The Pilgrims were firing on all cylinders across the board this past week, as spring sports delivered a full slate of action. From thrilling comebacks to school records, the Big Red “P” was well-represented on tracks, courts, diamonds, and fairways around Northern Indiana. ⸻ Track & Field: Statement Wins and Relay Records The boys’ and girls’ track and field teams opened Northern Lakes Conference action this week with notable efforts. The boys traveled to NorthWood, defeating the host Panthers 71-61 while falling to a loaded Northridge squad 39.5-92.5. Cole Figg stole the spotlight by sweeping both hurdle events with lifetime PRs. Hunter Shipley continued his strong season, clocking 51.24 in the 400m, while Freddy Kallenberg shaved 24 seconds off his 3200m PR. In the field, Leo Sickmiller broke the 40-foot barrier in the shot put for the first time. On Saturday, the Lady Pilgrims were crowned champions of the Carmen Cripe Relays, edging out host Northridge 63-61. Among the highlights: a school record and 1st place finish in the 4x200m relay (Contreras, Hunter, Ferman, Macey), Jersey Hunter winning the 100m hurdles, and Vivy Miller earning silver in the 1600m. Field event teams held their ground, with a 2nd-place finish in long jump and strong marks in discus, shot, and vault. Back in NLC action on Tuesday at Northridge, the girls tied the Raiders 66-66 and fell to Concord 71-61, showcasing depth. Hunter, Macey, Doll, and Ferman anchored key events, while distance efforts from Miller, Jones, and Gurtner kept Plymouth in contention. The boys returned Thursday to split with Concord and Mishawaka, defeating the Cavemen 70.5-61.5. Figg again dominated hurdles, while Shipley won the 400m. Kallenberg medaled in both the 1600m and 3200m, and relay squads claimed wins and crucial points. ⸻ Softball: Resilient Pilgrims Deliver Wins, Snap Streaks The Lady Pilgrims softball team continued their winning ways over Easter weekend, shutting out Taylor 6-0 behind a one-hit gem from Aubrey Ferguson, who also struck out six. Haylee Busse drove in two with a double, and Lexi Pike scored twice. Saturday brought rain and drama, but Plymouth came from behind in the 7th inning to beat John Glenn 7-4. Busse launched a leadoff homer, while Liz Derifield and Gracie Patrick carried the offense and pitching load, with Patrick earning the complete game win. A tough road trip to Mishawaka ended a five-game win streak, with a 12-2 loss, but the team bounced back to earn its first NLC win at Concord, 7-4. Derifield led the charge with 3 RBIs, Pike hit her first career home run, and Ferguson tossed five solid innings while also going 2-for-4 at the plate. ⸻ Baseball: NLC Win Highlights Busy Week Across All Levels The C-Team Pilgrims battled through two competitive games, falling to South Central (14-10) and Mishawaka (7-4). Bryce Ferguson, Mason Tillman, and Xavier Rouch led the young squad with strong showings at the plate, while Ferguson’s 4.1-inning start vs. Mishawaka included 3 strikeouts and no earned runs. The JV and Varsity teams hosted Mishawaka on Monday, and both squads mounted comebacks that came up just short—JV 12-9, Varsity 8-7. Standouts included Preston Wolfe (5 IP, 7 K, 1-for-2), Parker Wolfe (2 RBIs), and Nick Manzuk (3-for-4). The Pilgrims bounced back Wednesday night at Concord, earning their first NLC win of the season 11-7. Wolfe scored twice, Ben Shively drove in a pair, and Drake Feece brought in two despite going hitless. The JV fell just short, 6-5, despite Klynt Verhaeghe’s 3-for-3 effort and two runs scored. ⸻ Golf: Pilgrims Stay Hot, Take Down Marian and Sweep Home Invite The JV boys golf team braved early rain at the Rochester Invite, finishing 2nd (351) behind Culver Academies. Chase Bowling placed 2nd individually after a playoff loss with a round of 80, while Ale Pons tied for 4th with an 85. At the Twin Lakes Varsity Invite, Plymouth placed 4th overall (329), led by O’Malley Holm’s 79. Dan Nguyen (81) and Ben Nguyen (82) rounded out a steady team score. Both squads returned home Monday and defeated Mishawaka Marian, with varsity shooting 154 behind Caleb Harland’s 36. The JV followed suit, winning 171-198 with Bowling (38) and Pons (40) at the top of the leaderboard. On Thursday, the Pilgrims hosted a six-team mini invite and emerged undefeated, posting a team score of 153. Dan Nguyen led with a 36, and Holm, Ben Nguyen, and Bowling all shot under 42 to seal a dominant 6-0 sweep. ⸻ Tennis: Lady Pilgrims Battle in NLC and Weekend Tourney Action The Lady Pilgrims tennis team faced sectional rival Culver Academy on Good Friday, falling 4-1 despite a convincing doubles win from Marley Christy and Emma Jackson (6-0, 6-1). The JV lost 6-3 but got wins from Allison Grobe and two doubles pairings. Mother Nature forced their Saturday tournament indoors to Culver, where Plymouth fell just short to district-ranked Crown Point (3-2), then swept Kankakee Valley (5-0). Christy and Jackson remained unbeaten at No. 1 Doubles, and Sophia Cantero earned two singles wins. Back-to-back NLC matchups followed, with the Lady Pilgrims dropping tight 3-2 matches to both Warsaw and NorthWood. Singles matches were hard-fought, and both doubles teams continued to shine. The JV squad split their two outings, edging Warsaw 4-3 before falling 8-6 at NorthWood. Please keep up with scores and news on our athletic website: gopilgrimsgorockies.com.