Pirate Girls Punch Ticket to State Finals
Pirate Girls Punch Ticket to State Finals
Photo: Jim Pivarnik
The Pewamo-Westphalia Girls Basketball team is headed back to the biggest stage.
On Thursday afternoon at the Breslin Center, the Pirates delivered a gritty, hard-fought performance, knocking off Roscommon Girls Basketball 44-35 in the Division 3 state semifinals. In a game defined by defense, composure, and timely execution, Pewamo-Westphalia found a way to close it out and punch their ticket to the state championship.
With the win, the Pirates improve to 26-2 on the season and extend their impressive winning streak to 17 games. Time and again this postseason, P-W has shown its ability to win in pressure-packed moments—and Thursday was no different.
Now, the focus shifts to Saturday. Pewamo-Westphalia will face the winner of Jackson Lumen Christi and Niles Brandywine in the Division 3 state finals on March 21 at 4:00 PM, once again at the Breslin Center. The opportunity adds another chapter to what is already a proud tradition for the program.
The Pirates are no strangers to championship success. They captured a state title in 2019 with a 40-33 victory over Flint Hamady Girls Basketball, and have finished as state runner-up three times (1983, 1984, and 2017). Now, they have a chance to add another trophy to the case.
Adding to the excitement, the girls’ run comes just one week after the Pewamo-Westphalia boys basketball team secured its second state championship—making this a historic stretch for the school’s basketball programs.
One game remains. And with the way the Pirates are playing, they’ll head into Saturday with confidence, momentum, and a chance to bring another title back to Pewamo-Westphalia.
All the Action: Championship Results & Schedules
Last Week’s Results
Boys Basketball:
Quarterfinals - W 70-47 vs. Schoolcraft: Grady Eklund 30pts (2,000 career point milestone), Trent Piggott 15pts, Logan Farmer 7pts, Tyler Spitzley 6pts.
State Semifinals - W 63-37 vs. Flint New Standard: Grady Eklund 27pts, Logan Farmer 19pts, Trent Piggott 10pts (double-double),
State CHAMPIONS - W 61-57 vs. Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac: Grady Eklund 26pts, Logan Farmer 14pts, Trent Piggott 11pts. The Pirates won their 2nd state title in school history, finishing their season 27-2!
Girls Basketball:
Regional Semifinals - W 39-24 vs. Laingsburg: Alonna Thelen 16ts, Adrianna Eklund 11pts, Elly Bengel 10pts.
Regional CHAMPIONS - W 35-20 vs. Stockbridge: P-W’s defense held Stockbridge to 8 first half points, Elly Bengel 8pts and an early three-pointer to build a double-digit first half lead, Adrianna Eklund 6pts.
Pirate Boys Head Back to the State Finals
Pirates Head Back to the State Finals
Photo: Jim Pivarnik
With a thrilling victory over Flint New Standard Academy on Thursday, Pewamo-Westphalia boys basketball has punched its ticket back to the MHSAA State Finals. The Pirates now sit at 26–2 on the season and will look to add another championship to the program’s proud history.
Pewamo-Westphalia’s only two losses this year came against larger-school competition, falling narrowly to Grandville (45–47) and Grand Rapids Catholic Central (50–54). Those close contests against Division 1 and Division 2 opponents have helped prepare the Pirates for another deep postseason run.
Leading the charge for P-W is senior guard Grady Eklund, who is putting together a standout season. Eklund averages 20.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, serving as the offensive engine for the Pirates. Inside, senior center Trent Piggott adds 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, providing a strong presence in the paint. Sophomore guard Logan Farmer rounds out the trio with 9.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, giving P-W another scoring option and steady play in the backcourt.
This marks the fourth state finals appearance in program history for Pewamo-Westphalia. The Pirates previously finished as state runner-up in 1993, falling to Southgate Aquinas at the The Palace of Auburn Hills, and again in 2014, when they fell to Detroit Consortium. P-W captured its first state championship in 2019, defeating Iron Mountain in a thrilling 53–52 victory.
Now, the Pirates have another opportunity to make history. Pewamo-Westphalia will face Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac Lions in the Division 3 state championship game Saturday at 4:30 PM at the Breslin Center.
Champions Again: P-W Cheer Claims 10th State Title
Champions Again: Pewamo-Westphalia Cheer Claims 10th State Title
The Pewamo-Westphalia High School competitive cheer team has once again reached the top of the podium. On Friday, the Pirates captured the 2026 Division 4 State Championship with an outstanding final score of 776.34, capping off a dominant season and adding another historic chapter to the program’s legacy.
Entering the state finals as the #1 ranked team, Pewamo-Westphalia had already established itself as the team to beat. Throughout the season, the Pirates led Division 4 in all three competitive rounds, carrying an impressive average score of 748.48 into the state meet. Their previous season-best score of 780.08 had already set a high bar, but the Pirates saved their best performance for the biggest stage.
On Friday, the team delivered an exceptional routine from start to finish, posting a final score of 776.34. Even before the finals began, Pewamo-Westphalia had posted the top score in Division 4 in each of the three rounds, demonstrating the program’s consistency, precision, and championship-level preparation.
The title adds to an already decorated history for the Pirates. With this victory, Pewamo-Westphalia now owns 10 Division 4 state championships, adding the 2026 title to previous championships in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2010, and 2019. The program has also finished as state runner-up 16 times, including just last season in 2025, making this year’s championship a powerful return to the top.
For the athletes, coaches, and the entire Pirate community, the win represents months of dedication, discipline, and teamwork. The Pirates proved all season that they were the team to beat—and on the sport’s biggest stage, they delivered a championship performance that will be remembered for years to come.
All the Champions: Postseason Results & Schedules
Last Week’s Results
Cheerleading:
State CHAMPIONS - The Pirate Cheer team captured the 2026 D4 State Championship with an outstanding final score of 776.34, capping off a dominant season. P-W Cheer who finished as state runner-up in 2025, “made it right” claiming the Pirates 10th state title.
Wrestling (Luke Paxton Individual):
Individual Finals - Luke Paxton finished 3rd with a huge upset over the #2 ranked wrestler in the state. Went 4-1 on the weekend, with his only loss coming to the #1 ranked wrestler from Dundee. This marks Luke’s highest career finish, improving on last years 4th place finish at 138lbs, and also earns him All-State honors for his outstanding performance.
Girls Basketball:
District Semifinals - W 69-19 vs. Ithaca: Elly Bengel 14pts, Adrianna Eklund 12pts.
District CHAMPIONS - W 50-24 vs. Ovid Elsie: P-W wins District 94 outscoring opponents 119-43 on the week.
Boys Basketball:
Regional Semifinals - W 54-40 vs. Western Michigan Christian: Grady Eklund 21pts, Trent Piggott 12pts, & Logan Farmer 10pts.
Regional CHAMPIONS - W 59-51 vs. Calvin Christian: Grady Eklund 23pts, Logan Farmer 16pts, & Nolan George 8pts.
Tuesdays Quarterfinals will be held at Kalamazoo Loy-Norrix vs. Schoolcraft 7pm tip.
All the Action: Results & Postseason Schedules
Last Week’s Results
Girls Basketball:
W 55-53 at Grand Rapids Catholic Central: Adrianna Eklund 21pts & 10 rebs, Elly Bengel 13 pts (hit 1,000 career points), Elyse Thelen 9pts.
W 71-34 at Perry: Adrianna Eklund 17pts, & 9 others added to the scoring.
W 59-36 vs. Laingsburg: Clinched the CMAC title outright on Senior Night. Adrianna Eklund 18pts & 6 rebs, Elly Bengel 10pts.
Boys Basketball:
District Semis - W 87-34 vs. Saranac: Grady Eklund 23pts, Trent Piggott 14pts, Logan Farmer 10pts.
District CHAMPIONS - W 65-28 at Delton Kellogg: Trent Piggott 25pts & 12 rebs, Grady Eklund 13pts & 6 assists.
Bowling (Sam Simon Individual):
Individual Finals - Sam Simon finished 41st in the state in Division 4. Great season by the senior!
Cheerleading:
Regional CHAMPIONS - The Pirate Cheer team won the regional championship at Novi. They head to their 30th state finals appearance on Friday, which is second all-time behind Grandville (31).
Pirates Earn Statement Road Win, Bengel Reaches 1,000-Points
Bengel Reaches 1000pt Milestone
Pewamo-Westphalia made the trip to Grand Rapids on Tuesday night and delivered a performance packed with milestones, clutch moments, and a signature victory.
The celebration started almost immediately. In the opening moments of the game, senior Elly Bengel etched her name into the record books by scoring her 1,000th career point, a testament to the consistency and impact she has had on the Pirate program. The historic basket gave PW an early surge of energy and set the tone for what would become a hard-fought night.
Facing a Division 2 state-ranked Grand Rapids Catholic Central squad on its home floor, the Pirates built a lead but had to withstand a furious Cougar comeback in the second half. Catholic Central battled all the way back to tie the game at 53–53 in the closing seconds, creating a pressure-packed finish.
With just three seconds remaining, Alonna Thelen stepped to the free-throw line and delivered in the biggest moment of the night, calmly knocking down two clutch free throws to lift PW to a 55–53 victory.
The Pirates were powered by a balanced and relentless effort on both ends of the floor:
Adrianna Eklund led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, recording a dominant double-double.
Elly Bengel finished with 13 points and 4 steals, capping her milestone night in winning fashion.
Elyse Thelen added 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, providing key plays throughout the contest.
The win stands as one of PW’s most impressive results of the season — a road victory over a ranked opponent, highlighted by a career milestone and late-game poise.
The Pirates continue to build momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season, showing once again their ability to perform in big moments against top competition.