Warsaw Community High School's varsity wrestling team fell short in the final dual competition of the season, losing to Northern Lakes Conference foe Concord 42-34 in the Tiger Den Tuesday evening.
If just one match out of the six Warsaw losses had been a victory, the team score would have gone the other way, but the Tigers didn't get any help from the younger wrestlers.Every loss was by fall, including five in the first period.
"They are so green and they really need mat time," Warsaw assistant coach Kris Hueber said of the upper weight classes. "They really work hard, but they are struggling to learn and it is taking time."
Head coach Tony Boley agreed.
"Our guys are all freshmen in the upper weights that are typically dominated by strong upperclassmen," Boley said. "Strength there is a big factor. We were just hoping that they would avoid getting pinned. And we made a roster move at 112 pounds and 119 trying to get the points we needed for a team victory, but it just didn't work out that way."
Warsaw 's core of veterans continued their winning ways, with three wrestlers maintaining undefeated records for the seasons. Two of the unbeatens were recognized in Senior Night presentations.
Matt Elvidge (140 pounds) is ranked at the top of his weight class in the state coaches' poll.
When he pinned Drew Lopez in just 32 seconds, he bumped his season record to 29-0. Elvidge is a four year varsity letter winner with a career record of 138-14.
Another undefeated senior wrestler for the Tigers is Andy Keener (152), who moved to 29-0 on the season after earning a 10-1 major decision against Jose Gonzalez. Currently ranked sixth in the state, Keener has a career record of 126-22 and is a four year letter winner.
Along with his two senior teammates, junior Justin Brooks presses on with his perfect season. In a strategic move by the coaching staff, Brooks was moved up to wrestle at 119 pounds rather than his usual weight of 112. Brooks got the win, pinning Drew Lopez in 1:28.
Steven Palladino (125) eked a win on the strength of a second-period reversal. The 2-0 score held in his victory over Fulvio DeSantiago.
Paul Manbu (130) racked up a 19-3 tech fall over Nestor Ruizvelasco, while Adam Keener scored an 8-0 major decision against senior Derrick Ferrier.
The team loss puts Warsaw at 8-13 overall and 2-5 in the conference as the Tigers approach the NLC individual tournament at Elkhart Memorial Saturday at 9 a.m.
CONCORD 42, WARSAW 34
103 - Tyler Wetzel (W), ff.
112 - Skyler Herendeen (C) pinned Ryan Lowe (W), :59
119 - Justin Brooks (W) pinned Steven Ross (C), 1:28
125 - Steven Palladino (W) def. Fulvio DeSantiago (C), 2-0
130 - Paul Manbu (W) def. Nestor Ruizvelaxco (C), 19-3 tech fall
135 - Sam Martin (C) pinned Josh Flannery (W), 3:10
140 - Matt Elvidge (W) pinned Drew Lopez (C), :32
145 - Adam Keener (W) def. Derek Ferrier (C), 8-0
152 - Andy Keener (W) def. Jose Gonzalez (C), 10-1
