North Central won its 10^th Indiana girls high school state championship, marking the team’s 7^th consecutive title. But despite the 32-17 decision over Penn, which had finished third at the Midwest Championship, the game was not a one-sided affair.

The Panthers were tested early on and found themselves on the losing end of a 10-0 scoreline.

“Penn has a really fast girl and she got around the corner on us twice,” North Central coach Suzi Dillon explained. “After the second try, our team found a fire inside them and came back stronger than ever. They picked it up and were to contain Penn and kept driving it in.”

Senior Payton Gartin put North Central on the board, and then Sydney Hugus touched down to even things up. Eventual MVP and senior Yami Hernandez accounted for the go-ahead try, and then Shelese Baiyee, and seniors Tonie Brown and Lauren Lad all scored. Hugus converted Baiyee’s try for the 32 points.

The victory capped off another undefeated season, and bid farewell to three seniors – Lad, Brown, and Joi Cheatham – who had played all four years of high school with the Panthers and never lost a match.

Although North Central does not compete in a summer 7s season, many of its players will hopefully make the Indiana Select Side that will compete at the Midwest Regional All Star Competition this June. Regardless, North Central’s legacy will continue to thrive at the collegiate level. Big Ten DI team Indiana University will receive incoming freshmen Lad, Hernandez, and Akiya Harris; Brown’s heading to Purdue; and Gartin will boot up with Iowa State.