Penn High’s girls basketball team started the season off right with a 40-25 victory over LaPorte in the season opener on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Jordyn Smith led the Kingsman with 12 total points, including going 4-of-6 free throws.

Reganne Pate scored nine points, all of those points coming from three 3-pointers.

Tia Chambers scored 8 points for the Kingsmen.

One of the biggest challenges for teachers is to find new and creative ways to teach students.

Penn Physics teacher Jonathon Lockwood has done just that by hosting Penn’s first Punkin’ Chunkin’ contest. 

Nearly 500 Penn students from various STEM classes such as Physics, Introduction to Design and Engineering were divided into teams. Studying the unit on projectile motion, the teams were tasked with researching and choosing one of the three types of seige engines; the ballista (large crossbow/slingshot), the trebuchet, and the mangonel catapult to launch their pumpkins. Classes then spent four class periods designing and building.

The Introduction to Design class, made up of freshmen and sophomores, built their machines out of popsicle sticks and launched mini candy pumpkins. The other classes (using wood, PVC pipe and other assorted items) designed larger machines, which catapulted mini-foam pumpkins which were weighted down equally to make the competition even. 

The competition was held for two days (Oct. 31 & Nov. 1). The competition saw students collecting data that would then be used to calculate maximum horizontal, vertical and directional velocity for their launcher. The calculations are then used to help students study the projectile motion unit and will also be used later this year when studying the conservation of energy.

At the end of the two days of competition, team Men in Black won the Catapult division with a distance of 107-8, team Arrowhead won the Ballista division with a distance of 56-3 and The Door Stops won the Trebuchet division with a distance of 122-1.

Finishing in third place for overall distance was team Men in Black with a distance of 107-8, second place went to team Taco Tuesday at 121-6 and finishing in first place was The Door Stops with a winning distance of 122-1. The Door Stops will have their name put on a trophy helmet, much like the Stanley Cup. Watch their winning throw below …

 “I got the idea for this assignment when watching re-runs of a past fall special on Punkin’ Chunkin’ run by the Discovery Channel,” said Mr. Lockwood.

The launching devices built for the Discovery Channel show are capable of launching real pumpkins nearly a mile long and velocities above the speed of sound. Due to cost and mess, Mr. Lockwood decided not use real pumpkins for Penn’s Punkin Chuckin’.

“In physics and science in general we look to find real life applications for the simple concepts that we talk about at the high school level,” Mr. Lockwood said. “This competition allows students the opportunity to organically develop, test, measure and explain the success of a device that they built, based on these principles that we discussed in class.”

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

Penn High School’s Kristina Lynch added to an All-American legacy when she was named the Indiana High School Athletic Association Mental Attitude Award winner following the Class 3-A State Championship Game at Butler University on Friday, Oct. 27.

Penn beat Guerin Catholic, 2-0, to repeat as State Champions.

Lynch, a Florida State University women’s soccer recruit, led Penn to three consecutive State Championship Games. Penn was state runner-up in 2015, won State Championships in 2016 and 2017.

A midfielder, Lynch owns the Penn career record with 130 goals and has a record 68 career assists. She has 44 goals and 18 assists this season.

Named a First-Team All-American by USA Today, Lynch has been invited to play in the All-American Game in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 2. 

Lynch is the 26th IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner in Penn history.

“Kristina is a remarkable student athlete who is genuinely dedicated to making her teammates better,” Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher said. “She always shows commitment to her team and treats others with respect and dignity.  She is the model teammate who represents her family and school with pride.”

Lynch is Penn's eighth IHSAA Mental Attitude Award Winner since 2015.

"Kristina Lynch is the epitome of Penn's commitment to education-based athletics and our commitment to the concept of a student-athlete," Penn Athletic Director Aaron Leniski said. "She pursues excellence in the classroom and on the soccer field. We are proud of the way she has represented Penn, and in the outstanding legacy that she has carved out. She is an outstanding role model for our younger players."

PENN IHSAA MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNERS 

1983, Football (4-A), Mark Plencner             
 
1989, Football (5-A), Eric Kline       
 
1992, Girls Cross Country, Jill Nace            
 
1995, Football (5-A), Matt Geesman             
 
1996, Football (5-A), Scott Becker 
 
1998, Baseball (4-A), Blake Gaugler
 
1997, Football (5-A), Brad Monhaut              
 
1999, Boys Soccer, Matthew Abbott           
 
2000, Football (5-A), Justin Smith  
 
2003, Girls Tennis, Lauren Woodward
 
2003, Girls Golf, Casey North
 
2003, Football (5-A), Wade Iams
 
2004, Girls Cross Country, Laura Carr
 
2005, Boys Tennis, Chris Jordan
 
2011, Girls Basketball (4-A), Ashley Lutz
 
2011, Girls Golf, Deanna Song
 
2011, Volleyball (4-A), Kaitlyn Hickey
 
2011, Football (5-A), Patrick Adkins
 
2015, Wrestling, Chase Osborn
 
2015, Baseball (4-A), Tim Lira
 
2015, Soccer (2-A), Kamra Solomon
 
2016, Football (6-A), Camden Bohn
 
2016, Softball (4-A), Alyssa Griman
 
2016, Soccer (2-A), Alexis Marks
 
2017, Baseball (4-A), Trevor Waite

2017, Soccer (3-A) Kristina Lynch

An hour after the bright red lights of the Butler University scoreboard counted down to the second consecutive State Championship by the Penn High School Girls Soccer team, the stadium lights were turned off and darkness cascaded across the field.

There will be no dimming the accomplishments of the Penn Girls Soccer Team, which carved out one of the nation’s top legacies in the sport.

Coach Jeff Hart’s Penn Kingsmen defeated Guerin Catholic, 2-0, on Friday, Oct. 27, to earn the Class 3-A high school girls soccer state crown in Indiana.

The 2017 State Championship match will rank as a clash of titans in Indiana High School Athletic Association history. Penn entered the Championship game ranked No. 1 in the Nation by the prestigious soccer publication, topdrawersoccer.com. Guerin Catholic entered the title match ranked No. 1 in the Nation by MaxPreps.

Penn finished the season 23-0-1 and boasts a 45-0-2 record over the past two seasons.

Penn and Guerin Catholic waged a fierce battle. The Kingsmen turned back two Guerin Catholic attacks thanks to a stunning diving save by Mackenzie Wood in the 21st minute, and then a leaping save by Wood in the 52nd minute.

Kingsmen lightning struck in the 54th minute when Molly McLaughlin rocketed a screamer from 25 yards away to give Penn a 1-0 record. Kristina Lynch assisted on the goal.

Maya Lacognato delivered the dagger in the 61st minute. Lynch drove baseline and dished to Lacognato when the Guerin Catholic goalie and defensive raced to cover Lynch.

“Winning state for a second consecutive season was such an incredible feeling,” said Lynch, a USA Today First-Team All-American who is a Florida State recruit. “It was very meaningful to us, because it shows that all our hard work has paid off. This is an incredibly talented and fun group of girls and the memories we have made throughout the years will last forever.

“It is fun to think that years from now we will all be able to come together and share these special memories. Winning state was the highlight of my high school career! To win the title in my last high school game was a dream come true.”

Penn entered the season as a huge target as the defending State Champions and the No. 1 ranked team in the nation in the topdrawersoccer.com pre-season poll.

“Although this team had an immense target on our back throughout the season, we dealt with the pressure incredibly, and by having that demand of being No. 1 it, forced us to work even harder and become even better,” Notre Dame recruit Brooke VanDyck said.

Lynch agreed that the Kingsmen embraced the challenge of being a target, and stepped up their game.

“Having a prominent target throughout the season was definitely a challenge, but in the end it helped us win,” Lynch said. “Every team that we played gave it everything they had, which forced us to do the same. It definitely showed our mental strength as well as our overwhelming desire to experience the championship feeling again.”

Penn pounded Guerin Catholic for 19 shots, while the Golden Eagles only managed eight shots against Penn’s defense.

“I think our ability to move the ball, switch the point of attack and control the pace of the game made us successful at the right moments,” said McLaughlin, a Xavier recruit. “We knew going in what their weaknesses were and we were able to use our knowledge of the game and our strengths to capitalize on our chances.”

Lynch said that Penn’s work ethic and drive were difference-makers.

“Each person who stepped on the field worked extremely hard and did everything they could to help the team win,” Lynch said. “There was so much energy and determination that each of us brought to the field which made us very dangerous as a team. We were poised, patient, and took advantage of our opportunities. It's a real testament to our coaches and how they prepared us as well as the type of players we have on this team.”

For Lynch, talent and team chemistry were major factors that put Penn above every other high school girls soccer team in the nation.

“We all work extremely well together and our talents complement one another,” Lynch said. “We play for more than just ourselves – we play for each other, which is very rare especially in girls high school soccer.

“We have great talent for sure, and the best coaching staff in the state. We all have a love for one another and a sincere desire to win as a team. The chemistry on this team was the biggest difference. It is what kept us going all year and what pulled us through the shootout against Noblesville and the State Championship. I'm so honored and proud to be a part of such a special team!”

Penn High School’s Spell Bowl Team will seek its 17th state championship on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, when the Kingsmen compete in the Indiana Academic Spell Bowl, sponsored by the Indiana Association of School Principals. The State Championship is held at Purdue University.

Penn earned a berth to the State Finals by placing first in the Class 1 Area Competition at Plymouth with a score of 76 on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017.

Ouymayma Al-Shammery, Maggie Finessey, and David Wang earned perfect scores for Penn.

Celine Wang, Karen Wang, and Manaal Arif had near-perfect scores for Penn.

“I'm so proud of this team and all of the hard work they've put in so far this year,” Penn Spell Bowl coach Kate O’Brien said. “We have quite a few new spellers to the team, and they've done such an amazing job working hard and spelling well! I'm very excited to see what our team is capable of for state!”

Make sure to come out and celebrate your back-to-back State Champions Girls Soccer and #1 Team in the nation Wed., Nov. 1, 7:00 p.m. Enter Door C at for the celebration in the CPA.

Penn won 2-0 against Guerin Catholic in the 3A Title Championship game on Saturday, Oct. 28. 

Among the game highlights senior Kristina Lynch had two assists: the first to Molly McLaughlin for the first goal and the second to Maya Lacognato for the second.

Lynch–the Florida State commit, All-American and Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year—has another honor to add to her high school career … she was named IHSAA Mental Attitude Award Winner for Class 3-A Girls Soccer after the Championship win.

This weekend is a big weekend for Penn High School with the Marching Band and four Kingsmen Athletic teams competing in top state competitions:

• Girls Soccer: 3A Title State Championship Game, Friday, Oct. 27, 8:00 p.m. vs. Guerin Catholic (@ Butler University, Indianapolis)
• Football Sectional: Friday, Oct. 27, 8:00 p.m. vs. Valparaiso (@Valparaiso)
• Boys Cross Country State Finals: Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:00 p.m. (Terre Haute)
• Girls Cross Country State Finals: Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:45 p.m. (Terre Haute)
• Marching Band Semi-State: Saturday, Oct. 28 (Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis)

Can’t make it to the athletic games to cheer on your favorite Kingsmen in person?!? Make sure to like IHSAAtv on Facebook @ihsaatv and watch their Facebook Live stream of the Girls Soccer game and Boys & Girls Cross Country races on @ihsaatv Facebook page. Coverage starts at the times noted above.

Also be sure to follow The Pennant on Twitter for up to the minute game results and results from the Marching Band’s Semi-state competition.

Go Kingsmen!!! #PHMExcellence #BlueRings 

Jostens will be here on Friday, Nov. 3 to take orders for announcements, caps and gown and other items during all lunches.  They will be located in the hallway north of the cafeteria.

Senior Info Cards in the Josten's packet must be turned in to the Main Office for ordering diplomas.

Penn Ski Club information / sign-up

Ski Club clothing apparel

Field-trip waiver form

Bus information

Medical authorization form

Line of Descent movie information

The popular annual family event is scheduled for Saturday, December 2 and is open to the entire community, not just P-H-M families. However, please note this event is for Kindergarten – 3rd grade students only and children must be accompanied by at least one adult. All tickets are $7.00.

Show times this year are scheduled for 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Space is limited to 100 tickets/participants per time slot.

This year, ticket sales will be ONLINE ONLY at phm.revtrak.net and will go on sale Wednesday, November 1 at 8:00 a.m. Tickets will NOT be sold at the ESC on Nov. 1 or at the door on Dec. 2. Tickets sell out fast, so please make arrangements to setup your account at phm.revtrak.net prior to Nov. 1. Once tickets are sold out for a time slot, online sales for that time slot will end.

You will be able to pay online using eCheck, Discover, VISA or MasterCard credit or debit cards and a 3.49% transaction fee will be added to your total purchase amount. Tickets will be mailed to the address provided during the online registration prior to December 2nd. No refunds or tickets will be available at the door.

If you have any questions, please contact the P-H-M Community Education office at (574) 258-9568 or email Jenny Forkner.