This Sunday’s game represents Mimi’s second straight appearance at the annual PPK event, after the Jefferson Elementary student qualified at the Mishawaka regional competition last year, as well. Mimi will be competing against four other qualifiers in the girls 8-9 year-old division before this weekend’s game, and she and 39 other participants in four separate boys and girls age divisions from around the state will all take part in an exhibition at the half.
As the Punt, Pass and Kick competition’s name denotes, competitors punt, pass and place kick a football in three phases at the event. The distance of each of their efforts — they’re given only one try for each phase — is totaled up, and the longest distance wins.
“She’s wearing Colts’ stuff every day of the week this week,” said Monica with a laugh. “She’s getting ready.”
Top three placers in each of the eight total divisions at this Sunday’s event all receive plaques for placing and could earn the opportunity to compete in a national championship to take place at an NFL Divisional Playoff game in January, although the field is limited to just five performers in each division from around the country.
In her first try last year, Mimi placed third among her peers with just a foot’s worth of difference between the top three finishers. Despite playing in front of crowds on the Jefferson Elementary basketball team, in the Plymouth Youth Softball League, and as a year-round soccer player on Plymouth’s travel soccer team, the quiet young athlete admits to being nervous about doing the Punt, Pass and Kick this weekend because “It’s a bigger crowd.”
Monica said her daughter’s nerves didn’t seem to hurt her performance last year, though.
“She was really nervous, but she did really well,” she said. “She obviously has to have a little bit of nerves, but she seems to perform well under pressure.”
While her experience as a three-sport athlete may not help her performance anxiety, Mimi said her soccer playing helps her, especially with the place kicking part of the competition.
“Yeah, because it’s easier when it’s on the ground,” she said. “It’s like soccer, you just kick it.”
Her older brother Tyler, who’s a lineman and a kicker on Plymouth High School’s JV team, has also been helping her prepare. It was Tyler who made it to the state PPK finals five years ago at the age of 11.
“She’s grown up watching him and he’s been good going out and working with her,” Monica said.
“He told me how to kick the ball, how to hold it,” said Mimi.