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Tiger Boys Win Thriller At Kokomo

KOKOMO - The color of the bleachers in Kokomo's Memorial Gym, Warsaw's varsity boys basketball team left the Wildkat players blue as well Tuesday night. After trailing the host Wilkats by nine at halftime - a half that could be described as black and blue - the Tigers used an effective inside game with frontliners Ryan DeGeeter, Erik Fussle and Adam Griggs and got two free throws from guard Michael Moore with 15 seconds remaining to pick up a thrilling 60-59 win. "What a gutty win," Warsaw coach Doug Ogle said."This is a big step forward.It was very physical in the first half, and we set a goal going into the fourth to cut the lead to five.We got it to four, that was key." After Wildkat Donald Huntsman - who was 1 of 10 seniors honored before the game - put Kokomo up six to start the fourth, the 6-foot-4 Fussle countered for Warsaw with a three-point play.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Wins Third Straight

BREMEN - Wawasee has recently become a team to be reckoned with. The Warriors are only 6-14, but have won their last three games in a row.They went to No.6 (Class 2A) Bremen and handed them their worst loss of the season, 67-53, Friday. The Warriors started the game with a 7-0 run and would never trail at any point in the contest.Wawasee caught Bremen off guard by penetrating then kicking the ball back out to an open guard on the perimeter. Wawasee shot 4 of 9 from behind the arc in the first quarter.Jared Mahnensmith led the early three-point barrage with two.Narron Graves and Brad Brown chipped in with one each. The early scoring chances for the Warriors came from their defense.Two straight baskets, a Mahnensmith three-pointer and a Brody Stipp lay in came from steals.Wawasee stepped into Bremen's passing lanes and capitalized. Bremen, shooting 3 of 8 from the field in the first quarter, also helped Wawasee pull ahead.
DAN RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Davis: Whitko's 'Foundation' In Place

To have the last name Davis and to be a high school basketball coach has been an unlucky combination. On March 8, Wawasee varsity boys basketball coach Jerry Davis announced his resignation. On Tuesday, Whitko varsity girls basketball coach Ray Davis announced his resignation. The two are not family, but they are related in two ways.Both coached local basketball teams.Both were given two choices: resign or be fired. With a 48-55 record in his five years, Ray Davis is Whitko's winningest varsity girls basketball coach in school history.What happened to New Jersey coach John Calipari happened to Ray Davis.New coach comes in, new coach enjoys success, and the success builds increased expectations. In both cases, the programs never reached those expectations.In fact, some may say both took steps backward.Whitko finished above .500 the first two years under Davis but never reached .500 again.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warm Weather Signals Start Of Baseball Season

As the weather turns warmer and the grass begins to turn green, high school baseball teams begin to take the field. April and May are prime time when it comes to high school baseball, and area teams are prepared to take the field and start the season. As the season begins, underclassmen must step into new positions left open by graduating seniors and coaches must settle on new starting lineups before the first game of the season. Warsaw must replace the entire middle of the Tiger defense after losing their starting shortstop and second baseman. WARSAW Warsaw's biggest strength may be offense.The Tigers will be returning some good hitters, but since they lack speed, Warsaw will focus on intelligent base running. The Tigers will be returning two pitchers in Adam Grimm (senior) and Craig Lankford (junior), and head coach Will Shepherd has high hopes for sophomore Adam Augustine this season.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warrior Swimmers Set For State

SYRACUSE - In swimming, it isn't where we start that matters, only where you finish.That holds true for seeds as well as season records. The Wawasee boys' swim team is a perfect example of that.Not much was expected of this Warrior squad.The Warriors were looking to rebuild after losing nine seniors from a team that went only 8-6 last year. But behind a trio of talented seniors and underclassmen that have stepped up at the right time, Wawasee went through one its best seasons in school history and along the way, racked up an unblemished 12-0 dual season and Northern Lakes Conference and Wawasee Sectional championships. "There were a lot of question marks at the beginning of the year," Wawasee coach Roger Karns said."We had some young guys from last year, and we thought we could be a good team." That may be an understatement for this team.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Double Trouble In The Pivot

The Tigers found the perfect formula to replace Trester Award winner Matt Taylor at center this year. It includes one part defender and rebounder (Luke Reed) and one part offense and power (Chris Hill).The combination has provided big dividends for the Tigers this season. The two juniors, who have played almost the same number of minutes this season, have combined to give Warsaw 12.2 points and 9.1 rebounds a game, while shooting 71 percent from the floor.The duo have combined to be the second-best player on the team as far as the numbers go. The 6-foot-6 Reed starts and scores 5.7 points, grabs 5.4 rebounds a contest and shoots 64 percent from the field.The 6-2 Hill is the spark off the bench, and is at 6.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and shoots an outstanding 78 percent from the field.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Yates Trains His Way To Toledo

After three months of training, Dillon Yates, a 12-year-old boxer from North Manchester, will hit the road to Toledo today.He will put on 8-ounce gloves, head gear, a groin protector and a mouth guard and step into the squared circle to participate in the championship round of the Toledo Golden Gloves competition at 7 p.m.tonight Yates, a sixth-grader from North Manchester, will face off against Toledo's James Coleman in the 95-pound weight class in an Olympic-style bout.The pair will box in three three-minute rounds to decide the winner. When Yates showed an interest in boxing, his father, Jeff Yates, contacted Rick Rivera about being Dillon's trainer and got the ball rolling.Jeff is a member of a class Rivera teaches at Hill's Tae Kwan Do in Pierceton.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Triton Pulls Off Sectional Stunner

Triton, who started the season by winning only four times in its first 16 games, won its fifth straight game with a 48-47 decision over South Central in the Triton Boys Basketball A Sectional Wednesday at Triton. South Central entered the matchup with the best record in the sectional field at 14-6.It was a big win for a Triton team that lost all five starters from a year ago. "For the most part, this is the first sectional appearance for our kids," O'Rourke said."They stepped up and did an exceptional job.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Softball Team Trounces Triton 24-0

BOURBON -ÊThe Wawasee softball team finished its set of spring break games on a good note Thursday when the Warriors defeated the Triton Trojans 24-0 in five innings. Triton's pitching staff struggled in the first inning, allowing 11 runs on just five hits.Roberta Dunn walked Dusty Krull, Andrea Gingerich, Tara Hymer and Kim Morgan before giving up a single to Kathy Likens. Then Melissa Claxon stepped in to pitch for the Trojans.After walking Amber Ramseyer and Laura Karns, Claxon struck out Sara Weisser.Then Krull belted a double that sent two runs across the plate.Gingerich followed up with an RBI single, and Hymer and Morgan did the same.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Double OT Thriller

The best part about Warsaw's 76-73 double-overtime win over Elkhart Central Friday is that the two teams could get to do it all over again a week later. The Tigers, who face Concord Tuesday in the first game of the Elkhart Sectional, could match up with the Blazers (who drew the bye) in the second round next Friday. "Now we are in the weird position of having to earn the right to play them again - at their place," Warsaw coach Al Rhodes said."As close as this game was, looking at next week, we certainly have our work cut out for us.This game gives them all the incentive in the world should we earn the right to play them again.It makes for a real challenge as we go into the sectional." Maybe the Tigers will win and face Elkhart Central, and maybe they won't.And even if they do, the game might not come close to matching this Senior Night affair at the Tiger Den, but it certainly is interesting speculation.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Plymouth, Warsaw Set For Another Battle

Rival, defined by Webster, is "one who tries to get or do the same thing as another or to equal or surpass another." A rivalry could be defined, especially recently, as "Plymouth vs.Warsaw." These two Northern Lakes Conference rivals have hooked up in some memorable battles and when it comes to the postseason, things only get better. Warsaw leads the all-time series between the two teams, dating back to 1922, 65-41.The Pilgrims have the upper hand in the postseason, leading 4-3 since 1970.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Joe Tiller Addresses Purdue Club Of Kosciusko County

Last season, Purdue football coach Joe Tiller said he wanted to look over the crowd at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette and witness a sea of gold. It wasn't Ross-Ade Stadium, but Tiller looked out over a sea of black and gold Thursday evening in Warsaw's Center Lake Pavilion as he spoke to the Purdue Club of Kosciusko County.Proceeds from the dinner will be used to fund scholarships for area students. Approximately 155 members of the newly-formed club converged on Center Lake Pavilion sporting their black and gold to hear Tiller's speech. Tiller spoke about growing up in Toledo and playing football in college. "I wasn't good enough to play in the Big Ten, so I went out west and played at Montana State," said Tiller. But during his freshman year at Montana State, he broke his wrist and tried to come back to the midwest.However, coaches were not interested in giving him a scholarship after seeing him in a full-arm cast, so he had to stay at Montana State.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

DeHart Steps Down As Wawasee Wrestling Coach

Three-time Northern Lakes Conference coach of the year Scott DeHart announced his resignation as head wrestling coach at Wawasee High School on Monday. DeHart is leaving behind a Wawasee program that has won the NLC championship the past two seasons.The Warriors have a 65-41-1 record in his eight years as coach and have had two individual state champions in Chris Requego (1992) and Jason Carr (1998). Among the many achievements the Wawasee wrestling team accomplished in DeHart's time as coach was a semistate championship in 1997 by knocking off No.2 Bellmont. "There are so many memorable moments, but that one stands out in my memory," DeHart said."That team had beaten us earlier in the year.They hadn't lost for 20 or 21 years in their home gym and it's great to go into a lion's den and slay a lion." DeHart cites family commitments as his reason for leaving the coaching position.He will continue to teach in the physical education department at Wawasee.
Jason Knavel, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Akers Brings 'Touch' To Warsaw Boys' Track

Troy Akers has the unique position of having an impact on two area track programs this year. Akers left behind an ultra-successful girls' program at Wawasee High School this year to take over the boys' team at Warsaw High School.His touch was definitely felt at Wawasee, where the Warriors are in the midst of a 30-meet win streak in the regular season over the past three seasons.He is hoping to work the same magic - eventually - on the Tigers. "Here, I am new to them, and they are new to me," Akers said."We are going to have to grow together.There are some things I have assumed that I shouldn't have.You just have to take a couple steps back and rethink the whole thing and look at the big picture." Despite changing genders as well as changing schools, the biggest adjustment for Akers won't be the difference between coaching boys and girls.Akers served as a football coach for the Warriors and this year for the Tigers.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Warrior Boys Track Team Downs Warsaw, Remains Undefeated

SYRACUSE - Thinking back together, Wawasee boys track coaches Scott Lancaster and Dave Stookey couldn't remember exactly the last time the Warriors beat rival Warsaw. It doesn't matter now, and it's safe to say they won't soon forget topping the Tigers Tuesday evening, something they said hasn't been done since sometime in the 1980s. Improving their overall record to 5-0 and their Northern Lakes Conference mark to 2-0, the host Warriors won the three-way meet with 80 points.Warsaw was second with 58 points and Northridge a distant third with 29 points.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Baseball Team Wins Season Opener

In more ways than one, the sun set on South Bend St.Joe High School's varsity baseball team Tuesday. With the sun setting in the sky, it set on the Indians on the scoreboard as well, as Warsaw junior Matt Ransbottom scored the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a long out by teammate Bryan Brumbaugh. St.Joe's batters went three-up, three-down in the top of the sixth, and the game was then called because of darkness, giving the host Tigers a 3-2 win in the season opener for both teams.
Dale Hubler, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Triton One Win Away From Sectional Crown

BOURBON -Ê"We've got one more game!" That's what Triton coach Mike McBride kept repeating as his team exited the court after an exciting 70-65 win over Bremen Friday night.The celebration afterwards was similar to one reserved for sectional championships as fans screamed and players embraced. Triton, now 13-9, nearly began the celebrations too early as they built a fourth quarter lead to 15 points.That lead quickly disappeared; with less 30 seconds left, the Lions were down only three points. The Trojans' Daniel Kuhn unbounded the ball with 28.5 seconds left.He threw a full-court-length pass to a wide-open Brent Savill who made a strong move to the basket and converted to push the lead to 68-63 and essentially finish the game.
DAN RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

FORT WAYNE - What led to a 15-point Fort Wayne Snider win over Warsaw's girls basketball team earlier in the season helped the Panthers stop Warsaw again Tuesday in the regional championship.

"We were lucky we got out to a good lead," said Snider coach Lamar Kilmer."In the second and third quarter we couldn't put the ball in the basket." After shooting 7 of 13 from the field in the opening quarter, Snider went 7 of 21 combined in the middle two quarters.And this allowed Warsaw to close the gap. After trailing 17-10 at the end of one quarter of play, the Tigers got seven straight points from 5'8" sophomore guard Hilary O'Connell, knotting the game at 17 with 4:40 remaining in the first half. But Snider responded with a 7-0 run of its own, pushing the lead to 24-17 at halftime. The 18-point win improves the sixth-ranked Panthers' overall record to 23-2; Warsaw finishes its season at 14-9. As was the case in the first meeting of the year between these two teams, Warsaw played nearly even with Snider after falling behind early.But when the Tigers got close, the officials thought they got too close, so to speak.
Jan. 15 the Panthers jumped out to an early 19-4 lead en route to a 69-54 win. Last night the No. 6 (4A) Panthers jumped out to an 11-2 lead with four minutes remaining in the first quarter en route t | July 28, 2016

Ditsch Is Drained Against Valley

PLYMOUTH - Tippecanoe Valley's boys basketball team entered its Tuesday Plymouth Sectional game against Mishawaka Marian wanting to take out 6-foot-4 broad-shouldered senior center Jason Ditsch. The Vikings did, and Marian coach Keith Kurowski can tell you when. "From the opening tip," he said. Ditsch, who entered averaging 16 points per game on 57 percent shooting, scored eight as Valley (16-5) beat Marian (15-6) 59-46.The win sets up a Valley/Plymouth (16-5) matchup in the first game of Friday's sectional.Plymouth advanced by beating Rochester (13-8) 58-54.Valley coach Bill Patrick and Plymouth coach Jack Edison have more than 850 combined wins. Ditsch hit just 2 of 6 shots from the field.If he didn't melt under Valley's defense, he and the other Knights may have melted under the 85-degree heat in a sweltering gym that served a dual role as a sauna.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Track Team Takes Key NLC Meet

DUNLAP -ÊTrack meets are never boring when three Northern Lakes Conference teams face off.Monday night was no different as Warsaw, Concord and Northridge met for a crucial NLC contest. After Northridge went 6-0 and won the NLC outright last year, the Raiders have been considered one of the teams to beat this season.And Warsaw accomplished that feat Monday night at Concord. The Tigers won the three-way meet, scoring 60.5 points to Concord's 50 and Northridge's 45.5. Although Warsaw won the meet by 10.5 points, the meet was a dogfight until the end.After six events, Warsaw held a slim 25.5-22 lead over Concord, and Northridge was bringing up the rear with 15.5 points, but that changed quickly after the 1,600.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016
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