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TV VB Team Falls To State-Ranked Bremen

AKRON - As Tippecanoe Valley volleyball coach Jon Parker is quick to point out, his Vikings play strong against tough competition Earlier in the season the Vikings took Three Rivers Conference champions North Miami and Southwood to three games before falling. Thursday night, a night Valley used to honor its seniors, the Vikings took No.8 Bremen to three games before falling 15-8, 8-15, 15-13. "We've had eight matches go to a third game this season," Parker said."We're so close to having a great season.I think we could easily have 22 wins." The loss drops the Vikings to 17-13; Bremen improves to 21-5. After watching the junior varsity contest go three games, and then sitting through a long Senior Night ceremony for the Vikings, Bremen quickly set the tone in the first game, jumping out to an 11-2 lead.Bremen won the first game 15-8.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Whitko Overcomes Concordia

SOUTH WHITLEY -ÊIt has been said that two heads are better than one. Friday night in South Whitley, Whitko showed that two running backs can be better than one as the Wildcats topped Concordia 54-40 in the opening round of Class 3A Sectional 20. Concordia's Bryan Payton racked up 342 total yards on the ground, with 309 of those coming in the first half, but Whitko's Brandon Waterson and Tyler Wilkinson joined forces to gain 397 yards on the ground and lead Whitko to the sectional win.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Roder's Gone, But Blosser's Delivered For NorthWood

NAPPANEE -ÊWhile Purdue University touts itself as the "Cradle of Quarterbacks" for college football, NorthWood High School might take that same title for high schools. "If you go back though the years, we have had several all-conference and all-state quarterbacks," said NorthWood coach Rich Dodson."The type of offense we run puts the quarterback at the front.Coach (Gene) Zercher also has the ability to get the best out of his quarterbacks." After Charlie Roeder, who was voted the top quarterback in Indiana in 1999, graduated last season, many folks around the NorthWood area thought the Panthers would see a down year, at least in the quarterback slot. However, this year's NorthWood signal caller, Mike Blosser, has stepped into the quarterback position and carved out a niche for himself. "It was hard, but I knew I could fill (Roeder's) shoes," said Blosser.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Bell Blanks The Competition

SYRACUSE - Justin Bell is doing outstanding things for the Wawasee boys soccer team. In 16 games, he has allowed just 10 goals.He has led the Warriors to 11 shutout games and a 9-3-4 regular season. Let's do the math.High school soccer games consist of two 40-minute periods.Eleven shutout games equal 880 scoreless minutes, almost 15 scoreless hours on the field. To take that one step further, in a total of 1,280 minutes of play, Bell and his defensive squad have allowed only 10 goals.On average, one goal scored every 128 minutes, or once every 1.6 games. "Justin could definitely play at the next level if he wanted to," said Wawasee coach Paul Boyd."He has the tools; he's 6-foot-3 and has the quickness necessary to play at the next level." Surprisingly enough, Bell was not always a goalie. "When he came to me as a freshman, he played at the halfback position," said Boyd."We switched him to the goalie position.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warriors Win 3rd Straight X-Country Title

DUNLAP - Another year, more repeat performances. Like the last two years, Wawasee's boys cross country team won the Elkhart Sectional. Like the last two years, Northridge's girls cross country team placed first and Warsaw second in the Elkhart Sectional. Saturday's races at Ox Bow Park went the way Warsaw girls coach Paul Sibray and Wawasee boys coach Dave Stookey thought they would. "We figured Northridge would win," Sibray said."They beat us by 30 points last week, so we kind of figured it would be hard to get them, but we counted on running a good race.We just wanted to make sure we got out to regional." The Wawasee boys, ranked No.18, won their third straight sectional title but took a different route in getting to the championship.All season senior Rob Chalfant has been Wawasee's top runner, but he finished No.2 for Wawasee and No.4 overall.Wawasee's Flaco Perales finished third overall.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley Set To Take On NorthWood In Sectional Battle

AKRON -ÊTippecanoe Valley coach Scott Bibler knows that his team is considered an underdog tonight against the Class 3A powerhouse NorthWood Panthers. However, Bibler and his Vikings refuse to be deterred by what people say.After all, the game is played on the field. "We will have to play a nearly flawless game to beat NorthWood," said Bibler."We can't afford to make mistakes because NorthWood will take advantage of them." "NorthWood is a great program with great tradition that started long ago.Their coaching staff does a great job and they have been together a long time.Rich Dodson and his staff do things well.They have a great feeder program and they have their kids playing well." The Vikings plan to play their game and see how things turn out.Valley will rely on defense and a strong running game to get the job done.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

'Scrappy' Tigers Too Much For Wawasee

SYRACUSE - In a battle of scrappy vs.intense, scrappy won out. The Warsaw Tigers, described by Wawasee coach Amy Miller as "scrappy," topped the Warriors in three games 25-13, 25-23, 25-16 in Northern Lakes Conference action. Wawasee came out as the more intense of the two teams and it worked to the Warriors' advantage as they hung with Warsaw early. Warsaw senior Kate Miller served two aces and before long the Tigers built a 12-6 lead that forced Miller to take a timeout. The Tigers then outscored Wawasee 7-3 out of the timeout to push their lead to 19-9. Tiger junior Alexis Albertson then closed out the first game with two straight aces to give Warsaw the win at 25-13. "We had good body line on our serves tonight," said Warsaw coach Doug West."Which means we had a good angle on our serves which allowed us to serve line drives." Warsaw's Danielle DeGeeter and Shelby Runnells each racked up 11 points for the evening.
DANIEL RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Squashes Hornets In Sectional Opener

SYRACUSE -ÊThere are many adjectives one could use to describe Wawasee's performance against Angola. Overpowering comes to mind. Hyperbole aside, the Warriors took the outmatched Hornets behind the proverbial woodshed and dished out a severe beating, winning 47-7. "We played hard and with a lot of enthusiasm.We thought we were a better team but we didn't go through the motions," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld. If you fell asleep or left after the first quarter it seemed that Wawasee may have been "going through the motions." The Warriors' lone first-quarter score came when junior quarterback Kory Lantz found Ben Champoux from 14 yards out.Champoux, who pulls double duty as the place kicker, added the point-after try to make it 7-0 with 6:07 left in the first.
DAN RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

With No Big Gun, Warsaw Exits Early

DUNLAP - Warsaw's volleyball team lost to Elkhart Central Thursday in the first round of the Concord Sectional. The Tigers' fate may actually have been sealed two days earlier on Tuesday. This is when they lost Nancy Mason, lost their senior middle hitter, lost one of their leaders in kills, lost one of their leaders in blocks, lost one of their leaders in digs. And without her Thursday, Warsaw lost 13-15, 16-14, 15-5.Warsaw ends the season with a 14-19 record, while 22-12 Elkhart Central faces Concord in Saturday's second round.Last year Warsaw won the Concord Sectional by beating Elkhart Central in the sectional championship. Mason, one of three seniors on the team, sprained her ankle Tuesday.Since that day she and physical therapist Tom Johnson worked feverishly to speed the healing process, but to no avail.Mason used one crutch Wednesday.She had gotten rid of it yesterday, but she was still in no shape to play.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Triton Sectional Win Helps Lay Foundation For Program

BOURBON - Trying to build for the future, as first-year coach Rodney Younis has said so many times this year, Triton's football team certainly laid the beginning foundation last Friday. Not known as a football power, Triton's 20-13 win at West Central last week was the Trojans' first sectional triumph since 1996, but may go a long way in getting future players to buy into and believe in Younis' system. "I think that win will be extremely helpful," Younis said."It will speak volumes about what we're trying to do here.The kids, the school is excited.This is gonna help us because we need to get more numbers out." What would help Triton (3-7) even more would be a win over Whiting (8-2) in tonight's 7:30 p.m.1A Sectional 33 semifinal in Bourbon.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Impressive Comeback Falls Just Short For Wawasee Warriors

SYRACUSE - Though the calendar said it was Halloween, Friday's Class 4A sectional semifinal matchup of Wawasee and top-ranked East Noble was more of a fireworks show. A game that saw its share of long runs and passes - with the two teams combining for nearly 900 yards of offense - the outcome was decided by mere inches and East Noble escaped Syracuse with a 38-36 win. Trailing 38-14 in the fourth quarter, the Warriors scored 22 points in a span of just under three minutes and were ever so close to tying the game but junior running back Jordan Swain was stopped just short of the goal line on what would have been the Warriors' third consecutive two-point conversion. After Warrrior quarterback Kory Lantz ran in from five yards out to spark the impressive comeback with 4:52 remaining in the game, the cool-under-pressure 6-foot-1, 175 pound junior connected with classmate Ben Champoux on the two-point conversion pass.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tiger Tennis Team Takes Second

If it seemed like Saturday's Northern Lakes Conference Boys Tennis Tournament was a festival of activity, that's because it was. The tournament was held in Plymouth's Central Park, the same park jammed full with RVs in town for the Bluegrass Festival.So you got two for the price of one.While you watched Warsaw No.1 singles player Ryan VanPuffelen labor through his championship match in the 2 o'clock, 91-degree heat, you heard the strains of banjos and ukuleles. Save for the bluegrass music, the tournament went exactly as the regular season went.Goshen won to thwart any hopes of a Warsaw repeat.Warsaw, which ran away with the NLC Tournament last year, finished second, Plymouth third, Concord fourth, NorthWood fifth, Wawasee sixth and Northridge seventh. Goshen won No.2 singles and No.1 doubles and finished second in Nos.1 and 3 singles.The Redskins' No.2 doubles team took third. The Tigers had two first places, a second place and a third place.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tigers Capture Rematch

Warsaw senior Jon Earhart (L) and Wawasee junior Jay Haugh go for the ball Tuesday in the Columbia City Boys' Soccer Sectional.Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union COLUMBIA CITY - It is probably a good thing for Warsaw that this would be the last time it will meet Wawasee this season on the soccer field.Every time the two teams match up, the Warriors seem to show marked improvement and get that much closer. Earlier this year, Warsaw beat Wawasee 3-1 only after scoring two late goals.The rematch saw the Tigers coming out with a 2-1 win in the first round of the Columbia City Sectional, but the margin keeps shrinking.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Panthers Rip Plymouth, Finish Tied For First In NLC

Friday night's Northern Lakes Conference regular season football finale between Plymouth and NorthWood was definitely a playoff atmosphere at Andrews Field. There was a lot on the line when these two teams hit the field.Northwood was hoping for at least a share of the conference title, while the Plymouth Rockies were hoping for an upset and a share of the title themselves. When it was all said and done, turnovers and too much Charlie Roeder ended any Plymouth hopes of a share of the title as NorthWood rolled to a 37-6 win over Plymouth. NorthWood won a share of the Northern Lakes Conference title, its first since 1996 and 11th overall.The Panthers shared the title with Warsaw, who defeated Concord 20-3. The Panthers also shared the title with Warsaw in 1992.
Craig Helfrich, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Hands Rochester Second TRC Loss

NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊGoing into Friday night's game against Rochester, the Manchester Squires were considered the underdogs. "Our kids were determined to outplay them," said Manchester coach Al Bailey."It was homecoming night, and the seniors wanted to play." And play they did.The Manchester Squires shocked just about everyone but themselves by picking up a 38-21 homecoming win over the Rochester Zebras. Manchester came out with something to prove.After taking the ball to their own 27-yard line on the opening kickoff, the Squires scored on the first play of the drive.Sophomore quarterback Joe Egner, in his first varsity start, hooked up with Farron Gaerte on a 73-yard pass play to put the Manchester squad up 6-0. On the ensuing kickoff, Rochester fumbled the ball, and Manchester recovered on its own 47-yard line.However, the Squires were unable to capitalize and returned the ball to the Zebras on a fumble just six plays later.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Warriors Hope Cross Country Success Extends Into Postseason

SYRACUSE - Wawasee's boys cross country team went 15-1 this season and won the Northern Lakes Conference with a 5-1 record. But two years ago, not even third-year coach Dave Stookey could have predicted this success. The Warriors have three runners who typically compete for the team's top time -Êsenior Jeff Moerchen, junior Jerid Stoffel and sophomore Rob Chalfant.At some meets Moerchen gets it.At other meets, maybe Stoffel or Chalfant gets it. All three were named to the 1998 NLC All-Conference team.The Warriors had more selections than any other school. Plain and simple, Wawasee has talent, and this is what has turned the team into an overnight success Of the three, only Moerchen ran cross country in junior high.Stoffel played football his freshman year.Chalfant's first year of cross country was last year as a freshman.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Short-Handed Wildcats Scratch And Claw But Come Up Short

On paper, Friday night's Three Rivers Conference football battle between archrivals Manchester and Whitko looked like a sleepwalk for Manchester.The 2A 10th-ranked Squires brought in a 2-1 record to face a struggling 0-3 Wildcat team. When these two rivals meet, you might as well throw out the records. As if the Wildcats needed any more problems heading into this game, six Whitko players (four starters) were suspended Thursday after they went to Manchester and spread a little too much school spirit. The heavy underdog Wildcats almost pulled a huge upset, falling to the Squires 35-27 in overtime. "Our kids played with a lot of heart tonight,' Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger said."We had some discipline problems and we were playing short-handed." The Wildcats came out storming on their first possession.The Wildcats went on a 10-play, 64-yard drive that ended on a Trent Burelison 1-yard run.
Craig Helfrich, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

College Roundup

FORT WAYNE - Although the Grace College volleyball team did not return to campus with a victory Tuesday, the Lady Lancers did send a strong message to the rest of the Mid-Central Conference.Grace challenged defending conference champion St.Francis throughout its match, eventually losing a tight 30-24, 26-30, 31-29, 30-25 decision. After dropping the opening game of the match, the Lady Lancers rallied with a 30-26 win in game two.As well, Grace held game point at 29-28 in game three before St.Francis called a timeout, settled down, and scored the final three points.Grace continued to hang tough in game four, but eventually succumbed 30-25. Jessica Hicks and Lynette Wilcox each finished with 11 kills, while Amber Birkey had 25 assists, 13 digs and eight kills.Wilcox also led the way with six blocks. Grace (8-12, 1-2 MCC) will host Trinity Christian Friday at 7:30 p.m.The Lady Lancers are 2-0 at home this year and have dropped just one game in those two matches.
Times-Union Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Tiger Comeback Falls Short, Season Ends At Huntington North

HUNTINGTON - A team built around its running game, a trio of third-down passes went a long way as Huntington North downed visiting Warsaw 21-18 Friday in the Class 5A Sectional 3 opener. After completing just 14 passes for 142 yards through the nine-game regular season, Huntington North senior signal caller Aaron Drummond finished with a 3-of-3 passing effort against the Tigers for 91 yards, converting three third-down situations with passes to sophomore Chris Kramer. Two of the passes led to touchdowns, and the host Vikings had just enough of a cushion after Warsaw put together a two-play, 46-yard drive capped off by a five-yard Daniel Erickson pass to Adam Suchecki with 44 seconds remaining. Erickson hit senior fullback Tyler Colt with a pass in the end zone for the two-point conversion to cut the Huntington North lead to 21-18, and then the Tigers nearly got the ball back after Jeremy Sharp put down a picture perfect onside kick.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tigers Settle For Share Of Title

DUNLAP - If Warsaw football coach Phil Jensen had questions about how good his football team was, he more than likely found those answers Friday night in a 20-3 win at Concord. In the first eight games of the season the Tigers established themselves as one of the best passing offenses in the state, going 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Northern Lakes Conference.But the Tigers won in different fashion last night. It wasn't senior Ross Kesler and his flypaper-like hands that put away the Minutemen.He was out with a back injury.Senior signal-caller Greg Seiss was able to add to his already impressive passing stats, but it was Gabe Koser's foot and Jared Scrafton's leg that, in large part, led Warsaw to the win. Koser, also a soccer player, kicked field goals of 31 and 35 yards in the first quarter to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead after the first frame.The senior hadn't kicked a field goal since the first game of the season against Columbia City.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016
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