Mustangs Off And Running, Win Season Opener

If their idea was to send a message to the rest of the Interstate Football League, consider it done. Consider it signed, sealed and delivered - the Kosciusko County Mustangs have arrived. Stamped with a three-sack performance from Joe Sittler, an 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by speedster Jon Hill and an interception by Andy Crisp on the second play of the game, the Mustangs opened their inaugural season Saturday afternoon with a 27-8 thrashing of the Hendricks County Generals at Fisher Field. "Everybody on this team has worked hard," said Sittler."There's a lot of dedication on this team, and today it showed.It was just great to come out and play and hit somebody other than ourselves." Sittler and a number of his Mustangs teammates played their high school football at Fisher Field for Warsaw - some for Ted Huber and Bob Montel, some for Phil Jensen - and Saturday afternoon they offered both a look into the past and future.

Warsaw Softball Ends Season With 10-0 Sectional Loss To Columbia City

WATERLOO -ÊAfter playing well for the past three weeks, the Warsaw softball team was looking forward to playing in the DeKalb Sectional. However, the Tigers knew they would face a strong challenge, drawing No.7 Columbia City in the first round of sectional competition. In the end, Columbia City improved to 26-1 by defeating the Warsaw squad 10-0 in six innings. "We got a tough draw," said Warsaw coach Craig Helfrich."Columbia City is a very good team, but we came out here ready to play." The Tigers were agressive at the plate early, as Star Gonzalez got a hit in the first inning.With one out, Gonzalez pounded a one-out single to centerfield.She was stranded at first as the next two batters got outs. After holding Columbia City scoreless and hitless in the bottom of the first, Warsaw's three batters in the second frame each struck out.

Whitko Falls In Sectional 8-0

PLYMOUTH - What goes around comes around. In the case of Whitko's varsity baseball team, it came back two- fold. Avenging a 4-0 regular-season loss, Rochester topped its Three Rivers Conference rival 8-0 Monday in the first round of the Plymouth Sectional.Rochester is now 20-7, while Whitko ends its season at 11-10. "A lot of people predicted us to finish last in the TRC," Whitko coach John Strayer said."I kind of think the first time Rochester wasn't totally prepared, and Alan Robbins pitched well that day for us.This time they were ready for us.(Bryan) Holcomb did a good job keeping us off balance." Holcomb, a right-handed senior, didn't overpower Whitko, but what he did was toss a three-hitter with two walks and eight strikeouts to up his record on the mound to 9-3.

Warsaw Golf Sectional Showcases Talented Teams

In the winter, when there's snow on the ground, young kids like to play a game called king of the hill. The idea of the game is just like it sounds, to make it to the top and not be knocked off.To stay atop the rest of the players for as long as possible. It seems as if Warsaw's varsity golf team has been doing this all season.And doing it well, too. The Tigers will enter Saturday's sectional at Rozella Ford Golf Club with an 18-2 record.Included in that record are first-place finishes in the Michigan City Marquette Invite, Rochester Invite and the Northern Lakes Conference Tournament.Go ahead and throw in their perfect 6-0 regular season record in the NLC and they have a conference championship as well.

Chalfant, Seiss Place In Top 5 At State

INDIANAPOLIS -ÊWhen Wawsee's Rob Chalfant got to Carroll Track an Field Stadium in Indianapolis Friday night to watch the girls state finals, the first thing he thought of was the Olympics. "My goal is to run in the Olympics someday, and when I walked in and saw this track, it's the first thing I thought of," said Chalfant."I was just so proud to be here." "Then when I got here today (Saturday), the crowd was huge, and I was really nervous." Chalfant felt those nerves through most of the meet, but before he stepped to the line to begin the 3200 race, something happened. "It's weird," said Chalfant."I was nervous until I got to the start line.Then instead of being nervous and scared, I was just happy.It felt good to be there, and all of a sudden it was fun." Going into the competition, Chalfant was seeded second in the 3200.After the fist lap, he had fallen to ninth place in the race.

Cass Ends Squires' Softball Season

WABASH - Last year against Cass in sectional play, Manchester starting pitcher Jarra Renz struggled to find the plate. Friday evening the junior fireballer looked poised and held No.4 (2A) Cass in check. The Kings' Ollmay Wilson, however, was just a little bit better. Wilson went seven innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out 11 to lead Cass to the Wabash Sectional title with a 2-0 win over the Squires. It was the first time the Squires were shut out this season. "Two good pitchers went at it," said Manchester coach Jim Troyer."(Cass') was just a little bit better tonight.I give Jarra a lot of credit, though.She was a battler tonight and showed a lot out there." Cass drew first blood after Manchester right fielder Stephanie King misplayed a ball in the outfield in the bottom of the second inning.

Despite Errors, Marian Ends Valley's Season

PLYMOUTH - Like Tony Stewart in a race car on Memorial Day, the numbers seemed to make endless laps inside second year Tippecanoe Valley baseball coach Scott Backus' head. At the conclusion of Valley's first-round sectional game with Mishawaka Marian Monday, the scoreboard read Marian 8, Valley 2. Not to be confused with the score, these numbers represented the errors. Despite numerous errors, Marian topped Valley 5-4. "We made some base running mistakes," Backus, a former Valley player himself, said."We put ourselves in position twice, and we took ourselves out of position twice.We stayed in the game when we needed to." The loss ends Valley's season at 11-14-1; Marian improves to 15-14 and will play Rochester in Thursday's first game.Rochester (20-7) topped Whitko (11-10) 8-0 in Monday's second game.

Tigers Take Title; Vikings Advance

For the fifth consecutive year, Warsaw took the sectional team title, shooting a 309 Saturday at Rozella Ford Golf Course.The top three teams, as well as the top three individuals not on an advancing team, will be in the regional round Friday at Chestnut Hills in Fort Wayne. Culver Military Academy and Tippecanoe Valley shot 316s, with CMA winning a fifth-man tie breaker to take second. "We shot a really good front nine, a 149," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said."On the back nine we faltered on the first four holes.Our key is we have five golfers.What always wins for us is our depth." This was Warsaw's depth: Ryan Slone, Adam Johnson and Greg Clay, it's three, four and five golfers, shot 79, 79 and 77.In the No.1 and 2 slots, Justin Howell and Aaron Turner shot a 74 and 83, respectively.

Tigers Look To Atone For Tie

It's Friday afternoon on Memorial Day weekend and Warsaw baseball coach Will Shepherd is doing anything but vacationing. The fourth-year Tiger skipper is in his office scribbling numbers on the back of a piece of paper.He adds the numbers and comes up with 68-47-1.This is his coaching record at Warsaw High School.Do the math and that's an average of 17 wins and 12 losses per year.But it's the "1" that Shepherd is answering questions about. That one represents a 5-5 tie with Elkhart Central earlier this season.Warsaw's next opponent will be those same Blue Blazers in Monday's Elkhart Memorial Sectional at 1 p.m. "It (sectional draw) worked out great in a lot of respects," said Shepherd."One way or another, whether it's positive or not so positive, somebody is going to come out of Monday without a tie.They want to know who is the best team that day." As if he were a history teacher, Shepherd remembers the previous meeting with Elkhart Central all to well.

Tigers Overcome Obstacles To Earn Ticket To State Finals

If you look at the list of accomplishments for this year's girls track and field team at Warsaw Community High School, it's possible to see why they're sending five individuals to compete in Saturday's state finals at Carroll Stadium on the campus of IUPUI. That list of accomplishments looks something like this: Kokomo Relay champions, fourth at the Turtle Town Invite, third in the Northern Lakes Conference, second in the Warsaw Sectional, and ninth out of 40-plus teams in the Bremen Regional. Look at the cards stacked against the Tigers, and their trip to the state finals is all that more impressive.

Tiger Netters Claim Crown

"In a zone," "streaking," or simply "hot." Call it what you will, but Warsaw's Kim Paczkowski and Anne Jarrette found the rhythm midway through their semifinal match with Manchester at No.1 doubles.They carried that rhythm over against Wawasee in the finals as Warsaw won a competitive sectional title on Saturday. The semifinals pitted Wawasee against Valley and Warsaw against Manchester on Saturday morning.As expected, Wawasee had an easy time with Valley winning all five matches in straight sets to move on to the finals. However, the other semifinal matchup was grueling.Warsaw's Kim Bradley methodically won at No.1 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Kari Hostetler, but that was one of the few quick matches. At No.1 doubles, Kristy King and Amy Manges jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third set, but Paczkowski and Jarrette then caught fire.They fought back to 6-6 and then won the tie-breaker 7-0.

Triathlon Gets Under Way This Weekend

Do you like to swim? Like to run? Like riding a bike? Then chances are the sixth annual triathlon in conjuction with the City of Lakes Balloonfest is for you. The event will get under way June 26 at 8 a.m.in Winona Lake.The triathlon will consist of first swimming a quarter-mile in Winona Lake, riding a bike 13.5 miles around Pierceton and back to Winona Lake, and then running three miles around the town of Winona Lake. According to Phil Eherenman, 330 athletes participated in the event last year and he expects just as many or more this year. Contestants will be grouped in divisions five years apart.Example: the youngest division will range from 15-20 years old.The next would be 21-25, and so on.The event, which is sanctioned by the U.S Association of Triathalons, is open to male and female contestants.

Kloser Named Academic All-State

Warsaw's Matt Kloser was recently named to the Academic All-State baseball team by the Indiana Coaches Association.Kloser played catcher for the Tigers, who won 20 games in a season for the first time in a decade. Kloser was Warsaw Community High School's salutatorian for the 1997-1998 school year.He graduated with a GPA of 13.757.He will attend the University of Notre Dame, where he plans to study sports medicine and orthopedic surgery. The son of Jerome and Carol Kloser, he has been the WCHS student body president and a member of the National Honor Society, student council, Distributive Education Clubs of America, Future Business Leaders of America and Spanish Club, and is active in his church. Kloser was also the single recipient in Kosciusko County of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.He won a scholarship that provides full tuition, fees and a special allocation of up to $700 per year for required books and equipment for four years.

Squires, Vikings Advance Athletes To State Finals

KOKOMO - Decisions, decisions. Manchester's Rex Reimer advanced to the Kokomo regional after placing second in the Plymouth sectional.Thursday he placed second at the Kokomo regional to advance to the state competition.Then he had a decision to make. Reimer, a senior at Manchester High School, is scheduled to graduate next Friday.The problem? The boys state track meet is scheduled the same day. "My parents and I have talked about it because I figured I might make it to state," said Reimer."At first they said 'no' to me going to state, but then they decided I could jump in the preliminary three jumps at state and still make it home in time for graduation.

5th-Ranked Chargers Charge By Stingy Warriors

The Wawasee Warrior football team started the 1999 season with a huge road win last week over Whitko, defeating the Wildcats 20-0. After picking up a huge win, the Warriors didn't have time to take much of a break.Instead, they had to turn their game up a notch. We aren't talking about a normal Friday night football game for the Warriors: They were up against a state power, the No.5 class 4A team in the state - Carroll.Carroll demolished Leo last week, clubbing the Lions 53-7.All eyes were on the Warriors to see how they would rise to this huge challenge after opening the season with a big win. The Warrior defense came ready to play, limiting Carroll to four plays and out after a couple of opening drive penalties.However, the Charger defense then shut down a Warrior offense that produced only four plays. After scoring 53 points last week, it was just a matter of time before Carroll would dent the scoreboard.

Hanson Arrives Just In Time For Warsaw

FORT WAYNE - Kanye West raps in "Diamonds are Forever (From Sierra Leone)" that "when he came in the game, he made his own name." While West was talking about himself, the same could be said for Warsaw's Justin Hanson. Hanson made his name with an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown with 2:44 left in regulation to lift Warsaw past host Homestead 17-14 Friday night. "I caught it, saw an opening and just ran as hard as I could," said Hanson. The speedy junior's path to the end zone was relatively clear thanks to the textbook blocking of the other 10 Tigers on the field highlighted by a ferocious hit from senior Matt Boots that got rid of Homestead's last would-be tackler. "One guy got my foot at one point but that's it," said Hanson of his game-winning jaunt to paydirt.

Northfield Stops Triton Steamroller

BOURBON - The expectations were high, maybe too high. The fans came out in droves to see their new-look Triton Trojans.This was the Triton football team with the winning record.Maybe the players, fans and coaches looked past Northfield and Culver Community to a date with Bremen.After all, Triton defeated Culver last year and only lost to Northfield in overtime. But the expectations came crashing down Friday night in Bourbon.After taking an early 6-0 lead over Northfield, the Triton offense came to a screeching halt and the Norsemen had just enough offense to win 9-6. Although it won't destroy this team, maybe it will remind everyone that this Triton program is still taking baby steps toward respectability in the Northern State Conference.

Warsaw Girls Finish 1-2-3 In Cross Country Invitational

Hillary Barlow used to compare her right leg to a wobbly table leg. Even with the bad leg - she had a rotated pelvis, which later led to bursitis - she led Warsaw's cross country team to 13th place in last year's state finals.Her 56th place led all Warsaw runners.A week before, she placed seventh at semistate. Barlow showed what she could do with two good legs at Tuesday's Tiger Invitational. Barlow, completely recovered from last year's leg problems, led the 4K race from start to finish, winning with a time of 15:49.When she crossed the finish line, she ended so far ahead of second place no other runner was visible.That's because Barlow's time was nearly one minute better than the second-place time.Sophomore teammate Rachel Rondeau placed second with a time of 16:44, while junior teammate Jennifer Finch placed third with a time of 16:58.

Wawasee VB Team Downs Manchester

NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊAlthough Wawasee's coach did not think his volleyball team played as well as it could have against Manchester Tuesday evening, the Warriors pulled out a 15-10, 15-10 win over the Squires. "I think we as a team could have played a little sharper defense," said Wawasee coach Jason Fleming."We could have played better." The road to the win was not smooth for the Warriors.Manchester jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the first game after Mandy Phillips served up five straight points. The Squires built a 7-1 lead before Candice Brown stepped to the line to serve for Wawasee.Brown led the Warriors to three points to make the score 7-4 before Staci VanLue moved in to serve.VanLue then helped the Warriors tie the score at 7-all. Then the Warriors started to build their lead.Jessie Korenstra, Kim Likens and Kathy Likens joined forces to put the Wawasee squad up 12-7.

Valley Volleyball Team Sweeps Through Manchester Invite

NORTH MANCHESTER - Although Manchester was the host of the 1999 Manchester High School Volleyball Invitational, Tippecanoe Valley stole the show. After defeating each team in the tourney (Manchester, Triton and Caston), Valley's undefeated season record remained intact. In the first contest of the day, Valley faced the Triton Trojans.In the first match, the Vikings jumped out to what looked like a commanding 11-3 lead, but the Trojans refused to give in. Rachel Speicher stepped to the serving line and led Triton to four straight points to make the score 12-9 in Valley's favor. Valley went up 14-10 but lost possession and Speicher stepped to the line again.Again, she served four straight points to knot the score at 14.After trading points once more, the score was 15-15 when Valley's Inga Vandermark served up two points to win the match 17-15.