Friday B1 March 15 The Perspective 2019 Sports Our Story, Our Fight Photos by Micheal Sarah Helling cheers alongside her team Jillian Baldwin doing a toe touch Vasilnek by Lauren Martin Plymouth High four out of twelve teams total. by going it to states. Even the girls on the team got the second highest round three score, even Staff Writer School’s competitive The 2015-2016 season was the first time in feel that this season’s team was one of a kind. out-scoring last year’s state champions. cheer program has history of Plymouth competitive cheer making “We have never been a closer family. I can’t Overall, Plymouth’s mental and physical been creating a name for themselves over the it to regionals. Since then, the team has been wait to see what amazing things we accom- strength helped them have their best season past four years. They won’t stop until the end pushing to make it to states. To make it to plish,” Rachel Smith, a Plymouth senior, said. ever. Their hard work was visible at every goal of making it to states has been reached. states, a team must once again place top four Plymouth seems to only be improving. competition they attended. Plymouth cheer Cheer is an opinionated sport, where teams’ out of twelve at regionals. These competitions With every competition, they are breaking only gets better every year, and will continue overall scores are based on the judge’s opin- can either end a team’s season or give them new records and even making their way up to push for the 4th place spot to continue to ion. Due to opinions, teams want to get their one more week to push. This season, Plymouth to the top ten list for their round three score. states. names known so they can get better scores. received second at districts fueling their fire to As regionals grew closer, this team practiced Plymouth’s name is getting out there, and they work even harder. about fifteen hours a week to ensure they were are the only team at the Park that is going Teams from all over the state have been as ready as possible. Regionals finally came on to regionals for the 2018-2019 season. To cheering Plymouth on from the beginning of and they got 8th. This means that Plymouth’s continue onto regionals, a team must place top the season hoping for them to make history season is officially over. At regionals, Plymouth Park Teams Make it to Gymnastics Regionals by Cora Wallen On Mar. [at regionals] and had a really good ing onto the Michigan High School Editor-in-Chief 2, 2019, ten meet,” she said. Athletics Association state meet. gymnas- Jaya Dhande, Plymouth senior Individual qualifiers from Can- tics teams captain, said, “we have improved so ton were Zoe Graves on bars, Kana competed for the title of Region 3 much as a team and really progressed Quinn on vault, Nehal Harish on Regional Champion team in the in not only our skills and scores but beam and Lauren Hendricks on vault Plymouth High School gym. The also attitudes and our team bonding.” and floor. top three teams would be going to Dhande also gave credit to their new Individual qualifiers from Salem States. Individuals qualify for the state coach, Alyssa Burke, for “pushing us were Fisher for all-around, vault meet by placing top ten in individual past limits we didn’t know we had.” and beam, Chloe Longeway for events or top six for all-around. The regional meet ended up with all-around, bars and beam, Chloe The gymnastics teams around the the following team scores: Adrian in Wiewora for all-around, floor and Park all boasted seasons of growth tenth, Ann Arbor Skyline in ninth, bars, Cameron Moyers for all-around and/or success. Tecumseh in eighth with 120.10 and floor, Kacey Jones for vault and Canton Assistant Coach, Rachel points, Saline in seventh place with Julia Devine for vault. Socha, said, “This was definitely a 123.75 points, Livonia Red in sixth Individual qualifiers for Plymouth building season for us, with around place with 134.575 points, Canton were Courtney Jordan, Jaya Dhande 20 new girls. With all these new faces in fifth with 135.25 points, Salem in and Ava Eilola for vault, Maisie Swaf- comes new skills to learn, but we’re fourth with 139.95 points, Plymouth ford for all-around, bars and beam, definitely looking at a really strong in third with 141.925 points, North- Alexis Pultorak for beam and floor, team in the future.” ville in second with 142.15 points Ella Seale for all-around, beam and Salem senior captain Riley Fisher and Livonia Blue in first with 143.45 floor, and Adrian Hartford for floor. Plymouth gymnast Jaya Dhande Photo by Cora Wallen said that the team did well this points. season. “We left it all out there today The Plymouth team will be mov- Girls Wrestling Makes History Boys Bowling by Madeline Justice team or a coed team instead of and Floreno placed 4th overall. by Brett Caldwell Plymouth senior co captain Moreover, Salem junior Sports Editor a strictly female teams. Both of these places were major Entertainment Editor Alan Brown, who qualified for Jonathan Hall had an amazing At the Park we have fe- accomplishments for the girls individual States for the second performance at States coming male who compete along the and their home schools. year in a row said, “It was really in third place saying, “It feels For the first time in Michi- boys teams. When the MWA This state-wide competition The Canton boys bowling amazing to qualify again for great, especially knowing how gan history the MWA, Michi- announced they were hosting has created opportunities for States. I never thought I would hard the competition is and gan Wrestling Association, held team’s season came to an end a state championship com- girls all over the state so they Saturday Feb. 23 as none of qualify one time let alone back how much hard work me and a girls state championship on petition multiple of the parks can start to compete in all girls to back years. I’m very grateful my team have put in.” Feb. 3, 2019. In high schools them were able to qualify for female decided to compete for divisions and continue the States. They finished the season that I was able to do it again.” P-CEP varsity boys bowling all around the nation girls the title. sport in college. This will help The Salem boys finished the finished this season with seven wrestling has been added to coming second in the division At the competition Salem in taking strides for many high to the Park rival Salem. season as division champs and all-conference members, three athletic departments in addi- representative Maritza Gallegos schools across the entire state. won Regionals, which was their tournament wins and two State tion to the increasing number The Plymouth boys failed to and Plymouth representative qualify for States as a team, but first tournament win of the qualifiers. of participants. High schools Mallory Floreno competed and year. Additionally, they had a in Michigan have been slow on they finished third in their divi- both placed within the top five sion with a 10-4 record along strong showing at States com- the uptake. Most girls that want in the state. Gallegos placed 5th ing in third place. to wrestle have to join a boys with two tournament wins. News The Perspective - March 15, 2019 the-perspective.org B2 Sports A Slippery End to the Boys Swim Season by Zach Antonelli It’s around cause the beginning of the season didn’t seem community of guys that really care about each The team comes into practice with a positive that time of year as successful.” other and are dedicated to the sport.” attitude, a will to get better and fun personali- Staff Writer now where the This year was the first year with the new Fong’s advice to underclassmen is “Join ties.” One thing he’d like to tell underclass- winter sports seasons are ending, and overall KLAA divisions. Many teams played schools the team. It’s a really great experience. Even men is “stay strong, improve, and remain this has been quite the season for the swim that they had never swam against before. though the practices seem hard and your win- coachable. To someone considering swim the teams at the Park. As we wrap up this years But Fong remained optimistic and faithful in ters may feel miserable, it’s really rewarding environment is positive, a great way to make swim season, I decided to talk to the captains his team. Looking back at the season, Fong to see your practice and dedication pay off at friends, work hard, and have fun.” of the Canton and Plymouth teams to get their explained “I think some standout parts of the the end of each season. If you do join the team We were unable to reach the Salem Senior take on the season overall and their experi- season were beating Plymouth, having a relay be resilient and persevere, and have fun in the Captains / swimmers for this article. But they ences being on the team for all four years. team (Isaac Fong, Ethan Wayne, Michael Ca- process.” also had a very successful season. They were Isaac Fong, Canton Senior Captain, is cur- ruso, and Logan Stombaugh) go to the MISCA Zach Plymale, Plymouth Senior Captain, Park Champs, taking the title from the win- rently practicing and preparing for the Michi- meet, having Logan Stombaugh and Isaac has been on the team all four years.