Andrew Pleasant, an incoming sophomore at Marquette Catholic High School in Michigan City, has been immersed in the world of sports since a very young age. With a passion that runs deep in his familial roots, Pleasant’s aptitude for sports had led him to earn a varsity spot in three sports as a freshman. Through hard work, dedication, and family support, Pleasant continues to achieve personal growth and academic success.
“I have lived in Portage my entire life,” Pleasant said. “My love of sports comes from my parents, who both did sports when they were younger. They got me engaged in athletics at a very young age, starting with soccer and basketball, and it has grown from there.”
Pleasant’s parents made his switch to Marquette this past academic year to help bolster his career as both an athlete and a student. Since making the transition, Pleasant has experienced a whirlwind of athletic experiences, each leaving an indelible mark on his journey.
“My favorite memory so far is scoring two goals in a sectional soccer game against Oregon Davis Junior-Senior High School,” Pleasant said. “My other favorite memory was in baseball when I got my first varsity hit in the first game of the season.”
Pleasant’s commitment to athletics is evident in his dedication to three sports: soccer, basketball and baseball. He has earned varsity letters in all three but plans to make the switch from soccer to cross country in the coming school year.
“My family is always there for me and pushes me to be better or do my best at whatever I do,” Pleasant said. “They always support me in whatever I choose to do, like in my switch from going soccer to cross country.”
Pleasant credits his family for their unwavering support, both athletically and academically. He places his mother at the forefront of his support because of the sacrifices she makes to ensure her children get the best opportunities to succeed.
“My mom, who worked as a nurse for 22 years before becoming a realtor, is a true inspiration,” Pleasant said. “She had spent a lot of time doing real estate school while being a nurse, and yet still found time for us. She is the one that pushes me academically, but athletically my parents are there at every single game. With my sister, Marissa, there is always family competition because she is my twin. She always wants to be better than I am and I always want to be better than her, but it drives both of us to be better.”
Pleasant’s testament to his family's unwavering support also extends to the challenges he has faced as an athlete. While injuries are an inevitable part of sports, Pleasant faced a significant challenge when he previously underwent surgery. He again credits his family as the catalyst pushing him through the experience.
“I would say at this point I am around 90 percent healed,” Pleasant said. “It was tough being sidelined for six weeks, but I was determined to go back. After only two weeks, I went back to pitching in baseball.”
This summer, Pleasant’s love of baseball led to his participation with the Duneland Flyers, a travel baseball and softball program based out of Chesterton. Pleasant’s baseball team traveled from June 18 to June 21 to Niceville, Florida to compete at the 2024 15U PG Gulf Coast World.
“We ended up getting second throughout the entire world series,” Pleasant said. “We played a total of eight games in the hot weather, but it was a lot of fun.”
Pleasant takes pride in his schooling and the opportunities available in his community to enhance his athletic and academic experiences. Pleasant holds an abundance of memories and encouragement from his community in Portage.
“I say Portage is a pretty good community,” Pleasant said. “I went to Portage schools until this year and the schooling was decent. There are a lot of good people that seem to come from Portage. What I like about the city is that there is pretty much everything here. There is Founders Square, with a variety of places to visit, like Market on the Square. I love everything that they are adding to the community. I especially liked their updates on the public library, which makes it look really nice.”
As Pleasant embarks on his next chapter in high school, he currently has his sights set on pursuing architecture or engineering. His ideal school of choice at the moment is Purdue University Lafayette because of its engineering program being top in the nation. He intends to pursue college on either an academic or athletic scale, or both. He intends to continue to make his family and community proud.