Even at full strength, Warsaw coach Troy Akers knew he would have a battle with Wawasee in the Northern Lakes Conference opener for both boys' track teams Tuesday at Fisher Field.

But without two key runners, Akers was hoping for some unexpected help. He got just that from some of his younger athletes.

Sophomore Jose Esquivel, along with freshmen Marvin Farmer and Aaron Chabot, came up big for the Tigers in a 77-55 win over the Warriors.

Warsaw was already without the services of sprinter Derrick Duncan, who is still nursing a sore hamstring. But then, after only one race, middle distance star P.J. Wiley came up with a calf injury, putting more strain on Akers' young Tigers.

It was a challenge they were up to as Esquivel won two events, Farmer led a Warsaw domination in the field events, and Chabot lifted the Tigers early.

With Duncan and Wiley out of action, Akers needed someone to anchor Warsaw's 400 relay team. The job went to Chabot, who had dropped the baton in the last meet against Columbia City.

Chabot took the baton with a slight lead, and only extended the margin in racing the Tigers to an easy win in the race.

"Some of other kids came through," Akers said. "We put a freshman (Chabot) as anchor of the 4 X 100. I was real excited for him because he ran a good leg. We are getting some key performances from some young kids."

"Those are key things, seeing those other kids step up," he said. "It is not always as bad asit seems because you are forced into trying kids in other places."

Coming into the meet, Akers knew that the difference between his Tigers and the Warriors might be the field events. It was true as Warsaw only outscored Wawasee 44-38 in the running events, but 35-10 outside of the track. Warsaw got first place in all five field events.

"They are strong where we are strong, in the middle distance and some of the higher sprints," Akers said. "Coming into it, I was looking for the field events to be the key. That is the way we came through. On the track, it was a dead heat."

Farmer led the Tigers with a win in the shot put.

After winning the 100, Esquivel ran the 300 low hurdles for the first time in his varsity career and the speedy sophomore won that event as well.

"That is the first time Jose has run the hurdles," Akers said. "I think he is really going to excel there. He had a nice overall meet tonight."

Also winning for Warsaw were: Jon Hill (200, 400), Shawn Mudd (high jump), Steve Fribley (discus), Scott Shepherd (long jump), Corbin Quance (pole vault).

Wawasee was led by Ryan Mikel, who won the 800 and helped pace two relay teams to victory. John Hursh won the 1600 and 3200 events.

"He (Mikel) looked good the whole meet," Wawasee coach Kerry Murphy said. "He ran a two-flat (2:00) in the 4 X 800 relay. That is the best time he has had all year. He was scheduled to the run the third leg in the 4 X 400, but he wanted the last leg.

"I was pleased with the way he did tonight," he said. "You are looking at a two-flat at this time, and last year, he ran around a two-flat at sectional time. If we can keep working on that, and bring it down, he will be a state qualifier."

Also winning for Wawasee was Richard Moore (110 hurdles). Luke Sawyer came back from an injury to capture second place in the long jump.

"Luke Sawyer came on tonight," Murphy said. "He had been injured. He did a nice job. The two long relay teams did a nice job," he said. "We are lacking in the sprints still. We are looking to fill that hole. In the 100, you can't give up nine points and expect to win the meet. It just doesn't work that way."

WARSAW 77, WAWASEE 55

3200 relay - 1. Wawasee 8:22.2 (John Glon, Brad Brown, Rustin Mikel, Ryan Mikel), 2. Warsaw

110 hurdles - 1. Richard Moore (Waw) 16.6, 2. Nick Stouder (War), 3. Steve Fussle (War)

100 - 1. Jose Esquivel (War) 11.3, 2. Scott Shepherd (War), 3. Marvin Farmer (War)

1600 - 1. John Hursh (Waw) 4:52, 2. Jeff Moechen (Waw), 3. Chris Gackenheimer (War)

400 relay - 1. Warsaw (Esquivel, Shepherd, Mudd, Chabot), 2. Wawasee

400 - 1. Jon Hill (War) 52.9, 2. Brad Brown (Waw), 3. Rustin Mikel (Waw)

300 hurdles - 1. Esquivel (War) 42.2, 2. Adam Brown (Waw), 3. Nick Stouder (War)

800 - 1. Ryan Mikel (Waw) 2:05.02, 2. Justin Rice (War), 3. Greg Seiss (War)

200 - 1. Hill (War) 22.5, 2. Luke Sawyer (Waw), 3. Shepherd (War)

3200 - 1. Hursh (Waw) 10:30, 2. Greg Patrick (War), 3. Will Woodward (War)

1600 relay - 1. Wawasee 3:36.2 (Brown, Mikel, Mikel, Sawyer), 2. Warsaw

High jump - 1. Shawn Mudd (War) 6-0, 2. Farmer (War), 3. Adam Brown (Waw)

Discus - 1. Steve Fribley (War) 109-7, 2. Luke Matz (Waw), 3. Matt Binns (Waw)

Long jump - 1. Shepherd (War) 20-7 3/4, 2. Sawyer (Waw), 3. Hill (War)

Shot put - 1. Farmer (War) 44-3 1/4, 2. Matz (Waw), 3. Wes Rodman (War)

Pole Vault - 1. Corbin Quance (War) 9-6, 2. Zac Sheets (War), 3. Adam Brown (Waw) [[In-content Ad]]