It was wonderful to see the Warsaw campus bustling with scholastic sports action. I found other pleasant and noteworthy observations to share as well.
It didn’t take long to see the results of next-man-up on the gridiron in last Friday’s 17-13 win at Ames Field over Michigan City.
Among the injured were an all-state caliber guard, a tackle, and a returning starter at QB. Good luck and Godspeed to each young man on his respective recovery. I don’t like to talk about specifics related to prep athletes’ injuries in terms of what they were and how long the athlete must wait to return to action.
Other Tiger gridders stepped up admirably, though, and cleared the paths for several great runs against a team who customarily gives Warsaw very little within the A gap.
The Warsaw boys’ soccer side has been scoring goals early and often on the pitch. The boys’ side lost a lot of key athletes contributing to last year’s sectional championship, but there is a blend of newcomers and returnees making action on the pitch interesting in 2023.
I was impressed with the outcome of the Valley-Wawasee game. The Warriors have openly commented in preseason media coverage about their efforts to make the 2023 gridiron season a year where opponents aren’t going to “phone in a W” the week they face Wawasee.
Consider Valley returned several lettermen across all parts of the field, and it makes Wawasee’s relatively close loss a pleasant surprise.
Valley has a state qualifying sprinter catching and covering passes. Wade Jones snared tow more interceptions to bring his school record total to 16 through opening week of his senior season. The Warriors still moved the ball effectively despite early mistakes against Jones and other stout Viking defenders.
Each of the three head coaches seeking their first win last Friday attained it.
Manchester’s and Whitko’s new head coaches enjoyed their first opening night wins with their respective programs while Whitko’s Brad Sprunger – who took the reins near mid-season 2022 – enjoyed his first season opener at the helm with the Wildcats.
Warsaw girls’ soccer home opener finished in fine fashion with 9-0 victories over Plymouth at varsity and junior varsity levels. I PA announce boys’ and girls’ soccer, and I was particularly intrigued by the eye-opening shift from a deliberate passing offensive approach in season’s past to an attacking offense this season.
The Lady Tigers’ 1-2-1 win-loss-tie record is not what it seems, having played elite competition last weekend in the annual St. Joseph Invitational at Newton Park before returning the friendly confines of the Tiger Soccer Complex for their win last Tuesday.
I watched my first Lady Tiger volleyball game ever. Shame on me for not spending time in the Tiger Den in years’ past.
I am impressed with Warsaw’s non-conference schedule early this season. If you haven’t read this paper’s sports recaps Warsaw fearlessly scheduled defending Class 4A state champ Hamilton Southeastern and 2021 defending 4A champ McCutcheon on the same Saturday.
They Lady Tigers also traveled to perennial power Carmel, and while a captive group in the Greyhounds’ beautiful gym, the grappled with 3A defending state champ Providence, who is still winning titles although they’ve bumped up two enrollment class levels due to tournament success factor.
I went to the game to listen to what typical PA announcing content and delivery for volleyball sounds like in preparation for some upcoming back-up I’ll provide to IUSB. I ended up seeing a dominant win versus Huntington North.
Impressed with setters stepping up for Avery Hales upon her departure for D1 action at Indiana State this fall. Warsaw volleyball also sports an arsenal of hitters racking up a balanced distribution of kills, and a sophomore libero with good instincts.
Tiger boys’ and girls’ cross country also spent the start of their season competing with elite programs in very top-heavy invitationals.
Folks, I’ll trade out some Ws and invitational trophies for some top-notch competition that affords the players and coaches the opportunity to learn who they are, and what they do best before conference competition starts among each sport.
Warsaw basketball and football headed in this direction among recent seasons, and the swap out among traditional local opponents with elite foes who will give fans a preview of the postseason challenges increases the value of fans’ tickets.
Mind you, although the ISHAA tournaments are open to all schools not on probation for a given reason, there still IS a sense of urgency in attaining regular season goals, of course, including conference titles and select rivalry game victories.
Racking up record-setting victory totals does not matter among any of the IHSAA sanctioned sports where the road to postseason success is better paved if you’re already exposed to elite regular season competition.