By ERIC WOOD

The Kingsmen varsity volleyball team defeated the Jimtown Jimmies, 25-15, 24-26, 25-8, 25-11, on Thursday, Sept. 7.

Alyssa Torres and Rachel Rupert paced Penn’s attack with 11 kills each.

Naomi Willis’ 32 assists helped to boost the lethal Kingsmen offense. Willis also contributed 22 digs on the night.

By ALEX FADELY

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The Penn boy’s tennis team took on a tough opponent this past Thursday, facing Northern Indiana Conference rival South Bend St. Joseph.

The Kingsmen were able to show their dominance against the defending NIC champions with the overall score of 4-1.

Will Thurin led the charge at No. 2 singles, winning 6-1, 6-1.

Aidan Sucharetza also won his No. 3 singles match, winning his sets by scores of 6-2 and 6-0.

In doubles, Eric Spaargaren and Aiden O’Day won 6-4, 6-4, at No. 1 singles.

The second doubles match had Maity Spitters and Nick Casetti winning a close set 7-5 and then dominated the second, winning 6-1.

By BRADEN PITTMAN

The Penn freshmen football team topped the Mishawaka Cavemen in a 33-0 shutout on Thursday, Sept. 7.

Kyle Riffel raced 41 yards for a Kingsmen TD. 

Nick Favilla caught a 31 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Plummer.

Nate Ehmer had two rushing touchdowns one for a 31 yard run, and the other being a 5 yard run.

Plummer also threw a 3-yard pass to Aidan O’Connell for a touchdown to cushion the lead.

Ryan Majerek made three extra points.

On top of the stellar offense, Penn’s dominant defense kept the Cavemen scoreless. The Kingsmen recovered three fumbles, which were recovered by Colton Dennis and Jake Rairdon. Rairdon had two fumbles recovered.

The Freshmen team remains undefeated on the season and advances to a record of 3-0.

The Penn High School Girls Golf Team wrapped up a perfect 12-0 Northern Indiana Conference regular-season record on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

The Kingsmen Girls Golf Team honored senior Abbey Hamilton at the match.

Below is a provided Photo Gallery.

Penn High’s Football Team beat Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Mich.) 38-17, on Friday, Sept. 8.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

The National Honor Society is accepting petitions for new members.

If you are a Penn High School junior or a senior who has a 3.5 or better grade-point average, you may apply for membership to the NHS.

Interested students may pick up petition packets in the Counseling Center or Room 250. 

Completed Petition  packets must be returned Ms. Johnson or Mrs. Knight in Room 250 by Sept. 15  by 3:30 p.m. 

Late Petitions will not be accepted. 

With the release of the Spring 2017 ISTEP+ results, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation now ranks in the state’s top 4% of public school districts.

Based on both Math and ELA pass results of grades 3-8, P-H-M ranks 12th out of all 292 public school districts in Indiana. For grade 10, P-H-M ranks 9th out of all 292 public school corporations—the Michiana area’s only public school district to make the top 20!

P-H-M’s overall district pass rate for grades 3-8 was 70.8%, compared to Brownsburg Community School Corp. who received the highest overall pass rate of 83.1%. Penn-Harris-Madison’s pass rate for grade 10 was 59.9%, compared to Carmel Clay Schools 68.3%

“When you compare P-H-M to the state’s other top performing school districts, you can see the level of excellence that our students and teachers are achieving in the classrooms,” said P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker commenting on yesterday afternoon’s (Wednesday, September 6, 2017) testing results release by the Indiana Department of Education. “P-H-M has been able to achieve high performing test results not just by teaching the academic standards, but by empowering our teachers with ongoing professional development, equipping them with technology providing timely and efficient student assessment, while also growing our students’ academic stamina with rigor and relevant preparatory tools.”

As part of Penn-Harris-Madison’s own self-district assessment, P-H-M administration reviewed the 2017 ISTEP+ results information from across the state and also notes the following successes:
 

• Northpoint is Indiana’s #1 public elementary school!
• Discovery ranks #3 out of the state’s 205 public middle schools.
• P-H-M has four schools (Northpoint, Prairie Vista and Horizon Elementary Schools, along with Discovery Middle School) ranked among the state’s top 50 of all 1,437 public schools.
• Penn ranks #4 of large high schools (student population more than 500).
   

After analyzing the data, Dr. Thacker also noted “I am extremely proud of what our students and teachers have been able to achieve. It is with the parent and community support that they receive that P-H-M is able to achieve academic excellence at all levels. I look forward to using the data from 2017 ISTEP to build on and improve for this coming 2018 spring testing.”

By MALLORY NEWMAN

The Penn Kingsmen Powder Puff teams play on Wednesday, September 13 at TCU/Freed Field at 7 p.m.

Powder Puff (essentially girls flag football) is split up by class. There are four 20-minute running-clock games.

In the first round, the seniors will play the sophomores, and the freshman will play the juniors. Whoever wins the senior/sophomore game, plays the winner of the freshman/junior game.

The players are coached by Penn Football players and teachers.

“Powder Puff is a great way to have some competitive fun, and beat the underclassmen,” Penn senior Camille Rose said of what Powder Puff means to her as a senior.

Penn outlasted Marian last night in a match-up of Northern Indiana Conference Volleyball powerhouses.

Penn took an early lead as the Kingsmen won the first two sets 25-22, and 25-23. Marian stormed back to win the third set 25-22. Penn closed out strong to win the final set 25-22 and earn the victory.

Penn, ranked No. 6 in the state,  moves to 13-1-0.

Italia Fields led the Kingsmen with 14 kills.

Alyssa Torres and Kylee Hixenbaugh both had 13 kills, and Rachel Rupert had 11 kills.

Naomi Willis helped out with 46 assists.

Rachel Hickey had 40 digs. followed by Ally Hickey and Julia Beers with 17 digs each.

Naomi Willis and Kylee Hickenbaugh chipped in with 14 and 12 digs.

Penn Volleyball’s next match is home on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. against Jimtown.

The Penn Girls Soccer Team, ranked No. 1 in the Nation, defeated Munster 2-0 on Saturday, Aug. 26.

A Photo Gallery of the game is posted below.