The Plainwell Trojans take pride in their sportsmanship and athletic programs, shining a spotlight on seniors who have actively participated in their sports throughout their high school careers; while we are unable to include all the seniors who have contributed to Plainwell High School Athletics, we still recognize and appreciate their dedication and effort.

Our first high school senior is Mackenzie Meert ‘26. Meert is deeply involved in two sports: dance and cheer, which, while sharing some similarities, also have significant differences. She has dedicated 15 years to dance and has cheered for 10 years. Mackenzie aspires to attend Grand Valley State University, hoping to either join their Laker dance team or cheer for their spirited cheer squad. To achieve these goals, she has committed herself to hard work, engaging in competitive dance with a local dance company and participating in both competitive and sideline cheer at her school. Additionally, Meert has sought extra support by booking private lessons with her dance teachers and cheer coaches, as well as attending college clinics and recruitment camps.

From one mat to another – Austin Gyorkos ’26, is a dominating force on the Plainwell Men’s Wrestling team. Gyorkos has been wrestling for 12 years. Gyorkos has visited colleges for their wrestling teams and is hoping to attend the University of Indianapolis with a D2 wrestling team. Being a wrestler is hard work and determination but to be a college wrestler Gyorkos has put in so much extra work with all the constant training he does. The high school season is not the end of wrestling for Gyorkos – he also trains and participates in club wrestling and competes with Team Michigan. Gyorkos says “to have fun with it”. Gyorkos has been awarded on of the most prestigious titles, a title that only the top wrestlers receive, a Fargo All American. He is also a two time Central Regional Champion claiming first place in his weight class at the high school regional tournament. Gyorkos on top of that is a high school three time state qualifier and a state placer.

While Gyorkos is dominating on the mat, another senior to watch is, Sam Harper ’26 take on the pool. Harper plans to attend college to take on collegiate swimming. Harper has been swimming for six+ years. Harper finds joy swimming and has a few schools in mind to swim at like the University of North Carolina that is a D1 swim team, Wilmington college  a D3 swim team, and Bakersfield college D1 swim team. Harper spends his time working out in the gym and lifting weights and swimming on his off season with our other school swim teams. Harper has accomplished a lot of great things during his swimming career and won state in the 500 freestyle beating his personal best time. Qualified for junior national, was named all conference three times during high school

Plainwell athletics wouldn’t the same without these senior athletes we appreciate everything that they have done for our school and their teams.