-to-back state titles and an I-8 Conference Championship. “I still talk to those athletes about the good times they had in high school,” he says. Outside of bowling, Kipp helped coach 8th-grade football last fall. He is a class of 2014 graduate and he remembers high school as a mix of ups and downs but says his friends, coaches, and teachers made it an unforgettable experience. Now, he’s all about helping his athletes create those same great memories.

Track

Mia Wells ‘28

Freshman Amiel Bradd is running track this year. Bradd said she is excited for this season to start and can’t wait to be in a sport with her sister. She states that she mostly wants to do the 4x4 relay or the 100-meter dash. Bradd said, “My favorite event is the 4x4 relay because I like the adrenaline rush.” She is looking forward to bonding with her teammates and spending time working on her form, and speed, and trying new events. She isn’t looking forward to punishments because they do a lot of running.

Sophomore Tyler McKenzie plans on running track this year. McKenzie states that he wants to try the 100 and 200-meter dash and he wants to also try hurdles. He said, “I’m looking forward to getting faster for football.” McKenzie said that his favorite event is the 100-meter dash and his least favorite thing about track is the conditioning.

Track and Field

DeeAna Black ‘28 & Hunter Anthony ‘27

Junior Kailey Leiter has signed up for track and field. Leiter's plans for track are to have a good season and get a PR. “My goal for track this year is to make states in my shotput event.” She wanted to do track so she could stay in shape for summer, keep herself busy, and get ready for cheer season. “I'm preparing for track by going to the gym and doing after-school track conditioning with my coach.”

Junior Gavin McLane says he is prepping for track by getting extra work in to improve and grow as a runner. His goals are getting better from last year and improving. He is looking forward to attending meets and having another good year of track. He says he likes the people he has had the opportunity to meet in track throughout the years.

Getting ready for Soccer

Amber Draper ‘27 & Emily Vincent ‘27

Junior Peyton Rhoades plays for Pennfield soccer and loves her team and the friends she’s made on it. Rhoades is a midfielder, and it is very stamina-consuming. She states that you must use strength and knowledge to support your teammates. Rhoades started playing soccer when she was three years old. “My parents put me in soccer, and I've always enjoyed it.” She says her headspace is always to do what it takes to win but always have fun doing it. Rhoades ensures she eats healthy before a game, listens to music, and prays.

Sophomore Londyn Swift also plans to play soccer for Pennfield as a midfielder. Swift explains how being a midfielder is important because you’re constantly on the move–running up and down the field, transitioning between offense and defense. She fell in love with soccer because of the game's intensity and strategies, especially from within the attacks. Swift says that her headspace is a mix of focus and adrenaline. “I get nervous before kickoff, but once I start playing, my instincts take over.” She states how it’s overwhelming when her opponents pressure her, but she stays calm and trusts her skills. Swift says her pre-game routine is most important because it gets her in the right mindset. She starts with stretching and focusing on her breathing to stay relaxed; this leads to some light drills, and then Swift finishes off with some music or visualizes plays in her head.

Competitive Cheer Season Wrap-up

Allie King ‘25 & Alaila Vandegriff ‘25

During this year's competitive cheer season, there was lots of growth. Junior Clare Hackworth had set some pretty high goals for herself at the beginning of the season. “I want to get my back handspring and aerial by the end of the season.” Hackworth did exactly that and more. She worked on motions and jumps as well as more tumbling. Hackworth believes this was “The best season ever.” Clare is very confident going into next season and can’t wait for sideline in the summer!

Harley Bolten has made a lot of progress this season as a first-time varsity cheerleader. Her overall goal was to work a little bit of everything. Bolten has exponentially improved over the season and can’t wait for next season and new experiences. Bolten is confident going into the next sideline season and is excited to be on the Varsity team for sideline next year.

Boys Basketball with Hudson Badger

Mia Wells ‘28 & Amiel Bradd ‘28

Freshman Hudson Badger is on the freshman boy's basketball team. Badger states that overall as a team they played pretty well for their first high school season together. Hudson says he is looking forward to next season so they can improve individually and as a team. He has improved in so many ways including passing, shooting, and having a positive attitude. Something he wants to work on this off-season is getting better and shooting and rebounding. Badger plans on working hard this off-season and putting in extra work!

Girls Bowling

Layla Wesley '27

Sophomore Sophia Lambrich has been bowling for 2 years now. Lambrich and her family often bowled when she was younger, which influenced her to join the team. Lambrich's favorite thing about the team is that she gets to hang out with some of her friends and she likes to bond with the other girls. She enjoys playing against other schools. Lambrich likes the coaches and how they bond with the players. She said, “Coach Kipp and Woodman are nice and they help us out a lot but whatever you do don't make Coach Woodman mad!” Overall, she thinks the coaches are the best.

Freshman Akiah Swartz joined bowling because she had been interested in bowling since she was little. Swartz's favorite thing about the team is her teammates and how supportive they are. Swartz's thoughts on the coaches are that they are nice and helpful.

Spring Sports

DeeAna Black ‘28 & Mia Wells ’28

Sophomore Alex Miller plans on playing baseball this spring. “I'm looking forward to being outside and playing baseball again.” His goal is to have an average batting over 350. Miller hopes the season will go well and that they can win districts. Miller said he played baseball as a kid and never got bored of it.

Sophomore Alex Nevins plans on running track this spring. Nevins said her mom influenced her to run track because she ran in high school and college. She thinks that the season will go well because they will have a lot of freshmen coming up so the team will be a little bigger. She is looking to PR in all of her events, especially the long jump, which is to jump over 15 feet this season. Nevins said, “I’m looking forward to being a part of the team again, it’s unlike any other sport, people are supportive and kind and everyone talks to each other no matter your grade.” She thinks that the workouts are challenging but it’s a lot better when you are with other people. Another one of her goals this season is to PR in the 100 and the 200.

Diver Eli Tenbrink

Brody Thurman ’27 & Hunter Anthony ‘27

Junior Eli Tenbrink is a diver for the Pennfield diving team. Tenbrink says his worst fear when training is when he does flips close to the diving board. He said, “There's been times when I would have hit the board with my feet and hands.” Tenbrink mentioned that in his freshman year of diving, he hit his back on the board which hurt pretty bad. He trains every day at Battle Creek Central and works hard to prepare for the meets.

Senior Basketball Players

Alex Miller '27 & Lorenzo Willis '27

Senior Brevin Bailey has been playing basketball since he was five, Bailey thinks basketball has gone pretty well for him but doesn't think he has hit his full potential yet. He wants to attend a 4-year college after high school at Cornerstone University. Bailey stated, “I don't know if I want to go for basketball or just school just yet though.” Bailey said his favorite game he ever played in was against Parma Western for Winter Carnival last year, he said “It was my first in-game dunk. It was a pretty cool moment for everyone.”

Senior Evan Lampert has played basketball since kindergarten and has been on varsity for 2 years. He says this season has gone pretty well so far for them. Lampert said, “The team is looking good and finally coming together.” Lampert plans to go to KCC after high school and get his business major. Lampert says his favorite game he ever played in was districts against Marshall.

Football Lifts and Workouts

Tyler McKenzie ‘27 & Amiel Bradd ‘28

With lifting and four-man workouts, Pennfield football players are already preparing for this upcoming season. Coaches run these lifts and workouts after school and sometimes on the weekends. Tyler McKenzie, a sophomore, attends the workouts. McKenzie is excited for next season but knows he has to work to improve. He also added that he needs to be a role model for the younger, newer players in the weight room. McKenzie’s goal is to get varsity reps next year. He plays wide receiver and cornerback.

Alex Miller is also a sophomore wanting to attend the lifts and four-mans. Miller currently plays basketball and plans to attend the four-man workouts on the weekends. Miller also plays quarterback and he is hoping to start next year as a junior.

SoftbaLL workouts

Emma Davis '27 & Tyler Primm '27

Sophomore Destiny Crumb is planning to be part of the Pennfield softball team and is excited to participate in the workouts to help her prepare for the upcoming season. She thinks that the workouts will be beneficial. Crumb is a little scared for the season because it is only her second year playing. Crumb says working on her swings will help her the most and allow her to improve. Crumb says she is looking forward to playing with her team and winning as many games as they can.

Sophomore Natalie Purucker is getting back into the softball spirit and is excited for this new season. Purucker says that she thinks she is ready for the softball season but has some things she needs to do to prepare herself better. Purucker thinks that the workouts Mr. Porter has set up for the players will help her gain better strength and new skills so she can play to the best of her ability. Purucker is looking forward to playing on the field and having fun with her friends and new teammates.

Girls Basketball

Amber Draper ‘27 & Emily Vincent ‘27

Sophomore Ava Garcia is on the JV team and says the season has been okay for her and the team. “I think if I didn’t stop playing in 7th grade and continuously played I would’ve been more confident going in. I think by playing for a little bit now I've improved.” She stated that their team works well together but the main thing they need to work on is their communication skills and to keep calm during the game. Garcia’s goal for the end of the season is to work hard and improve from the beginning of the season. “One thing I love and am excited about every day is to play with my friends and just be able to have that bond with my teammates.”

Sophomore Taelon Copland is also on the JV team and states that this season has had a rough start. “We work pretty well together but we need better communication.” One goal she has is to win more games. Copland is most excited about hopefully winning more games and hanging out with the team.

JV Girls Basketball

Tyler McKenzie ‘27 & Amiel Bradd ‘28

Mia Wells is a freshman on the JV basketball team. She is a starter on the team. Wells plays all around on the court. She enjoys her team and loves her coach Mrs. Boucher. Mia believes in the team, although they lost their first match. She believes the team has a lot in store for the season. Wells is expecting a big season for her first high school year. She is hoping for at least 5 points a game and 2-3 rebounds a game.

Joni Schwartz is also a freshman on the team. Schwartz’s biggest goal for the season is to have an impact on her team. She plays the point guard position. She doesn’t have a prediction for the JV’s record, but she believes the team needs to work on boxing out and communication to have a chance at a good record. Schwartz says “I believe I need to work on ball handling and shooting.”

First Boys Varsity Basketball Game

Emma Davis '27 & Tyler Primm '27

The Pennfield Varsity Boys Basketball team had their first game of the season on November 25.

A junior player, Johnathan Lake, said he had the highest amount of confidence in himself and his teammates. Lake said some of the boys were nervous but that he had prepared for the game for months and stated “The only thing that was going through my mind was me playing at my very best.” Lake believes the team showed good teamwork and sportsmanship especially when there were questionable calls made by the referees. Lake thinks they could have had better ball defense and said “Our press wasn’t working how we expected it to work after the first minute.” Lake says a challenge for him was the inconsistent officiating and playing against Williamston which he says “has a good program and is a solid team.”

A senior player, Brevin Bailey said he was very confident in himself and his team because he knows they have a lot of good, experienced players. Bailey said he was trying to take it in that it was his last first basketball game of the season in high school. He said, “Thankfully I wasn’t very nervous.” Bailey thinks they had good teamwork and sportsmanship because they never got into any conflicts with the other team. “We respected them and they respected us,” Bailey states. Bailey thinks they should have been more aggressive once they got ahead, saying that when that happened, the team calmed down and allowed the other team to cut away at their lead. Bailey says something that was challenging for him was fouling, he got into a lot of trouble for the fouls he had.

Girls Varsity Basketball

Ariana Kilgore '27 & Destiny Crumb '27

Junior Peyton Rhoades, has been playing basketball since the 7th grade. Rhoades says she decided to play basketball because she wanted to play another sport other than soccer. She is mostly looking forward to their team and district games. Rhoades plays as a forward, she likes that she gets more drive and layups instead of just outside shots.

Senior Kirra Budreau first started playing basketball in the 7th grade. She started playing because her best friend begged her to play, and she just needed to get herself into a sport. Budreau states she is most looking forward to the season as a whole but mainly to see what she does best this year since it's her last year playing for the school. She is also looking forward to bonding with her team. Budreau plays shooting guard and sometimes point guard, she likes this position because she gets a chance to score but also can distribute the ball into the paint and set up the offense.

Varsity Basketball Tryouts

Alex Miller ‘27 & Lorenzo Willis ‘27

Brevin Bailey, a senior at Pennfield Highschool has been playing basketball for 12 years. Bailey has been playing varsity basketball for 3 years and thinks this year will go well after last year's district championship win and going 15-7. Bailey says “I love the competitiveness basketball brings to me and I like the on-court feel and being around my friends.”

Junior, Dre’shaun Bailey has been playing basketball for about 10 years. This will be his first year on the varsity team. Bailey says his favorite part of playing basketball is having intense defense because he feels like it sets a good tone for the competition. Bailey has many favorite moments outside of being on the court like the bus rides home after a win. Bailey also states the things he wants to work on the most are making tough shots off the dribble and being a leader as a younger guy on the team.

JV Basketball

Tyler McKenzie ‘27 & Amiel Bradd ‘27

Tre Bailey is a Pennfield sophomore trying out for the JV basketball team. Bailey hopes to accomplish a winning season and even an undefeated record for the JV team. Bailey says his goal in stats is mainly defense, with 2-4 steals a game, and at least 1 block a game, also he hopes to average at least 5 points a game. He believes he will start with hustle, leadership, defense, and quick thinking. He adds that he pushes himself hard to achieve his goals and see greatness this season.

Zach Carson is also a sophomore who plans to play JV. Carson is hopeful to better himself as an individual and also hopefully start. His goals are to average 10 points, 4 blocks, and 7-8 rebounds a game. He plans to play the power forward position and he has been grinding this offseason to prepare. Carson adds, “I’m willing to give 110% at every game and practice to be a valuable asset for the team.” He also hopes to achieve a better record than last year when they went 15-5. He believes the boys have been preparing well this offseason which will contribute to the upcoming season.

8th Grade Basketball

Mia Wells ‘28 & DeeAna Black ‘28

Eighth-grader Devin Hegner plans on playing basketball as her winter sport. Hegner said, “I met Haydyn Tenbrink and she got me into basketball because I went to her house and she was dribbling around and I thought it was interesting.” She has been playing basketball since she was in third grade. Hegner plays basketball, volleyball, soccer, and she wants to run track. Tenbrink’s mom has been her biggest influence because she has coached her since third grade.

Eighth-grader Cory Mcgee has just started his basketball season. He started playing basketball when he was younger because he looked up to Lebron James. Mcgee said, “I have just started to play organized basketball last year but I have been playing it for fun since I was three years old.” He plays 3 sports: Football, track, and basketball but he wants to play soccer next year.

JV’s Accomplishments

Tyler Mckenzie ‘27 & Amiel Bradd ‘28

At Pennfield, we have two football teams. The varsity team takes most credit but then there is the JV team. Their record is 4-4, and hoping to finish this season strong.

Brooks Peek is a freshman here at Pennfield. He plays wide receiver and defensive back. Peek says he is hoping to finish this year with a winning record. What he has learned most importantly is that “The Pennfield Panthers are some dawgs.” Peek had a 50-yard fumble recovery touchdown which resulted in a win against Northwest.

Avin Conley is also a freshman on the team. He plays tight end and defensive end. Conley has learned that if a group of people work together, they will be successful. Conley is hoping to win this upcoming game and one day make the playoffs.

The Pennfield JV team is 4-4, they are hoping to win this next game to have a winning season. These Panthers are the future of the varsity, we are glad to have them! Go Panthers!!

Varsity Volleyball

Danika Rothchild ‘26 & Alaina Simmons ‘26

Varsity Volleyball is starting to wrap up its season, with a record of 15-13-2, but with more games coming, the record could change. Some highlights so far are that they won both of our Pennfield quads earlier in the season. They beat Jackson Northwest in five sets and swept Charlotte High School in three sets. As they are going into this week with fire due to their win against Northwest, the girls play Parma Western, I-8 tournament at Hastings, and then districts. GO PANTHERS!

Wrestling

Emma Rodriguez '27 & Ryleigh Mix '26

Junior Kylie Daghuer feels that this wrestling season is going to be tough since she will most likely be the only girl on the team. She feels that being the only girl shouldn’t be too bad. Kylie says “We are going to be a decent team and have a good season, hopefully, I do better this year.” Last year, Daghuer’s first year of wrestling, she said the only win she got was a “void” because there was nobody else for her to wrestle so she just got the points. She adds that she wasn't as strong last year and not winning put her in a bad mental state. She thinks this season will be much better than the last because “we got a lot of good seniors and a lot of new freshmen that are going to be on the team and we have a lot of guys in tough weight classes.” Daghuer also says this season will be better than the last because they have new singlets, warm-ups, and mats.

Seniors Last Homecoming Game

Alyssa Brown ‘25

The Pennfield Varsity football team played against Marshall at the homecoming game this year.

Our Varsity team played well but did not win, “It wasn’t what I wanted to happen, but there’s nothing I can do about it because football is a team sport,” said Back. Senior Brenden Back plays free safety and running back for the team. Back’s best highlight of the game was running the ball. He has reached his goal of getting 100 yards a game multiple times. “My favorite football team is the Lions. They’ve turned their record over the last couple of years and look good now.” Back would describe himself as “a hard runner who will get you the yards you need when you need them.” While he has played football a lot throughout high school, he doesn’t plan on pursuing football as a full-time career.

Senior Josiah Schwartz plays left offensive tackle and defensive nose guard. Schwartz wasn’t happy with the outcome of the homecoming game. “I felt that we could’ve and should have won. There were a lot of tears afterwards because that was the seniors’ last game on the home field.” Schwartz wishes that the team had done more during the preseason, they should’ve done much more but didn’t because of the heat. “My only personal goal was to enjoy football season and play it out to the fullest. I somewhat enjoyed the season.” Schwartz would say that he is a hard worker and he plays to the best of his ability. “Coaches and teammates might also say that I am the local joker.” Pursuing football isn’t what he wants to do with his life, but it was fun when he had the chance to play.

Senior Harley Cannon plays running back and cornerback. “I feel like our game plan was there at the game. We were down a coach for defense, but it really just came down for us.” Cannon wishes that they would’ve played harder and had a better game plan. His best highlight this season was football camp. “It was fun and a great opportunity to grow with my teammates.” Cannon doesn’t plan on pursuing football in the future, it’s just something he loves to do to keep in shape. His teammates and coaches would describe him as a fun kid, and he says “I would describe myself on the field as fast, strong, fun, and hype.”

Basketball Season

Julianah Stengel '26 & Julian Bennett '26

As basketball season approaches, Senior Brevin Bailey, said, “I look forward to playing with the team. I love playing basketball, being on the court is fun.” When it comes to the team's new coach, Coach Hattan, Bailey says “I trust him to coach as well as he did in football.” Bailey is also hoping to execute another district championship win this year.

Junior Calvin Paesens is going into the season expecting a regional title. Paesens opinion on the new coach is, “I’m very excited I always like change. I liked our last coach but I have high hopes for this one.” Paesens also thinks that once the team starts to develop and get to know each other better they will be well off for the season.

Senior Evan Lampert's goal for this season is to have a good record and some fun with the team as well. While not knowing much about his new coach, Lampert has heard good things about him and thinks he’ll be a good coach for the team.

JV Volleyball

Danika Rothchild ‘26 & Alaina Simmons ‘26

JV volleyball captain Jenna Wiley is excited to continue her volleyball season. She states “Our season is going well, we are undefeated in the I-8 and looking forward to our pink-out game against Marshall.” While they are having a great season there is always room for improvement. Wiley mentions that the team as a whole needs to work on communication and having more energy. One goal Wiley has set for herself is to work on having the best stats on the team, which she has accomplished as of now.

JV volleyball captain Ella Hock is happy with how her season is going. She states “They are undefeated so far this season but they still have some ups and downs.” Hock talks about how the team can improve communication and learn to have more trust in each other. Hock’s goals for the season are to be a better teammate and to improve her skills.

Cross Country

Mia Wells ‘28 & DeeAna Black ‘28

Senior Hunter Jenney and freshman Ellie Bowen’s goals were to get the best times possible and to beat Peyton Rhodes. Jenney’s PR is 19:45 and it was 3.11 miles long, Bowen’s PR is 23:08 and it was 3.21 miles long. The PR Jenney is hoping for is sub 19:40 or low 19 and the PR Bowen is hoping for is low 22. Jenney’s goal for his senior year is to become good and place at a bigger meet. Bowen’s goal for her freshman year is to make a good first impression on her coach. The reason they joined cross country is because they like to run. Jenney’s favorite meet is the Harper Creek meet and he is looking forward to the Turkeyville meet. Bowen is looking forward to the Turkeyville meet as well and her favorite so far has been Constantine because it was the smallest meet. They said that their team is “Small but mighty.” They also said that their team goals are to grow together and create the most positive atmosphere they can. Bowen felt “awesome sauce” on winning Battle Creek Enquirer Top 20 Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. She also said, “it's very encouraging as a freshman and it's a good start to my high school career.”

Varsity Dance Team

Destiny Crumb '27 & Ariana Kilgore '27

Sophomore Addysen Gregory decided to join dance because she saw previous dancers dancing and it looked enjoyable, she loves to express herself through dancing. She has been dancing for 2 years. Gregory states that she enjoys basketball games more than football because more people are encouraged to watch and it feels more enjoyable. She enjoys hip-hop more because she can express her feelings in the dance and get more into it. Her hairdresser was the coach last year and encouraged her to try out for the team.

Senior Josslyn Adkins joined the dance team because she loved to dance and she wanted to get better and wanted to perform for the school. Adkins has been dancing since she was 10 years old at a studio and has continued all 4 years on the varsity dance team. She enjoys basketball season because they don't have to deal with the weather outside when she is dancing. Adkins enjoys a more hip-hop style of dance because it's the most fun to learn and perform and it also gets the crowd more intrigued by their dance. She is so invested in music, that she loves the creativity of moving with the music rather than singing or just listening to it.

Girls Golf

DeeAna Black ’28 & Mia Wells ‘28

Sophomore Layla Kelly, said she is most excited about improving her golfing skills this year. Kelly also said “I don’t think I will do great because I never golfed before,” but Kelly said that her coach and teammates have helped her improve.

Senior Gabriella Hill thinks this girls’ golf season will go better this year because the team is small and tight-knit. The girls have bonded due to making new friendships. Hill also said, “I will miss how close we are, we're basically like a family, most of the girls came back even though we lost our seniors last year. We're just picking up where we left off.” One hope Hill has for her last year of girls' golf is not placing last.

Varsity Football

Danika Rothchild ‘26 & Alaina Simmons ‘26

Varsity football player Austen Wiley, expects this season to go well with a full O-line and experienced players working hard. Wiley was new to the team this year and was honored to start as the center in their first game of the season. Wiley states that the team needs to “work on the intensity during practice and team chemistry.” Go Panthers!

Varsity Football

Layla Wesley ‘27

Sophomore Kaden Grupczynski's position on the football team is running back. He thinks football is a fun sport to play. Kaden started to play football in 7th grade. Grupczynski’s goal for football season is to get a couple of touchdowns.

Sophomore Alex Miller’s position on the football team is quarterback and long snap if he needs to. Miller started to play football in 3rd grade. Alex has played for 8 years and he enjoys every second of it, his goal for his team is to try and make it to the playoffs.

Junior Dre’shaun Bailey plays the positions of wide receiver and defensive back. He joined the team because he feels like he is a great leader and he enjoys the sport. Bailey has been playing football since 3rd grade. One short-term goal Bailey and the team are focused on right now is coming up with a win this Friday, but the long-term goal is making the playoffs which “we have the roster to do."

Introducing the Cheer Team

Allie King '25

Varsity Cheer Coach Nicole Govier is excited to watch her cheer team grow and lead during this sideline season. Govier is excited to be working with new athletes. She enjoys working with new athletes because “All sports are about dedication, effort, and teamwork. Cheerleading is no different in those standards.” Govier enjoys working with the underclassmen and bringing them into the respectable, loving, and caring culture that the cheer team has. She is VERY confident that the Varsity Cheer team is sideline-ready. To prepare for the season, she took her team to Max Athletics skills and drills camp this summer and worked with Spring Arbor University Cheer on tumbling and stunting. Additionally, the Varsity Cheer team has set strong growth goals for this sideline season such as team triple splits, and team walkovers. Individually, the girls have been working fulls, tucks, aerials, and more difficult extended stunts. Govier states “The varsity Cheer team also has some fun surprises in store for the Homecoming pep rally.” Pennfield’s Varsity Cheer team is “Battle Ready.”

Clare Hackworth is starting her Varsity Cheer season off with a bang. She is ready for the sideline and loves being with the team. Hackworth loves the friendships cheer brings her and the community that surrounds her. Hackworth is looking forward to getting her back handspring and aerial this season and is confident she will get it.

Junior Varsity Cheerleader Harley Bolten is super excited to be cheering this year. She enjoys being on the JV team and is killing it! Bolten loves everyone on the team and is excited to see them all improve during the season. Bolten states “Her first game as a JV Cheerleader was slightly stressful but they all made it through their first high school football game with a smile.”

Freshman JV Cheerleader Deeana Black is ready to excel through her cheer season. Black is excited to be cheering in high school because she’s always been a part of cheer. Cheering is different for her this year because she’s in high school now, but she’s ready for the challenge. Her first JV game went well, it was a good game with lots of laughs.

Boys Soccer Team

Ariana Kilgore ‘27 & Destiny Crumb ‘27

Senior Aiden Gillum started playing soccer during his freshman year. Gillum's favorite position is right back or center back because he feels there is less running. He started playing because his mom wanted him to join a sport so he decided to pick soccer. He enjoys hanging out and celebrating with his team. Gillum looks forward to seeing how the team plays in their upcoming tournaments.

Junior Nolan Badger started playing soccer when he was six years old. Badger's position in soccer is a striker or right wing. He started playing because his parents put him in it when he was young and he enjoyed playing. Badger states he enjoys playing with his team and having fun. Nolan is most excited about winning games and celebrating with his team.

Freshman Kyle LaPalme first started playing soccer when he was 4 years old. LaPalme states he enjoys playing defense because he enjoys getting to help out his team, communicating, and providing them with passes. He got into soccer because he enjoys running and unlike other sports, you use your feet instead of your hands. LaPalme states he enjoys playing on the high school team because he has great teammates and a great coach. He is looking forward to getting better and winning games this season.

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