The Penn High School Boys Basketball Team’s historical run for the State Championship came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday, March 16. The Kingsmen reached the Class 4-A Semi-State taking on No. 1-ranked Carmel, but lost 71-42 (click to see the photo gallery below, and click to read the game highlights).

The Kingsmen finished the season 24-4. Several records were broken with this storied season:

• Head Coach Al Rhodes won his 600th career win over Washington (71-56) on December 13, 2018. Coach Rhodes is  only the 14th coach in Indiana High School Boys Basketball history to have 600 career wins!
• Senior Noah Applegate wrapped up his Kingsmen career with 1,709 points! Back in January, Applegate surpassed the 1,433 mark set by Keith Berkey (1960-64) 55 years ago to become Penn’s All-Time Leading Scorer. 
• Senior Drew Lutz became just the seventh player in Kingsmen Boys Basketball history to reach the 1,000-point mark. Lutz hit the milestone with a dramatic 4-point play during Penn's run to the IHSAA Sectional Championship.

The Kingsmen had a few heart stopping moments that got them to the Semi-state. To claim the Regional Championship the Kingsmen battled it out to the bitter end in a buzzer-beater 74-72 victory against Northridge on March 9 (click to read the game highlights). Earlier in the day the Kingsmen pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat Chesterton 49-42 (click to read the game highlights). The Regional Championship win was the seventh Regional Championship for Penn and the first since 2006.

The Kingsmen enjoyed their Sectional Crown win on their home court on March 2. All-State candidate Noah Applegate scored 27 points leading the team to a 63-60 victory over South Bend Adams. The Sectional Championship is the16th in Penn Boys Basketball history and the first since 2014 (click to read the game highlights).

To get a shot at the Sectional Crown, Penn (ranked No. 9) had to go up against South Bend Riley (No. 10) on February 26. Penn came out on top of this nail biter on top with a close 50-48 victory. Senior Kegan Hoskins scored 12 points and also fought for nine rebounds. Hoskins made a stunning play in the fourth quarter, sprinting the length of the court and soaring for a blocked shot to snuff a Riley fastbreak. Senior Kingsmen players Beau Ludwick & Drew Lutz hustled for 10 points each. Lutz also had eight assists (click to read the game highlights).

The leadership of the team’s six seniors—Noah Applegate, Kegan Hoskins, Beau Ludwick, Drew Lutz, Gavin Ruth, and Drew Schneider—during the season was unparalleled. Applegate, Ludwick and Lutz will continue their student athletic careers at the collegiate level playing basketball. Applegate at Hillsdale (Mich.) College, Ludwick at Holy Cross College, and Lutz at Bethel College. Hoskins will play baseball at Kankakee (Ill.) Community College.

Read more about the Kingsmen amazing run for the 2019 IHSAA Class 4-A State Championship on The Pennant website, on Twitter, and Facebook … your place for Penn High School athletic news!

*To download high resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you free of charge.

Penn High School’s Varsity Winter Guard turned in its best showing since 2004, placing third in the State at the IHSCGA (Indiana High School Color Guard Association) State Finals at Center Grove High School on Saturday, March 16, 2019.

The JV1 Guard placed 10th in its class (Class Regional A). This is the first time that this group has placed in the State Finals.

The Penn Winter Guards are under the direction on Jen Buckholz, Andy Mroczek, Megan Clinedinst, Melissa Shull, Caryn Reynolds, Gretchen Fox, Mary Seel and Tori Utech.

The South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra will be performing at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the campus of The University of Notre Dame on Sunday, March 17, 2019.

The SBYSO will be performing Music from Howard Shore's orchestral soundtrack to “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

Guest performers include soprano soloist Maureen McMullan, as well as our very own Penn High School Choir! Maureen McMullan is the Concert and Event Producer for External Affairs at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

This afternoon (Friday, March 15) McMullan took time out of her busy schedule to be a guest lecturer for the Penn Choir as they prepare for this Sunday’s performance. She worked with students on posture, breathing techniques as well as giving a visual representation of the different ways in which we sing.

If you would like to see Maureen McMullen and the Penn Choir, Tickets for the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra Gala concert start at $17 and must be purchased prior to the event.

To download high resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you free of charge.

Penn High School’s Symphonic Orchestra Strings placed fourth in the prestigious National Orchestra Cup, held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the National Orchestra Cup. Click to see the photo gallery posted below.

Penn students performed IV. Rondo, from Serenade in G, K. 525, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik", by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Adagio for Strings, by Samuel Barber; and Fugue, from Prelude and Fugue for Strings, by Vittorio Giannini.

“This was a fun trip, loaded with lots of places to go, things to see, and the kids performed wonderfully,” Penn Orchestra Instructor Anne Tschetter. “ We scored fourth overall, ahead of all the Texas schools, but behind the California Schools.

“The performance was not only a great experience, but confirmed what talented students we have at Penn!” Tschetter said.

Penn High School Semi-State Boys Basketball tickets ($10 each) are now on sale in the Athletic Office from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 7:30 a.m. -12 p.m. on Friday.

Penn plays Carmel at 3:45 p.m. on Sat., Mar. 16, at Lafayette Jefferson H.S. Fan bus $5.

A fan bus is available for Penn students at a cost of $5 a person.

• Cost a person: $5 for bus. $10 for ticket. Payable in the athletic department before 10 a.m. on Friday, March 15.
• Departure from Penn: Door D at 12 p.m.
• Return: 8:30 p.m. to Door D.
• Food not provided. Bring money for food at game.
• Wear Black!

Two of Penn’s Speech State Finalists, Lyvia Li and Abhinav Kotaru, reached the quarterfinals of the State Finals during competition Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10, in Fishers, Ind.

Li advanced to the quarterfinals in Impromptu and in United States Extemporaneous speaking.

Kotaru made it to quarterfinals in Discussion. 

Penn High School’s Robotics Team 135 earned the Chairman’s Award at the Indiana FIRST District Event at Penn on Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10.

A total of 57 high school teams competed in the event. Click to see the photo gallery posted below.

By winning the Chairman’s Award, Penn Robotics earned a berth in the State Finals, April 12-13, in Kokomo.

“The most prestigious award in FIRST means a tremendous amount to our team and community,” Penn Robotics Instructor Jim Langfeldt said of winning the Chairman’s Award. “Winning this has qualified our team for the state championships in Kokomo on April 12-13.  We have a mission of inspiring future students to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and we do this through many meaningful community outreach events.”

Penn placed third overall in the event.

The next competition for Penn is March 23-24 in Lafayette, Ind.

“This was our first time out, so (there are) many opportunities for improvement,” Langfeldt said of the Team 135 showing in the Penn event. “We were seeded No. 2 at the end of seeding matches. Unfortunately, some software issues and penalties kept us from moving on. I expect our team to learn and improve over the next few days to have an impressive showing in Lafayette!”

To download high resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you free of charge.

The Penn Boys Basketball Team defeated Chesterton, 49-42, in the opening Game of the Michigan City Regional on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

South Dakota State lit up the scoreboard for a 40-26 victory against Duke to claim the I-Ball Championship on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

I-Ball is an intramural basketball program for Penn High School students. A total of 28 teams and nearly 150 students participated in the I-Ball program, which runs from the middle of January through the first week of March. Game are played in Penn’s Fitness Center.

“This program has been around for almost two decades,” I-Ball sponsor Eric Bowers said. “This is a chance for many students to participate in athletics here at Penn.  Some students will not remember many things from here, but they will always remember their teammates and memories made on the I-ball courts.”

This season’s Championship Team featured Nick Roberts, Cameron Koschnick, Nicholas Padrnos, Justin Schneider, Zach Johnston, Sparsh Patel.

I-Ball gives people an opportunity to enjoyed participating in basketball and showcase their court skills.

“I-Ball allows people to blow off some steam after a hard day’s work at school in a slightly competitive environment,” Penn Senior Alex Fadely said. “It’s a chance to play with your friends, compete against other teams and earn bragging rights on the Fitness Center courts.”

Bowers took over the I-Ball program from Mark Watts.

“I-Ball was passed onto me well organized by Mr Watts,” Bowers said. “He created a great atmosphere and I am trying to continue what he built.”

Penn High School’s Advanced Jazz Ensemble is one of eight bands in Indiana to qualify for the State Jazz Finals, which will be Friday, March 15, at North Central High School in Indianapolis. This is the first time in school history that Penn’s Advanced Jazz Ensemble has qualified for the State Jazz Finals.

"Becoming a State Finalist is an excellent accomplishment for these students,” Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher said. “The students and staff of the Fine Arts Academy represent Penn High School well and also understand the commitment it takes to be successful and accomplish their goals."

Penn earned a spot in the State Jazz Finals through the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) State Qualifier at Goshen Middle School, performing: Armando's Big Band,  by Allen Wittig; Whisper Not, by Benny Golson; and Happy-Go-Lucky Local, by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington.

Members of the Advanced Jazz Ensemble are:

• Santiago Retzloff – Alto and Soprano Saxophone (senior)
• Nathan Campeau – Alto Saxophone and Clarinet (senior)
• Maggie Zielinski – Tenor Saxophone (senior)
• Romey Bell – Tenor Saxophone (senior)
• Caleb Vrydaghs – Tenor and Baritone Saxophone (junior)
• Sydney Cole – Baritone Saxophone and Vocals (senior)
• Michael Forry – Trumpet (sophomore)
• D.J. Pennix – Trumpet and Flugelhorn (sophomore)
• Caden Miller – Trumpet (sophomore)
• Derek Reinhardt – Trumpet (junior)
• Brad Ziegelmaier – Trombone (junior)
• Pete Sullivan – Trombone (sophomore)
• Quin Bast – Trombone (sophomore)
• Rebecca Mattson – Bass Trombone (junior)
• Monica Hunt – Guitar (junior) Alex Richard – Guitar (junior)
• Phillip Matous – Piano (freshman)
• Andy Henry – Bass (senior)
• Peter Campeau – Bass (junior)
• Brian Oke – Drums (junior)

“This group is incredibly talented,” Penn Music Instructor Aaron Griesser said. “I am so lucky to be able to stand in front of them. Our soloists were phenomenal at the State Qualifier, which is critically important in any jazz performance. We have a veteran saxophone section with a sound that borders on professional.

“Our entire trumpet section was brand new this year, and they have stepped up in a big way,” Griesser said. “The rhythm section plays with great creativity, and the trombones have shown consistent improvement for the past three years. Most importantly, this band is resilient in the face of adversity. They are at their best when the lights are brightest.”

Griesser said that qualifying for the State Jazz Finals is a special moment in Penn’s outstanding music tradition and the Fine Arts Academy.

“I'm excited to see the culture of collaboration in the Fine Arts Academy directly benefiting the musicians in this band, which includes students from band, choir, orchestra, music theory, and music technology,” Griesser said. “It is so fulfilling to work with these students and all of the other teachers who support them in their creative journey at Penn!”