Warsaw Boys, Girls Win Sectional Titles
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
On a sunny and unseasonably warm afternoon, the Tigers and Lady Tigers won sectional championships in dominating fashion and extended their respective dream seasons.
Led by the first-place finish of junior Ashley Erba and the runner-up finish of sophomore Anna Bearss, the Lady Tigers won the 12-team sectional with 32 points and halted Northridge's 20-year run of sectional titles.
"Northridge has an outstanding program," said Warsaw girls coach Scott Erba, whose team's five scoring runners all finished in the top 16 of the 77-person race. "To win 20 sectionals in a row, with different coaches and different runners, that's a testament to their program. And for us to beat them, that's huge for our program. Our girls were confident they could win, and they came out and ran like it."
The top five teams, as well as the top 15 individuals, qualified for Saturday's Elkhart Regional at Ox Bow County Park.
Northridge finished second with 52 points, while Wawasee (119), NorthWood (131) and Fairfield (132) also advanced.
Goshen finished sixth with 135 points, followed by Concord (138), Elkhart Memorial (192), Elkhart Christian (259), Elkhart Central (280) and Jimtown (306).
Erba won the girls race in a time of 18:25, finishing 48 seconds ahead of runner-up Bearss, who finished 31 seconds ahead of third-place runner Corinne Cominator of Northridge.
"They've been running well the whole year," Scott Erba said of his daughter and Bearss. "They came in with a lot of focus and confidence."
Other runners for the Lady Tigers included Brooke Kline (5th, 19:55), Kristin Quick (8th, 20:14), Creigh Ogle (16th, 20:55), Lilly Fleming (28th, 21:53) and Ellie Bearss (48th, 23:17).
"It's nice to get over that hump," Scott Erba said of halting Northridge's sectional win streak. "Two years ago, we tied, but lost on a sixth-runner tiebreaker. Last year, we lost by four points. To finally win the sectional is really outstanding."
Bre Robinson led the Wawasee Lady Warriors with an 11th-place time of 20:35, while Courtney Linnemeier was 14th (20:49) and Jen Slabaugh was 15th (20:52).
Other runners for the Lady Warriors included Hannah Wilczynski (35th, 22:14), Brittany Robinson (46th, 23:07), Kaely Bame (47th, 23:13) and Sarah Jones (53rd, 23:40).
"The Lady Warriors had a great race, finishing third in a tight sectional meet," said Wawasee coach Jerid Stoffel. "Only seven points seperated fourth through seventh. We had three girsl finish in the top 15. Hannah (Wilczynski) stepped up her performance, and our fifth, sixth and seventh runners all pushed each other to improve. It was a total team effort. The goals reached their goal of advancing to the regional, but on Saturday they have a great shot of exceeding expectations."
In the boys 5K race, the Warsaw Tigers dominated the 12-team field en route to their first sectional title since George H.W. Bush was in the White House.
Warsaw's Jacob Poyner won with a time of 16:37, finishing 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Joel Hartman of Elkhart Christian Academy, while Tigers Ellis Coon (16:55) and Ismael Calderon (16:58) finished third and fourth, respectively.
All seven of Warsaw's runners in the boys race finished in the top 17.
"He's our team leader," Warsaw boys coach Jim Mills said of Poyner. "He's one of the best in the state. I've said it all year, he helps elevate our practices and meets. Ellis messed up his ankle a little bit, but had a great finish, and we've waited all season for Ismael Calderon to turn it loose and he did it tonight."
Other runners for the Tigers included Robert Murphy (7th, 17:09), Michael Smolen (13th, 17:26), James Brysten (14th, 17:28) and Michael Compton (17th, 17:39).
Warsaw scored 28 points as a team and beat runner-up Northridge by 49 points.
"It's fun," Mills said when asked about his team's success this season. "I've said all year, the guys are having a party and I'm just lucky to be a part of it. This is really fun."
Goshen finished third in the boys standings with 84 points, followed by Fairfield (111), Concord (129), Wawasee (138), NorthWood (190), Elkhart Central (214), Elkhart Christian (228), Elkhart Memorial (307), Bethany Christian (317) and Jimtown (371).
Reid Stichter led the Wawasee Warriors with a 15th-place time of 17:31 and will represent the team Saturday in the regional.
Adam Doll finished 21st (17:49) for the Warriors.
Wawasee's other runners included Zach Cockrill (25th, 17:59), Troy Carolus (37th, 18:31), Austin Yoder (40th, 18:39), Joey Bornman (49th, 18:55) and Austin Krizman (57th, 19:12).
ELKHART SECTIONAL
Note – top five teams and top 15 individuals qualify for Saturday's Elkhart Regional
GIRLS
Team scores – Warsaw 32, Northridge 52, Wawasee 119, NorthWood 131, Fairfield 132, Goshen 135, Concord 138, Elkhart Memorial 192, Elkhart Christian 259, Elkhart Central 280, Jimtown 306
Top 15 – 1. Ashley Erba (War) 18:25, 2. Anna Bearss (War) 19:13, 3. Corinne Cominator (NR) 19:44, 4. Jennifer Schrock (NR) 19:52, 5. Brooke Kline (War) 19:55, 6. Cynthia Medina (NW) 19:56, 7. Olivia Golden (NR) 19:56, 8. Kristin Quick (War) 20:14,9. Sierra Moore (EM) 20:18, 10. Kayla Casaletto (EChr) 20:19, 11. Bre Robinson (Wawa) 20:35, 12. Taylor Stidham (FF) 20:42, 13. Brooke Mast (FF) 20:47, 14. Courtney Linnemeier (Wawa) 20:49, 15. Jen Slabaugh (Wawa) 20:52
Warsaw – 1. Erba 18:25, 2. Bearss 19:13, 5. Kline 19:55, 8. Quick 20:14, 16. Creigh Ogle 20:55, 28. Lilly Fleming 21:53, 48. Ellie Bearss 23:17
Wawasee – 11. Robinson 20:35, 14. Linnemeier 20:49, 15. Slabaugh 20:52, 35. Hannah Wilczynski 22:14, 46. Brittany Robinson 23:07, 47. Kaely Bame 23:13, 53. Sarah Jones 23:40
BOYS
Team scores – Warsaw 28, Northridge 77, Goshen 84, Fairfield 111, Concord 129, Wawasee 138, NorthWood 190, Elkhart Central 214, Elkhart Christian 228, Elkhart Memorial 307, Bethany Christian 317, Jimtown 371
Top 15 - 1. Jacob Poyner (War) 16:37, 2. Joel Hartman (EChr) 16:51, 3. Ellis Coon (War) 16:55, 4. Ismael Calderon (War) 16:58, 5. James Bradberry (NR) 17:06, 6. Dillon Hinen (FF) 17:08, 7. Robert Murphy (War) 17:09, 8. Blake O'Dell (NR) 17:10, 9. Nate Miller (FF) 17:14, 10. Luke Kaufman (Gosh) 17:16, 11.Collin Chupp (Con) 17:20, 12. Adam Weeden (Gosh) 17:24, 13. Michael Smolen (War) 17:26, 14. James Brysten (War) 17:28, 15. Reid Stichter (Wawa) 17:31
Warsaw – 1. Poyner 16:37, 3. Coon 16:55, 4. Calderon 16:58, 7. Murphy 17:09, 13. Smolen 17:26, 14. Brysten 17:28, 17. Michael Compton 17:39
Wawasee – 15. Stichter 17:31, 21. Adam Doll 17:49, 25. Zach Cockrill 17:59, 37. Troy Carolus 18:31, 40. Austin Yoder 18:39, 49. Joey Bornman 18:55, 57. Austin Krizman 19:12[[In-content Ad]]
On a sunny and unseasonably warm afternoon, the Tigers and Lady Tigers won sectional championships in dominating fashion and extended their respective dream seasons.
Led by the first-place finish of junior Ashley Erba and the runner-up finish of sophomore Anna Bearss, the Lady Tigers won the 12-team sectional with 32 points and halted Northridge's 20-year run of sectional titles.
"Northridge has an outstanding program," said Warsaw girls coach Scott Erba, whose team's five scoring runners all finished in the top 16 of the 77-person race. "To win 20 sectionals in a row, with different coaches and different runners, that's a testament to their program. And for us to beat them, that's huge for our program. Our girls were confident they could win, and they came out and ran like it."
The top five teams, as well as the top 15 individuals, qualified for Saturday's Elkhart Regional at Ox Bow County Park.
Northridge finished second with 52 points, while Wawasee (119), NorthWood (131) and Fairfield (132) also advanced.
Goshen finished sixth with 135 points, followed by Concord (138), Elkhart Memorial (192), Elkhart Christian (259), Elkhart Central (280) and Jimtown (306).
Erba won the girls race in a time of 18:25, finishing 48 seconds ahead of runner-up Bearss, who finished 31 seconds ahead of third-place runner Corinne Cominator of Northridge.
"They've been running well the whole year," Scott Erba said of his daughter and Bearss. "They came in with a lot of focus and confidence."
Other runners for the Lady Tigers included Brooke Kline (5th, 19:55), Kristin Quick (8th, 20:14), Creigh Ogle (16th, 20:55), Lilly Fleming (28th, 21:53) and Ellie Bearss (48th, 23:17).
"It's nice to get over that hump," Scott Erba said of halting Northridge's sectional win streak. "Two years ago, we tied, but lost on a sixth-runner tiebreaker. Last year, we lost by four points. To finally win the sectional is really outstanding."
Bre Robinson led the Wawasee Lady Warriors with an 11th-place time of 20:35, while Courtney Linnemeier was 14th (20:49) and Jen Slabaugh was 15th (20:52).
Other runners for the Lady Warriors included Hannah Wilczynski (35th, 22:14), Brittany Robinson (46th, 23:07), Kaely Bame (47th, 23:13) and Sarah Jones (53rd, 23:40).
"The Lady Warriors had a great race, finishing third in a tight sectional meet," said Wawasee coach Jerid Stoffel. "Only seven points seperated fourth through seventh. We had three girsl finish in the top 15. Hannah (Wilczynski) stepped up her performance, and our fifth, sixth and seventh runners all pushed each other to improve. It was a total team effort. The goals reached their goal of advancing to the regional, but on Saturday they have a great shot of exceeding expectations."
In the boys 5K race, the Warsaw Tigers dominated the 12-team field en route to their first sectional title since George H.W. Bush was in the White House.
Warsaw's Jacob Poyner won with a time of 16:37, finishing 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Joel Hartman of Elkhart Christian Academy, while Tigers Ellis Coon (16:55) and Ismael Calderon (16:58) finished third and fourth, respectively.
All seven of Warsaw's runners in the boys race finished in the top 17.
"He's our team leader," Warsaw boys coach Jim Mills said of Poyner. "He's one of the best in the state. I've said it all year, he helps elevate our practices and meets. Ellis messed up his ankle a little bit, but had a great finish, and we've waited all season for Ismael Calderon to turn it loose and he did it tonight."
Other runners for the Tigers included Robert Murphy (7th, 17:09), Michael Smolen (13th, 17:26), James Brysten (14th, 17:28) and Michael Compton (17th, 17:39).
Warsaw scored 28 points as a team and beat runner-up Northridge by 49 points.
"It's fun," Mills said when asked about his team's success this season. "I've said all year, the guys are having a party and I'm just lucky to be a part of it. This is really fun."
Goshen finished third in the boys standings with 84 points, followed by Fairfield (111), Concord (129), Wawasee (138), NorthWood (190), Elkhart Central (214), Elkhart Christian (228), Elkhart Memorial (307), Bethany Christian (317) and Jimtown (371).
Reid Stichter led the Wawasee Warriors with a 15th-place time of 17:31 and will represent the team Saturday in the regional.
Adam Doll finished 21st (17:49) for the Warriors.
Wawasee's other runners included Zach Cockrill (25th, 17:59), Troy Carolus (37th, 18:31), Austin Yoder (40th, 18:39), Joey Bornman (49th, 18:55) and Austin Krizman (57th, 19:12).
ELKHART SECTIONAL
Note – top five teams and top 15 individuals qualify for Saturday's Elkhart Regional
GIRLS
Team scores – Warsaw 32, Northridge 52, Wawasee 119, NorthWood 131, Fairfield 132, Goshen 135, Concord 138, Elkhart Memorial 192, Elkhart Christian 259, Elkhart Central 280, Jimtown 306
Top 15 – 1. Ashley Erba (War) 18:25, 2. Anna Bearss (War) 19:13, 3. Corinne Cominator (NR) 19:44, 4. Jennifer Schrock (NR) 19:52, 5. Brooke Kline (War) 19:55, 6. Cynthia Medina (NW) 19:56, 7. Olivia Golden (NR) 19:56, 8. Kristin Quick (War) 20:14,9. Sierra Moore (EM) 20:18, 10. Kayla Casaletto (EChr) 20:19, 11. Bre Robinson (Wawa) 20:35, 12. Taylor Stidham (FF) 20:42, 13. Brooke Mast (FF) 20:47, 14. Courtney Linnemeier (Wawa) 20:49, 15. Jen Slabaugh (Wawa) 20:52
Warsaw – 1. Erba 18:25, 2. Bearss 19:13, 5. Kline 19:55, 8. Quick 20:14, 16. Creigh Ogle 20:55, 28. Lilly Fleming 21:53, 48. Ellie Bearss 23:17
Wawasee – 11. Robinson 20:35, 14. Linnemeier 20:49, 15. Slabaugh 20:52, 35. Hannah Wilczynski 22:14, 46. Brittany Robinson 23:07, 47. Kaely Bame 23:13, 53. Sarah Jones 23:40
BOYS
Team scores – Warsaw 28, Northridge 77, Goshen 84, Fairfield 111, Concord 129, Wawasee 138, NorthWood 190, Elkhart Central 214, Elkhart Christian 228, Elkhart Memorial 307, Bethany Christian 317, Jimtown 371
Top 15 - 1. Jacob Poyner (War) 16:37, 2. Joel Hartman (EChr) 16:51, 3. Ellis Coon (War) 16:55, 4. Ismael Calderon (War) 16:58, 5. James Bradberry (NR) 17:06, 6. Dillon Hinen (FF) 17:08, 7. Robert Murphy (War) 17:09, 8. Blake O'Dell (NR) 17:10, 9. Nate Miller (FF) 17:14, 10. Luke Kaufman (Gosh) 17:16, 11.Collin Chupp (Con) 17:20, 12. Adam Weeden (Gosh) 17:24, 13. Michael Smolen (War) 17:26, 14. James Brysten (War) 17:28, 15. Reid Stichter (Wawa) 17:31
Warsaw – 1. Poyner 16:37, 3. Coon 16:55, 4. Calderon 16:58, 7. Murphy 17:09, 13. Smolen 17:26, 14. Brysten 17:28, 17. Michael Compton 17:39
Wawasee – 15. Stichter 17:31, 21. Adam Doll 17:49, 25. Zach Cockrill 17:59, 37. Troy Carolus 18:31, 40. Austin Yoder 18:39, 49. Joey Bornman 18:55, 57. Austin Krizman 19:12[[In-content Ad]]
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