Penn’s Girls and Boys Cross Country teams each earned Top 5 finishes in the Penn Invitational, hosted by the Kingsmen on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018.

The Penn Girls Team placed second in a close battle. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger finished first with 57 points. Penn was second with 63 points, followed by Homestead (68), Mishawaka (93) and Culver Academy (129).

The Penn Boys Team placed fourth. Valparaiso placed first with 55 points, followed by Homestead (61), West Noble (112), Penn (128) and Wabash (160).

Penn Girls Cross Country Coach Michael Clements was pleased with the Kingsmen effort.

“I’m extremely proud and excited how our ladies stepped up against two of the best squads in the State (Bishop Dwenger and Homestead),” Clements said. “We knew we would get challenged by the Saints and the Spartans, so to come within six points of an upset is a huge step in the right direction for our team and should give us a lot of confidence moving forward.

“The Lady Kingsmen’s races were made in the second half of the course today, moving up authoritatively during the most challenging part of the course to secure the runners-up honors,” Clements said.

The Penn Boys and Girls Cross Country Junior Varsity teams each won team titles at the Penn Invitational.

Penn finished with 27 points to claim the JV Girls team title. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger was second with 41 points.

The Penn JV Boys finished with 26 points. Homestead scored 49 points to finish second.

GIRLS XC VARSITY: Penn individuals – 7. Brooke Neal 20:19, 8. Ellie Jankowski 20:32, 13. Aislynn Alkire 21:07, 15. Haley Makowski 21:18, 20. Morgan Gannon 21:13, 23. Nicole Marshall 21:42, 36. Katie Casbon 22:33.

GIRLS XC JV: Penn wins the Penn Invitational team title. Penn runners – 1. Mackenzie Holland 22:19, 4. Stella DiMarzio 22:40, 6. Kayla Edgerly 23:00, 7. Riley Keppler 23:29, 9. Morgan Ungerecht 23:53, 10. Adriana Juarez 24:05, 14. Cassidy Cripe 24:28.

BOYS XC VARSITY: Penn individuals at the Penn Invitational – 18. Mariano Retzloff 17:40.47, 23. Jacob Meek 17:45.12, 25. Noah Cocquyt 17:48.96, 27. Joel Gonzalez 17:51.21, 37. Nick Sergeant 18:09.00, 41. Cohl Fox 18.11.89, 43. Joshua Temeles 18:12.48.

BOYS XC JV: Penn wins Penn Invitational team title. Penn individuals – 2. Ben Boardley 18:18, 3. Dillon Pottschmidt 18:24, 6. Carter Kaser 19:03, 7. Tommy Rzeszutko 19:07, 8. David Obert 19:13, 17. Max Scheel 19:31, 26. Taylor Cussen 19:48.

The Penn High School Football Team defeated Merrillville, 28-16, on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

P-H-M’s annual Community Tailgate will be co-hosted this year with the Penn High School Booster’s Club and will have a new location … the new plaza picnic area at the South End of TCU Freed Field.

Come out before the Penn vs. Brother Rice football game on Friday, August 31, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., and enjoy brats or hot dogs, chips, cookie and a drink  … all for just $4.00!!!

(no advance ticket sales!)

The Penn Boys Tennis Team defeated Mishawaka, 5-0, on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

As a result of construction, the Jefferson Rd. Student Parking Lot will be impacted on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 23, 2018) only. Anyone parked in this lot on Thursday afternoon will be asked to be patient as our normal student pickup process has changed as a result of construction on the west end of the student parking lot.  Students parked in the Jefferson Rd. Student Parking Lot will not be permitted to exit the lot until approximately 3:45 p.m. or as the student pick-up drive clears."

The Penn High School 9/10 team at the TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) Nationals in June – Anna VanAvermaete, Janusha Cooray, Anya Tang, Julia Son, Kristine Mahler, Sharon Ni, and Max Egendoerfer – placed second in the nation in the Prepared Presentation category. 

The team had to create a two-minute digital video promoting a fictional engineering consulting firm that works with tech companies to promote a sustainable future, highlighting services with the specifics of green engineering.

The teams also had to design and build a product with specific supplies, and solve 25 challenging math problems along the way.

Finally, competing students had to prepare a 3-5 minute presentation in which they had to design an innovation in transportation infrastructure based on sustainable criteria. They had to choose a city, consider adaptability, adherence to choices and laws, cost, timeline, societal economic and environmental implications. 

Penn's team placed second in the nation with a presentation on implementing solar-powered e-bikes into the city of Hanoi, where motor scooters are soon to be outlawed.

For 11/12 grade levels, there were 561 teams in the nation and the top 58 made it to nationals. Penn's Junior team, captained by Tingyi Lu, placed 11th overall in "Best in Nation."

Penn's Senior team captained by Nick Casetti placed 11th in Digital Media and 19th overall in "Best in Nation."

Will Thurin scored a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 1 singles to lead a Penn sweep of Warsaw as the Kingsmen beat the Tigers 5-0 in the high school Boys Tennis season opener on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018.

Aidan Sucharetza earned a point for the Kingsmen at No. 2 singles with a 6-2, 6-0 victory.

Peter Yang won at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-0.

Jack Dinnon teamed up with Alvin Wang for a 6-4, 6-3 victory a No. 1 doubles.

Sid Das and Jackson Buhring won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

Penn defeated Warsaw, 10-1, in Junior Varsity action.

Penn High School unleashed a big plays in the second half to pull away from Valparaiso for a 21-3 high school football victory in the season opener on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018.

Valparaiso led 3-0 at halftime.

Ryan Whiteman put the Kingsmen on the scoreboard when he broke loose for a 40-yard TD with 3:47 left in the third quarter.

Wild Bunch hit man Caden Paquette then stung the Vikings with a Pick-6, returning an interception eight yards with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter to put the Kingsmen ahead 14-3.

Lightning struck again as Whiteman broke loose to sprint 29 yards with 2:10 left in the fourth quarter and the Kingsmen pulled ahead 21-3.

Whiteman finished with 88 yards on seven carries.

Kingsmen quarterback Ron Powlus completed eight passes for 100 yards.

Valpo 3 0 0 0 – 3

Penn 0 0 7 14 – 21

V – FG Elias Sewell 25

P – Ryan Whiteman 40 (Ryan Majerek kick)

P – Caden Paquette 8 interception return (Ryan Majerek kick)

P – Ryan Whiteman 29 (Ryan Majerek kick)

Penn High School swept Fairfield, 25-16, 25-16, 25-17, in the Volleyball home opener on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018.

The Kingsmen Volleyball Team hosted future Kingsmen student-athletes on Middle School Night.

Penn’s Girls Soccer Team turned out in full force to cheer on the Penn Volleyball Team.

“It was so fun to be at home with our middle schools and girls soccer teams supporting us,” Penn Volleyball Head Coach Lisa Pawlik said. “It was a great team win and lots of smiles.” 

The Kingsmen Junior Varsity beat Fairfield, 25-13, 25-16.

Penn Varsity stats:

Aces: Maria Schwindaman 3, Ally Hickey 2, Emma Hickey 2.

Kills: Maria Schwindaman 13, Ally Hickey 8, Alyssa Torres 6.

Blocks: Molly Pooler 3, Amari Torain 2, Alyssa Torres 2.

Assists: Addy Kois 15, Ally Hickey 11.

Digs: Emma Hickey 7, Ally Hickey 5.

Penn High School’s Volleyball team shook off an opening loss in Pool Play and fought back to win the Championship of the Tom Heck Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018.

“To lose the first match in a battle and come back to win the tournament in honor of Tom Heck, I am so proud and excited for these special young ladies,” Penn Volleyball Head Coach Lisa Pawlik said. 

Penn beat Lake Central, 25-22, 21-25, 15-9 in the Championship match.

In Pool Play, Penn lost to Hamilton Southeastern, 25-22, 21-25, 12-15; Penn beat Bishop Noll, 25-19, 25-7; Penn beat Fort Wayne Carroll, 25-23, 25-16.

Penn Stat leaders for the tournament:

Maria Schwindaman: 25 kills, 3 aces 

Bella Phillips: 19 kills

Ally Hickey: 28 kills, 41 assists, 16 digs

Alyssa Torres: 15 kills, 10 blocks

Molly Pooler: 10 kills

Amari Torain: 16 kills

Addy Kois: 51 assists, 6 aces

Emma Hickey: 43 digs

Sophia Cruz: 16 digs

Kylee Hixenbaugh: 8 digs