Penn only school in the state to win Sectional titles in all eight IHSAA Fall sports | Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Skip to main content

Penn only school in the state to win Sectional titles in all eight IHSAA Fall sports

Penn is the only school in the state to win Sectional Championships in all eight IHSAA Fall Sports. Front row (from left), Chad Piatt, Curtis Cornell (BXC), Dani Spring (GXC), Lyvia Li, Abbey Hamilton (GGOLF), Kristina Lynch, Molly McLaughlin (GSOC); back row, Principal Sean Galiher, P-H-M Supt. Dr. Jerry Thacker, Rachel Hickey, Italia Fields (VB), Gabe Yeoman, Carrington Neal (FB), Eric Spaargaren, A.J. Antonelli (BTEN), Brandon Stahl, Micah Craig (BSOC), AD Aaron Leniski.
Penn is the only school in the state to win Sectional Championships in all eight IHSAA Fall Sports. Front row (from left), Chad Piatt, Curtis Cornell (BXC), Dani Spring (GXC), Lyvia Li, Abbey Hamilton (GGOLF), Kristina Lynch, Molly McLaughlin (GSOC); back

Out of 410 Indiana High School Athletic Association members, only one -- Penn High School – hoisted a Sectional Championship trophy in each of the eight Fall Sports.

 

Penn-Harris-Madison Supt. Dr. Jerry Thacker, Penn Principal Principal Sean Galiher, and Athletic Director Aaron Leniski announced that for the first time, Penn swept Sectional Championships in each of the eight IHSAA Fall sports, and that Penn is the only school in the state to accomplish that feat this year.

 

“What an amazing example of excellence!” Dr. Thacker said. “I am so proud of these champions - coaches and players.  They are remarkable role models and products of our Triangle of Success.  Congratulations!”

 

Galiher lauded the efforts of the entire Penn community in the remarkable achievement.

 

“This accomplishment reflects the collective efforts of our students, coaches, teachers, parents and school community,” Galiher said. “I am so proud of these student-athletes. We take great pride in providing experiences that challenge students both academically and on the field. Our coaches are the best in the state.  “

 

Leniski said that being the only team in the state this year to sweep Sectional crowns in all of the Fall Sports is a comprehensive effort.

 

“The Athletic Department is pleased to play a vital role in providing education-based athletics for our school community,” Leniski said. “The school administration is extremely proud of the accomplishments by the Fall sports teams. 

 

“An IHSAA Sectional Championship, due to the number teams involved at that tournament level, is the most challenging championship to earn in the state series.  Our student-athletes and coaching staff have dedicated countless hours in the off-season to sports-performance training and open-facility development work in order to attain their goals. 

 

“Hard work, dedication, and perseverance continue to produce outstanding results on the athletic field and in the classroom for Kingsmen student-athletes,” Leniski said. “This is a win-win for our school community.”

 

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY (Coach Tom Miller): Penn won its second consecutive Cross Country Sectional Championship and 22nd in Program history. The Kingsmen placed five runners in the Top 10. Penn scored 27 points. Mishawaka placed second with 68 points. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

 

BOYS SOCCER (Coach Josh Nakayama): Penn won its seventh consecutive Sectional Championship in Boys Soccer and 11th overall with a 2-1 victory against South Bend Riley in the Championship Match.

 

BOYS TENNIS (Coach Eric Bowers): Penn won its 16th consecutive Sectional Championship in Boys Tennis and 23rd Sectional Championship overall. The Kingsmen defeated Marian, 5-0, in the Championship Match. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

 

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY (Coach Michael Clements): Penn won its 14th consecutive Girls Cross Country Sectional Championship and 26th overall. The Kingsmen placed six runners in the Top 10 to finish with 29 points. Mishawaka placed second with 52 points. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

 

GIRLS GOLF (Coach Dominic Demeter): Penn Girls Golf  won its ninth Sectional Championship in a row and 19th in Program history. Penn shot a 349 to lead the 11-team field. South Bend St. Joseph placed second with a score of 367.

 

GIRLS SOCCER (Coach Jeff Hart): Penn extended its state-best streak of consecutive Sectional Championships to 11. The Kingsmen own 16 Sectional Championships in Program history. Penn went on to win the Class 3-A State Championship, and were named National Champions by topdrawersoccer.com.

 

FOOTBALL (Coach Cory Yeoman): Penn beat Warsaw, 40-0, to win its fifth consecutive Football Sectional Championship and 24th in Program history. Penn competes in the Regional Championship at Crown Point on Friday, Nov. 10.

 

VOLLEYBALL (Coach Sarah Hendricks): Penn defeated No. 16 LaPorte, 25-14, 25-13, 25-16, to win the Sectional Championship. It was the 14th Sectional Championship in Program history.